GFCI in Gymnasium?

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C

CMU

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Are gfci devices required in the wall of a gym? They are just general purpose receptacles and are not used for anything specific.
The former manager here had them all changed to gfi's and now we have nothing but problems with them tripping when man lifts or other temporary equipment gets plugged in.
Noone here thinks they are required or necessary.

Anyone know for certain? Thanks!
 
They are not required. Reference 210.8. That said, however, nothing that is properly working should ever trip a GFCI. So if this temporary equipment is tripping a GFCI, there is something wrong with it. Before you "solve the problem" by eliminating the GFCI protection, I think you should find out what it is protecting you against (i.e., where the ground fault is within the equipment).
 
Thanks for the quick answer. The man lift is the main thing that trips it and not all the time. It is an older lift with a motor and hydraulics. When some of our larger workers use it, although they are under the rated 350 lb weight limit, but not by much, it will trip. After the first trip it just gets worse and worse becoming a nuisance and hazard if there "stuck" up in the air.
 
I agree with Charlie (as I often do :smile: ).

Remember, there may be a difference between being required and being speced. I'm guessing that this is a school or church or Boys and Girls club, something like that? That may be what they want.

I've seen them where they only want outlets where they are necessary, so that they won't get damaged or vandalized.
 
GFCIs rarely go bad. If they trip they are doing there job. The trip setting is 4-6 mA. Your manlift could have 30+ mA leakage, which is enough for a fatal shock.
 
Is there nothing that is working properly that could nusance trip a gfci?

I know they used to say that fluorescent lights would trip a gfci. I don't know if that's true or not, and it has been a long time ago.
 
CMU said:
The man lift is the main thing that trips it and not all the time. It is an older lift with a motor and hydraulics.
Click to expand...

Oh, in that case by all means remove the GFCIs and continue using a possibly unsafe piece of equipment. :wink:

Nothing I like better then being a lift and getting whacked when I touch building steel.
 
tom baker said:
GFCIs rarely go bad. If they trip they are doing there job. The trip setting is 4-6 mA. Your manlift could have 30+ mA leakage, which is enough for a fatal shock.
Click to expand...


I can't say I agree with that at all, We change dozens of bad gfci receptacles every year at the University that fail.

The lifts are sent out, inspected and tested every year, this one just won't operate on a gfi circuit 100% of the time.


Basically I just wanted to know the code requirements "if" they are required in a gym or not.

Thanks!
 
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