All receptacles in garage require GFCI protection

Specific Inspection Topics Electrical Inspections
1

According to IRC 2012, all 125-volt, single-phase, 15- or 20-ampere receptacles installed in garages and grade-level portions of unfinished accessory buildings used for storage or work areas shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

All garage receptacles, without exception, including the ones that are not readily accessible.

In previous years, there were exceptions to the rule. But no longer.

http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/irc/2012/icod_irc_2012_39_sec002.htm

2

Does that mean all 120 volt are fine without GFCI.:mrgreen:
Thanks Ben for posting the link.

3

Correct me if I’m wrong, but 120- and 125-volt are (for the sake of being simple) the same thing.

Over the years, the voltage has been incrementally raised from 110 to 120 to 125 volts in homes, due to increasing demand. Since you can’t change the wires, you increase the voltage - more push.

What’s interesting to me is that garage door openers should be GFCI-protected.

4

You would be correct! I measure them periodically.
I will allow a true Master Electrician to fill you in with the GFCI for garage doors.

5

“…for personnel”. Does not say anything about garage door openers. Personnel cannot access an outlets at the ceiling, unless a ladder is in use. Gray area, IMO.

6

While this may be a new change to the IRC, I don’t know or use it, it is simply a mirror of the change in the 2008 NEC.

The NEC rules is all, including the GDO receptacles. The reset also needs to be readily accessible so a ceiling mounted device is no good.

210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for
Personnel. Ground-fault circuit-interruption for personnel
shall be provided as required in 210.8(A) through ©. The
ground-fault circuit-interrupter shall be installed in a
readily accessible location.
Informational Note: See 215.9 for ground-fault circuitinterrupter
protection for personnel on feeders.
(A) Dwelling Units. All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-
ampere receptacles installed in the locations specified in
210.8(A)(1) through (8) shall have ground-fault circuit interrupter
protection for personnel.
(1) Bathrooms
(2) Garages, and also accessory buildings that have a floor
located at or below grade level not intended as habitable
rooms and limited to storage areas, work areas,
and areas of similar use
(3) Outdoors
Exception to (3): Receptacles that are not readily accessible
and are supplied by a branch circuit dedicated to
electric snow-melting, deicing, or pipeline and vessel heating
equipment shall be permitted to be installed in accordance
with 426.28 or 427.22, as applicable.
(4) Crawl spaces — at or below grade level
(5) Unfinished basements — for purposes of this section,
unfinished basements are defined as portions or areas of
the basement not intended as habitable rooms and limited
to storage areas, work areas, and the like

7

I agree and this NEC change (all garage rec’s) has been around since the 2008 code cycle.

8

Ever hear of a GFCI breaker??? :roll:

9

Here’s a GDO w/ GFCI protection from an inspection last week on a 2010 home.

GDO with GFCI.JPG
GDO with GFCI.JPG800×600 30.4 KB
Wall GFCI.JPG
Wall GFCI.JPG800×600 20.6 KB

10

IMO, that is exactly how they all should be installed/wired. :slight_smile:

11

Nice installation. So if it does trip you don’t have to climb on your car to reset it.

12

Damn when a GFCI trips, there goes all the food in that freezer!

13

Just as an FYI…the increase of voltages as you describe has nothing to do with requirement in terms as described. The 125-volt reflects the NEMA ratings.

As for the meat in the freezer…really…lets not go there;)

14

The protection is for a person using something plugged into the receptacle. This ensures GFI protection should a cord be used on the GDO receptacle for power tools etc.

15

The reset needs to be readily accessible by code. See the definition in Article 100.

16

Better spoiled food than a dead person shocked from a faulty appliance. There are also GFI’s with power loss alarms to alert should it trip.

17

That happened to me a couple years ago. I was busy at work, and I didn’t notice it for a couple weeks. All the food I brought back from a trip to Alaska, Caribou, Salmon, Halibut, all ruined. :vomit:

18

I have something similar to this.

http://www.amazon.com/Failed-Circuit-Alarm-New-Style/dp/B0077Q9NC6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371828483&sr=8-2&keywords=power+failure+alarm

19

Where is the sticker that says it’s dangerous to play in the street?

20

Nothing gray about it. It’s not about accessibility of the receptacle.