210.8 in the 2017 NEC

[tom baker]

210.8 in the 2017 NEC clarifies how to measure the distance from an appliance to determine if a GFCI is needed
This is new
For the purposes of this section, when determining distance
from receptacles the distance shall be measured as the shortest
path the cord of an appliance connected to the receptacle
would follow without piercing a floor, wall, ceiling, or fixed
barrier, or passing through a door, doorway, or window.

Would this apply for trash compactor where the cord passes thru the cabinet wall to a receptacle under the sink?

 

[GoldDigger]

Good question!

My take would be that cabinet walls would not be included in "fixed barriers" since the other examples are all architectural parts of a building's structure.

The argument could be made relative to this section, but applying that same categorization of cabinet walls elsewhere might then also mean that you could not run the factory cord for a dishwasher through an interior cabinet wall to the space under the sink.

 

[charlie b]

Would this apply for trash compactor where the cord passes thru the cabinet wall to a receptacle under the sink?

My answer is no, for the simple reason that it does not apply to any appliance at all. It applies to the receptacle outlet. The question under discussion is whether the receptacle needs GFCI protection. The answer has to do with whether the receptacle is within 6 feet of the sink. The 2017 clarification tells us how to measure the 6 feet. If the trash compactor's cord is, in fact, run through the wall that separates its location from the area under the sink, that fact is not relevant. What matters is whether the receptacle could be reached by the cord of some other appliance that is placed on the edge of the sink.

 

[mwm1752]

My answer is no, for the simple reason that it does not apply to any appliance at all. It applies to the receptacle outlet. The question under discussion is whether the receptacle needs GFCI protection. The answer has to do with whether the receptacle is within 6 feet of the sink. The 2017 clarification tells us how to measure the 6 feet. If the trash compactor's cord is, in fact, run through the wall that separates its location from the area under the sink, that fact is not relevant. What matters is whether the receptacle could be reached by the cord of some other appliance that is placed on the edge of the sink.

Not sure of your meaning here but in my simple terms the disposal is not required to be GFI protected - could even call out a trash compactor under the cabinet as a barrier to the recept -- how about a frig?

 

[iwire]

210.8 in the 2017 NEC clarifies how to measure the distance from an appliance to determine if a GFCI is needed
This is new
For the purposes of this section, when determining distance
from receptacles the distance shall be measured as the shortest
path the cord of an appliance connected to the receptacle
would follow without piercing a floor, wall, ceiling, or fixed
barrier, or passing through a door, doorway, or window.

That is the MA amendment we have had a for at least a couple of code cycles.