I would like to get your take on emergency eye wash stations and GFCI requirements. I had an Inspector call it a shower stall and required GFCI within 6 feet. My argument of it being a dry location because of it only being temporarily wet did not sway their mind. Is there anything that may come to mind regarding any requirements per NFPA 70?
Emergency Shower GFCI
- Thread starter MFinch97
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- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I have to agree with the inspector. It doesn't matter how often it is used... The code doesn't make that distinction
Coppersmith
Senior Member
- Location
- Tampa, FL, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
There are no mentions of "eye wash" stations in the NEC. IMHO you would have to treat it like a sink in which case all receptacles within six feet would have to be GFCI. I also think that you would want to make sure that the GFCI is not being deluged with water when the eye wash is being operated i.e. the GFCI is not placed under the station.
Coppersmith
Senior Member
- Location
- Tampa, FL, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
I would put an in-use cover on that. One of the flat ones that would not interfere with a head. Or better yet, relocate the receptacle. BTW, I have seen those stations used frequently by people who wanted to wash their hands. I have also seen new men coming onto a job test them to make sure they are working.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I would call that a sink... still needs GFCI
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
I think it probably qualifies as a sink. I think the receptacle needs GFCI protection.
I don't see how it is a shower stall. It might be a shower but not a shower stall.
Best bet is to move the receptacle.
I do not think it is a wet location.
I don't see how getting some splashing on it from the eyewash station makes it "subject to saturation with water". If mere splashing was the criteria, than every receptacle would be in a wet location. Someone could walk by and spill coffee on it.
growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
Dang it I thought there were the new urinals with a bidet. They really should put a sign up to let people know it's an eye wash station.
Oh what long legs you have.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
Would you be allowed to even put the receptacle there at all if it was a shower?
winnie
Senior Member
- Location
- Springfield, MA, USA
- Occupation
- Electric motor research
When I was an undergrad I spent lots of time in the chem lab. There were emergency showers everywhere. No stall, just a shower head with a pull chain. Sometimes they were even over a floor drain.
If you pulled the chain, everything in the vicinity would get wet. Walls, floor, desks, book shelves.....
-Jon
If you pulled the chain, everything in the vicinity would get wet. Walls, floor, desks, book shelves.....
-Jon
OP mentioned “within 6 feet”, so yes.
If you’re referring to the picture of the eye wash station, then no.
Let me clarify, this was an emergency eye wash/shower. No drain basin or anything to make it a stall in my eyes. Also The NEC does in fact clarify what a dry location is. The definition of a dry loaction is: A location not normally subject to dampness or wetness. A location classified as dry may be temporarily subject to dampness or wetness, as in the case of a building under construction.
They had drains below them, just no Basin.
They was no connection for a drain, but there was one on the ground. I would think with that it does not qualify as a sink.
Sorry, It is an Eyewash and Shower in one.
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