The NEC goes on to list the following required branch circuit locations to be protected by GFCI technology: bathrooms, garages, outdoors, crawl spaces, basements, kitchens (countertop receptacles), sinks (within 1.8 m, 6 ft), boathouses, bathtubs, laundry areas, and indoor damp and wet locations.
Where are GFCI required?
The NEC mandates GFCI protection in many areas of the home: bathrooms, garages, outdoor receptacles, crawl spaces, basements, kitchens and anything within six feet of a sink or water source. While that may seem like a lot, the entirety of a home is not covered.
What appliances require GFCI protection?
Vending machines, cord-and-plug-connected spray washers, drinking fountains, auto vacuum and tire inflation machines installed for the public require GFCI protection.
What is a GFCI and when must it be used?
The ground-fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is a fast-acting circuit breaker designed to shut off electric power in the event of a ground-fault within as little as 1/40 of a second.In this case, the person will receive a shock, but the GFCI should trip so quickly that the shock will not be harmful.
What are the particular areas that NEC requires to install GFCI?
Per 210.8, you must install GFCI protection for all 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles located in bathrooms, rooftops, and kitchens in commercial/industrial facilities. However, GFCI protection is not required for receptacles installed outside a commercial or industrial occupancy.
When did GFCI become required?
1971
GFCI receptacles were required in houses starting in 1971. Originally they were only required at the exterior of the house and by swimming pool equipment. Over the years, GFCI receptacles have been required in more locations such as garages, bathrooms, kitchens, etc.
Is GFCI required under sink?
210.8(A) requires receptacles serving the kitchen countertop to be GFCI protected. It also requires GFCI protection for receptacles within 6′ of a sink, but only sinks not in a kitchen. The 2014 edition added 210.8(D), which requires dwelling unit dishwashers to be GFCI protected.
Is a GFCI required for a refrigerator?
Residential Kitchen
In a dwelling unit (residential), GFCI protection is only required for kitchen receptacles that serve the countertop surfaces. There’s no requirement to GFCI protect receptacles that serve a refrigerator. Unless the fridge is plugged into a countertop receptacle.
Do kitchens need GFCI?
Kitchens: All receptacles serving countertop areas and any receptacle within 6 feet of a sink must have GFCI protection.Laundry, utility, and wet bar sinks: Where receptacles are placed within 6 feet of the outside edge of the sink, they require GFCI protection.
Are GFCI stickers required?
At a GFCI receptacle outlet, only a NO EQUIPMENT GROUND sticker is required on the face plate.If the receptacle is dead, the sticker indicates that the most likely culprit is a nearby GFCI-receptacle that has tripped.
What are the 3 types of GFCI?
The three most common types of GFCIs are the outlet, the circuit breaker and the portable one.
How does a GFCI receptacle work?
GFCI outlets and breakers have a sensor that detects electrical imbalances as low as 4 to 5 milliamps across the hot and neutral wires. When an imbalance occurs, the sensor instantly breaks the circuit rendering the circuit dead. Power can be restored by resetting the tripped outlet or breaker.
What kind of GFCI do I need for a bathroom?
The National Electric Code states that, at a minimum, a bathroom needs one GFCI-protected outlet. It’s recommended that each bathroom has two or three GFCI protected outlets. The number of outlets you choose to protect is up to you, as long as you have at least one GFCI protected outlet in a bathroom.
Where are AFCI and GFCI required?
The latest National Electrical Code requires both AFCI and GFCI protection only in kitchens and laundry rooms. And within those rooms, the Dual Function AFCI/GFCI Receptacle provides what is called feed-through protection, which means it provides protection for all wiring and extensions attached to the load side.
How does a GFCI protect a circuit?
What Is a GFCI Circuit Breaker? GFCI circuit breakers protect the entire circuit. GFCI circuit breakers are simple: By installing one in the service panel (breaker box), it adds GFCI protection to an entire circuit, including the wiring and all devices and appliances connected to the circuit.
Do all bathroom outlets need to be GFCI?
Bathrooms All bathroom receptacles should have GFCI outlets installed.Any outlets within six feet of this sink (and the dedicated washing machine outlet) should be equipped with GFCI outlets. Outside All outlets installed outside of your home should be GFCI outlets.
When did NEC require GFCI?
The NEC –1975 introduced indoor GFCI requirements for use in dwelling-unit bathrooms. Countertop receptacles near the kitchen sink have been required to be GFCI-protected since 1987; just how close those receptacles have to be near the sink have changed over time.
When did GFI become GFCI?
1971
GFCI outlets officially became required in 1971, but only for outdoor receptacles. Over time, the list of required GFCI locations grew to include outdoor receptacles, bathrooms, garages, kitchens, unfinished basements, receptacles near swimming pools, and light fixtures near pools.
When did GFCI become required in kitchen Canada?
1971
Why GFCI is required
Starting 1971, it was mandatory in Canada that all areas where water and electricity are close, must be fitted with GFCI.
How far from a sink is a GFCI required?
6 ft.
Generally, all 15 or 20-amp, single phase, 125-volt receptacles within 6 ft. of a sink, tub or shower must be GFCI protected. For a sink, the measurement starts from the top inside edge of the bowl of the sink. For a bathtub or shower, the measurement starts at the outside edge of the bathtub or shower stall.
Do washers need GFCI?
The NEC doesn’t require GFCI protection for clothes washing machines specifically, but it does for Laundry Areas.If the answer is yes, then you have your answer- the clothes washing machine will be GFCI protected, because all 120-Volt receptacles are to be GFCI protected in laundry areas, per the 2017 NEC.
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