Dedicated laundry circut?

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steve60tuesday

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In a residential application we are looking to install some networking, cable, & internet access equipment. The place already has cat5 & rg6 run from every room to a laundry room downstairs, as well as from the demarc outside. Conveniently, the main panel is located in this same room, and everything is surface mounted on foundation walls with exposed romex between rafters above. So this is a very easy place to work.

Presently there is a single duplex outlet for the washer and (gas) dryer in this space. It is a dedicated 20A circuit with a standard duplex GFCI outlet.

My question is, is the dedicated laundry circuit exclusive to laundry equipment only? Or is it simply exclusive to the laundry area?

What I'd like to do is swap out the single duplex box with a double duplex / quad outlet. The other two outlets will power semi-permanently installed networking equipment. This stuff will be wall mounted nearby. It is definitely very low power equipment -- a small UPS in a datacom box with a DSL, router, and switch, etc... But it is definitely not laundry equipment.

Can I add the second set of outlets in this space, or should I pull a new circuit from the main box?
 
The laundry circuit is dedicated to the laundry room not just the washer or dryer so IMO you are compliant. All the receptacles in that area may be on the same circuit. I think you will find most contractors install a separate circuit for the washer itself.
 
This subject came up at a recent IAEI meeting and the consensus of opinions was in line with what Dennis states.
Interestingly, it was also pointed out that 210.52(F) requires at least one receptacle in the laundry and 210.10(C) requires that outlet be supplied by a 20 amp circuit.
The moderators were of the opinion that there is nothing in the NEC that prevents you from installing an outlet in the laundry room that is supplied by circuits other than the one supplying the required outlet.
Controversial, perhaps but a different read from some.
 
steve60tuesday said:
In a residential application we are looking to install some networking, cable, & internet access equipment. The place already has cat5 & rg6 run from every room to a laundry room downstairs, as well as from the demarc outside. Conveniently, the main panel is located in this same room, and everything is surface mounted on foundation walls with exposed romex between rafters above. So this is a very easy place to work.

Presently there is a single duplex outlet for the washer and (gas) dryer in this space. It is a dedicated 20A circuit with a standard duplex GFCI outlet.

My question is, is the dedicated laundry circuit exclusive to laundry equipment only? Or is it simply exclusive to the laundry area?

What I'd like to do is swap out the single duplex box with a double duplex / quad outlet. The other two outlets will power semi-permanently installed networking equipment. This stuff will be wall mounted nearby. It is definitely very low power equipment -- a small UPS in a datacom box with a DSL, router, and switch, etc... But it is definitely not laundry equipment.

Can I add the second set of outlets in this space, or should I pull a new circuit from the main box?
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If your asking can you supply non laundry equipment by code from this circuit, No it's a circuit that is dedicated to the laundry. I agree that the load is min. and will have little effect on the laundry circuit. I do not agree that you can supply other equipment outlets from this circuit. " shall be installed for the laundry" "This circuit shall have no other outlets."

Besides if I understand you correctly the electrical panel is in this same room,


(2) Laundry Branch Circuits. In addition to the number of branch circuits required by other parts of this section, at least one additional 20-ampere branch circuit shall be provided to supply the laundry receptacle outlet(s) required by 210.52(F).This circuit shall have no other outlets.

(F) Laundry Areas. In dwelling units, at least one receptacle outlet shall be installed for the laundry.
 
I see no limit to the number of receptacles in the laundry area on the laundry circuit as long they all serve "the laundry". Whether that is interpreted as serving the area or the purpose will be the subject of ongoing discussion I am sure.
 
Yeah the wording sure is ambiguous.

I think we'll go ahead and put the new outlets on a separate circuit. Not a new circuit, actually, and not because I necessary interpret the code one way or another on this issue.

But I noticed there is a GFCI duplex on the garage ceiling for the garage door opener. Looks like it was added after the home was built, and it's on its own 15A breaker. I'll propose splicing the new outlet into this circuit, in the laundry room, which will move the GFCI to an accessible location there. I'm not always eager to fix problems I don't have to fix, but this seems like a win-win.

The only drawback I guess will be having the dedicated laundry outlet right next to a non-dedicated outlet on a 15A circuit. Labeled or not, I bet someday the washer will wind up plugged into the wrong outlet.
 
And the little problem of a dedicated garage circuit being brought to another room. Unless the laundry area is in the garage, of course.
 
I agree that the laundry circuit needs to serve only the washer and gas dryer, and no other loads regardless of how small. Same principle as the two SABC's not being allowed to have any other loads besides the kitchen countertop outlets for small appliances.

I would simply wire an outlet high off the floor (or flush with the ceiling joists) that is intended to plug in all the electronic equipment you mentioned, and tap it into an existing basement lighting circuit or receptacle circuit (if they are separate from lights).
 
jeff48356 said:
I agree that the laundry circuit needs to serve only the washer and gas dryer, and no other loads regardless of how small. Same principle as the two SABC's not being allowed to have any other loads besides the kitchen countertop outlets for small appliances.
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Say what? I can plug whatever I want into the receptacles on those circuits. The circuits and outlets/receptacles need only be available for those types of appliances or equipment.
 
No one is going to stop anyone from plugging in anything to any receptacle. The receptacle for your garbage disposal could be used to power your microwave if you choice to.

That is not what is being asked in this discussion. The op asks is it permissible to extend the laundry circuit by adding an outlet to power non laundry equipment.

