ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Existing Drinking Water Fountain

The "Safety Officier" is responsible for many coast guard government sites, and they use the NEC.

There are no amendments requiring a GFCI for a drinking water fountain.

I believe we can safely say that the NEC does not require this protection.

i suspect a goverment contractor with $169 GFI's.....not all decisions are made on the premis of safety.

I agree with Sparkey. I've seen many instances where the safety person needs to justify their existance and will generate paper to do just that.

"Water Fountain Inspector" was a cush assignment for this person, until he ran up against you Joe.

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.

Gentlemen:
Am I missing something here?????

Did Anyone read thru my reply above???

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