Short answer: Article 518 covers places of assembly, buildings or parts of buildings meant for groups of people to gather, such as auditoriums, conference rooms, places of worship, dining halls and sports arenas. Its scope sets a minimum number of occupants, so check that number in 518.1. Article 520 covers theaters and similar spaces where performances are staged, with rules for stage switchboards, stage lighting, portable equipment and dressing rooms. On an exam, first decide which article applies. For a theater or a space with a stage and audience seating, check Article 520 first. For other gathering spaces, check whether the space meets the scope of Article 518 before applying its rules.
PSI lists Special Occupancies, Equipment and Conditions as a subject area on the Texas Journeyman exam: 6 scored NEC Knowledge questions and 3 scored Calculations questions. PSI does not say how many cover places of assembly or theaters. The Texas Journeyman Practice Pack has 1,000 original questions and 10 timed mock exams in the real two-part format, with step-by-step solutions for every calculation. Try free practice questions without signing up. Get the full pack for US$39 with one payment.
Tsai Electro is an independent learning site. Not affiliated with TDLR, PSI or NFPA. We explain the ideas in our own words and do not reproduce NEC text. Check every rule and table value in your own 2026 NEC, and follow your supervisor and the local inspector.
Step 1: which article?
| The space | Start in | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel ballroom used for banquets and meetings | Check Article 518 | Confirm the scope and occupant number first |
| School auditorium with a stage and stage lighting | Article 520 for the stage and audience areas | Performances are staged |
| Exhibition hall with booths | Check Article 518 | Confirm the scope, then check its temporary wiring rules |
| Church sanctuary | Check Article 518 | Places of worship are among the examples; confirm the occupant number |
| Movie theater auditorium | Article 520 | Audience area for motion picture presentation |
If a building has both kinds of space, each part follows its own article. Check the scope sections of 518 and 520 in your NEC for how the two articles divide a building.
Article 518: what the rules are about
- Scope first. Before any other rule applies, the space has to meet the scope, including the occupant number in 518.1. A small meeting room may not qualify.
- Wiring methods. Article 518 limits which wiring methods may be used in places of assembly. Some nonmetallic methods are allowed only in certain construction types or locations. Check the list and its conditions in your 2026 NEC.
- Temporary wiring. Exhibition halls and similar spaces often need temporary power for booths. Article 518 sends you to the temporary wiring rules for that work and adds its own conditions.
- Other rules. Article 518 also has rules for specific equipment and conditions in places of assembly. Read the 2026 text of the article in full before the exam.
Article 520: what the rules are about
- Stage switchboards and lighting. Fixed and portable switchboards that control stage lighting, and the circuits that feed stage lighting equipment.
- Portable equipment. Cords, connectors and portable lighting used on stage, which see far more handling than permanent wiring.
- Dressing rooms. Lighting and receptacles in performers’ dressing rooms have their own rules for protection and control.
- Audience areas. Wiring in the audience area of a theater follows rules similar to Article 518.
When an exam question names a stage, a switchboard for stage lighting or a dressing room, go straight to Article 520.
Worked lookup: one building, two articles
A community center has a 300-seat auditorium with a stage and stage lighting, and a separate meeting hall used for dinners.
- Auditorium stage and audience area: Article 520.
- Meeting hall: Article 518, after checking that it meets the scope in 518.1.
- Hallways and offices: the general rules in Chapters 1 through 4, unless the scope of either article reaches them.
Check yourself
- A ballroom hosts weddings and conferences but no stage productions. Which article? Article 518.
- A question asks about a dressing room next to a stage. Which article? Article 520.
- What do you check before applying Article 518 to a small room? Whether it meets the scope in 518.1, including the occupant number.
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Find Articles 518 and 520 faster on exam day
NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, 2026 Edition (softcover). Highlight the scope section of each article, so the first step of every assembly or theater question is to confirm which article applies. The Texas exam is open book. PSI allows a soft-bound NEC with highlighting, underlining and notes made in advance. Loose-leaf, spiral-bound and ring-bound copies are not allowed, and only permanent index tabs made or supplied by the NEC publisher are permitted; homemade and third-party tabs are not.
FAQ
What is a place of assembly in the NEC?
A building or part of a building meant for groups of people to gather, such as an auditorium, conference room, place of worship, dining hall or arena, that meets the occupant number in the scope of Article 518.
What is the difference between Article 518 and Article 520?
Article 518 covers gathering spaces. Article 520 covers theaters, performance areas and their audience areas, including rules for stage switchboards, stage lighting, portable equipment and dressing rooms. Its scope is not limited to live stage performances.
Does a school auditorium fall under Article 520?
The stage and audience areas of an auditorium used for staged performances fall under Article 520. Check the scope in your NEC for the exact boundary.
Are places of assembly on the Texas Journeyman exam?
PSI lists Special Occupancies, Equipment and Conditions as a subject area, with 6 scored NEC Knowledge questions and 3 scored Calculations questions. PSI does not say how many cover places of assembly or theaters.
Sources checked October 2026
- PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, Texas electrician examinations (updated September 15, 2026): https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/1682
- NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, 2026 Edition, Articles 518 and 520
