# Water fountain on GFCI???

**URL:** <https://forum.nachi.org/t/water-fountain-on-gfci/34695>\
**Category:** Electrical Inspections\
**Created:** [December 22, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/water-fountain-on-gfci/34695 "2008-12-22T23:27:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jfunderburk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jfunderburk/32/187920_2.png) [@jfunderburk](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jfunderburk)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/water-fountain-on-gfci/34695/1 "2008-12-22T23:27:04Z")

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Did a commercial inspection today. Small office building. Should a water fountain be on ground fault?

![122208 029.JPG](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/2X/4/476a3bf2b8fe7ba743b2146e8e95f95c046f2c30.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![wchris1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/wchris1/32/101_2.png) [@wchris1](https://forum.nachi.org/u/wchris1)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/water-fountain-on-gfci/34695/2 "2008-12-22T23:31:19Z")

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**Joe** , sure seems to be right, but I’m not sure . . . I would think you have the potential for water to spill over the sides . . . good question, will await to hear from others, 'cause I don’t know either.

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**Author:** ![jbushart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@jbushart](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jbushart)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/water-fountain-on-gfci/34695/3 "2008-12-23T00:30:23Z")

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> [@jfunderburk](#):
>
> Did a commercial inspection today. Small office building. Should a water fountain be on ground fault?
> 
> ![122208 029.JPG](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/2X/4/476a3bf2b8fe7ba743b2146e8e95f95c046f2c30.jpeg)

Yes. NEC 2005 440.21

The protective device can have a rating/setting of up to 175% of the motor-compressor rated load current and need not be less than 15 amps.

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**Author:** ![mlarson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mlarson/32/89225_2.png) [@mlarson](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mlarson)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/water-fountain-on-gfci/34695/4 "2008-12-23T00:48:53Z")

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As of the 2008 NEC code cycle a GFCI circuit is required.

422.52 — ELECTRIC DRINKING FOUNTAINS

GFCI protection for electric drinking fountains was added.

**Electric drinking fountains shall be connected to a GFCI-protected outlet. Author’s comment: This new requirement was brought about without documentation of an electrical accident or incident.**

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**Author:** ![jfunderburk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jfunderburk/32/187920_2.png) [@jfunderburk](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jfunderburk)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/water-fountain-on-gfci/34695/5 "2008-12-23T01:16:24Z")

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Thanks to all. Just what I needed.