Bathroom GFI circuit

[toddro1971]

My employer has assigned a task of installing electric hand dryers in our office bathrooms to me. Questions:
1. These offices are all zoned commercial. Is it necessary by code for these fans to be GFI protected? What if they were not considered commercial but residential? Do you think they should be GFI protected regardless?
2. Each fan pulls 14 amps.@ 120 volts. I would think they need to be dedicated circuits and not ran off the existing 20 amp GFI circuit supplying one receptacle in each bathroom. Evan though this will entail more time and expense to pull these new home runs.
3. Another problem is I have only one space left in the existing panel. Would you recommend using a 20 amp piggy back breaker or no.

 

[peter d]

Re: Bathroom GFI circuit

1. No

2. Yes, dedicated circuits.

3. You can use the half sized breakers as long as the panel is listed to accept them, and they are the same breaker as the panel manufacturer or UL Classified for the panel.

 

[aelectricalman]

Re: Bathroom GFI circuit

Amen, I second that.

 

[jimwalker]

Re: Bathroom GFI circuit

Are the receptacle outlets needed ? if not eliminate them and install blower to that circuit

 

[james wuebker]

Re: Bathroom GFI circuit

Everything looks OK but if I were to install the piggyback(tandom breaker) I would look for 2 circuits from that panel that didn't pull that much and put them on the tandom breaker and put your hand dryer on a full size 20 breaker.
Bye now,
Jim

 

[toddro1971]

Re: Bathroom GFI circuit

The recepticle outlets are required by code and I am installing two fans. One per bathroom, 14 amps per fan.

 

[jimwalker]

Re: Bathroom GFI circuit

receptacles are not required in commercial bathrooms.I misread that they share 1 circuit so that would not help much.How about this ,add a sub panel using the 1 remaining space.A 30 or 40 could carry both,and then run your 2 circuits from it.

 

[james wuebker]

Re: Bathroom GFI circuit

I beleive that recep. outlets aren't required in bathrooms in commerial buildings. I aways put them in on a GFCI anyway. Have to double check my book on that. It's been a while. Maybe someone else might have that anwser for sure. I'll check it out and get back.
Jim

 

[jimwalker]

Re: Bathroom GFI circuit

If they are there they must be gfci protected.But nothing forces you to have them.

 

[izak]

Re: Bathroom GFI circuit

are the dryers made to plug in or hardwire?
if you are able to hardwire you wouldnt need a gfci

 

[toddro1971]

Re: Bathroom GFI circuit

Think we are gonna go with the new sub panel route. Fans are hard wired. Thanks for evryones help!

 

[edmoon]

Re: Bathroom GFI circuit

Originally posted by toddro1971:
Think we are gonna go with the new sub panel route. Fans are hard wired. Thanks for evryones help!

You didn't say how many dryers. Comml lavs don't require receptacles. One dryer could go on the old recep circuit, and use the remaining space for a circuit for the second dryer.