Are laundry receptacles & circuits required in dwelling units?

[cppoly]

The wording on 210.52(F) is strange to me.

It says, "In dwelling units, at least one receptacle outlet shall be installed in areas designated for the installation of laundry equipment."

Does that mean if there's no area designated for laundry equipment then it's not required?

Then what is the point of the exception:

Exception No. 1:
A receptacle for laundry equipment shall not be required in a dwelling unit of a multifamily building where laundry facilities are provided on the premises for use by all building occupants.

I would think Exception No. 1 only applies if there is an area designated for Laundry. But then why would you designate an area for laundry in an apartment only to not be required to put it in when there's laundry facilities....?

 

[roger]

I believe a washing machine connection is required in plumbing codes for dwelling units. Note I said "I believe".

 

[infinity]

According to the NEC if there are onsite laundry facilities then the apartment does not require a laundry area receptacle because there may not be a laundry area. Plumbing or building codes may have other requirements for a laundry area as Roger has mentioned.

 

[cppoly]

Thanks for the input on plumbing code. But for electrical, let's say you have 200 apartments, this could be mean needing to include 1,500 VA for laundry in each apartment or not. Trying to see if the NEC truly requires it and based on the wording it's not 100% clear.

 

[roger]

If the plumber installs a washing machine connection the area is a laundry area.

 

[retirede]

Thanks for the input on plumbing code. But for electrical, let's say you have 200 apartments, this could be mean needing to include 1,500 VA for laundry in each apartment or not. Trying to see if the NEC truly requires it and based on the wording it's not 100% clear.

I say “no”. I once lived in an apartment building that had a common laundry area in the basement for use by all tenants. It would not make sense to require a “laundry load” to be considered in every unit.

 

[infinity]

Thanks for the input on plumbing code. But for electrical, let's say you have 200 apartments, this could be mean needing to include 1,500 VA for laundry in each apartment or not. Trying to see if the NEC truly requires it and based on the wording it's not 100% clear.

Depends on the design as Roger stated. If the apartment has no laundry area because there is an on-site facility then no receptacle would be required.

if you're looking to eliminate the laundry receptalce in each just make sure that all of your ducks are in a row. We once did a large complex where there was a tandem washer dryer in a closet of each apartment. These units required a single 240 volt, 30 amp supply so our genius engineering staff value engineered the required 20 amp circuit and receptacle out saying that they didn't need it. After about the 8th floor someone realized that even though the machines didn't require it the code did require it and we had to go back and add them in each apartment after the walls and ceilings were closed up.

 

[roger]

I say “no”. I once lived in an apartment building that had a common laundry area in the basement for use by all tenants. It would not make sense to require a “laundry load” to be considered in every unit.

The exceptions to 210.52(F) takes that scenario into consideration.

(F) Laundry Areas​

In dwelling units, at least one receptacle outlet shall be installed in areas designated for the installation of laundry equipment.

Exception No. 1: A receptacle for laundry equipment shall not be required in a dwelling unit of a multifamily building where laundry facilities are provided on the premises for use by all building occupants.
Exception No. 2: A receptacle for laundry equipment shall not be required in other than one-family dwellings where laundry facilities are not to be installed or permitted.

 

[Strathead]

Depends on the design as Roger stated. If the apartment has no laundry area because there is an on-site facility then no receptacle would be required.

if you're looking to eliminate the laundry receptalce in each just make sure that all of your ducks are in a row. We once did a large complex where there was a tandem washer dryer in a closet of each apartment. These units required a single 240 volt, 30 amp supply so our genius engineering staff value engineered the required 20 amp circuit and receptacle out saying that they didn't need it. After about the 8th floor someone realized that even though the machines didn't require it the code did require it and we had to go back and add them in each apartment after the walls and ceilings were closed up.

For the sake of argument one wonders if the 30A units were REQUIRED to be hardwired or could be provided with a cord and plug for disconnecting means. If #2, then that would comply with the codes, as the code doesn't say you must include a 20A or 15A receptacle outlet

 

[wwhitney]

as the code doesn't say you must include a 20A or 15A receptacle outlet

Uh, 210.52 first sentence: "This section provides requirements for 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets." So the receptacle outlet requires by 210.52(F) is required to be a 125-volt, 15A or 20A receptacle outlet. And then 210.11(C)(2) says that the 210.52(F) receptacle outlet(s) shall be supplied by a 20A branch circuit that shall have no other outlets.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[wwhitney]

I believe a washing machine connection is required in plumbing codes for dwelling units. Note I said "I believe".

Looking at the I-Codes, the IPC does have such a requirement in IPC 403.1 "Minimum Number of Fixtures." Table 403.1 says that for an apartment house, you need to provide 1 clothes washer hookup per 20 dwelling units (presumably in a common space), while for one and two family dwellings, you need to provide 1 per dwelling unit.

However, the IRC does not appear to echo this requirement. And there is some variation in how various states adopt the IRC--some do not adopt the plumbing P chapters of the IRC, and subject single family residences to the IPC, so that IPC 403.1 applies. More common is to adopt the plumbing P chapters of the IRC, and for the scope of the IPC to exclude construction subject to the IRC. In those states, you would not need to provide a clothes washer hookup for a single family home.

As to the UPC, it has similar requirements to the IPC (not identical), and states that adopt it generally apply it to single family dwellings and do not adopt the P chapters of the IRC. I did not check the NSPC, which is used in NJ and perhaps only there.

As to the OP, my opinion is that the language in the NEC in Article 210 never requires a laundry area, and if you don't have a laundry area, no receptacles or branch circuits are required.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Strathead]

Uh, 210.52 first sentence: "This section provides requirements for 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets." So the receptacle outlet requires by 210.52(F) is required to be a 125-volt, 15A or 20A receptacle outlet. And then 210.11(C)(2) says that the 210.52(F) receptacle outlet(s) shall be supplied by a 20A branch circuit that shall have no other outlets.

Cheers, Wayne

Oops, I was only reading the paraphrase here. My bad. I should know better.