"6 Foot Rule"

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kkwong

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Sac, CA (I think)
On an inspection today I gigged a guy for an extension cord being used in place of permanent wiring. He fired back with it's 6' and it's allowed if it is 6' or under. I know that both the NEC and the Fire Code do not allow extension cords in place of permanent wiring. I also know that the NEC allows 6' cords for appliances such as space heaters and microwaves. Does anyone know of the code that allows a 6' cord as permenent use, or the 6' convienece whip is? Thanks!
 
Look at the Flexible Cords Article 400

400.8 Uses Not permitted
1) As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure
2) Where run through holes in walls, structural ceilings, suspended ceilings, dropped ceilings, or floors
3) Where run through doorways, windows, or similar openings
4) Where attached to building surfaces
5) Where concealed by walls, floors or ceilings or located above suspended or dropped ceilings
6) Where installed in raceways, except as otherwise permitted in this Code
7) Where subject to physical damage

I just saw a job where the Owner hung a 6-plug strip from some wiremold and ran the cord thru the wall and plugged it into a recept on the other side of the wall.
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
If the unit is permanent, the cord is not permitted for most applications. If the unit is portable, have at it with as many cords as possible.
Click to expand...

400.7(b)
Where a cord is used as permitted in 400.7(A)(3), (A)(6), and (A)(8), each cord shall be equipped with an attachment plug and shall be be energized from a receptacle outlet.

IMO means you can't plug a cord into another cord. I'm sure nobody has done that.:D
 
Does this help at all ?
Flexible cord not less than No. 12 American Wire Gauge (AWG) may be repaired by splicing the conductors with a suitable vulcanized or molded splice. Please note that removing a damaged section of a flexible cord on an appliance and installing an attachment plug and a cord connection on the two ends would not be allowed. Such a repair would result in an extension cord between the flexible cord of the appliance and the installed building receptacle. Under paragraph 1910.305(a)(2)(i), this extension cord would be considered temporary wiring which is not permitted for workplace use.
http://www.northwire.com/resources/oshaextension/

Just my $.02
 
210.50(C) states that receptacles shall be within 6' of an appliance in a dwelling unit. I see nothing similar for a laundromat.

I'd say the cord is not being used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of the structure (it's not being used as a wiring method), but I would say that it's in violation of 400.7(B) as Yanici pointed out.

They could swap out the cord on the washer for a longer one, plug it directly into the receptacle and comply with the NEC, in my opinion. ;)
 
lol....and for safety I would tell him...well if you are going to use the cord GFCI it.....atleast it add's some element of safety to the pubic on exposed extention cord sets...besides I agree with George...lol....oh an Yanici....see how easy I am to please.
 
If it is an "extention cord" and is not part of the original factory installation. I would say it is being used in place of permanent building wiring. My logic on this is that the Washer becomes a "fixed in place appliance" as soon as you connect the water lines and drain lines to the building. Some washers even come with an attached safety cable that gets screwed to the building to keep it from moving. It is just as permanent as a dishwasher or built in microwave.
 
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