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Commercial Load Calculations (NEC 220) — NEC 2023 Edition

Free NEC 2023 practice test on commercial load calculations. Covers general lighting loads by occupancy (Table 220.42), non-dwelling receptacle demand factors (220.45), and show-window lighting (220.14(G)). Simple English, full explanations.

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The National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) is the benchmark standard for safe electrical installation in the US. It is updated every 3 years by the NFPA.

Study the edition adopted by your state. As of 2025, most states use the 2020 or 2023 NEC. These tests are written to the 2023 edition.

The most tested articles are 100 (Definitions), 200–250 (Wiring & Grounding), 300–314 (Wiring Methods), 400–411 (Conductors), 430 (Motors), and 700–701 (Emergency Systems).

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This Commercial Load Calculations (NEC 220) — NEC 2023 Edition has 30 questions with detailed answers and NEC references. Take the full test, review every wrong answer, and look up the NEC article it references before moving on.

Tip: Use the NEC index (back of the book) — find answers by keyword, not by article number.

Topics covered: NEC articles 100, 210, 220, 240, 250, 300, 310, 430, and special occupancies.
Passing score: Aim for 80%+ on NEC code tests before exam day.
Questions: 30 multiple-choice, one correct answer each

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Commercial Load Calculations (NEC 220) — NEC 2023 Edition — Question List

Question 1: An 80,000 square foot hospital uses the NEC unit lighting load for hospitals. After the demand factor is applied, what is the general lighting demand load?

42,000 VA
160,000 VA
58,000 VA
82,000 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 2: For a show window, the branch-circuit and feeder demand load must be figured at how much per linear foot of window?

200 VA
150 VA
100 VA
250 VA

NEC Reference: NEC 220.14(G)

Question 3: For load calculation purposes, show window lighting is treated as which type of load?

Continuous load
Non-continuous load
It is exempt from load calculations
Momentary load

NEC Reference: NEC 220.14(G)

Question 4: In a non-dwelling (commercial) building, what receptacle load must be used for each general-use receptacle outlet (each yoke), unless the equipment load is already known?

150 VA
180 VA
200 VA
250 VA

NEC Reference: NEC 220.14(I)

Question 5: A commercial branch circuit has a computed general-use receptacle load of 3,400 VA. Using 180 VA per receptacle, how many receptacle outlets does this support?

NEC Reference: NEC 220.14(I)

Question 6: In a non-dwelling occupancy, the total computed general-use receptacle load is 14,000 VA. Using the receptacle demand-factor rule, what is the demand load?

12,000 VA
14,000 VA
7,000 VA
10,000 VA

NEC Reference: NEC 220.45

Question 7: A 10,000 square foot office building uses the NEC unit lighting load for offices and banks. What is the connected general lighting load, before any demand factor is applied?

13,000 VA
35,000 VA
10,000 VA
20,000 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 8: What is the general lighting unit load, in VA per square foot, for hotels and motels (guest rooms), per NEC Table 220.42?

3 VA
2 VA
2.5 VA
1 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 9: A 12,000 square foot warehouse (storage only) uses the NEC unit lighting load for warehouses. What is the demand load after the demand factor is applied?

3,000 VA
2,500 VA
2,000 VA
2,250 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 10: Per NEC Table 220.42, what is the general lighting unit load, in VA per square foot, for a restaurant?

2 VA
3.5 VA
1 VA
0.5 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 11: Per NEC Table 220.42, what is the general lighting unit load, in VA per square foot, for retail stores?

3 VA
1.5 VA
5 VA
0.5 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 12: Per the NEC 2023 Table 220.42, what is the general lighting unit load, in VA per square foot, for a school building?

1.5 VA
3 VA
2 VA
4 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 13: Per NEC Table 220.42, banks share the same general lighting unit load value as which other occupancy type?

Office buildings
Warehouses
Hospitals
Auditoriums

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 14: For occupancy types not specifically listed in the demand factor part of Table 220.42, what demand factor applies to the general lighting load?

