ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Tamper resistant: 406.11

Harold:
This was one of the 'hot' topics at the 10 hr CEU course I participated in with NJEIA last month.

Panel directory was another...but..

An amendment to delete the TP would have to start at the DCA, IMHO. The lobbiests for the State Builders Assoc/League would also have to get involved to have any clout.

I am not a fan of the TR receptacles.
However having declared that, I will admit that the new lines of TRs are user friendly. They even include GFI and combination devices. No more insert/turn and then push in the rest of the way. Resistance to putting in a plug is almost the same as a regular device. They are designed to provent anything going into only one opening of the device.
The biggest problem I see with how 406.11 is written is that it applies to all receptacles in the AREAs listed in 210.52. That means the receptacle in the cupboard behind the microwave has to be tamper-resistant. It is going to be hard to explain to the customer the extra (minimum)cost for that recptacle.
210.52 excludes receptacles in cupboards / luminaires & appliances and those over 5 1/2 feet above the floor. 406.11 as written does not include those exceptions. I feel that the exceptions need to be included in 406.11 to put some logic into the arguement for using the TRs.
Switched receptacles are also excluded in 210.52 but, because they may be accessable to the inquisitive little darlings they should be included in the TR requirement.
As an inspector I hate being an enforcer for greedy merchants.

"Switched receptacles" seems to be a strange exclusion. If you have kids that will probably be the one that gets you. Kid A says "see it is OK, watch me", then when kid B sticks the fingernail file in kid A flips the switch. Great fun huh?
If you don't get it you have never had boys.

Are you guys for real? Is this that big of a deal. I don't think so.

Oh I get the boy thing

I don't see any exclusion for sw. rec though.

406.11 states "ALL" in 210.52. 210.52(2), is included.
If you refer ,210.52.(B)(1) ex. 1.,
This reads as permision to install a sw rec from ANOTHER ckt in a kitchen,per 210.70.(A)(1). I don't see an exclusion.

I may be reading it wrong, tried it several times.

Didn't mean to confuse anyone.
Section 210.52, before (A), (B) etc. has receptacles that are not considered as being any of the required receptacles covered by 210.52. Those are the ones above 5 1/2 feet; in cupboards; part of a fixture, etc. The switched receptacle in (2) goes to 210.70(A)(1)exception..."in other than kitchens and bathrooms one or more receptacles controlled by a wall switch...instead of lighting outlets." Those should be covered by 406.11. For the reasons that Greg mentions above.
The ones over 5 1/2 feet; in cupboards; etc. should not be covered by 406.11.

I disagree Alan. The requirement says "In all areas specified in 210.52.....ALL receptacles....."

It does not say all receptacles required by 210.52.

In my opinion if it is in those areas, which basically covers the entire house, they shall be TR receptacles.

I still don't know why the big uproar about this anyway.

Codes, like all laws, ultimately depend upon the good will of the governed to be effective. When the rules begin to wander .... they start losing their impact.

I suspect that the 'uproar' has its' source in two things:

1) Many - certainly I - feel they were blind-sided by this requirement ... it seemed to pop up as a done deal out of nowhere. I don't like surprises; and,

2) Many - including myself - consider this an unwarranted extension of the code, well beyond the 'minimum safety' the code espouses.

We're not sheep, expected to quietly accept whatever is handed down to us. It is for the rules to satisfy us ... and this requirement is but one more reason to NOT accept the 08 NEC. Another term for "uproar" in this case might be 'citizen participation.'

The real uproar won't show up until people actually start getting these and have problems with them.

Greg,

At least the EC's in NJ will have a chance to make their opinion heard.(I believe) The state will go look into the new NEC in the next few months in order to see which sections of the NEC they will remove. For example here in NJ the state does not use AFCI's yet. Maybe they will omit the section on TP receptacles. You can go to the State of NJ website under the Dept. of Community Affairs, (DCA) and they should have the dates when we can write it in and make our opinion heard.