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GFCI 2020--UH OH

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Dennis Alwon

Dennis Alwon

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The 2020 from online does not paste as well as the pdf. I have to clean it up--ugh
Notice the boldface



210.8(A) Dwelling Units.

All 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles installed in the locations specified in 210.8(A)(1) through (A)⁠(11) and supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. (1)Bathrooms
(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
(3)Outdoors
Exception to (3): Receptacles that are not readily accessible and are supplied by a branch circuit dedicated to electric snow-melting, deicing, or pipeline and vessel heating equipment shall be permitted to be instal⁠led in accordance with 426.28 or 427.22, as applicable.
(4)Crawl spaces — at or below grade level
(5)Basements
Exception to (5): A receptacle supplying only a permanently installed fire alarm or burglar alarm system shall not be required to have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection.
Informational Note: See 760.41(B) and 760.121(B) for power supply requirements for fire alarm systems.
Receptacles installed under the exception to 210.8(A)⁠(5) shall not be considered as meeting the requirements of 210.52(G).
(6)Kitchens — where the receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces
(7)Sinks — where receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) from the top inside edge of the bowl of the sink
(8)Boathouses
(9)Bathtubs or shower stalls — where receptacles are instal⁠led within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the bathtub or shower stall
(10)Laundry areas
Exception to (1) through (3), (5) through (8), and (10): Listed locking support and mounting receptacles utilized in combination with compatible attachment fittings installed for the purpose of serving a ceiling luminaire or ceiling fan shall not be required to be ground-fault circuit-interrupter protected. If a general-purpose convenience receptacle is integral to the ceiling luminaire or ceiling fan, GFCI protection shall be provided.
(11)Indoor damp and wet locations
Click to expand...
 
al hildenbrand

al hildenbrand

Senior Member
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Minnesota
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Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
I just shake my head. Ugh.

Had a client this last summer that called me in to help with a number of items as she listed her house for sale. One was the forced air furnace air conditioning condensate pump that is cord and plug connected to a GFCI receptacle outlet.

The forced air furnace / AC / condensate pump were brand new three years ago and installed as part of a basement finishing remodel. The GFCI was new at that same time. Within a year, under the remodeler's warranty, the GFCI and condensate pump were replaced. The homeowner reported that the furnace would run, but even when the thermostat was calling for the AC, the AC was locked out because the condensate reservoir was over-full and the GFCI was tripped.

When I was called in, the AC was again being called for, but not running. Upon investigation I found the GFCI (with only the condensate pump plugged in) to be tripped. I unplugged the pump, tested the GFCI sensitivity and found it would hold 3.0 milliAmps, and trip at 5.0 milliAmps. The pump itself was still the problem. Sigh.

This particular forced air furnace did not have combustion condensate to collect and pump, but a lot of them, in my area, do. I just can't wait for the reports of house-freeze loss to come as we go further into a world stuffed with GFCIs and AFCIs.
 
Dennis Alwon

Dennis Alwon

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ptonsparky said:
What about other than dwelling units?
Click to expand...

Here is the 2020 on non dwelling


10.8(B) Other Than Dwelling Units.

All 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground, 50 amperes or less, and all receptacles supplied by three-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground, 100 amperes or less, installed in the locations specified in 210.8(B)(1) through (B)(12) shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. (1)

Bathrooms
(2)

Kitchens or areas with a sink and permanent provisions for either food preparation or cooking
(3)

Rooftops

Exception: Receptacles on rooftops shall not be required to be readily accessible other than from the rooftop.


(4)

Outdoors

Exception No. 1 to (3) and (4): Receptacles that are not readily accessible and are supplied by a branch circuit dedicated to electric snow-melting, deicing, or pipeline and vessel heating equipment shall be permitted to be installed in accordance with 426.28 or 427.22, as applicable.

Exception No. 2 to (4): In industrial establishments only, where the conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified personnel are involved, an assured equipment grounding conductor program as specified in 590.6(B)(2) shall be permitted for only those receptacle outlets used to supply equipment that would create a greater hazard if power is interrupted or having a design that is not compatible with GFCI protection.


(5)

Sinks — where receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) from the top inside edge of the bowl of the sink

Exception No. 1 to (5): In industrial laboratories, receptaclesused to supply equipment where removal of power would introduce a greater hazard shall be permitted to be installed without GFCI protection.