100%
50%
35%
25%

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 15: For a hospital, the general lighting demand factor changes at what connected-load threshold, per NEC Table 220.42?

50,000 VA
20,000 VA
100,000 VA
10,000 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 16: For a warehouse (storage only), the general lighting demand factor gives 100% for the first how many VA of connected load?

12,500 VA
3,000 VA
50,000 VA
25,000 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 17: In a non-dwelling occupancy, what demand factor applies to the portion of the general-use receptacle load ABOVE the first 10 kVA?

50%
100%
25%
75%

NEC Reference: NEC 220.45

Question 18: The 2023 NEC reorganized Article 220 into how many parts, adding demand factors previously found in other articles?

7 parts
3 parts
10 parts
2 parts

NEC Reference: NEC Article 220

Question 19: A continuous load in a commercial branch circuit is 16 amperes. What is the minimum conductor ampacity required, unless the equipment is listed for 100% continuous duty?

16 amperes
20 amperes
25 amperes
32 amperes

NEC Reference: NEC 210.19(A)(1)

Question 20: Per NEC Table 220.42, what is the general lighting unit load, in VA per square foot, for a place of assembly such as an auditorium?

1 VA
2 VA
3 VA
0.25 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 21: For dwelling-unit general lighting load, what demand factor applies to the portion of connected load between 3,001 VA and 120,000 VA?

35%
100%
25%
50%

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 22: A building has both a retail store area and an office area. How should the general lighting load be calculated?

Apply each occupancy's own unit load to its own floor area
Always use the higher of the two values for the whole building
Always use the lower of the two values for the whole building
Lighting load calculations are skipped for mixed-use buildings

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 23: A 20,000 square foot school building uses the NEC 2023 unit lighting load. What is the connected general lighting load, before any demand factor?

30,000 VA
60,000 VA
20,000 VA
15,000 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 24: For load calculation purposes, what is the minimum load that must be included for each commercial building or occupancy that allows a sign?

1,200 VA
600 VA
2,400 VA
180 VA

NEC Reference: NEC 220.14(F)

Question 25: An office building has a connected general lighting load of 15,000 VA. Since office/bank lighting is not in the reduced demand-factor list of Table 220.42, what demand load applies?

15,000 VA
10,500 VA
5,250 VA
7,500 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 26: In a dwelling unit, do general-use receptacle outlets typically get an additional 180 VA-per-yoke load added on top of the general lighting load?

No, it is already included in the general lighting load
Yes, always add 180 VA per yoke
Only for outdoor receptacles
Only if there are more than 10 receptacles

NEC Reference: NEC 220.14(J)

Question 27: Per NEC Table 220.42, what is the office/bank general lighting unit load, in VA per square foot?

1.3 VA
3.5 VA
2 VA
0.5 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 28: When calculating a commercial building's feeder or service load, what is generally the first step?

Find the general lighting connected load
Call the utility company
Size the grounding electrode conductor
Pick a random breaker size

NEC Reference: NEC Article 220

Question 29: A 5,000 square foot retail store has a connected general lighting load using Table 220.42. What is that connected load, before any demand factor?

15,000 VA
5,000 VA
10,000 VA
25,000 VA

NEC Reference: NEC Table 220.42

Question 30: A store's sign circuit load must be treated as what type of load for conductor and overcurrent device sizing?

Continuous load
Momentary load
It is exempt from sizing rules
Non-continuous load, always

NEC Reference: NEC 220.14(F)

Key NEC References for This Test

Article	What It Covers
Ch. 1–4	General rules — apply to all installations
Ch. 5–7	Special rules — override Ch. 1–4 where they conflict
Ch. 8	Communications — completely independent of Ch. 1–7
Ch. 9	Tables — referenced by articles, not standalone enforceable rules
Art. 210.12	AFCI — major expansion in NEC 2026
Art. 230.67	Surge protection at service equipment — new NEC 2026

Study Tip: Learn the NEC index — use keywords, not article numbers. Practice finding 5 different topics in under 2 minutes each.

