Replies

1. 
   BillHartmann | Apr 03, 2007 10:21pm | #1

   There is no requirement for the GFCI for clothes washer receptacle unless it is within 6 ft of a sink. The "wet bar" requirement has been extended to any basin (eithr in the 2005 NEC or the proposed 2008).

   There is logic behind all of this.

   The clothes washer is grounded via the ground terminal on the plug and receptacle.

   And ground fault will flow safely through the ground conductor and if big enough it will cause the breaker to trip.

   But where you have an open sink it is possible that you could use a portable appliance and drop it into a sink full of water.

   But there is no prohibition to using a GFCI there.

   .
   .
   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 4/3/2007 3:22 pm by BillHartmann

2. 
   DanH | Apr 03, 2007 10:56pm | #2

   As I understand it, if it's DEDICATED for a specific grounded appliance then GFCI is not required (though other rules may trump this one). Some inspectors have demanded that the dedicated outlet not be a duplex, but that rule seems a bit much, since often a gas dryer, water softener, or something similar also needs to be plugged in.

   It's sometimes not good to have a washer on a GFCI since washers can develop current leakage as they age, causing the GFCI to trip without really "protecting" anyone or anything. Plus the electric motor can cause nusiance trips.

   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
1. 
   BillHartmann | Apr 03, 2007 11:20pm | #3

   DanWrong requirments.Spaces in unfinished basements and garages required GFCI protection. There are exception in those spaces for dedicated appliance receptacles.If this is a "laundry room", which even if it was in a basment would imply a finished space, then there is no general requirment for GFCI's.The next requirement is with 6ft of a sink. Here is the 2005 NEC "(7) Laundry, utility, and wet bar sinks ù where the receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the sink"Here is the commentary in the handbook."Recognizing that sinks at wet bars are not the only location where a ground-fault shock
   hazard exists, this requirement now also covers sinks in laundry and utility areas. With
   this change, GFCI protection requirements are now in place for all areas in a dwelling
   unit in which a sink is installed. The revised text of this requirement does not limit the
   GFCI requirement to only receptacles serving countertop surfaces; rather, it covers all
   125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles that are within 6 ft of any point along the
   outside edge of the sink. Many appliances used in these locations are ungrounded, and
   the presence of water and grounded surfaces contributes to a hazardous environment,
   leading to the revision of this requirement for GFCI protection around sinks. Unlike
   the GFCI requirements for garages and unfinished basements, there are no exceptions
   to GFCI protection for receptacles installed within 6 ft of laundry, utility, and wet bar
   sinks. As illustrated in Exhibit 210.14, any 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles
   installed within 6 ft of a wet bar, laundry, or utility sink is required to be GFCI
   protected."Also the commentry on washer in a bathroom."GFCI receptacles in bathrooms prevent accidents. Therefore, 210.8(A)(1) requires that
   all 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles in bathrooms have GFCI
   protection, including receptacles that are integral with luminaires and, of course, wallmounted
   receptacles adjacent to the basin. Note that there are no exceptions to the
   bathroom GFCI requirement. For example, if a washing machine is located in the
   bathroom, the 15- or 20- ampere, 125 volt receptacle that is required to be supplied
   from the laundry branch circuit must be GFCI protected."Also note that this is one of the areas that local amendments like to play with..
   .
   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

   Edited 4/3/2007 4:30 pm by BillHartmann

1. 
   GotAll10 | Apr 04, 2007 05:41am | #4

   Thanks for the reply.  The outlet is less than 2 feet from the laundry tub, which is why I put in a GFI.  The inspector didn't just say that I didn't need it, he told me to remove it before he would pass the inspection.

1. 
   BillHartmann | Apr 04, 2007 07:38am | #5

   There is nothing in the NEC that prevents you from sticking a GFCI in anyplace that you want.Whether a GFCI is required or not as I said that it one of the areas that locals like to modify. But I have not seen any codes that prohibit using a GFCI.But for something like this I would replace it with a regular recept and then as soon as his car leaves the driveway but the GFCI back..
   .
   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

2. 
   BillHartmann | Apr 04, 2007 07:54am | #6

   I looked up Waterloo's building code and I see that they are still using the 99 NEC. And while there are a number of local amendments none of them affect GFCI requirements.http://66.113.195.234/IA/Waterloo/index.htmThat version does not require GFCI's at landry and utility sinks. But again no prohibition againts having one..
   .
   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

2. 
   JohnSprung | Apr 18, 2007 02:20am | #7

   Yup, that's been my experience with GFCI on the washer.  Once in a while it'll nuisance trip.  

    

   -- J.S.

    

1. 
   BarryO | Apr 29, 2007 09:27pm | #8

   Once in awhile, every GFCI will nuisance trip.