210.52(C)(2) Island Recpt's

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lowryder88h

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210.52(C)(2) island counter spaces shall at least one recpt, 24" or greater and a short dimension of 12" or greater and so on. My question is 210.52(C)(5) recpt outlet location. exception to 5: If the island counter base is 4' X 2' and the counter top is 6' X 4' is there still a requirement to install a recpt at this location?? I'm using 2005 NEC. The only way I can see this being done is using either plugmold or a wiremold recpt. Any responses would be surely welcomed.
 
NEC 210.52(C)(2) requires at least one receptacle outlet to be installed at each island counter space with a long dimension of 600
mm (24 in.) or greater. If you have a sink or range top, and each side is 600mm (24 in.) or greater, and the space behind the sink or range top is 300mm (12 in) or less, then two (2) receptacles are required, one for each counter top space.
From your description, a receptacle mounted in the base cabinet might work, if the AHJ agrees. Thats where I would put it.
Or a laboratory type receptacle mounted on top of the counter would work. However, a home owner may not like that idea because it would interfere with activities on the countertop.
 
A 4 X 2 cabinet with a 6 X 4 countertop would leave a 12 in overhang on all sides of the island.To mount a receptacle in the cabinet wouldn`t work at all.Being the max overhang permitted is 6 ins.I think this came up before and the discussion was that using wiremold under the actual counter top and within 6 ins of the edge would satisfy the receptacle requirement.
 
Putting wiremold under the overhang will make plugging in an appliance difficult as one would have to get down on hands and knees and look up. Senior citizens may not be able to do that for several obvious reasons. And certainly would be difficult if not impossible for a handicapped person in a wheelchair.
It may mean a consutation with the AHJ, depending on the situation.
 
Some day, it would be nice to get the manufacturers of kitchen islands to understand the NEC requirement and to take it into consideration in their designs. They have to leave at least one side (out of four) with an overhang of no more than 6 inches. But for your case, it seems, that that day has not yet arrived.

I would tell the customer that they need to get the top replaced with one that leaves an overhang of not more than 6 inches. Either that, or tell them to get out their handy saw and call you back when the top meets code.
 
Kitchens are the worst for getting compliance in. I once had a home where they were installing a eight foot wide window behind the sink. The contractor kept telling me he couldn't put outlets in no matter what I suggested. I finally told him he was confusing can't with won't and that if he wanted a final he would find a way to comply.

I know it sounds harsh, but they knew the requirements when they designed the kitchen.
 
Art. 80.13 (15) gives the AHJ the authority to waive certain requirements of the NEC where it is assured that equivalent objectives can be achieved by establishing and maintaining effective safety. I believe the AHJ could have allowed alternative receptacle placements so the homeowner could enjoy the beautiful view (or whatever the reason). The same can be said for the island counter top. It appears that safety is not the issue in either case, its convenience. After all, receptacles are sometimes refered to as convenience outlets. I also agree with the other posters that the island counter top should be designed to accomodate NEC requirements. That seems to be sometimes difficult for architects. They know building codes, except the NEC and sometimes we who do the electrical design must point out to them the things they have to do to meet Code. And of course, they never agree, but most are creative enough to make it work.
 
Would something like this work?
OHON1125.JPG
 
You can't see 6" in from the edge of a counter top unless you are 3 ft tall. A surface mount box could be attached to the bottom of the counter, horizontally, with the face of the outlet 6" from the edge, in an area where nobody is going to pull up a bar stool.

Sometimes the big functional islands have a place to hang utensils over the counter. You could mount a receptacle on the rack.

You could also put some extra thickness in a local area on the bottom of the counter and mount a narrow wiremold on the face of that piece, with the face 6" from the edge of the cabinet.

Putting a 12" overhang all around an island is kind of silly from a functional point of view, unless is is a counter to sit at. Imagine trying to get something out of a cupboard of drawer.
 
Sometimes the big functional islands have a place to hang utensils over the counter. You could mount a receptacle on the rack.

Only if the rack is 20 ins above the island.That doesn`t seem like what would be installed over an island.I like the pop up receptacle thing who makes it?

I deal with alot of custom builders and it seems they are the ones that always have this type of issue.Tract home builders have already figured out that electrical codes have to be met

I have to laugh when I encounter an island that has nothing but doors and/or wine racks or wine coolers built into it.Usually it is caught on rough when a good set of cabinet details are supplied.But there have been times when changes were made after rough and there is no physical place to put the required receptacle in.I just shrug and pass it off to the GC.Call me back when you figure out where the receptacle will go.

As far as having an inspector allow an install that is far from having a required receptacle being installed.I found that is like getting a politician to tell the truth.Not going to happen.I had one inspector leave a tag on a home where after the rough in they installed SGD`s to a lanai that due to new building codes had a fixed panel door on the ends.There was just no place to install a receptacle at all.The tag read spacing not met (GOOD LUCK)So it was either a floor box in front of a doorway into a master bed room or reframe the wall to allow a receptacle.They opted to reframe it but it took almost 6 months of building this model before they changed the print to reflect the change.
 
Island Recpt's

Island Recpt's

charlie b said:
Some day, it would be nice to get the manufacturers of kitchen islands to understand the NEC requirement and to take it into consideration in their designs. They have to leave at least one side (out of four) with an overhang of no more than 6 inches. But for your case, it seems, that that day has not yet arrived.

I would tell the customer that they need to get the top replaced with one that leaves an overhang of not more than 6 inches. Either that, or tell them to get out their handy saw and call you back when the top meets code.
Click to expand...

I agree, This is not a new rule,by now the builders should know and comply to the rule. I also think that the box opening should be included in the design,and save the electrician of this task.I would hate to be the one to damage this finished product while cutting a box in.

The only way this will happen is if the inspectors get tough and red tag on the final.
 
Hon Pull-Up Electrical Receptacle for 61000 Series Rectangular Training Tables - HONH870300P


Go to the Shoplet.com website and search for electrical receptacles. Tried to get the picture, but it didn't work for me. It is priced at $91 each and normally fits into the hole on a computer work table. But it appears it could be made to fit into the top of a counter top.
 
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