The answer is no, it is not according to the NEC. The placement of additional outlets on of laundry branch circuit should be for laundry equipment such as ironing or steaming of close. The code section says this circuit shall be provide for laundry and shall have no other outlets. It?s the same language used for the dedicated 20 amp bathroom circuit. If the op would have ask could he extend the bathroom circuit the answer would be no.

Using preexisting outlets for some non intended use is different than asking if you can add additional outlets for a specific use.

The contention is the equipment is in the same room the room being describe is a utility room. If the laundry had been in the basement area not in a utility room could the circuit be extended anywhere in the basement to any equipment anyone wants to use it for?

Again I do not believe the load to have adverse effects on the use of the laundry circuit, but when looking at the rule is that what the consideration is?
 
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jumper said:
David, I guess we will have to disagree. I believe that Dennis and Gus are correct on this question.
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iwire said:
I also agree with Dennis, Gus and Jumper.
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If there is nothing limiting extending the circuit to non-laundry equipment as long as the equipment is in the general area of the laundry. Then can I also extend the circuit to the laundry area lighting outlets?
If there is nothing limiting this circuit to other non-laundry loads than I see nothing limiting the use of this circuit to just rec. outlets,. Either the circuit is limited to laundry load out lets or it is not.

I guess we will have to disagree.
 
david said:
If there is nothing limiting extending the circuit to non-laundry equipment as long as the equipment is in the general area of the laundry. Then can I also extend the circuit to the laundry area lighting outlets?
If there is nothing limiting this circuit to other non-laundry loads than I see nothing limiting the use of this circuit to just rec. outlets,. Either the circuit is limited to laundry load out lets or it is not.

I guess we will have to disagree.
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Well, the code does say "receptacle outlets" so your pretty restricted on hooking up a light. But if the light plugs in your fine. Anything else plugged in is fine too.

The code don't say "for a washer/dryer."
 
Well hopefully they'll clarify this in future versions.

It turns out that the overhead door doesn't require a dedicated circuit (at least not yet). Using that circuit was just about as easy as extending the laundry circuit, anyway, and now we won't have someone climbing on top of their car trying to reset the GFI to open the door. But I'm pretty sure using the laundry circuit would have been fine, too.
 
david said:
No one is going to stop anyone from plugging in anything to any receptacle. The receptacle for your garbage disposal could be used to power your microwave if you choice to.

That is not what is being asked in this discussion. The op asks is it permissible to extend the laundry circuit by adding an outlet to power non laundry equipment.

The answer is no, it is not according to the NEC. The placement of additional outlets on of laundry branch circuit should be for laundry equipment such as ironing or steaming of close. The code section says this circuit shall be provide for laundry and shall have no other outlets. It?s the same language used for the dedicated 20 amp bathroom circuit. If the op would have ask could he extend the bathroom circuit the answer would be no.

Using preexisting outlets for some non intended use is different than asking if you can add additional outlets for a specific use.

The contention is the equipment is in the same room the room being describe is a utility room. If the laundry had been in the basement area not in a utility room could the circuit be extended anywhere in the basement to any equipment anyone wants to use it for?

Again I do not believe the load to have adverse effects on the use of the laundry circuit, but when looking at the rule is that what the consideration is?
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Let's look at the code sections from the 2011 NEC

210.11(C)(2) Laundry Branch Circuits. In addition to the number of branch circuits required by other parts of this section, at least one additional 20-ampere branch circuit shall be pro-vided to supply the laundry receptacle outlet(s) required by 210.52(F). This circuit shall have no other outlets.


210.52(F) Laundry Areas. In dwelling units, at least one receptacle outlet shall be installed for the laundry.

Exception No. 1: In a dwelling unit that is an apartment or living area in a multifamily building where laundry facilities are provided on the premises and are available to all building occupants, a laundry receptacle shall not be required.

Exception No. 2: In other than one-family dwellings where laundry facilities are not to be installed or permitted, a laundry receptacle shall not be required.
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I will point out a couple of things.

First off there is no place that says the outlet(s) are for a washer or dryer. In fact there is no requirement in house with no gas supply to provide an outlet for an 120/240 30 amp electric dryer other than keeping the customer happy.

Second 210.52(F) says 'laundry areas' not laundry equipment, not clothes washers, not dryers.



And lastly it is is clear they allow more than one outlet to be connected to the circuit.

I am just not seeing the things you are David.
 
At my house (I did not buy new) I have a duplex rec. by my washer and dryer. That circuit is dedicated to the washer area. At some point it became necessary to add drainage sump pump system in the basement of this house. You are saying as long as the sump pump is in the utility room that the washer is also in and doing so does not violate other sections of the NEC the laundry circuit can be extended to supply the pump receptacle because we both know that the laundry circuit is not limited to just supplying a single or duplex rec. located beside the washer or dryer.

So if placement of receptacles is not the limiting factor so what is the NEC attempting to limit. The amount of outlets on the circuit is limited when it says shall have no other outlets. It is attempting to dedicate the circuit to laundry loads, which translates to laundry equipment.

My position is placing as many receptacle outlets on the laundry circuit as you want for the convenience of doing your laundry.

The other position place as many receptacles as you want on the laundry circuit as long as they are in the vicinity of the laundry equipment, it does not matter what load you are intending they supply.

And of course we disagree.

You cannot control the load placed on a circuit once a circuit is designed. But you can design a circuit by placing receptacles for specific loads. And limiting the load by saying this circuit shall have no other outlets.
 
You can extent the laundry circuit in the laundry area/laundry room and have other items plugged in. I don't see anything different from the picture than what the OP wants to do.

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