Outlets above baseboard heaters

Originally Posted By: kmcmahon
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I know that electrical outlets are not supposed to be located above an electric baseboard heater, but how about a hydronic baseboard heater?


Found one yesterday with baseboard heaters with outlets above all over the home. One cheapo white cord even was browned by the heat.

Not sure what to write up here. What is the melting point of plastic?

Found some NM cable in the basement melted by having contact with hot water pipes.


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Originally Posted By: rmoore
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Kevin…


even if it doesn't get hot enough to melt the cord, the heat is still degrading the conductors capacity to safely carry the rated ampacity. The heat from the "radiator", combined with a load, could be enough to melt the plastic. So...I think you still need to call it as a hazard.


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Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
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Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley
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I have always written up receptacles above baseboard heaters of any type because of the heat. I didn’t know there was another reason.


Originally Posted By: James D Mosier
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My parents added on their house in 1979. The new family room is 22ft long with hydronic baseboard heat spanning the middle 16 feet. How would you possibly not have receptacles above the heater and still keep them within the 12ft max distance between receptacles?



Jim Mosier

Originally Posted By: Guest
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While it may not be ideal, it’s allowed here and done all the time.


Originally Posted By: jfarsetta
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It is allowed…



Joe Farsetta


Illigitimi Non Carborundum
"Dont let the bastards grind you down..."

Originally Posted By: kmcmahon
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jfarsetta wrote:
It is allowed...

Well, even if it's allowed I had to make them aware of a potential safety concern simply from the fact that the cord above was burnt where it contacted the heater. I just noted it in every location that had a baseboard heater below an outlet.
There's no other way around that from what I saw.


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Originally Posted By: jfarsetta
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What type of heater. My answer was in the context of hydronic baseboard, not electric, where a heating element can be touched and cause a fire.



Joe Farsetta


Illigitimi Non Carborundum
"Dont let the bastards grind you down..."

Originally Posted By: kmcmahon
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hydronic…



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