GFCI protection on a residential well pump.

S

solar-dr.com

Member
Location
wildwood florida
Need some help, Inspector is requiring all well pumps to be GFCI protected. Sighting 210 8 (F) in the 2023 NEC code. This code only pertains to a receptacle, not a well. He claims it is utilization equipment. The code will at some point make a well pump GFCI protected but as of right now it is not required to be GFCI protected, please give your argument either way because I believe the building department is mis interpretating this code.
 
210.8(F) say "outlets". A receptacle is an outlet, but so is a hard wired connection. It seems like any branch circuit in a garage with a floor at or below grade, accessory buildings (e.g. well house), and boat houses requires GFCI except for lighting outlets. There is a temporary exception for HVAC compressors because they don't play nice with a lot of GFCI's, but in 2026 that exception goes away.

The GFCI rules have expanded immensely. Clothes dryers and electric range receptacles need GFCI now too.
 
ptonsparky said:
Rural residence/farm.
Well VFD is fed from residential panel then on out to submersible. This is now required to be GFCI protected?

Well VFD is fed from Ag shop panel then on out to submersible. Not required?
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All outdoor outlets is pretty inclusive. Would a well pump for a dwelling not be served by an outdoor outlet?
210.8(F) Outdoor Outlets
For dwellings, all outdoor outlets, other than those covered in 210.8(A), Exception No. 1, including outlets installed in the following locations, and supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground, 50 amperes or less, shall be provided with GFCI
protection:
1. Garages that have floors located at or below grade level
2. Accessory buildings
3. Boathouses
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ptonsparky said:
The well VFD gets it's power inside. There is no outlet outside. It goes straight to the submersible.
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If it's not associated with a dwelling then 210.8(B) would apply which would apply only to receptacles.
(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 following locations
shall be provided with GFCI protection:
1. Bathrooms
2. Kitchens
3. Areas with sinks and permanent provisions for food preparation, beverage preparation, or
cooking
4. Buffet serving areas with permanent provisions for food serving, beverage serving, or
cooking
5. Rooftops
6. Outdoors
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Back when well pump casings where iron and the drop pipe was iron, I could see the point of GFCI protection. Now that casings and drop pipes are plastic, is a short in a deep well going to get to the surface?

Either way, I guess it doesn't make that much difference to me. I've see less and less false tripping and other issues with modern GFCIs and whole house surge supressors.

I have a VFD well powered with a GFCI breaker. No issues. Yet.
 
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