This article was posted 04/17/2006 and is most likely outdated.

April NEC Questions and Answers
 

 
Topic - NEC Questions
Subject - April NEC Questions and Answers

April 17, 2006  

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April NEC Questions and Answers

By Mike Holt for EC&M Magazine

Q1. Can a GFCI type receptacle be installed on an AFCI protected circuit?
A1. Sure. As a matter of fact, some manufacturers have listed circuit breakers that incorporate both GFCI and AFCI protection.

Q2. Is GFCI protection required for a single-phase, 208V, 30A coffee maker receptacle in a commercial kitchen?
A2. No, only 15 and 20A, 125V receptacles installed in commercial kitchens need to be GFCI protected [210.8(B)(2)].

Q3. What are the NEC rules for splicing copper and aluminum conductors together?
A2. Copper and aluminum conductors must not make contact with each other, except within a device that is listed and identified for this purpose [110.14].

Q4. Am I required to “pigtail” conductors at receptacles and switches, or can the screws provided on the devices be used to maintain the circuit continuity?
A4. Conductor pigtailing is generally not required, but the continuity of the grounded (neutral) conductor of a multiwire branch circuit must not be interrupted by the removal of a wiring device. Therefore, the grounded (neutral) conductors of multiwire branch circuits must be spliced together, and a pigtail must be provided for the wiring device [300.13(B)].

Q5. Can I use MC Cable for luminaires located at 8’ above a patient care area?
A5. Branch circuits that serve patient care areas must be installed in a metal raceway or listed cable with a metallic armor or sheath that qualifies as an effective ground-fault current path in accordance with 250.118.

Typically, the outer metal sheath of interlocked Type MC Cable isn’t listed as a suitable ground-fault current path [250.118(10]). Therefore, it is not permitted to supply branch circuits in patient care areas of health care facilities.

However, the metal armored sheath of Type AC cable is listed as a suitable ground-fault current path (it contains an internal bonding strip in direct contact with the metal sheath of the cable [250.118(8)]) and it can be used.

Author’s Comment: Patient care areas include patient rooms as well as examining rooms, therapy areas, examining and treatment rooms, recreational areas, and some patient corridors. See 517.2.

Q6. What is the minimum distance a receptacle must be located away from a sink?
A6. The NEC doesn’t specify a minimum distance that a receptacle must be located from a sink. However in dwelling units, GFCI protection is required for all 15 and 20A, 125V receptacles located within an arc measurement of 6 ft from the dwelling unit laundry, utility, or wet bar sink [210.8(A)(7)].

Q7. Is an air duct permitted to be installed directly above an electrical panel?
A7. No, the footprint space (width and depth of the equipment) extending from the floor to a height of 6 ft above the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, must be dedicated for the electrical installation. No piping, duct, or other equipment foreign to the electrical installation can be installed in this dedicated footprint space [110.26(F)].

Q8. Can the service disconnect be located within 5’ of a pool or hot tub?
A8. No. Circuit breakers, time clocks, pool light switches, and other switching devices must be located not less than 5 ft horizontally from the inside walls of a permanently installed pool, outdoor spa, or outdoor hot tub unless separated by a solid fence, wall, or other permanent barrier [680.22(C)]

Q9. Can I install Type NM Cable inside a raceway?
A9. Yes, but the cable must be protected from abrasion by a fitting installed on the end of the raceway [300.15(C)].

Q10. Does the NEC address the height of wiring devices, such as receptacles and light switches in a commercial building?
A10. No, the NEC doesn’t address where switches and receptacles are to be located, but commercial occupancies may require the devices to be accessible to disabled persons in accordance with the American Disabilities Act.

 
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Comments

  • 210.52 (A) (2) (1) Does this mean any space 2 ft or more is to be included in the wall space measurement for the 6 ft rule or does it mean a receptacle must be installed in any wall space 2 ft or more

    lcolesce@msn.com
    Reply to this comment

  • I can see where a short piece of EMT or PVC can be used to protect an NM wire from physical protection, however can you install a long length of NM wire inside of a long run of EMT? What is considered a long run? 20", 50', 100'? I have seen the rule of thumb was, a length of pipe 10 feet or less could be use for protection but anything over 10 feet should use the THHN wire or individual strands. This is just my thought.

