commercial kitchen receptacles

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Article 210.8 (B), states that all 15 and 20 125v receptacles installed in commercial kitchens must have GFCI protection for personnel, not equipment. The receptacles that are being used to power the small freezers that are stationed throughout these kitchens need to be pluged into GFCI outlets, according to the above mentioned article.
So during the night, when the compressor's start up in these freezers, and trip the GFCI what's going to happen to the food that is in the freezers. By the time someone comes in to work the following morning they have opened and closed these doors numerous of times before realizing, that the GFCI has triped.
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

I think you may find this THREAD interesting. I am lucky that I required the GFCI and the food got spoiled. I can't imagine what would happen if I didn't require the GFCI and someone got injured.
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

Interesting dilemma. You could be sued by the owner if the GFCI trips and spoils the food, or sued by the survivors if someone is killed for not installing GFCI. I would inform the owner in writing that you are not responsible for food spoilage and advise of hardwired frigs, and have him sign a receipt acknowledging receipt. What a wonderful life Lawyers provide us with.

[ March 15, 2004, 03:29 PM: Message edited by: dereckbc ]
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

Hi Bob. I actually haven't heard anything about it for quite some time, which makes me wonder if they didn't just get over it and decide not to sue. If I hear anything though, I will be certain to keep everybody informed.
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

dereckbc, you can't hardwire a refrigerator or freezer if it comes with a cord and plug. If you remove the cord and plub then you void the UL listing and void the owners warranty on the equipment. There is no good solution.
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

Originally posted by jerryb:
There is no good solution.
Click to expand...
Sure there is, follow the NEC and put the GFCI protection in. :)

Sue the company I work for because food spoiled I am fairly certain we will prevail.

If I choose not to provide GFCI protection, in direct violation of the NEC and the company's civil liability will be down low on the list of my troubles if someone gets hurts. :eek:
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

Give the owner the choice
hard wire ( with a service disconnect) or gfci
have them sign a document that becomes part of the job file
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

sorry...
we call it a service disconnect
I ment a means of disconnect for maint. or replacement
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

does latest nec require gfi protection on these commercial kitchen receptacles? my 99 nec sec 210-8b requires gfi's for only bathrooms & rooftops.
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

Yes any receptacle in a "kitchen" must be GFCI protected. The problem is until the 2002 NEC we thought we knew what a kitchen was. Now that any kitchen receptacle requires a GFCI, we are not so sure anymore.
The same thing happened with bathrooms when GFCI's were required in the mid 70's. We then no longer knew what a bathroom was. Now a code definition tells us.
"Code is Code. We don't like the rules we don't agree with." Mike Holt

[ March 15, 2004, 11:28 PM: Message edited by: tom baker ]
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

And I recently purchased a Kenmore "commerical" chest freezer. It says "commerical" on the lid. The instructions say this:
Do not connect to a GFCI protected circuit. The freezer is in my unfinished basement.
Now what?
GFCI per 210.8 or follow the instructions per 110.3(B)?
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

And I recently purchased a Kenmore "commerical" chest freezer. It says "commerical" on the lid. The instructions say this:
Do not connect to a GFCI protected circuit. The freezer is in my unfinished basement.
Now what?
GFCI per 210.8 or follow the instructions per 110.3(B)?
Click to expand...
Tom,

Actually per 210.8(A)(5)Exception 2 you could install a single non-gfci protected receptacle for your Freezer.

Bill

[ March 15, 2004, 11:39 PM: Message edited by: bill addiss ]
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

Hi Tom,

No, just read a little farther down the page!

(5) Unfinished basements ? for purposes of this section, unfinished basements are defined as portions or areas of the basement not intended as habitable rooms and limited to storage areas, work areas, and the like
Exception No. 1: Receptacles that are not readily accessible.
Exception No. 2: A single receptacle or a duplex receptacle for two appliances located within dedicated space for each appliance that, in normal use, is not easily moved from one place to another and that is cord-and-plug connected in accordance with 400.7(A)(6), (A)(7), or (A)(8).
Click to expand...
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

Maybe Tom is asking if this commercial freezer is bought by a restaurant and placed in the kitchen what is the correct thing to do?

There are presently no exceptions to the commercial kitchen GFCI rule.

As much as I am for GFCIs I would worry about using a GFCI on a piece of equipment that specifically said not to.

I wonder if this is really a 'commercial' unit or just a marketing term?

[ March 16, 2004, 05:34 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

It is early and I am reaching into the deep (okay the shallow) recesses of my brain, but is there not a requirement that does not allow commercial kitchen equipment to be installed in dwellings?
That may be cooking appliances only, as the insulation of the units is not the same as for dwellings.

Pierre
 
Re: commercial kitchen receptacles

Its hardly a commerical unit, it cost under $200.
Its the same concept as the "5 hp" air compressors, 125V, single phase that are sold in the big box stores with a 15A plug. If you look at the motor FLA on the nameplate it states "special".
But what if the freezer was installed in a commerical kitchen?
 
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