What year did they change the 6ft,12ft rule on electrical outlet locations?

Specific Inspection Topics Electrical Inspections
1

Did a new home inspection where there was a 16ft sliding glass door in back of the house with no floor outlets within 18 inches of the rear slider. When I wrote it up, the builder told the client that that was “Old Code” and is no longer in use. Is this true, untrue?

2

Good idea not to listen to the builder. The 6’/12’ wall space rule still includes (as it has for decades) the space in front of the fixed panels of a sliding door. A floor receptacle within 18" of the window would satisfy the code requirement.

210.52(A)(2) Wall Space.
As used in this section, a wall space shall include the following:
(1) Any space 600 mm (2 ft) or more in width (including space measured around corners) and unbroken along the floor line by doorways and similar openings, fireplaces, and fixed cabinets that do not have countertops or similar work surfaces
(2) The space occupied by fixed panels in walls, excluding sliding panels
(3) The space afforded by fixed room dividers, such as freestanding bar-type counters or railings
210.52(A)(3) Floor Receptacles.
Receptacle outlets in or on floors shall not be counted as part of the required number of receptacle outlets unless located within 450 mm (18 in.) of the wall.

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3

This is the key here.

4

What code are they following in your jurisdiction? Local enforcement is another consideration. There is only one arbitrator here, the local AHJ.

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5

Where are the fixed panels located? If they’re at the ends and they’re less than 6’ wide a floor receptacle is not required.

6

Wouldn’t that depend on where the nearest wall receptacle is located?

7

Yes that’s correct you would still need one in the wall next to the fixed panel within 6’ of the edge of the panel. That was mentioned in the thread I linked.

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8

You are asking the wrong question. What you need to know is if the code change (whenever it was published in the NEC) was adopted by ordinance in the area you inspected and, if so, when it was adopted. Being in the code book does not necessarily mean that it was adopted by the people who enforce it.

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