Robert, those bar walls are all pretty much the same. You don’t have to be there to grasp this issue.
Here’s how I write it up for anyone who may be interested:
“One or more outlets on the bar wall within six feet of the kitchen sink was not provided with ground-fault protection. We recommend upgrading the outlets to have ground fault protection. GFCI receptacles are life saving devices and have been required within 6 feet of the sink since 1987 and at all outlets serving kitchen counters since 1996.”
The “six feet” wording is not in the 2006 code so I would change that verbiage.
I write it up as a safety upgrade.
The reason it is wired to the GFCI circuit on new homes is to save wire, not to meet any code.
Also, its not about just the sink, the kitchen is considered a potentially wet area.
Some houses have a butlers pantry with a countertop that is 15 feet from the kitchen sink and most code inspectors are requiring these to be GFCI also.
OK, my obtuse friends, forget the pictured outlet. Picture in your mind an outlet on the bar wall within 6 feet of the sink! That’s what this is about.
Point is…in the picture shown has a receptacle that is more than 12" below the counter surface ANYWAY so it can’t serve any counter top so if this is a kitchen it would not need GFCI…REGARDLESS of what you think a person might plug into it.
If you have a Wet Bar application then within 6’ of the wetbar sink would apply but in the picture i see it is not a Wet Bar…so NOPE…GFCI not required.
The point is the NEC ( which is concerned about safety just as much as anyone ) is very specific on where GFCI is applied and where it is not.
210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.
FPN: See 215.9 for ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection
for personnel on feeders.
**(A) Dwelling Units.
**All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and
20-ampere receptacles installed in the locations specified in
(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 [ROP 2–50] [ROP 2–40, 2–41, 2–51]
(3) Outdoors Exception to (3): Receptacles that are not readily accessible and are supplied by a dedicated branch circuit for electric snow-melting or deicing equipment shall be permitted to be installed in accordance with 426.28.
(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 [ROP-2–41, 2–40, 2–56, 2–57] Exception to (5): A receptacle supplying only a permanently installed fire alarm or burglar alarm system shall not be required to have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection.
Receptacles installed under the exception to
210.8(A)(5) shall not be considered as meeting the requirements
of 210.52(G). [ROP 2–40] (6) Kitchens — where the receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces
(7) Laundry, utility, and wet bar sinks — where the receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the sink
[8]Boathouses
So, do you advise clients not to buy homes that are in the flight path of an airport? Where do you draw the line when giving your opinion on perceived safety??
Codes are our guidelines, whether you “quote” them or not. The receptacle in question does not require GFCI protection - period.
Yes codes are guidelines but so is personal experience. I have been to many a party (We Italians have massive parties)where electrical appliances sit on top of the wall (Counter) plugged in willy nilly(and many don’t have common sense or hope to much on luck) all over the place and all it would take is one bump and the least the could happen is one fried appliance or the worst someone seriously hurt.If I can make that area a little safer for them through a recommendation I do. If they chose not to follow it so be it.
Yes I follow code but sometimes you have to give that little extra.
That is a common place for receptacle installations here because many kitchens border family rooms or living rooms. They are not required by our AHJ to be GFCI protected as they are considered a required installation for the living or family room.
For those of you that would require the receptacle to be GFCI protected, do you recommend that office desk receptacles have GFCI protection. Heck, If I spill my beer on the power strip, I could get a big bad shock!
I understand your reasoning Gerry, but that type of recommendation is unwarranted. The flight path scenario was pretty extreme, so I’ll give you another one. . .
Receptacles located on interior walls, just inside entry doors - do you recommend these be upgraded as well? After all, someone may run a cord to the exterior for their power tools, or perhaps a radio on the back porch.
OK
Let me ask you guys about kitchen counters.
What if you have a split counter with a stove in the middle and a sink on the left side ,but a receptacle on the right counter.
I suppose you see no need for GFCI on the right counter ,since there is no sink on it.
After all they will not plug in on the right counter and set the appliance on the left counter ,near the sink.Especially if it is 10 feet away.
Please explain ,since it is required all kitchen receptacles be GFCI.
