ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues 220-volt counter top appliance... GFI?

It would need approval by CSA or an NRTL. In this case it would be indicated by a CSA mark, or an NRTL mark - most likely an ETL or UL mark with a "C" next to it for Canada or "U" for U.S.

I have never seen the appliance police. Maybe that is just a northern thing.
As far as I know I could go buy some parts at the hardware store and make a lamp without fearing a SWAT team would raid my house.
I hope they never come after all my home built computers. I might get 20 years in the joint.

BTW what is a NRTL? I know OSHA has a list but are they the ONLY labs that are recognized and who "recognizes" these labs?
Most European appliances will be CE marked which is a self administered testing protocol. I know Jim Pauley says that is not the same as the U/L mark but what is the difference? On the other hand TUV Germany (and perhaps some other European labs) are OSHA recognized.
When I see some of the crap that U/L does sell it's mark on I really wonder if there is anything to this "listing" but money.

LOL, that is too funny! LOL

No there are no appliance police breaking down doors here, lol. Just people concerned about public safety. I have heard of a couple of businesses taken to court and fined for selling cheap china non approved or counterfeit csa/ulc approval markings though. I think that they were fixtures that were made of cheap plastic that didn't have a high enough temperature rating and they were causing fires.

I will list the regs of what we have here in Ontario for you because you seem interested in what we do up North.

Specifically, the Code states –
Rule: 2-022 Sale or Other Disposal and Use
No person shall advertise, display, offer for sale, connect to a source of electrical power, or use any electrical equipment unless it has been approved in accordance with Rule 2-024.

Rule: 2-024 Approval of Electrical Equipment
The Ontario Electrical Safety Code recognizes certification organizations accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to approve electrical equipment. Only equipment bearing one of the recognized marks is approved.

ESA has the power to lay charges for selling unapproved products under the Electricity Act. The maximum fine is $50,000 or prison for up to one year. However, the Act does not contain clear powers for ESA to order products be quarantined, seized or destroyed.

So basically they its not allowed but they don't have much power unless you are selling these products.

gfretwell, those are good questions.

"NRTL" is short for 'nationally recognised testing lab." Oddly enough, this is a term 'invented' by UL at a time when they felt that, in most cases, they had no other competition. UL reps encouraged government bodies (of every size) and specification writers to put this term in their rules.

Then things began to change.

The vast expansion of the Federal Government in the '70's in turn led to various laws 'encouraging' Federal agencies to adopt already existing 'generally recognised industry standards.' One result of these laws was an explosion in sundry industry and trade associations - all of whom saw an opportunity to get 'on the inside track.'

Every trade group has a somewhat different focus. This, as well as UL striving for "ISO 9000" certification, in turn opened the door to an assortment of testing and certification bodies.

UL claims to 'test for the public safety.' UL has absolutely no interest in the performance, quality, or design of a product submitted. If UL 'listed' automobiles, the same standards would apply to bith Ferrari and Yugo ... but no one would ever imagine that the two were "equivalent."

Until VERY recently, UL pretended that NEMA did not exist. UL had it's own classifications (for instance) for enclosures; saying "Nema 4" meant nothing to UL. UL did, however, use this as an example of 'what made UL special.'
Unlike the common practice of letting the manufacture certify such things, UL stressed that UL was independent, did their own tests, AND followed this up with regular factory inspectiona and re-examination of products. UL asserted that this was more reliable than simply trusting to the manufacturer (and the market) alone.

Sometimes -as in the case of fire sprinkler heads- the UL mark says a lot about the product. UL has been heavily involved in the testing of those for a very long time, and many of the tests are 'performance' tests. In other cases -you home computer being one- the UL mark means very little beyond 'it ought not shock you.'

That same home computer, however, is likely to have a legion of other certifications, many of which relate to the performance of it.

These days, "NRTL" can mean most anything the AHJ wants it to mean. UL no longer has the near-monopoly that they once had. If another lab (and there are some) got ISO recognition for testing to a particular standard, there would be little reason for an AHJ to refuse to recognise the new guys' label.
To that end, many government agencies compile lists of the specific certifications that they are looking for.

We got into this with packaged spa "listings". There are a lot of "labs" that list spas but the real question is are they nationally recognized and by who?

This is an interesting question. As far as not being listed, that is more a concern for a retailer not the user.
They probably purchased the appliance overseas and brought it back with them, as I did. I couldn't find a fast enough kettle over here in the States, so I brought one back from Scotland the last time I was over there. There is something to be said for a 3Kw kettle

Thanks all.

Nice Scott. I had the 210.8 and was wondering if I was missing something. I did miss the 210.6, I'll have to look at this equipment. I was just surprised to see that it wouldn't be required. I'd never thought about it until this.

Maybe my follow-up is for the nonUS section, but what do the non US 220-volt regions do for countertop kitchen appliances? Do you have device or breaker GFI's?

Then... if it's safe enough for them, why can't I hook it up here if it is less than 1400 watts?

JPS, most parts of the world use something called an "RCD," which is essentially a GFI. That said, the RCD is usually installed for the entire panel - not an individual circuit - and has a higher trip level, perhaps 30mA (as compared to the 5mA of a GFI).

Almost all 'normal' circuits are protected by this RCD. Certain circuits (such as a furnace) are not protected at all, while others (like a bath) have a much lower setting.

So, one could make the argument that a Euro appliance is designed to operate on a circuit protected by at least an AFCI ... and would probably work well on a GFI as well.

It is also safe to say that the authors of the NEC never considered that you might have a cord connected 240v appliance on your countertop. This is one case where have to look at things in context, and make a judgment call. If I were asked to quote this job, I would assume a GFI in my pricing.

[This message has been edited by renosteinke (edited 01-27-2007).]

Nice question......my brain thanks you