Unfortunately the government has people in positions to make the rules up as they go. In this instance, it is a matter of someone thinking that since water is involved, as with most nonelectrical types automatically "GFCI". No one ever thinks that the motor could cause nuisance tripping or that the receptacle may be covered by the front cover or the water fountain and is a real pain to reset whenever there is a nuisance trip. My advice (as an electrical engineering technician for the US Army Corps of Engineers) is to have them give you something in writing that backs their claim that the GFI rec.s are required. Make them prove it by code. I guarantee that the safety officer is not the AHJ on any government installation.
Am I wrong?, or can someone specify something that is "above" the NEC???
Yes, the motor may cause nusiance trips, yes, it can be a pain in the butt to reset it if it's "inside" the cooler, but if it's in the spec, and it's NEC compliant or BETTER then why can't he (Safety Officer) have it???
YES, IF HE says "IT'S NEC REQUIRED" then he is stone wrong!! John
