210.8 (A)(2)

R

Rick 0920

Senior Member
Location
Jacksonville, FL
Occupation
Electrical Instructor
The verbiage here has been in the NEC for several years. "Accessory buildings that have a floor located at or below grade level." Does this mean if I built an outbuilding on deck blocks and had even one step above grade level, that I would be exempt from this GFCI rule for receptacles within that building? I'm trying to use some common sense here. If a homeowner were using a cord and plug connected weedeater, I don't think they would run the cord all the way to the house to use a GFCI protected receptacle instead of using the one closer in the outbuilding. Most homeowners don't even know what a GFCI is!!!!
 
Rick 0920 said:
The verbiage here has been in the NEC for several years. "Accessory buildings that have a floor located at or below grade level." Does this mean if I built an outbuilding on deck blocks and had even one step above grade level, that I would be exempt from this GFCI rule for receptacles within that building?
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Yes. Once you are elevated, you are probably standing on a wooden floor instead of a concrete slab that would likely be providing a return path if you touch something energized, so the risk of fatal shock is lower. Additionally, you probably won't have a "garage" situation going because you are less likely to park in there unless you do something really crazy to support the weight of the vehicle.

Side note, you can't build a building on deck blocks and meet building codes without substantial engineering, anchorage to resist uplift, and special attention paid to racking strength and braced wall panels of the structure. You can't build a deck on them either for the same reason, but that is another story...
 
Rick 0920 said:
Does this mean if I built an outbuilding on deck blocks and had even one step above grade level, that I would be exempt from this GFCI rule for receptacles within that building?
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Within that building, sure. But for your weedeater use, you'd want a receptacle on the outside of the building, which would require GFCI protection as usual.

Cheers, Wayne
 
I have never seen a garage with the garage floor at grade. Have seen a number with the floor below grade, but never at grade, they are always a few inches above grade.

This section has been poorly worded for a very long time, but was corrected in the 2026 code.
Garages and accessory buildings were split into two list items and the reference to grade was removed.
2026 language:
  • (2) Garages
  • (3) Areas of accessory buildings not intended as habitable rooms and limited to storage, work, and similar uses
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infinity said:
Correct but if both were constructed on deck blocks then there would be no reason to require GFCI protection in either structure.
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If by both, you mean garages and accessory buildings, then yes, that is what the code, prior to the 2026 code change said. However that is not how the rule was being enforced, in general, the AHJs are requiring GFCIs even where the floor is above grade.
 
NEC Inspector said:
you can't build a building on deck blocks and meet building codes without substantial engineering, anchorage to resist uplift, and special attention paid to racking strength and braced wall panels of the structure. You can't build a deck on them either for the same reason, but that is another story...
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In my area we call it raised foundation vs concrete slab.

When services buried in the slab leak, it gets radiator stop leak, flipped, & sold to the next sucker.
 
infinity said:
Wouldn't a house constructed in the same manner not require GFCI protection?
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If a house had an accessory building by definition inside of it, I guess it would. I'm not trying to be a smartass here, but simply reading the Code as it's written. If it were required for GFCI protection in accessory buildings above grade level, why would the CMP deem it necessary to use the verbiage "at or below grade". Why wouldn't they say accessory buildings PERIOD! Like they do in bathrooms, garages, kitchens (2023). If they just said "accessory buildings" and put nothing after it, it wouldn't be open for discussion.
 
NEC Inspector said:
Yes. Once you are elevated, you are probably standing on a wooden floor instead of a concrete slab that would likely be providing a return path if you touch something energized, so the risk of fatal shock is lower. Additionally, you probably won't have a "garage" situation going because you are less likely to park in there unless you do something really crazy to support the weight of the vehicle.

Side note, you can't build a building on deck blocks and meet building codes without substantial engineering, anchorage to resist uplift, and special attention paid to racking strength and braced wall panels of the structure. You can't build a deck on them either for the same reason, but that is another story...
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I understand the construction specs, sir. It was just an example. But an accessory build could possibly be constructed above grade level and be compliant. My problem with this is that your average everyday homeowner doesn't know what GFCI protection is. If they were wanting to use electricity in the backyard, they would use the nearest receptacle. They wouldn't know to use a GFCI protected receptacle. This code section appears to me to be unsafe.
 
wwhitney said:
Within that building, sure. But for your weedeater use, you'd want a receptacle on the outside of the building, which would require GFCI protection as usual.

Cheers, Wayne
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What if there weren't any on the outside? It isn't a Code to have an exterior receptacle on an accessory building. Would a homeowner go out and buy a longer extension cord to reach an exterior receptacle on their house? I think they would open the door to their accessory building and plug into one on the inside that might be 20' away?
 
infinity said:
Correct but if both were constructed on deck blocks then there would be no reason to require GFCI protection in either structure.
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I disagree. If they were meant to be interpreted the same way, It would state: Garages, at or below grade level. But it just says "garages" which removes all confusion. If a receptacle is in a garage, it needs GFCI protection. No other words are necessary.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
I have never seen a garage with the garage floor at grade. Have seen a number with the floor below grade, but never at grade, they are always a few inches above grade.

This section has been poorly worded for a very long time, but was corrected in the 2026 code.
Garages and accessory buildings were split into two list items and the reference to grade was removed.
Click to expand...
Thank you. This removes all questions to me.
 
I think the idea is that a building that is on slab even if the slab extends above grade then you would still need gfci. I believe by above grade they are talking about the entire floor being above grade to be exempt but clearly now there will be no question.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I think the idea is that a building that is on slab even if the slab extends above grade then you would still need gfci. I believe by above grade they are talking about the entire floor being above grade to be exempt but clearly now there will be no question.
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I agree to a certain extent Dennis. But if that was the intent, why stop at two points, "at or below grade" If you just said, "accessory buildings" and had no other words following it, it would essentially mean, "at, below and above" grade. If you just use two variables, you open yourself for the third.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I think the idea is that a building that is on slab even if the slab extends above grade then you would still need gfci. I believe by above grade they are talking about the entire floor being above grade to be exempt but clearly now there will be no question
Click to expand...
If there were plans from this on slab building, they would show a grade level, and a floor level that is above grade.
 
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