Commercial Kitchen Receptacles

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mkgrady

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Massachusetts
It is my understanding that all commercial kitchen receptacles need to be GFI protected. I can't find it in the 2014 code. Do I have it right? Is this a change from 2011? Thanks in advance
 
It is my understanding that all commercial kitchen receptacles need to be GFI protected. I can't find it in the 2014 code. Do I have it right? Is this a change from 2011? Thanks in advance

Required for a while.

It is in 210.8(B) and don't bury behind equipment, the GFCI device must be readily accessible.

This may mean using regular receptacles with GFCI breakers or faceless GFCIs feeding the outlets.
 
Thanks iwire. The back story is that the cook purchased a hot box. It is where he would keep plates of food hot while cooking for a large group. The appliance has electric heaters and fans to control humidity. Every time the heaters kick on the gfci receptacle trips. I told the cook to contact the supplier of this new appliance and tell them it has a ground fault.

A technician shows up to check it out and tells the cook to plug it into an non-gfi receptacle and that there is nothing wrong with the appliance. I spoke with the technician and explained to him that all kitchen 120 volt receptacles must be gfi protected in a commercial kitchen. He said I was wrong. He ran the appliance from a non-gfi receptacle and as expected it ran ok.

I'm going to tell the cook not to use this thing unless it is not in the kitchen. I assume that will make it worthless to the cook.
 
It would be interesting to actually measure the leakage current. Especially to see whether it is continuous or just a turn on transient.
Next thing the tech will be telling you to interrupt the EGC connection instead! :(.
Or to run an extension cord to a room where GFCI is not required. :angel:
 
It would be interesting to actually measure the leakage current. Especially to see whether it is continuous or just a turn on transient.
angel:

It would be interesting. How could I measure the leakage current? I would not expect a clamp on digital ammeter to read anything less than half an amp.

Although I will tell the cook not to use this appliance I would not be surprised if he plugs it into a regular recept. If I could tell him it leaks enough to hurt someone (by measuring) maybe he won't.
 
You can open the EGC with an adapter cord and measure with a wired AC milliameter.
Or you can make a multi turn double coil of hot and neutral around one bobbin. The hole must be big enough to allow the clamp to fit through the hole.
A 20 turn coil may be enough, but it might take more if the low range on your clamp is not low enough.
You know that it will be more than 6ma. If you have trouble winding the coil, remember that you can safely use 18ga fixture wire (not doorbell wire!!!) for short time tests.
The multi turn coil can also be used with only one wire connected to measure small AC currents in one wire.
If the leakage is not too high you can interrupt the EGC and have him touch the case and counter at the same time. :angel:
 
You can open the EGC with an adapter cord and measure with a wired AC milliameter.
.... :angel:

:thumbsup:

Datalogger and send the results to the manufacturer.

Then tell them their technician is no good and is giving false and dangerous information to THEIR customer, and bill them for your time.
 
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