GFCI Protection for service recptacles

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No refer to NEC 210.8 For location of GFCI protection of recptacles. Typically only required in unfinished basement, outdoor at grade or roof top and garage.
 
Charleds Burton said:
Is GFCI protection required for recptacles installed in attics for the purpose of servicing HVAC equipment
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Just curious- in your attic HVAC units, how are they wired? Are they cord and plug connected to a receptacle, hard wired with a disconnect switch, or some other combination?
 
GFCI Protection

GFCI Protection

The HVAC units are air handeling units hardwired with a disconnect in the attic HVAC code and the NEC require servic outlets.
 
inspector23 said:
Just curious- in your attic HVAC units, how are they wired? Are they cord and plug connected to a receptacle, hard wired with a disconnect switch, or some other combination?
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I'm curious why your curious... :smile:
 
stickboy1375 said:
I'm curious why your curious... :smile:
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Because I believe we are the only jurisdiction in the Western Hemisphere that allows cord and plug connected FAU ! Simply install a duplex receptacle, use one receptacle for the cord connected fau and the other meets the requirement for the service equipment receptacle. Go figure!!

The best I can figure is it is political. Kinda like that "funny" Uncle - everyone knows it ain't right, but nobody can explain why we continue to allow it. The AHJ gathers the troops and pronounces a tersely worded monologue anytime the subject is approached. As one of our inspectors put it, "it is all kinds of wrong!"

Got one EC that hammers me with that every single time I have ANY issues with him. He asks "Why do you enforce this when you allow cords on fau's?"

I usually smile, telling him he sure looks different - has he lost weight?:D
 
If HVAC codes require GFCI protection for personel the HVAC contractor will need to supply his workers with portable units.

Roger
 
inspector23 said:
Because I believe we are the only jurisdiction in the Western Hemisphere that allows cord and plug connected FAU ! Simply install a duplex receptacle, use one receptacle for the cord connected fau and the other meets the requirement for the service equipment receptacle. Go figure!!
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Cord and plug connected FAU's are common throughout California, the 5th largest economy in the world.
 
I know you all really care so I will give you my opinion. Cord and plug connections on a furnace is a bad design. It assures a higher probability of accidental disconnects and hassels for the homeowner. It's just my opinion so you better do it my way (hardwire).:grin:
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I know you all really care so I will give you my opinion. Cord and plug connections on a furnace is a bad design. It assures a higher probability of accidental disconnects and hassels for the homeowner. It's just my opinion so you better do it my way (hardwire).:grin:
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I've heard that people cord and plug these things so that they can quickly connect them to a portable generator when the power goes out.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I know you all really care so I will give you my opinion. Cord and plug connections on a furnace is a bad design. It assures a higher probability of accidental disconnects and hassels for the homeowner. It's just my opinion so you better do it my way (hardwire).:grin:
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Buderus & Veissmans both come with a cord from the factory...
 
Charleds Burton said:
I am an code enforcement officer in NC we inspect all trades. Left my code books at work and was wandering
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I walked on to a job to help finish one an apartment for rough in inspection. I told the floor forman that he had 6 various violations, we worked that out and where ready to go, our supervisor told me he had never passed on first inspection. The floor forman took off for persoannal matters the day of inspections.
The inspector comes in nails me for 8 grounds under a blue wire nut and some other known violations like not strapping to center of stud. Senoir had inspected his brothers work...
Anywas the inspector says, "You Passed your electrical the Building Failed, due to the fact that that there was no Access (in place) to the O.H. HVAC Space".
The GC kept telling me I Failed, I said, "no I didn't, you did", Ah Laymor :rolleyes:
 
stickboy1375 said:
Buderus & Veissmans both come with a cord from the factory...
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I don't know your friends Buderus & Veissman :grin: . If they come with cords do you put GFCI when they are installed in crawlspaces???? That would be a drag.

Have you ever gone up in an attic and seen the rubber cords that were used to connect the old belt driven whole house fans. They get totally cracked and frayed. I still say not a good idea.;)
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I don't know your friends Buderus & Veissman :grin: . If they come with cords do you put GFCI when they are installed in crawlspaces???? That would be a drag.
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Buderus and Veissman both make boilers, I've only seen them installed in basements, I don't necessarily like the idea of a cord, but man, so easy even a cave man can do it... or a plumber... :grin:
 
Seems to me that since we cannot any longer put receptacles up above lift out ceiling tile because of the infrequency of inspection of the cords, then putting cords on the attic side of fan units is something that ought to get a second look also.
 
GFCI Protection

GFCI Protection

The initial question was; Do you have to provide gfci protection for recetacles where installed for servicing hvac units in attic?. Duct work in attics usually are constucted of metalic materials, even flexable are foil faced which is conductive. I understand tha there are other cord attached equiptment in attics and crawl spaces. Any hvac equiptment that would be hindered from its normal opperation by neusance tripping of a gfci would need to be plugeg into a single device recptacle. BUT WHAT ABOUT 120 VOLT RECPTACLES FORSERVICING THE EQUIPTMENT WHICH IS REQUIRED BY ELECTRICAL AND HVAC CODES?
 
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