Here is a question. How close can a receptacle get to the shower/tub area before it is a violation? A foot? 3 feet? 18" Any thoughts? You know that I am going somewhere with this question. I would like to hear some answers first before I bring out the problem I am hearing. Thanks for any answer.

A strict reading of the code says it can't be in "tub space". As long as it is outside the shower curtain it is "hold your nose" legal. Good design would put it where water is unlikely to splash on it. These days a nuisance trip of the GFCI is the most likely problem.

Try 406.8(C)2005 N.E.C.

Greg,


As usual you are on target with what I am thinking. I will give it another day or two before I say what is on my mind.

As long as it is outside the footprint you are OK code-wise.

Doesn't do much to stop you from plugging in the TV and setting it on the tub ledge tho. I know that hard and fast distances might be hard to achieve in a small bath but there should be a better way.

We put GFCIs in places like this and just hope they do the job when people are stupid.

Outside of the tub 'footprint' is all I can enforce.

Harold...are you aiming for the flat screen TV issue??

As far for tub footprint anything outside of the " boundary line " is fine but if someone really serious about putting a flat tv in the bathtub area one way you can make is safe is breech a opening behind the wall and put in marine grade plexglass and install the flat tv behind I know someone did that allready.

Myself I did not see that setup so hard to say if that did pass with flying colours or Drapeau rouge {red flag} show up.

Merci,Marc

re plexiglass
France may have some great water, after all you invented bottling it but in most places I would use tempered glass so you could keep it clean.

I am going where Greg is talking about. What is the tub space? What does 406.8(C) really say? "Receptacles shall not be installed within or directly over a bathtub or shower area." Does sec. 410.4 (which defines a shower area) refer to the shower area? Does it mean a receptacle can't be within 3' of the tub/shower edge?

I have seen many times where someone puts a TV in the bathroom but forgets to make the receptacle a GFI protected one. So they fail that job, but can you fail someone for having a receptacle within 3' of the tub? What is the code section?