406.9(C) Shower Zone + Bath Ex. Fan

[Jerramundi]

Any thoughts as to whether the new shower zone requirements of 406.9(C) apply to the standard two prong receptacle that comes pre-manufactured with an array of bathroom exhaust fans?

When I hear "receptacle," I think your standard wall receptacle outlet, but... there is indeed a "receptacle" within the bathroom exhaust fan, well... within most fans I've worked with anyway.

I could see one making the argument that the receptacle in the fan is not allowed. I can envision someone setting a ladder in the tub, one leg being on the drain, and this receptacle being arguable dangerous, but maybe I'm just overthinking this....

Thoughts? Still okay to install an exhaust fan within this zone??

 

[LarryFine]

I'd say the fan being approved for use within the shower zone covers that.

 

[roger]

If someone is going to open up a fart fan to plug in some two prong (probably double insulated) item then I say more power to them.

 

[Jerramundi]

I'd say the fan being approved for use within the shower zone covers that.

I was thinking the same thing. That if it's a listed fan and explicitly approved for within that zone that it should be okay.

However, for the sake of argument, there is a receptacle in the fan and if you wanted to error on the side of caution, I would say avoid putting it in that zone if you can.

Unfortunately, I'm dealing with a very small bathroom and that zone eats up 2/3 of the space and would force me to put the fan in a very awkward place. The only other solution I can think of, is to get a fan/light combo and have that serve as both the bathroom center light and the exhaust, but none of them put out a decent amount of light.

 

[Jerramundi]

If someone is going to open up a fart fan to plug in some two prong (probably double insulated) item then I say more power to them.

I was thinking more along the lines of maintenance and repair and some apprentice being set-up for failure, than some homeowner plugging in a two-prong whatever.

 

[curt swartz]

I have not installed a bath fan that had a standard receptacle (NEMA 1-15) in over 20 years. If your that worried use a different model fan.

 

[AC\DC]

Would this not be a listed Unit and has no exposed "Receptacles" . I don't see how any inspector could argue that.
If there going to get that extreme you got bigger problems else were.

 

[wwhitney]

(2017) 406.9(C) Bathtub and Shower Space. Receptacles shall not be installed within or directly over a bathtub or shower stall.

I would say a receptacle above the ceiling plane behind a grill is not "directly" over the bathtub or shower stall. Just like a receptacle in the story above is not.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I'd say the fan being approved for use within the shower zone covers that.

Maybe, but maybe not....we are going to see a new exception in the 2023 code that says the internal receptacle in that fan is not required to be GFCI protected where the fan is installed in a bathroom

 

[Little Bill]

Maybe, but maybe not....we are going to see a new exception in the 2023 code that says the internal receptacle in that fan is not required to be GFCI protected where the fan is installed in a bathroom

I see lots of fans that the spec/instruction sheet says to add GFCI protection if it's in the shower area. Will the exception over-rule that?

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I see lots of fans that the spec/instruction sheet says to add GFCI protection if it's in the shower area. Will the exception over-rule that?

No. The instructions can require more than what the NEC requires.

The exception was driven by inspection authorities requiring the internal fan receptacle to have GFCI protection even when that was not required by the manufacturer's instructions.