GFCI for vending machines

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sparky_magoo

sparky_magoo

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I went on a service call to a hotel today. Among other things, I was told to install GFCI's at every vending machine outlet.

I was talking to the owner after I finished. He told me, a child died after being shocked by a vending machine. The kid was standing in water and touched the macine.

The hotel chain is now requiring GFCI's at all vending machines nationwide.

Cool.

I am sure I read about this paticular electrocution.

It might have been an email from Mike, or a story in ECM.

Does anyone remember this incident?
 
sparky_magoo said:
I went on a service call to a hotel today. Among other things, I was told to install GFCI's at every vending machine outlet.

I was talking to the owner after I finished. He told me, a child died after being shocked by a vending machine. The kid was standing in water and touched the macine.

The hotel chain is now requiring GFCI's at all vending machines nationwide.
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You might want to check out 210.8(B)(4) As far as the child, try searching for this...

Clanton, AL: August 21, 1995: A 10 year-old male was electrocuted at a motel when he came in contact with a vending machine.
 
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stickboy1375 said:
You might want to check out 210.8(B)(4)
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This may not nesessarily be outside. Vending machines in hotels can be inside, but near enough the pool for water to collect. Maybe the laundry overflowed, or the cleaning crew had spilled water. Yes, outside is obvious, but the building may have been wired before this Code section was adopted.
 
georgestolz said:
It's worth noting that in the 2005, vending machines are now required to be GFCI protected. 422.51.
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Thanks George, thats the section I was really looking for... I have to say I'm not too pleased with the loop hole for vending machine manufactures...
 
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could'nt find a news article but I thought this might be worth the space., Notice this vending machine was inside as well Sparky. looks like the family's loss has had an impact on at least on motel chain .


A Technical Bulletin from the NAMA Technical Services Department
Important Information
Concerning New Electrical Requirements for Vending Machines
A series of injuries and deaths involving vending machines stretching over a fifteen year time frame
caused the Consumer Product Safety Commission to focus on preventing any future incidents.
Here is an example of one incident:
In 1995 a ten-year old boy was with his family on vacation. After swimming in the hotel pool the
family returned to their room and changed into dry clothing. The boy then told his parents he was
hungry and wanted something from the candy machine. The father gave the boy some change and
the boy left to make a purchase. Later the boy was found lying in front of the candy machine, his
arm touching the machine. The boy had been electrocuted. Apparently, he was reaching for a
quarter that had fallen under one of the machines. After the incident, investigators said the
grounding post on the power cord attachment plug of the machine implicated in the death of the
boy was missing and the ground wire inside the wall receptacle was not connected allowing the
cabinet to be live due to a ground-fault......."
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​

​

 
Aren't new vending machines required to have a GFCI protection device built into the cord set?
 
georgestolz said:
It's worth noting that in the 2005, vending machines are now required to be GFCI protected. 422.51.
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Thank you, I was looking in 210 for the reqiurement. CA is still on 2002. Thats why I couldn't find it in my book on the company van.
 
stickboy1375 said:
Yes, but who is going to make them? Especially since they always have the option of just plugging into a gfi receptacle...
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Well obviously there will be some that do not do it, but the fear of lawsuits will make many of them comply.

How would just requiring GFCI receptacle to be installed have helped?

Vending machines often move around and you know they are not going to think about if a GFCI outlet was already there.

What I want is a definition for vending machine. :smile:

Which of these are vending machines?

Soda Machine

Snack Machine

Postal Stamp machine

Lottery scratch ticket machine

ATM machine

'Juke Box'

Slot machine

Video game

Pinball machine.

All of those are portable, cord and plug connected equipment accessible to the public that exchange money for a service.
 
To vend means to sell or offer,.. so will this apply to

water bubblers

Change machines

Can recycle machines

air pumps

Not funny but portable fans have killed more people,..


Portable electric fans were involved in an estimated
4,500 residential fires attended by fire departments from
1990 through 1998. These fires resulted in about 270
civilian injuries, more than 20 deaths, and about $55
million in property losses.
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I hope AFCI technology will prove its worth​
 
"Vending machines are constructed to either Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) Standard 541 for​


refrigerated machines or Standard 751 for non-refrigerated machines rather than the NEC. As of
January 1, 2005 the UL standards had not been revised to include this new requirement.
Therefore, no vending machines have been built with GFCI protection for operators to purchase.
UL is in the process of revising both standards to include this requirement with an effective date for
compliance of April 10, 2007. Between now and then vending machine manufacturers will be
working with power supply cord manufacturers to obtain cords for their machines."​

After a few people get sick or die after eating rotten tuna ,.. they will start to work on a requirement for a "power failure alarm" for standard 541.
Mark my words.​
 
iwire said:
Which of these are vending machines?
Soda Machine
Snack Machine
Postal Stamp machine
Lottery scratch ticket machine
ATM machine
'Juke Box'
Slot machine
Video game
Pinball machine.
All of those are portable, cord and plug connected equipment accessible to the public that exchange money for a service.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I just happened to install a dedicated receptacle outlet for a jukebox in a tavern remodel job last week. I never gave it a thought. The inspector won't know what that receptacle is for, but I may ask him just for the heck of it. You make a good point.
 
jrclen said:
Interesting. I just happened to install a dedicated receptacle outlet for a jukebox in a tavern remodel job last week. I never gave it a thought. The inspector won't know what that receptacle is for, but I may ask him just for the heck of it. You make a good point.
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1 Scope 751


1.1 These requirements cover self-contained, coin-operated vending machines that vend nonrefrigerated products to be employed in accordance with the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70. Vending machines as covered by this standard are intended for indoor use only, except that they will be investigated for outdoor use or use in a protected location if so designated by the manufacturer. Refrigerated sections of vending machines that vend a nonrefrigerated product are judged under the requirements for refrigerated vending machines. 1.2 These requirements do not cover coin-operated sound-recording and -reproducing machines.
 
M.D. when you post quotes it is helpful if you state or link to the source. :)

M. D. said:
These requirements do not cover coin-operated sound-recording and -reproducing machines.
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Now thats bad, now they have started a list of things it does not cover. Now I have to assume it does cover what is not in that list.

How about coin operated photo booths?
 
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