Dwelling receptacle outlet height

[rc/retired]

The older I get the more I like 48" for all devices especially if I have to work on them

Dang right! I've had 3 back surgeries and my knees hurt.

Ron

 

[PaulMmn]

My 150 year old stone house in NJ had baseboard outlets. 2 prong, no ground. Updating would have been simple-- pry the baseboard loose, upgrade the wires/boxes/outlets, re-attach. No messing with the walls!
You still have to crawl along the floor to plug something in.

 

[acin]

210.52

got it 210 52 4 2020 thanks

 

[Jraef]

I was thinking that same thing. I have a receptacle at about 12" on my deck with the old metal flip cover and I curse that thing every time I have to get down on a knee to plug something in.

I have 100% the same thing, and I’M the jerk that installed them!

My younger self wasn’t very considerate of my future self… I want to go back in time and slap him…

 

[Jraef]

The older I get the more I like 48" for all devices especially if I have to work on them

Started wiring my wood shop last weekend, no receptacles below 48”…

 

[Barbqranch]

In my shop, I put the receptacles at 48 inches to the top of the box. The idea was also to make it easier to drywall.

 

[retirede]

In my shop, I put the receptacles at 48 inches to the top of the box. The idea was also to make it easier to drywall.

The top sheet gets hung first. Box needs to be 48-1/2” from the ceiling joists.

 

[acrwc10]

The top sheet gets hung first. Box needs to be 48-1/2” from the ceiling joists.

we always found 46"AFF was better, no cleaning taping mud out of the boxes.

 

[Joe.B]

If you’re in California it’s now required to have receptacles no lower than 15” to the top, and switches must be no higher than 48”.

That’s a building code requirement, that they added to the California electrical code.

I would think that would be to apply to ADA requirements in Annex J. In addressing receptacles, the code book mandates floor receptacles to be installed within 18" of the wall to qualify as wall outlets. 210.5A(3)

Specifically, it's a new Residential Code requirement added for "Aging-In-Place Design and Fall Prevention". I'll add a link if you're interested in reading further but the basics are: Reinforcement for grab bars (blocking in the wall), outlet and switch placement, 32" minimum clear door width for at least one bedroom and one bathroom on the entry level, and doorbell buttons. I also hear that there is motion towards including this into the model codes.

CHAPTER 3 BUILDING PLANNING - 2022 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, TITLE 24, PART 2.5

ICC Digital Codes is the largest provider of model codes, custom codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.

codes.iccsafe.org

 

[retirede]

we always found 46"AFF was better, no cleaning taping mud out of the boxes.

Right - you’re avoiding the seam. The guy I replied to was trying to match the seam. I think.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

There is a maximum height of 5.5' if you want the receptacle to count as part of the 6'/12' spacing requirement. There is no minimum. Lately on high end homes people want them installed in the base molding like they did 100 years ago.

Yup. I have done it on a couple of jobs, not counting the many in old Victorians so the all match.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

I like 15" to the center. 18" looks too high and 12" too low.

Funny... I prefer 16 to center on resi and 18 for commercial. Why that's how we did it when I was an apprentice. That's it.
Always willing to accommodate the paying customer though.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

My previous worker is now on his own and he just got turned down for installing a wp cover in the horizontal position so that the door opened from left to right or horizontally. The inspector failed him which made him call me. He used those Taymac covers that he didn't even know that they were compliant in either horizontal or vertical positions. These covers are the accordion style. He showed the inspector that they were suitable in either postion and he won that case.

The reason I brought this up is because it makes the cover install on a horizontal receptacle much easier

 

[smalltime]

Standard mounting heights for receptacle and switch locations are not specified by the NEC. In the However in the Handbook, the Informational Note in 110.12 Mechanical Execution of Work refers to the ANSI/NECA 1-2015 Standard for Good Workmanship in Electrical Construction. (I only have the 2006 edition.) Page 16, shows typical mounting heights for receptacles and wall switches at 18 inches and 48 inches, respectively. It also says that outlet mounting heights are measured from the finished floor to the centerline of the device.

So while not specified by Code, mounting heights are specified by a Standard which is referenced in the Handbook.