Garage Receptacle Mounting Height

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No requirement, but I put 'em at 44". It keeps the receptacle high enough for most any use, but mainly that is my bath and kitchen counter mounting heights and it one less measurement for me to keep track of. :roll:
 
I remember an inspector telling me once that with in 18" of the floor of the garage is a "hazardous" enviroment. (I don't remember if it had to do with the automobile, or the gas cans ect. that would inevetably be stored in there that dictated this) Therefore the receptacles must be kept above a certain height. I never took the time to look into it because I always put them at 48".
 
shockin said:
I remember an inspector telling me once that with in 18" of the floor of the garage is a "hazardous" enviroment. (I don't remember if it had to do with the automobile, or the gas cans ect. that would inevetably be stored in there that dictated this) Therefore the receptacles must be kept above a certain height. I never took the time to look into it because I always put them at 48".
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This is a common myth, I believe that it comes from a combination of a requirement to elevate ignition sources in a dwelling unit garage to above 18" from the mechanical codes and a misapplication of the requirements in Article 511 for commercial repair garages.

Chris
 
shockin said:
I remember an inspector telling me once that with in 18" of the floor of the garage is a "hazardous" enviroment. (I don't remember if it had to do with the automobile, or the gas cans ect. that would inevetably be stored in there that dictated this) Therefore the receptacles must be kept above a certain height. I never took the time to look into it because I always put them at 48".
Click to expand...

The 18" height requirement does not apply to residential garages. As Chris said this is a common misconception.
 
I find it interesting that everyone downplays the lower 18" in a private garage as being an unclassified location. The interesting thing is that even though the NEC is specific concerning commercial garages (which are usually open to the outside air most of the time and usually parked vehicles are outside) but does not address the residential garage, BUT the building codes DO address this. All sources of ignition in a private garage are to be elevated a minimum of 18" above finished floor. A duplex receptacle is a source of ignition, or can be. This requirement is not without merit and should be included specifically in the NEC, but a lot of building code requirements are not in the NEC......smoke detectors for one.
"You sometimes have to look in more than one hole to find a rabbit".
 
earshavewalls said:
All sources of ignition in a private garage are to be elevated a minimum of 18" above finished floor.
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This comes from the mechanical and fuel gas section of the IRC, and from the IFGC and IMC. This requirement applys to mechanical equipment that have an ignition source, such as furnaces and water heater, not to electrical outlets.

Why would the Mechanical and Fuel gas codes have any bearing on a general purpose receptacle installed in a residential garage?

Chris
 
Note!

Note!

do not measure up from the floor
measure down from the ceiling

5% sloped floor makes for 5% sloped recep, which looks odd when looking around

use a lazer level to help get it right
 
Denis said:
do not measure up from the floor
measure down from the ceiling

5% sloped floor makes for 5% sloped recep, which looks odd when looking around

use a lazer level to help get it right
Click to expand...

80% of the time, the garage slab isn't poured when I get there.
 
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