Correct Interpretation of 2022 CA Elec Code 210.65 RE: Qty of Outlets

[ericwg]

I am designing an Administration Building, which is an Occupancy Type B. In that building I am trying to determine how to correctly interpret Article 210.65 of the 2022 California Electrical Code. My question pertains to the layout of the outlets within a 512sqft conference room in this building. Article 210.65 states the following:

Each meeting room of not more than 93 m2 (1000 ft2) in other than dwelling units shall have outlets for nonlocking-type, 125-volt, 15- or 20-ampere receptacles. The outlets shall be installed in accordance with 210.65(B). Where a room or space is provided with movable partition(s), each room size shall be determined with the partition in the position that results in the smallest size meeting room.

This room does not have any movable partitions so I think we can ignore the second sentence. The first sentence refers me to 210.65(B), which states:

The total number of receptacle outlets, including floor outlets and receptacle outlets in fixed furniture, shall not be less than as determined in (1) and (2).

(1) Receptacle Outlets in Fixed Walls​

The required number of receptacle outlets shall be determined in accordance with 210.52(A)(1) through (A)(4). These receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be located as determined by the installer, designer, or building owner.

In other words, 210.65 points me right back to 210.52(A)(1)-(A)(4), which lists the requirements for outlets in Dwelling Units, i.e. one every 12ft (one outlet within 6ft of any position along the wall), etc etc. Am I interpreting this correctly? Do I need to install receptacles in this conference room as I do in dwelling units?

 

[winnie]

As I read the text, you are required to figure out how many receptacles would be required as if this were a residence, but then you are permitted to locate that number of outlets more flexibly to suit the purpose of the room. Say this is a 20x25 foot room, and you calculate out (per wall layout) that you would need 8 receptacles to get the 12ft spacing. You would then be allowed to arrange these 8 receptacles any way you wish, even if it violates the 12 foot spacing.

With that said, I'd never install a conference room to NEC minimums for number of outlets. Every time I've been in a conference; you've had a bunch of people with laptops all fighting for places to plug them in. You have extension cords going from the wall receptacles to the tables, and it is often a mess.

For a conference room I'd design based on receptacles being convenient to every table in every expected table configuration, and then simply confirm that my design meets or exceeds any NEC minimums.

Caveat on the above: I'm speaking from the point of view of someone who _uses_ conference rooms and has sometimes participated in layout discussions for new facilities, not as a professional involved in the process.

-Jonathan

 

[ericwg]

Thanks for the reply Jonathan. If I follow your logic, you are focusing less on the first sentence, which states "the required number of receptacle outlets shall be determined in accordance with 210.52(A)(1) through (A)(4)", and focusing more on the second sentence, which states "these receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be located as determined by the installer, designer, or building owner."? While I get that, I don't see how you jump to "...you are then allowed to arrange these 8 receptacles any way you wish, even if it violates the 12 foot spacing.". Again, I could be wrong and this is why I'm asking, but why even have a reference back to 210.52(A)(1) through (A)(4) which has explicit rules RE: qty/spacing of receptacles, if the intent is "you can subsequently ignore this requirement and do what you want"? My thought process was...I agree with you in the sense that besides a few clarifications (mtg height, placement w/ countertop, receptacle within 6 ft of any point on the wall) neither 210.65 or 210.52(A)(1) through (A)(4) explicitly state where receptacles are to be placed. For example, if I want to place my first receptacle 2 feet from the edge of a doorway or 3 feet from the edge of a doorway, nothing forces me to pick one over the other. I believe that is the spirit of what the second sentence of 210.65 is saying. However, from that point forward, the remaining receptacles I place must result in a layout which meets the requirements of 210.52(A)(1) through (A)(4). Unless I misunderstood, you appear to be ignoring the reference back to 210.52 and/or think the second sentence of 210.65 somehow gets you out of that. Is that true? If not, would you mind expanding on this?

BTW, I totally agree with your assessment RE: the qty/placement of receptacles in a Conference Room. To be clear, I'm definitely not looking to use this code section as justification to install a really low qty / minimum # of receptacles. I do in fact plan to install a large qty of low wall mounted receptacles, higher mounted receptacles in A/V boxes, as well as four duplex receptacles in each of two 8-gang floor boxes. To be honest, my question has more to do with how many of those receptacles must be OS controlled per Title 24, Part 6, 130.5(d)(2). In fact, I created another post to specifically address a question pertaining to that section. You can find it here - Question RE: 120V OS Controlled Receptacles.

 

[winnie]

The required number of receptacle outlets shall be determined in accordance with 210.52(A)(1) through (A)(4).

This says to me that the reference back to 210.52 is used to determine the quantity of receptacles to install.

It doesn't say 'installed following 210.52', it says 'required number'.

That seems a pretty specific reference to a subset of the 210.52 requirements, to quantity only.

Jonathan

 

[ericwg]

Humor me, while 210.52(A)(2) and 210.52(A)(4) provide clarification for Wall Spaces and Countertop / Work Surfaces, respectively, the most important requirement in 210.52(A)(1) through (A)(4) is found in 210.52(A)(1), which via spacing, defines the "required number" or "quantity" of receptacles required for a space defined under 210.65(B). In other words, I think we've come full circle and unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying, you are in agreement and are answering "yes" to my initial question, which was, "in this space am I required to provide a min qty of receptacles in this conference room as I am in dwelling units"?

For full transparency, I am including a snapshot of the floor plan for this conference room. In it, measuring from the top of the left doorway, if I place the first receptacle 6' away (O.C.), per 210.52(A)(1) through (A)(4), I would be required to provide an additional 3 receptacles after this one, for a total of 4 in the upper half of the room. In the lower half, because there is less than 12' of wall space on the left side (between the doorway and refrigerator & lower cabinets/countertop), only one receptacle would be required there. Then, the opposite wall space, measuring just over 12'-6", would require two receptacles. To be clear, I am ignoring placement of countertop receptacles along the lower wall.

Again, I am not saying this is how many receptacles I plan to install. I am just trying to confirm this is what 210.65(B) requires, at a minimum.

 

[winnie]

Yes, we agree on the code minimum _number_ of receptacles to install.

I mis-read your original question as asking if you must _follow_ 210.52(A)(1)-(4) completely. I don't agree that all of 210.52 applies in a non-dwelling conference room. But the _number_ of receptacles does carry over.

-Jonathan

 

[ericwg]

Right on. Thank you for clarifying. Again, I apologize as this was a bit of a loaded question. My true intent was to determine how I will satisfy the requirements of 2022 Title 24, Part 6, section 130.5(d)(2). But, I felt if I didn't split up the questions and put them in separate posts, it would just be too much to deal with.