Article 210 provides the general requirements for branch circuits not over 1,000VAC or 1,500VDC. These include requirements for conductor sizing, overcurrent protection, identification, GFCI and AFCI protection, receptacle outlets, and lighting outlets. Here is a. Branch circuits account for most circuits run in any electrical installation, so it pays to be familiar with the requirements. According to the National Electrical Code (NEC), a branch circuit consists of the conductors running between the final overcurrent protection device (like a circuit breaker) and the outlets, lighting fixtures, or. NEC Article 210 focuses on the essential requirements for the installation of branch circuits, which are the circuits that deliver power from the last overcurrent device to outlets and other loads.