Commercial Load Calculations (NEC 220) — NEC 2023 Edition

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Commercial Load Calculations (NEC 220) — NEC 2023 Edition

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Commercial Load Calculations (NEC 220) — NEC 2023 Edition — Question List

Question 1: An 80,000 square foot hospital uses the NEC unit lighting load for hospitals. After the demand factor is applied, what is the general lighting demand load?

Question 2: For a show window, the branch-circuit and feeder demand load must be figured at how much per linear foot of window?

Question 3: For load calculation purposes, show window lighting is treated as which type of load?

Question 4: In a non-dwelling (commercial) building, what receptacle load must be used for each general-use receptacle outlet (each yoke), unless the equipment load is already known?

Question 5: A commercial branch circuit has a computed general-use receptacle load of 3,400 VA. Using 180 VA per receptacle, how many receptacle outlets does this support?

Question 6: In a non-dwelling occupancy, the total computed general-use receptacle load is 14,000 VA. Using the receptacle demand-factor rule, what is the demand load?

Question 7: A 10,000 square foot office building uses the NEC unit lighting load for offices and banks. What is the connected general lighting load, before any demand factor is applied?

Question 8: What is the general lighting unit load, in VA per square foot, for hotels and motels (guest rooms), per NEC Table 220.42?

Question 9: A 12,000 square foot warehouse (storage only) uses the NEC unit lighting load for warehouses. What is the demand load after the demand factor is applied?

Question 10: Per NEC Table 220.42, what is the general lighting unit load, in VA per square foot, for a restaurant?

Question 11: Per NEC Table 220.42, what is the general lighting unit load, in VA per square foot, for retail stores?

Question 12: Per the NEC 2023 Table 220.42, what is the general lighting unit load, in VA per square foot, for a school building?

Question 13: Per NEC Table 220.42, banks share the same general lighting unit load value as which other occupancy type?

Question 14: For occupancy types not specifically listed in the demand factor part of Table 220.42, what demand factor applies to the general lighting load?

Question 15: For a hospital, the general lighting demand factor changes at what connected-load threshold, per NEC Table 220.42?

Question 16: For a warehouse (storage only), the general lighting demand factor gives 100% for the first how many VA of connected load?

Question 17: In a non-dwelling occupancy, what demand factor applies to the portion of the general-use receptacle load ABOVE the first 10 kVA?

Question 18: The 2023 NEC reorganized Article 220 into how many parts, adding demand factors previously found in other articles?

Question 19: A continuous load in a commercial branch circuit is 16 amperes. What is the minimum conductor ampacity required, unless the equipment is listed for 100% continuous duty?

Question 20: Per NEC Table 220.42, what is the general lighting unit load, in VA per square foot, for a place of assembly such as an auditorium?

Question 21: For dwelling-unit general lighting load, what demand factor applies to the portion of connected load between 3,001 VA and 120,000 VA?

Question 22: A building has both a retail store area and an office area. How should the general lighting load be calculated?

Question 23: A 20,000 square foot school building uses the NEC 2023 unit lighting load. What is the connected general lighting load, before any demand factor?

Question 24: For load calculation purposes, what is the minimum load that must be included for each commercial building or occupancy that allows a sign?

Question 25: An office building has a connected general lighting load of 15,000 VA. Since office/bank lighting is not in the reduced demand-factor list of Table 220.42, what demand load applies?

Question 26: In a dwelling unit, do general-use receptacle outlets typically get an additional 180 VA-per-yoke load added on top of the general lighting load?

Question 27: Per NEC Table 220.42, what is the office/bank general lighting unit load, in VA per square foot?

Question 28: When calculating a commercial building's feeder or service load, what is generally the first step?

Question 29: A 5,000 square foot retail store has a connected general lighting load using Table 220.42. What is that connected load, before any demand factor?

Question 30: A store's sign circuit load must be treated as what type of load for conductor and overcurrent device sizing?

Key NEC References for This Test

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