422.51 Vending machine GFCI

[JJWalecka]

422.51 Cord-and-plug-connected Vending Machines. Cord-and-plug-connected vending machines manufactured or re-manufactured on or after January 1, 2005, shall include a ground fault circuit interrupter as an integral part of the attachment plug or located in the power supply cord within 300 mm (12 in.) of the attachment plug. Cord-and-plug-connected vending machines not incorporating integral GFCI protection shall be connected to a GFCI protected outlet.

If the GFCI trips:

Store employee is presumable responsible to reset GFCI. Most likely the cash register attendant could not move it by hand or with dolly.

Does the employee moving it create a greater potential hazard involving the machine toppling over?

I understand the theory and the safety that a GFCI creates for a vending machine. I ponder if an employee could move the machine safely to reset it.

Perhaps a GFCI circuit breaker would be better?
Any thoughts?


Justin J. Walecka

 

[iwire]

Why would it trip?

Honestly I believe they CMP knows that these machines are likely to be relocated all the time so the only way you will ensure that they are always GFCI protected is to make it part of the machine.

The question remains if the NEC should be making product standards.

 

[pete m.]

quandry

quandry

This begs me to "muddy the waters" a bit with another question.

If you have a set of plans that indicates several receptacles dedicated to serving vending machines do you require that GFCI receptacles be installed or possibly a GFCI breaker protecting the circuit, or do you rely on the vending machines themselves to have the integral GFCI protection?

Assume that the vending machines are not on site at the time of your final electrical inspection.

 

[haskindm]

Who will be sued if a non-GFCI vending machine is pluged into a non-GFCI protected receptacle and someone gets hurt? If the plans indicate that a receptacle is to be installed for a vending machine, it seems to me that the only way that an electrician may CYA is to install a GFCI protected receptacle, either a GFCI breaker or receptacle would provide the required protection. Better safe than assume that the vending machine will include the required protection. In my opinion this wording leaves the electrician liable for a situation over which they have little control. Hopefully this will be addressed in future revisions. The way it is written now, if someone installs a vending machine and plugs it into an existing receptacle, the burden of proof is on the electrician to show that they had no knowledge that vending equipment would plugged into the receptacle.