COMMERCIAL KITCHEN QUESTION

[AZJeff2013]

I am designing a large commercial kitchen that will have enough floor drains to handle the Mississippi River. There are also 2 water hose connections. They are obviously planning on periodic spray downs.....The architect and owner are insisting on a code reference before I require NEMA 4 protection and plastic in-use covers. Common sense and experience don't seem to satisfy them nor does the actual definition of NEMA 4......

Is there a particular code reference, NEC or otherwise, that I can throw in their faces to get them to shut up errrrr.............understand? I can't seem to find one. Thanks!

AzJeff2013

 

[iwire]

I think the definition of wet location from article 100 is about as close as you get.

Location, Wet. Installations underground or in concrete
slabs or masonry in direct contact with the earth; in locations
subject to saturation with water or other liquids, such
as vehicle washing areas; and in unprotected locations exposed
to weather.

Beyond that I would suggest you document your position but go ahead and install what they ask for.

I personally agree with your take on it but if the customer says it is not subject to being hosed down so be it.

His EC will make plenty of money making service calls to it if they do start hosing things down. Commercial kitchen areas keep me pretty busy.

 

[JDBrown]

The best I can come up with for the in-use covers is NEC 406.8(B) in conjunction with the NEC's definition of "wet location". Note that 406.8 changed to 406.9 in the 2011 NEC.

ARTICLE 100 Definitions
...
Location, Wet. Installations underground or in concrete slabs or masonry in direct contact with the earth; in locations subject to saturation with water or other liquids, such as vehicle washing areas; and in unprotected locations exposed to weather.

406.8 Receptacles in Damp or Wet Locations.
...
(B) Wet Locations.
(1) 15- and 20-Ampere Receptacles in a Wet Location. 15- and 20-ampere, 125- and 250-volt receptacles installed in a wet location shall have an enclosure that is weatherproof whether or not the attachment plug cap is inserted. All 15- and 20-ampere, 125- and 250-volt nonlocking receptacles shall be listed weather-resistant type.
...

I'm not so sure about the NEMA 4 enclosures. Although you're probably fighting a losing battle if they won't even acknowledge the definition of NEMA 4 as a reason to use it.

I would say it's worth a call to the Inspector, but the guys you're trying to convince sound like they just might be the type to fire you for bringing it to the Inspector's attention...