Furnace wiring

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jumper said:
So. If it serves the appliance it is still an individual circuit.

Branch Circuit, Individual. A branch circuit that supplies
only one utilization equipment.

I have a 20 amp circuit serving my inside AHU and there is a condensate pump also. Violation?

422.12 Central Heating Equipment. Central heating
equipment other than fixed electric space-heating equipment
shall be supplied by an individual branch circuit.

Exception No. 1: Auxiliary equipment, such as a pump,
valve, humidifier, or electrostatic air cleaner directly associated
with the heating equipment, shall be permitted to be
connected to the same branch circuit.
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Not a vilolation if it meets conditions of the exception.
 
stickboy1375 said:
I would love to hear the "why" on this... :)
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OK.. The reply that I got is, that, somewhere in an NFPA book is states "the power to a gas controlled boiler can only be interupted by a service switch".
If the "chief inspector" can pinpoint the article, I'll let you know.
 
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jumper said:
Um, that does not sound right.

Where does it say that an individual circuit has to terminate in a hard wire fashion vs a receptacle?
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422.16 Flexible Cords.
(A) General. Flexible cord shall be permitted (1) for the
connection of appliances to facilitate their frequent interchange
or to prevent the transmission of noise or vibration or
(2) to facilitate the removal or disconnection of appliances that
are fastened in place, where the fastening means and mechanical
connections are specifically designed to permit ready removal
for maintenance or repair and the appliance is intended
or identified for flexible cord connection.
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See above in red, to be able to use a cord and plug method it must be in the UL listing (instructions) for that appliance, I have yet to see this allowed with a furnace
 
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Hendrix said:
OK.. The reply that I got is, that, somewhere in an NFPA book is states "the power to a gas controlled boiler can only be interupted by a service switch".
If the "chief inspector" can pinpoint the article, I'll let you know.
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So what happens when the Utility company fails to provide power? :)
 
kwired said:
It is still an outlet just not a receptacle outlet. A receptacle outlet has a somewhat unlimited possibility of what the load may be, where this is a fixed load.
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I well undrestand that in bedrooms that both outlets and lighting fixtures etc. are classified as outlets
Then you are saying that an AFCI or GFCI are als to be used with a furnace then regardless if a duplex is used or it is direct wired? I may have miss that requirement in the NEC. Is thaat something new? I would not like to misdirect the OP.
 
templdl said:
I well undrestand that in bedrooms that both outlets and lighting fixtures etc. are classified as outlets
Then you are saying that an AFCI or GFCI are als to be used with a furnace then regardless if a duplex is used or it is direct wired? I may have miss that requirement in the NEC. Is thaat something new? I would not like to misdirect the OP.
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ART 100 definitions:

Outlet. A point on the wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment.
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218.8 partial:
(A) Dwelling Units. All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in...
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210.12 Arc fault circuit interruption - partial:
(A) Dwelling Units. All 120-volt, single phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets installed in....
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In a dwelling GFCI is only required for 125 volt 15 and 20 amp receptacle outlets - unless equipment otherwise required outside of 210.8 like swimming pools or hot tubs.

If 120 volt and installed in area where AFCI protection is required then it must have AFCI protection whether cord connected or hard wired. So if furnace is 120 volts and in bedroom - AFCI required.
 
kwired said:
ART 100 definitions:




218.8 partial:




210.12 Arc fault circuit interruption - partial:


In a dwelling GFCI is only required for 125 volt 15 and 20 amp receptacle outlets - unless equipment otherwise required outside of 210.8 like swimming pools or hot tubs.

If 120 volt and installed in area where AFCI protection is required then it must have AFCI protection whether cord connected or hard wired. So if furnace is 120 volts and in bedroom - AFCI required.
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The OP described a "utility room." are either the AFCI of GFCI devices require then? As furnaces are a critical device in a home one must use caution not to add any devices that can cause it to be automatically disconnected in freezing weather while you are away for the weekend or on vacation. Isn?t this why the code require a furnace to be on its own circuit not matter if it is oversized for the actual load?
And we all know about AFCI nuisance tripping when they have 30ma ground fault sensitivity. Then to make matters worse using a GFCI which has 5ma GF sensitivity make even less sense.
So I believe it is imperative that this be clarified.
Are GFCI required when fed from an convenience outlet in a basement area?
 
templdl said:
The OP described a "utility room." are either the AFCI of GFCI devices require then? As furnaces are a critical device in a home one must use caution not to add any devices that can cause it to be automatically disconnected in freezing weather while you are away for the weekend or on vacation. Isn?t this why the code require a furnace to be on its own circuit not matter if it is oversized for the actual load?
And we all know about AFCI nuisance tripping when they have 30ma ground fault sensitivity. Then to make matters worse using a GFCI which has 5ma GF sensitivity make even less sense.
So I believe it is imperative that this be clarified.
Are GFCI required when fed from an convenience outlet in a basement area?
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210.12 does not mention "utility rooms" or any similar areas so AFCI would not be required. Most building codes would require a furnace to be in a 1 hour finish rated room so it is not likely to be in any of the rooms that are mentioned.

If furnace is not cord and plug connected (which likely is not allowed in almost all cases for a non-portable unit) then no GFCI protection is required either, no matter where it is located.

A 120 volt unit heater is going to require AFCI protection if located in a room where AFCI is required, doesn't matter if is is gas or electric it is still a 120 volt outlet.
 
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Back to the OP then:
"Installing a new 15A oil fired furnace (2012) . . . I believe it has to have GFCI protection. So which is correct . . . 1) a dedicated 15A GFCI breaker to the furnace. . . 2) a dedicated 15A AFCI breaker to the furnace . . . 3) a basic 15A breaker to a GFI receptacle in the Utility Room with the furnace on the load side . . . 4) an AFCI breaker to a GFI receptacle in the Utility Room with the furnace on the load side"
Does it require GFCI and or AFCI protection or not. By your anwser neither is required. One would understand that it is a dedicated circuit that is hard wired because it is a furnace is a utility room.
Or did this thread meander off on a rabbit trail with all sorts? of scenarios confusing the OP.
 
templdl said:
Back to the OP then:
"Installing a new 15A oil fired furnace (2012) . . . I believe it has to have GFCI protection. So which is correct . . . 1) a dedicated 15A GFCI breaker to the furnace. . . 2) a dedicated 15A AFCI breaker to the furnace . . . 3) a basic 15A breaker to a GFI receptacle in the Utility Room with the furnace on the load side . . . 4) an AFCI breaker to a GFI receptacle in the Utility Room with the furnace on the load side"
Does it require GFCI and or AFCI protection or not. By your anwser neither is required. One would understand that it is a dedicated circuit that is hard wired because it is a furnace is a utility room.
Or did this thread meander off on a rabbit trail with all sorts? of scenarios confusing the OP.
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Back to post #2:

Why do you believe it needs to be gfci or afci protecteted?.
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It does not need to have GFCI or AFCI protection in the OP's situation. It likely should also be direct wired. IF allowed to be cord and plug connected it is not the furnace that would need GFCI protection, it is the fact there IS a RECEPTACLE that GFCI protection MAY be required.
 
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