Exception No. 2 to (5): Receptacles located in patient bed locations of Category 2 (general care) or Category 1 (critical care) spaces of health care facilities shall be permitted to comply with 517.21.


(6)

Indoor damp and wet locations
(7)

Locker rooms with associated showering facilities
(8)

Garages, accessory buildings, service bays, and similar areas other than vehicle exhibition halls and showrooms
(9)

Crawl spaces — at or below grade level
(10)

Unfinished areas of basements

Exception to (1) through (5), (8), and (10): Listed locking support and mounting receptacles utilized in combination with compatible attachment fittings installed for the purpose of serving a ceiling luminaire or ceiling fan shall not be required to be ground-fault circuit-interrupter protected. If a general-purpose convenience receptacle is integral to the ceiling luminaire or ceiling fan, GFCI protection shall be provided.


(11)

Laundry areas
(12)

Bathtubs and shower stalls — where receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the bathtub or shower stall
Click to expand...
 
J

jeff48356

Senior Member
Location
Livonia, Michigan
al hildenbrand said:
I just shake my head. Ugh.

This particular forced air furnace did not have combustion condensate to collect and pump, but a lot of them, in my area, do. I just can't wait for the reports of house-freeze loss to come as we go further into a world stuffed with GFCIs and AFCIs.
Click to expand...

...or flooded basements due to the sump pump GFCI receptacle nuisance-tripping. Or cold water due to hi-efficiency water heater vent GFI outlet tripped. The list goes on; it's getting ridiculous! At least I'm glad I don't have to deal with AFCI's at all, since Michigan doesn't require them anywhere.

At the end of the day, the fact still remains that it's not any less safe to live in a house built 25 years ago before all this other GFCI and AFCI b.s. was required than it is to live in a house built today.
 
S

suemarkp

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Kent, WA
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Retired Engineer
Seems like this is going to require 30A 120/240V clothes dryer outlets to be GFCI'd as well as shop 240V receptacles (welders, compressors, large power tools). Has anyone seen these (6-15, 6-20, 14-30) in GFCI receptacle versions, or are we going to have to pay for the expensive double pole GFCI breakers?
 
romex jockey

romex jockey

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Vermont
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electrician
al hildenbrand

al hildenbrand

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Location
Minnesota
Occupation
Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
suemarkp said:
Seems like this is going to require 30A 120/240V clothes dryer outlets to be GFCI'd as well as shop 240V receptacles (welders, compressors, large power tools). Has anyone seen these (6-15, 6-20, 14-30) in GFCI receptacle versions, or are we going to have to pay for the expensive double pole GFCI breakers?
Click to expand...
I've not heard of, let alone seen, any 120/240, or 240 Volt Class A GFCI devices of any type, yet.

So, yes, Mark, the ridiculously high priced breakers seem to be the only choice, as of now.
 
mbrooke

mbrooke

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United States
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Technician
romex jockey said:
how's >> https://www.ebay.com/p/20020287449?..._mhEyFFfueiCpiORzXdJ-diYtBXve3FBoCuVcQAvD_BwE
~RJ~
Click to expand...

The one I use is half price:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KTS2N8C/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_8?smid=A36IYZXRPHYKF1&psc=1


61DwSWC8FhL._AC_SL1100_.jpg
 
kwired

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
Occupation
EC
I don't have as much of an issue with the mentioned condensate pumps for HVAC equipment - if they are plugged into a 5-15 or 5-20 receptacle, I am still fairly strong believer in GFCI requirements we have had the past few code cycles. The added 240 volt (150 volt to ground) single as well as three phase requirements I think are pushing it though. How many shock incidents really happen in those applications? Those situations usually don't involve appliance cords or extension cords with missing EGC pins and IMO are pretty safe in comparison to the 5-15 and 5-20 cord caps that regularly one can find with missing EGC pins. That missing EGC pin was sort of the main driving force for GFCI expansion requirements ~30 years ago and made much more sense than the changes today.

Keep in mind a lot of the devices that will be used to comply with some of the changes are made by the same manufacturers that pushed to get AFCI requirements in the code and to expand them.

It is all about $$ and using safety name as a tool to get it.
 
T

texie

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Location
Fort Collins, Colorado
Occupation
Electrician, Contractor, Inspector
Pardon if this was mentioned already. Take a look at 210.8(F). This would require the typical condensing unit in a dwelling to have GFCI.
 
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