In section 422.5 (A) (5) a vending machine is required to have GFCI protection. Is a coffee maker in a public space, like a quick stop store, with an attached water line required to be GFCI protected ? It is cord and plug connected.
If it meets the definition of a vending machine, IE customers insert money, a credit card into the machine or otherwise pay it to dispense coffee then yes. If it's just a regular coffee maker like a Keurig and they pay the cashier for the coffee then help themselves then no.
-Hal
so does the water line being connected not factor in at all? if the water line does not factor in, why is it required to have GFCI protection on a drinking water cooler (fountain) ? I don't pay to get a drink of water.
I can't say for sure what the code making panel's rational is on this but, IMO, you're more likely to receive a shock from a water fountain than from a coffee maker. You would have your hands on the fountain as well as (often) your mouth on the water. Whereas on the coffee maker, only occasional contact and then mostly on plastic parts, such as the switch or pot handle.
Thanks for the information. I was looking at it like this, the coffee makers are metal and I know code changes have been made to protect employs in kitchens I was just thinking that this might be something the code panels might need to address in the future.
I would like to hear some real life cases of someone getting shocked by coffee maker before seeing any code changes
I would like to know if there even was any cases with the drinking fountains back when they were required to have GFCI protection. Not impossible but seems not too likely. The GFCI requirements have gone from instances where risk are higher to let's just protect this just in case, and the additions in 2017 for 150 volt to ground or less were because "we now have these devices available" and not because there was any increase in shock incidents in those particular circuits.
Honestly, I always thought polarized plugs did more to stop shocking incidents. Don’t have any hard facts, it’s just my opinion.
I get a call now about something not working, it’s usually after a t-storm. I tell them to go to every receptacle and look for GFCI.
When I used to get calls about shocking appliances, it was usually a receptacle wired backwards.
still see this with some DIY outlets..
I can't say for sure what the code making panel's rational is on this but, IMO, you're more likely to receive a shock from a water fountain than from a coffee maker.
Thanks for the information. I was looking at it like this, the coffee makers are metal and I know code changes have been made to protect employs in kitchens I was just thinking that this might be something the code panels might need to address in the future.
Seems the common denominator is anything that is or has refrigeration. Has to be a rational explanation if they are indeed more prone to fault to ground.
-Hal
When I used to get calls about shocking appliances, it was usually a receptacle wired backwards.
still see this with some DIY outlets..
How does that work?
If you had an appliance that was just a 2-wire. no EGC, and the receptacle was wired backwards/reversed, the hot would go to the frame of the appliance if the neutral was bonded to it. If you touched that and something else conductive, you would get a shock. Another example, on a lamp the neutral is the shell of the socket. If the receptacle was wired reversed, the shell would then be hot and you could get shocked when turning it on or changing the bulb. Could also happen if you turned the 2-prong plug the wrong way before the prongs were keyed to only fit one way.