commercial or residential

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Mad Max

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Hello! I have a question: there is an apartment complex and the owner build a 50 x30 shed on the same ground and I installed a 100 amp sub panel, and outlets all around the walls.The owner said it is for maintenance personnell and to keep equipment in storage.When the inspector came he told me that i had to install gfci on the outlets for protection of personnell as stated in the code. I only argue with the inspector on the fact that the shed is not considered a residential building but a commercial one even though it is located on the same lot as the apartment complex and therefore gfci protection is not needed. Can some one help me? is gfci protection needed or not regardless of it use or setting. please name code reference when asnwering. Thank you so much. Mad Max

P.S. Apparently i posted a previous question three times earlier and cause some confusion. Sorry.
 
I think the Inspector is right. Sorry.

The way I see the situation, 210.8(A)(2) applies to your building. It is an "accessory building," it is at grade level, it is not intended as a habitable room, and is intended for storage and as a work space.
 
I can see this being evenly split both ways. The inspector likely can too. So, when in doubt, favor the path of greater safety: require/install the GFCI protection.

So, I guess I'm winding up agreeing with Charlie. :D
 
On another forum an inspector mentioned he solves such issues by checking how the property is zoned.

Seemed like a good plan.

I don't have my 2005 handy but didn't they add a GFCI requirement for commercial outdoor receptacles exposed to the public?
 
iwire said:
On another forum an inspector mentioned he solves such issues by checking how the property is zoned.

Seemed like a good plan.

I don't have my 2005 handy but didn't they add a GFCI requirement for commercial outdoor receptacles exposed to the public?
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Its not outdoors.However i do agree with the inspector.Actually this bugs me that a wharehouse with garage doors does not need gfci.Basically the same risks are involved in both.Both usually have concrete floors and if equipment was not intended to be used then why were outlets installed ?
 
iwire said:
I don't have my 2005 handy but didn't they add a GFCI requirement for commercial outdoor receptacles exposed to the public?
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210.8(B)(4) Outdoors in public spaces?for the purpose of this section a public space is defined as any space that is for use by, or is accessible to, the public
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But the receptacles indoors wouldn't be similarly restricted, IMO. ;)
 
On another forum an inspector mentioned he solves such issues by checking how the property is zoned.
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by Bob

I know in a lot of our communities how the property is zoned is a determining factor for this type of situation. For the cost of GFCI protection, I don't understand why it wasn't installed in the 1st place.
 
My thought is this. Is it really worth a week of arguing for a $10 outlet?

Now if we go by the letter of the code and we do call it commercial then article 210.8(B) would apply, "Other Than Dwelling Units" and GFCI protection would not be required.
 
cowboyjwc said:
My thought is this. Is it really worth a week of arguing for a $10 outlet?

Now if we go by the letter of the code and we do call it commercial then article 210.8(B) would apply, "Other Than Dwelling Units" and GFCI protection would not be required.
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Will you give me an article that states we get to call it commercial when it is on residential property?
 
dlhoule said:
Will you give me an article that states we get to call it commercial when it is on residential property?
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It is not uncommon to have mixed-use properties (i.e. living quarters behind a tavern).

However, the NEC does not specificaly define any area (except for some hazardous locations), it is left up to the local building codes to define residential, commercial, and industrial.
 
cowboyjwc said:
That is correct Jim and we define multifamily dwellings as commercial.
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Interesting.

So I do not have to provide any of the required dwelling unit outlets. ;)

Let me guess you want it both ways. :)
 
davidaengelhart said:
Article 511.12 requires GFCI protection for all 125 volt, 15 and 20 amp receptacles. However, I am not sure if this article applies. Some areas of the article say yes, some say no. I.E. 511.1, and the title of the article.
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I agree with - er - part of your statement. :)

511.1 Scope. These occupancies shall include locations used for service and repair operations in connection with self-propelled vehicles (including, but not limited to, passenger automobiles, buses, trucks, and tractors) in which volatile flammable liquids or flammable gases are used for fuel or power.
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I would say this article does not apply, IMO.
 
LarryFine said:
Absolutely! :D
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What I want to know from John is: Will you come and work for me? If you can make a trip and install a GFCI for $10, I want you to come and work for me.

The other question I have is which is better east or west?;) :smile:
 
Bob,

Classifying a location as commercial does not change it from being a dwelling unit and therefore subject to sections like 210.52(A) and 210.52(G).

Article 100 clearly defines a dwelling, however it does not contain the words residential or commercial.
 
Jim it as you said is up to the local area, you did not notice my ;)

In my experience the NEC speaks of dwelling units and 'other than dwelling units' the location of the dwelling unit matters little.

That said I find it stretch to call anything more than a single family dwelling unit 'commercial'. :)

It sounds to me more like a call by the local area to assign a higher tax rate to the property than any interest in electrical safety.
 
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