So I’m trying to find out if garbage disposals should be connected to GFCIs. It seems from a quick internet search that the answer is no, but take a look at the NEC code: [FONT=Times]
“All receptacles serving kitchen counter tops or within 6 feet of any sink shall have GFCI [/FONT][FONT=Times]rotection. 2002 NEC** 210.8”**[/FONT][FONT=Times][/FONT]Isn’t that a firm, “yes”? Unless, of course, your disposal is more than six feet from the sink.
Cheers
Rob
We used to have electricians come by and answer this type of question but alas no more since moderation happened. 
If the disposal is NOT hardwired, I recommend a GFCI, knowing that I am not dependent upon the code and what is written will back me up, in a pinch.
Carl Brown and Dale Duffy’s board gets quite a few visitors. You can probably get an electrician to respond to you right away.
I read that thread thoroughly before I started this one. People seem to think that the code does not require GFCIs for garbage disposals because they are not on sink level, but they don’t seem to notice that there is an “or” in the code, not an “and”. Kitchen appliances on sink level OR are within six feet of the sink must be protected by a GFCI. As the disposal is underneath the sink I’d say it qualifies. The NEC says nothing specifically about disposals or exemptions from what I can tell.
The beauty of being a home inspector is that I can recommend things based upon observation and common sense and am not restricted by the code books.
[FONT=Times-Roman][size=2]Where did you get that reference? Here is the exact text from the 2002 NEC[/size][/FONT]
210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.
(6) Kitchens — where the receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces
(7) Wet bar sinks — where the receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces and are located within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the wet bar sink.
The answer is “no.” There is no (nor has there ever been a) requirement for GFCI protection at an under-counter disposal.
Is this not a problem in it’s self. If a motor is pluged into a GFCI the start voltage can sometimes trip the gfci as in the case of a freezer being pluged into one and tripping after you reset it. Leaving the food to get a little warm if not noticed.
James - Point taken
Jeffery - I got that reference from here: http://74.125.45.132/search?q=cache:Efw25AcKFoAJ:www.siouxcenter.org/General%20Electrical%20Requirements.pdf+nec+210.8&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a
It’s possible that it was altered. I’ll go with your reference, thanks. If anyone has any further input I’d like to hear it.
To me, it is common sense to use the GFCI, and I recommend it.
Maybe it is just us old guys, but when I open the doors underneath the sink to poke my head in…the hand that is supporting my weight often has a grip on the wet area countertop, above. As I balance myself with my left hand at the top of the sink, and reach underneath with my right…I would take comfort in knowing that I was protected by a GFCI.
Recmmend visual observation of undersink area prior to inserting right hand. :p;-)
I can’t think of a reason for the disposal receptacle to be GFCI protected, hard wired or not.
The disposals are not hard wired here, and a GFCI is not required. Nor is one required for the dishwasher, which is also a plug in appliance.
I’m not sure I understand how you consider it to be “common sense” anymore than many other locations in the home, but that’s neither here nor there.
The OP asked for an opinion based on an imaginary code, to which I responded - there is no such requirement.
I support the right of every inspector to make recommendations for “safety upgrades,” however, I think there should be something “code based” or “reality based” to make those recommendations on.
Would you reconsider is the GD was plugged in to a double receptacle(as most are), leaving another receptacle open for use directly beneath the kitchen sink?
In my mind, that would make no difference. The receptacle is not “readily accessible,” so it would rarely (if ever) be used except for a fixed appliance - i.e. water heater, dishwasher, trash compactor, etc.
Absolutely agree, otherwise this is exactly how we end up with all kinds of bogus “rule of thumb” theories and personal preferences expressed by many different Inspectors that get passed around / along until these become “fact” or “normal” criteria. This is often how errors get incorporated and evolve into a standard with no basis in reality or accepted practice. I would personally like for every home I inspect to be 100% safe, have no discrepancies, be cleaned prior to the inspection and be provided with a long list of upgrades and known issues but I don’t think that is going to happen any time soon. My preferences are not at issue here. I don’t think we should be code inspectors but I do think we should be knowledgeable of codes enough to know where the boundaries are and recognize legitimate “unsafe” conditions, but not make up new ones on my own.
As Mr. Pope has said there is no need for a GFI for the disposal from a NEC standpoint.
Those who desire to recommend GFCIs were they are not called for may wish to reconsider their take on this issue as there is little added safety in providing a GFCI for a garbage disposal.
A direct wire or grounded receptacle are more than sufficient.
Think here…
Is the Garbage Disposal receptacle serving the countertop?- NO
Is the receptacle more than 12" down from the countertop surface? - Probably Yes
Now since you are using the 2002 NEC, Where exactly does it say serving the “Kitchen” countertops. Let’s look at the NEC:( 2002 Mind You )
[FONT=Times-Roman][size=2]210.8(A)(6) Kitchens [/size][/FONT][FONT=Times-Roman][size=2]— [/size][/FONT][FONT=Times-Roman][size=2]where the receptacles are installed to serve
the countertop surfaces.
Sorry as I dont see anything about the 6’ in that section. Maybe you are refering to wet bars, lets look…
[FONT=Times-Roman][size=2][FONT=Times-Roman][size=2]210.8(A)(7) Wet bar sinks [/size][/size][/FONT][FONT=Times-Roman][size=2]— [/size][/FONT][FONT=Times-Roman][size=2]where the receptacles are installed to
serve the countertop surfaces and are located within 1.8
m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the wet bar sink.
So since you said nothing about wet bars we wont use 210.8(A)(7) at all and since the garage disposal is not serving any countertop at all then the answer is NO to your question.
[/size][/FONT]
[/FONT][/size][/FONT]
Michale writes:
Huh?
This message board isn’t moderated. Where did you hear that?
Members aren’t moderated at all.
Registered non-members who post for a while have their posts go right up as if they were members.
Electricians answering this type of question aren’t moderated.
The only small, unique group that could possibly be considered to be moderated would be a non-member who attempts to post something so offensive that none of the moderators (who have no control over members and no control over each other and do not include a single staffer) ALL agree unanimously to prevent the post from being seen. That’s not moderation.
The number of posts that fall in that rare latter category constitute 0.01% (1/10,000th) of all posts.
Yes it is moderated in that posts from non members must be approved by a moderator.
Very few non members visit here anymore and some have expressed why. The delay in getting their post approved is only part of the problem.