GFCI for water fountain

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iragarcia24

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Burkburnett,tx
The GC is arguing the GFCI needs to be installed inside the shell of the drinking fountain, but that would make it not readily accessible, please tell me if I’m wrong?


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iragarcia24 said:
The GC is arguing the GFCI needs to be installed inside the shell of the drinking fountain, but that would make it not readily accessible, please tell me if I’m wrong?
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I agree with you, that you need a GFCI breaker or a feed-through GFCI receptacle elsewhere to supply such a located receptacle. Last one I did I wired it to the bathroom receptacles.
 
LarryFine said:
I agree with you, that you need a GFCI breaker or a feed-through GFCI receptacle elsewhere to supply such a located receptacle. Last one I did I wired it to the bathroom receptacles.
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Thank you for the feedback. That’s what I normally do but the plans show the water fountains on their own individual circuits


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jumper said:
422.5
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I realize that's the code but that's a simple answer.

When I think drinking fountain, I think of a public place.
When I think GFI tripped, I think something went wrong with the fountain to make it trip.
When I think something may be wrong with the fountain, I don't want just some random person resetting the GFI.

I'd rather a complaint come in that the water's not cold requiring someone of authority to take the cover off to reset the GFI, and, in doing so may find something that made the GFI trip in the 1st place.

JAP>
 
jumper said:
You asked :



How should I have answered?:?

That section was added in 2014.
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Just wondering what the code making panels mind set is sometimes when requiring things to be readily accessible when there are times when they really shouldn't be just for convenience.

JAP>
 
To me, much like the General Contractor being brought up, feel that a receptacle in the cavity of the water fountain is a much cleaner look than a cord plugged into the wall on the outside just to make it accessible.

If it were a GFI breaker feeding the receptacle instead , it would probably be locked away in some panel room of a school or the like anyway.

So are we making it accessible for some safety reason or just because people are getting lazy and don't want to walk to the panel room to reset a breaker?


JAP>
 
jap said:
To me, much like the General Contractor being brought up, feel that a receptacle in the cavity of the water fountain is a much cleaner look than a cord plugged into the wall on the outside just to make it accessible.

If it were a GFI breaker feeding the receptacle instead , it would probably be locked away in some panel room of a school or the like anyway.

So are we making it accessible for some safety reason or just because people are getting lazy and don't want to walk to the panel room to reset a breaker?


JAP>
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A breaker in a locked utility room IS considered readily accessible (you are allowed to need a key, just not tools). It does not have to be anywhere near the load or receptacle.


That said, I have also seen water coolers that are open at the bottom, making the valve and a GFCI readily accessible.
 
To me the only hazard of the receptacle being inside of the fountain cavity and not being readily accessible to reset would be the danger of eventually having to drinking the luke warm water.

JAP>
 
GoldDigger said:
A breaker in a locked utility room IS considered readily accessible (you are allowed to need a key, just not tools). It does not have to be anywhere near the load or receptacle.
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Then I'd do that and hide the receptacle like the General Contractor wants since it's on a dedicated circuit anyway.


JAP>
 
jumper said:
Yes,usually a removable panel, but under 2014 you cannot do that anymore unless you use a GFCI breaker or dead front device located elsewhere that is readily accessible as Goldy stated.
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All the ones i have inspected just have an open hand whole without any cover, have not inspected any recently that are not high low fountains though.

They do have a removable cover that gives further access once it is removed.
 
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