ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues GFCI changes

Residential change:

Item (7) revised to read:

Commercial changes: Items (2) which was previously item (3) revised to read:
New item (4) reads:
New item (5) reads:
So, regarding the residential change, two things come to my mind...
1: What about the washing machine in the laundry that is within 6' of the sink, and
2: The 2002 addressed the countertop receptacles for wet bar sinks. Now it just says within 6'. What about a cord and plug connected garbage disposal under the sink?

[This message has been edited by Ryan_J (edited 10-27-2004).]

Ryan,

Great question.
If my laundry equipment is plugged into a receptacle within 6' of the utility sink, then it seems that the machines must be GFIed. There are no exceptions related to (7) that I could find.

I'm sitting here still thinking about this. . .

It seems that the requirement becomes a volume of space that is covered by the GFI. That is, a sink "GFI zone", for a sink mounted in a 3' high counter, will include an area of the 8' high ceiling above the sink, as well as the clock outlet on the wall above the sink.

And, if the sink is mounted against a "half wall" partition separating a single area into a kitchen and eating area, the receptacles within 6' on the eating area side of the partition should also be GFIed.

And I can think of a lot of small kitchen layouts that, based on how I read this, will now be required to have GFI protection on the refir and gas range receptacles.

Is a kitchen sink a wet bar sink?

No, but I'm not sure what a kitchen is anymore :-P

I would say no, since they each have their own seperate GFCI provisions in 210.8(A). Kitchens require the counter receptacles, wet bars require all within 6'...

Although....there is a mistake in the 2005 that defines kitchen for 210.8(A). It is found it 210.8(B)(2), which says for the purpose of this section, a kitchen is.... According to the NEC style manual, this definition applies to everything in 210.8, since that is the code section. 210.8(B)(2) is a subsection. So, in my opinion, a residential kitchen is an area with a sink and permanant facilities for food preperation and cooking.

Perhaps we can compare this to GFCI rules for garages- where an exception exists for dedicated receptacles (such as for a refrigerator or freezer).

John...I wouldn't allow it. There is no exception for this, and until there is I can't allow an alternate method, because 90.4 says that there must be equal protection for an altarnate. There is no equal to GFCI, in my opinion.

hi,
I did not think dedicated equipment like a washing machine or freezer has to be gfi protected?

-regards

Mustang

Mustang: There are no exceptions to this rule.