Alright,
I’ve been building a house and having inspector problems. He has been trying to enforce items that are not code, and I’ve caught him several times. Now he’s trying to get me on my rough in electrical inspection and I don’t know the NEC by heart, but enough to know what i’m doing.
He’s trying to tell me I need outlets within 6′ of every door. You
need an outlet within 24″ of all countertops. You need an outlet within
24″ of the edge of sinks.
Is this really code????? Does anybody know the comm numbers for this? I’m in wisconsin if it makes a difference?
upnorthframer
“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance!!!”
Replies
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/code/comm/comm016.pdf
The rest, Bill Hartman will probably be able to answer. Where in WI?
superior
I've read comm16 but nowhere did I find these codes
He is basically correct.
210.52
(1) Spacing Receptacles shall be installed so that no point measured horizontally along
the floor line in any wall space is more than 1.8 m (6 ft) from a receptacle outlet.
(2) Wall Space As used in this section, a wall space shall include the following:
(1) Any space 600 mm (2 ft) or more in width (including space measured around
corners) and unbroken along the floor line by doorways, fireplaces, and similar
openings
(2) The space occupied by fixed panels in exterior walls, excluding sliding panels
(3) The space afforded by fixed room dividers such as freestanding bar-type counters
or railings
(3) Floor Receptacles Receptacle outlets in floors shall not be counted as part of the
required number of receptacle outlets unless located within 450 mm (18 in.) of the wall."
This is commentary from the Handbook. Not code, but explanatory information.
Receptacles are required to be located so that no point in any wall space is more than 6
ft from a receptacle. This rule intends that an appliance or lamp with a flexible cord
attached may be placed anywhere in the room near a wall and be within 6 ft of a
receptacle, thus eliminating the need for extension cords. Although not an enforceable
requirement, receptacles may be placed equal distances apart where there is no specific
room layout for the general use of electrical equipment. Section 210.52(A)(1) does not
prohibit a receptacle layout designed for intended utilization equipment or practical
room use. For example, receptacles in a living room, family room, or den that are
intended to serve home entertainment equipment or home office equipment may be
placed in corners, may be grouped, or may be placed in a convenient location.
Receptacles that are intended for window-type holiday lighting may be placed under
windows. In any event, even if more receptacles than the minimum are installed in a
room, no point in any wall space is permitted to be more than 6 ft from a receptacle.
A wall space is a wall unbroken along the floor line by doorways, fireplaces, archways,
and similar openings and may include two or more walls of a room (around corners),
as illustrated in Exhibit 210.24.
Fixed room dividers, such as bar-type counters and railings, are to be included in the 6-
ft measurement. Fixed panels in exterior walls are counted as regular wall space, and a
floor-type receptacle close to the wall can be used to meet the required spacing.
Isolated, individual wall spaces 2 ft or more in width are often used for small pieces of
furniture on which a lamp or an appliance may be placed, and to preclude the use of an
extension cord to supply equipment in such an isolated space, a receptacle outlet is
required.
The word usable does not appear at all in 210.52 as a condition for determining
compliance with the receptacle-spacing requirements. As an example, to correctly
determine the dimension of the wall line in a room, the wall space behind the swing of
a door is included in the measurement. This does not mean that the receptacle outlet
has to be located in that space, only that the space has been included in the wall-line
measurement.
Kitchen countertop
"(C) Countertops In kitchens and dining rooms of dwelling units, receptacle outlets for
counter spaces shall be installed in accordance with 210.52(C)(1) through (C)(5).
(1) Wall Counter Spaces A receptacle outlet shall be installed at each wall counter space
that is 300 mm (12 in.) or wider. Receptacle outlets shall be installed so that no point
along the wall line is more than 600 mm (24 in.) measured horizontally from a receptacle
outlet in that space.
Exception: Receptacle outlets shall not be required on a wall directly behind a range or
sink in the installation described in Figure 210.52.
(2) Island Counter Spaces At least one receptacle shall be installed at each island
counter space with a long dimension of 600 mm (24 in.) or greater and a short dimension
of 300 mm (12 in.) or greater. Where a rangetop or sink is installed in an island counter
and the width of the counter behind the rangetop or sink is less than 300 mm (12 in.), the
rangetop or sink is considered to divide the island into two separate countertop spaces as
defined in 210.52(C)(4).
(3) Peninsular Counter Spaces At least one receptacle outlet shall be installed at each
peninsular counter space with a long dimension of 600 mm (24 in.) or greater and a short
dimension of 300 mm (12 in.) or greater. A peninsular countertop is measured from the
connecting edge.
(4) Separate Spaces Countertop spaces separated by rangetops, refrigerators, or sinks
shall be considered as separate countertop spaces in applying the requirements of
210.52(C)(1), (C)(2), and (C)(3).
(5) Receptacle Outlet Location Receptacle outlets shall be located above, but not more
than 500 mm (20 in.) above, the countertop. Receptacle outlets rendered not readily
accessible by appliances fastened in place, appliance garages, sinks, or rangetops as
covered in 210.52(C)(1), Exception, or appliances occupying dedicated space shall not be
considered as these required outlets.
Exception to (5): To comply with the conditions specified in (1) or (2), receptacle outlets
shall be permitted to be mounted not more than 300 mm (12 in.) below the countertop.
Receptacles mounted below a countertop in accordance with this exception shall not be
located where the countertop extends more than 150 mm (6 in.) beyond its support base.
(1) Construction for the physically impaired
(2) On island and peninsular countertops where the countertop is flat across its entire
surface (no back-splashes, dividers, etc.) and there are no means to mount a
receptacle within 500 mm (20 in.) above the countertop, such as an overhead
cabinet"
From the handbook.
"Dwelling unit receptacles that serve countertop spaces in kitchens, dining areas, and
similar rooms, as illustrated in Exhibit 210.26, are required to be installed as follows:
1. In each wall space wider than 12 in. and spaced so that no point along the wall
line is more than 24 in. from a receptacle
2. Not more than 20 in. above the countertop [According to 406.4(E),
receptacles cannot be installed in a face-up position. Receptacles installed in a face-up
position in a countertop could collect crumbs, liquids, and other debris, resulting in a
potential fire or shock hazard.]
3. At each countertop island and peninsular countertop with a short dimension of
at least 12 in. and a long dimension of at least 24 in. (The measurement of a
peninsular-type countertop is from the edge connecting to the nonpeninsular counter.)
4. Accessible for use and not blocked by appliances occupying dedicated space
or fastened in place
5. Fed from two or more of the required 20-ampere small-appliance branch
circuits and GFCI protected according to 210.8(A)(6)"
You might want to get a copy of Electical Code Check. I have seen it at the home horror stores and the books stores or direct from Taunton.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Thanks Bill,
One last thing, he told me it was code to install a 120 volt duplex receptacle behind my electric range incase someone wants to install a gas range in the future. This seems really weird considering there won't be a gas line there.
upnorthframer
The NEC does not require a range receptacle. And while I did not look for it I looked in the WI code to see if that section was modified and thus I did not see anything.It is possible that they have it in the building or gas code, but I doubt it..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.