    P.S. I love your posts and I read them all.

    Harold Endean
    Reply to this comment

  • The answer to number 7 is yes, as long as it is not installed in the dedicated footprint space.

    Fred Bender
    Reply to this comment

  • Q10 Asks about addressing height of wiring devices giving example to devices in commercial areas. In all fairness, residential must be included in the A10 answer. Height above certain areas are defined in Nec. (i.e. 210.52(C)(5), 210.52(E)).

    Ben Jacks
    Reply to this comment

  • Q6. What is the minimum distance a receptacle must be located away from a sink? A6. The NEC doesn’t specify a minimum distance that a receptacle must be located from a sink. However in dwelling units, GFCI protection is required for all 15 and 20A, 125V receptacles located within an arc measurement of 6 ft from the dwelling unit laundry, utility, or wet bar sink [210.8(A)(7)].

    NEC 2002, Art. 210.52(D) states the outlet in the bathroom must be within 3' of the outside edge of the basin.

    pat@dpharmon.com
    Reply to this comment

  • Mike,

    Question # 5 ask if the MC Cable can be used on light fixtures at 8' above the floor.

    517.13(B) Exc. No. 2 - Does not require the light fixtures above 7.5 feet above the floor to be redundantly grounded. So it is my impression that regular Mc Cable would be permitted in this location.

    Dewayne Jenkins
    Reply to this comment

  • Mike RE: Q7. Is an air duct permitted to be installed directly above an electrical panel? A7. No, the footprint space (width and depth of the equipment) extending from the floor to a height of 6 ft above the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, must be dedicated for the electrical installation. No piping, duct, or other equipment foreign to the electrical installation can be installed in this dedicated footprint space [110.26(F)].

    Would An A/C vent grill in a drywall ceiling be OK as long as the piping, duct, and/or other equipment is above the structural ceiling?

    David

    David Koutek
    Reply to this comment

  • ...just a note of thanks for your question and answer newsletter. A great tool...Doug Harrison,SPHR

    Doug Harrison
    Reply to this comment

  • Question 9, Can I install NM cable inside a raceway? It is common in my area for NM cable to be allowed to overfill raceways. That is to have two #14 two wire NM cables through a 1/2 inch piece of EMT. The raceways aren't being use to simply protect the NM cables through the ceiling penetrations but all the way down the wall and out to outlet or junction boxes. Does the code allow this through some exception? Also, I often find it everyday practice to run a 2-wire #8 NM cable up to and about 1/4 inch into a piece of 1/2 inch EMT. From there the outer sheath is stripped off and the individual insulated conductors continue through the rest of the pipe and out the other side. Can NM cable be stripped like this in a raceway? Is the EMT in these instances a raceway or just a short section for protection? It seams like a new hybrid wiring method to me.

    Jim Hines
    Reply to this comment

  • Mike,

    In regards to Aprils NEC Questions and answers, the question asks: Q6. What is the minimum distance a receptacle must be located away from a sink? A6. The NEC doesn’t specify a minimum distance that a receptacle must be located from a sink. However in dwelling units, GFCI protection is required for all 15 and 20A, 125V receptacles located within an arc measurement of 6 ft from the dwelling unit laundry, utility, or wet bar sink [210.8(A)(7)].

    210.52(C)(1) says receptacle outlets shall be installed so that no point along the wall line is more than 24". Does this mean that the sink breaks the the wall line and a receptacle would need to be installed within 24" of the sink and that this would only be applied to the kitchen areas and not to laundry, utility or wet bar sink areas.

    Thank you, Marvin

    Marvin
    Reply to this comment

  • very informative thank you.

    michael maine
    Reply to this comment

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