Garage GFI required

[newbe]

Hi,
The building department (red bluff ca.) placed a requirement for GFI on all outlets in my garage. I looked here (http://www.dotznize.com/electric/?a=gn) and found this code excludes me 210.8(A)(2). I am 6" above grade. I would have 15 outlets to re-wire if I go GFI (and $100+). Should I mention this to the building department so they can remove this requirement?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Bryan

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Garage GFI required

Bryan,
The words "at or below grade level" in 210.8(A)(2)only apply to accessory buildings. All general use receptacles in a garage require GFCI protection.
Don

 

[iwire]

Re: Garage GFI required

210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.

(A) Dwelling Units. All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in the locations specified in (1) through (8) shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

(2) Garages, and also accessory buildings that have a floor located at or below grade level not intended as habitable rooms and limited to storage areas, work areas, and areas of similar use

Exception No. 1: Receptacles that are not readily accessible.

Exception No. 2: A single receptacle or a duplex receptacle for two appliances located within dedicated space for each appliance that, in normal use, is not easily moved from one place to another and that is cord-and-plug connected in accordance with 400.7(A)(6), (A)(7), or (A)(8).

Receptacles installed under the exceptions to 210.8(A)(2) shall not be considered as meeting the requirements of 210.52(G).

In most cities and towns you do not have to make existing installations conform to current code, but a city, town or state can add to the requirements of the NEC.

Required or not it would be a good idea to have GFCI protection, you only need one GFCI for each circuit to comply with this.

You do not need a GFCI device at each outlet.

[ August 03, 2003, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]

 

[bennie]

Re: Garage GFI required



[ August 03, 2003, 11:21 PM: Message edited by: bennie ]

 

[ronaldrc]

Re: Garage GFI required

Bryan

I guess this is the reason everyone advoids me but I will ask anyway.

Do you have a circuit per recpt?

I figured maybe two at the most.Use feed through GFIs. and feed the rest off the load side.

You know you are allowed 20 per circuit, don't you?

Ronald:

 

[websparky]

Re: Garage GFI required

Bennie,

There is something missing in the text of the section.

Yes, simplistic text for those who would like to read out of context.

Dave

 

[iwire]

Re: Garage GFI required

Originally posted by ronaldrc:
You know you are allowed 20 per circuit, don't you?

Ronald:
LOL

 

[iwire]

Re: Garage GFI required

Originally posted by bennie:
I used the grade elevation as established by the County Erosion Control.

My new garage floor is 8 inches above the established grade. I do not have GFCIs either.

Bennie I can only guess why you would want to do this?

3)You are faster than the average electron.

Bob

 

[newbe]

Re: Garage GFI required

Yikes!

I was hoping for the above grade excuse as to not GFI. I have a 6" pad + gravel. Yes, I feel I spent enough $ & time already. I have multiple outlets per circuit (up to 8 on 1). I don't plan on working with water on the floor while in the garage.
Will they let me slide based on the grade issue? or is GFI mandatory above grade too?
How would 1 GFI per circuit exclude me from doing what they said as "all outlets GFI"?
Thanks again,
Bryan

 

[sameguy]

Re: Garage GFI required

You are talking about spending $30 to keep from killing yourself or any others!
They come with instructions on how to hook up for down stream protection.

 

[ronaldrc]

Re: Garage GFI required

Bryan

The code says GFI protected not a GFI per outlet.

You could either use two GFI recpts. or wire nut the two circuits togather in the panel and set a GFI breaker. Or maybe if the walls are not finished make them one circuit.

Ronald

[ August 03, 2003, 01:31 PM: Message edited by: ronaldrc ]

 

[bill addiss]

Re: Garage GFI required

Bennie,

Please explain why your Garage would not require GFCI protection on the Receptacles per 210.8(A)(2)

Bill

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Garage GFI required

Bryan,
All dwelling unit garage general use receptacles require GFCI protection even if the garage is on top of your house.
Don

 

[newbe]

Re: Garage GFI required

OK, I'm getting the picture..

Spend the money and get GFI. (I've been fortunate not to be zapped in the first 20 years of garagin' without them..)

Do the downstream thing.

Now here's something funny. I put outlets in the rafters where lights would normally go (so I can choose what type of lights to use, fl, inc, metal halide- 120v plug in types)...GFI up there too?

 

[bennie]

Re: Garage GFI required

Is an accessory building, with a floor above grade, exempt from the GFI requirement?

 

[websparky]

Re: Garage GFI required

IRC 2003 (International Residential Code)

GRADE. The finished ground level adjoining the building at all exterior walls.

There is NO exception in the NEC.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Garage GFI required

Byran,
Read the section!! The words "at or below grade level" do not modify the word "garage". They only apply to "accessory buildings".

Bennie,
Base on the code wording, if the elevation of the accessory building's floor is above grade level, GFCIs would not be required in the accessory building. This is a poorly worded section, as the intent is to require GRCI protected receptacles in the first level of the accessory building.
Don

 

[bennie]

Re: Garage GFI required

Don: As written it would be a problem to enforce.

[ August 03, 2003, 11:24 PM: Message edited by: bennie ]

 

[websparky]

Re: Garage GFI required

This thread is a very good reason to purchase the NEC Handbook.

NEC 2003
210.8(A)(2)Garages, and also accessory buildings that have a floor located at or below grade level not intended as habitable rooms and limited to storage areas, work areas, and areas of similar use
Exception No. 1: Receptacles that are not readily accessible.

(Handbook Commentary)The requirement for GFCI receptacles in garages and sheds, as illustrated in Exhibit 210.10, improves safety for persons using portable hand-held tools, gardening appliances, lawn mowers, string trimmers, snow blowers, and so on, that might be connected to these receptacles, which are often the closest ones available. GFCI protection is also required in garage areas where auto repair work and general workshop electrical tools are used.

(3)Outdoors
(Handbook Commentary) .......Three of these receptacles are considered to be at direct grade level access and must have GFCI protection for personnel.........

Commercial Garages, Repair and Storage
511.12 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.
All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in areas where electrical diagnostic equipment, electrical hand tools, or portable lighting equipment are to be used shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

(Handbook Commentary)Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) intended to protect personnel from shock hazards are designed to trip when a ground-fault current of 5 milliamperes (plus or minus 1 mA) or greater is detected. The GFCI necessary to comply with the requirement in 511.12 may be either a receptacle-type or a circuit-breaker-type. This requirement applies to receptacles supplying specific types of utilization equipment that will be in use by repair personnel in environments where the floor surface (typically, concrete slabs with direct or indirect earth contact) and the possibility of dampness or even standing water increases the potential for electric shock.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Garage GFI required

Dave,
The handbook's opinion is no more valid then yours or mine. It is not an official interpretation of the code.
Don