malachi constant
Senior Member
- Location
- Minneapolis
I engineer a lot of apartment work, and see a lot of stacked washer/dryers installed either in a very small dedicated laundry closet or in a bathroom niche. These washer/dryers have a single point 30A/2P connection. I have been in the habit of calling out for an additional dedicated 20A laundry receptacle within the closet/niche, which I interpret as being a code requirement. The more people I talk to though believe the code required "laundry circuit" is really a "washing machine" circuit. If the washing machine connection is already included with the 30A/2P circuit then isn't the 20A/1P laundry receptacle superfluous?
If I should include the 20A/1P circuit how does that affect load calculations? I am already including the stacked washer/dryer load in the unit panel calcs - if I include the 1500W for "laundry circuit" aren't I counting the same load twice?
It is difficult to get an interpretation from the AHJ during design, and we work with a lot of inspectors, so my approach thus far has been to note on the plans that if the AHJ allows it the contractor can eliminate the dedicated laundry circuit. I have been double dipping in my calcs, counting the 1500W laundry circuit plus the full 30A/2P washer/dryer load.
I think going forward I should continue showing the laundry circuit with the "eliminate it if you can" note, but should stop calculating the laundry circuit twice - just go with the 30A/2P load only.
Thoughts on this?
If I should include the 20A/1P circuit how does that affect load calculations? I am already including the stacked washer/dryer load in the unit panel calcs - if I include the 1500W for "laundry circuit" aren't I counting the same load twice?
It is difficult to get an interpretation from the AHJ during design, and we work with a lot of inspectors, so my approach thus far has been to note on the plans that if the AHJ allows it the contractor can eliminate the dedicated laundry circuit. I have been double dipping in my calcs, counting the 1500W laundry circuit plus the full 30A/2P washer/dryer load.
I think going forward I should continue showing the laundry circuit with the "eliminate it if you can" note, but should stop calculating the laundry circuit twice - just go with the 30A/2P load only.
Thoughts on this?