ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues 210.52 Clear as Mud

Yup my very 1st house. I'm sure someone is still wondering... "why are there so many damn outlets".

Way back in 75 when I did my first "owner builder" addition I misunderstood the 6' rule and put a receptacle every 6 feet along one long wall. My buddy asked me if I was getting a row of pinball machines.

My nephew did just that when he drew up his new house.

I asked him why he had so many outlets and he told me that he was following the 6' rule that he kept hearing me talk about. Granted, he never asked what the 6' rule was, he just assumed that he knew what it said.

I trust that everyone knows about the word "assume"; rest assured that he now knows it well.

Short cords on kitchen appliances were mandated because the longer cords would hang over the edge of the counter and children would pull coffee pots or electric fry pans down on themselves.
The same safety logic that prompted this was turned upside down when they allowed receptacles on the face of the counter 210.52(C)(5)
Go figure.

NEC 210.52(C)(5)

NEC 210.52(C)

You know, I've seen most everything on kitchen counters .... mixers, toasters, irons, even small clothes washers ... but I've never seen a tape measure sitting around!

Put the receptacles, first and foremost, where they will be useful. This is called 'good design.' Then, if you must, add a few to fill in large gaps. Imagine: both code compliance and a happy customer.

I've had a few customers ask me "why so many?" I then explain how they're placed for the customers' use. Visiting the site a few months later, I always get rave reviews ... it seems some of the 'oddest' receptacle locations quickly became the customers' favorite, and are always in use.

In my experience, time spent hounding the customer for details as to their use is time well spent. For example, if you know a bed will be centered on the window, it makes sense to place a receptacle on either side of the window. Yet, how often do we see the plans indicate a single receptacle dead center, under the window?

I once did an office, where I met furious criticism at 'finish,' when the customer saw I had place some receptacles about 5 ft up the wall. Why? Because I knew file cabinets would be placed there ... and we all have horror stories about trying to get to that plug behind a ton of old files!
A week after occupancy, the sarcasm of the boss was more than canceled when he heard the secretary sing the praises of the 'genius' who put the coffeemaker receptacle over the file cabinets, where it could be reached. That same boss began to ask for these receptacle in every office remodel afterwards

I got beat up by an office manager about putting the data jacks 3' off the floor but they ended up above the desk and that sure made the road warriors with laptops happy. Sometimes you just need to think like the end user when you are placing receptacles.
In my kitchen (on the dining room side of a peninsula) I ended up with a dummy cabinet front with a door but it was only about 6" deep. I put a receptacle in there, mostly because I needed a splice there and we use it for battery chargers. It ended up being one of out most handy outlets