GFCI Protection

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mstrlucky74

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I believe it's not required by code so why do guys install these breakers for temporary light stringers? I don't see it as requirement in specs either.
 
I think that he's asking about the power drops on temp light stringers, do they required GFCI protection for temporary power on a construction site.
 
edward said:
Probably 590.6(B) applies to temporary lighting outlets.
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590.6(B) still applies to receptacle outlets, just those not covered in (A).

Temp lighting is not directly required to have GFCI protection, if supplied through a receptacle then the receptacle is what kicks in GFCI protection requirements.
 
kwired said:
590.6(B) still applies to receptacle outlets, just those not covered in (A).

Temp lighting is not directly required to have GFCI protection, if supplied through a receptacle then the receptacle is what kicks in GFCI protection requirements.
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For sure if you plug in say a light stand that would be from a GFCI receptacle

But we cannot tie receptacles into lighting circuits on construction sites.

590.4(D) Receptacles.
(1) All Receptacles. All receptacles shall be of the grounding
type. Unless installed in a continuous metal raceway
that qualifies as an equipment grounding conductor in accordance
with 250.118 or a continuous metal-covered cable
that qualifies as an equipment grounding conductor in accordance
with 250.118, all branch circuits shall include a
separate equipment grounding conductor, and all receptacles
shall be electrically connected to the equipment
grounding conductor(s). Receptacles on construction sites
shall not be installed on any branch circuit that supplies
temporary lighting.
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For sure we can pick apart the wording but I think we can see the intent here.
 
In NYC temp power for lighting accessible to the public requires GFCI protection.

SECTION 590.6
Section 590.6 – Add an Exception after the first paragraph, to read as follows:
Exception: Temporary wiring installations that are accessible to the public and used to supply
temporary power for illumination of outdoor areas during construction, remodeling, maintenance,
repair, or demolition of buildings, structures, equipment, or similar activities shall comply with all other
requirements of this code for permanent wiring and shall be provided with ground-fault protection for
personnel.
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iwire said:
For sure if you plug in say a light stand that would be from a GFCI receptacle

But we cannot tie receptacles into lighting circuits on construction sites.



For sure we can pick apart the wording but I think we can see the intent here.
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We certainly can pick apart the wording here.

I would think a temporary receptacle not intended for lighting, yet gets some lighting plugged in anyway wouldn't quite fit the intent, but it is poorly written and can be interpreted in many ways.

Direct wired temporary lighting - seems fairly clear you don't put any receptacles on the circuit, unless maybe only intended to supply other lighting.

Temp light strings with a plug on the end of the cord - unless the temp outlet to supply them from is physically located to not encourage use for other items, is tough to prevent other items from being used from the receptacle, and why bother with the receptacle in the first place if physically locating it where it won't be easy to be used for other things? You can direct wire the light string into a junction box and then don't even need GFCI protection either.
 
infinity said:
In NYC temp power for lighting accessible to the public requires GFCI protection.
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Certainly out of reach to the public means it is not accessible to the public? Temporary lighting for an outdoor event but all the lighting is 20+ feet off the ground or at least in non public access locations - don't make any sense to me to require GFCI on that one. Temp lights hung at or below 8 feet in public access spaces - I can understand. Permanent lighting at or below 8 feet I can even understand in some places, especially if alcohol is consumed at the location in question.
 
infinity said:
It seems to work as long as water getting into the system isn't an issue.
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That was my thought and if I was in that situation I guess the answer is to use some decent quality outdoor fixtures and wire it in a 'less temporary way' than I would within a construction site.

I have had to light temporary staging / stairs in the past and I used HID wall packs with rubber cord run very carefully. I bonded the steel to the buildings ground ring, it was easy to access.

I did not use any GFCI protection, I picked up the buildings outdoor lighting circuit to feed it.
 
kwired said:
We certainly can pick apart the wording here.
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I was not issuing a challenge. :D

To me this goes right back to what Ethan said in the stock / labor splitting thread. It is just internet nit picking, in practice it seems no one is having the difficulties you bring up.
 
iwire said:
I was not issuing a challenge. :D

To me this goes right back to what Ethan said in the stock / labor splitting thread. It is just internet nit picking, in practice it seems no one is having the difficulties you bring up.
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The issue I run into may be more of determining the difference between what is considered temporary lighting and what is considered portable lighting. Portable lighting should be allowed to be plugged into general purpose recepacles, but where does one draw the line at it becoming "temporary lighting"? By nature all portable lights are temporary lights for the most part.

Larger projects like you work on frequently there is probably no question on what lighting is the temporary lighting - you guys probably hang some luminaires on their own circuit and likely even direct wired in most cases. Many of my smaller projects we don't provide any temp lights but if we do it is a 50 or 100 foot festoon cable type of system and plug it into a 15/20 amp 120 volt general purpose receptacle. Otherwise other contractors on site often bring their own portable lights as needed. The festoon type lights generally are useless once drywall goes up on a ceiling as there is no place to hang them from while they finish that ceiling.
 
OP, what does AHJ have to say about this? Did you get them involved? Is the job inspected?
 
infinity said:
In NYC temp power for lighting accessible to the public requires GFCI protection.
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In NYC nearly every site uses covered sidewalk bridges outside the building. The light strings are normally low enough that someone could grab them, if not climb up on the scaffolding to do it. As a matter of fact this is probably a situation where you would want to use reverse threaded light bulbs to reduce theft.

-Hal
 
mstrlucky74 said:
So sidewalk bridge lighting etc., but not within the construction side though correct?
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For typical NM style stringers with a pigtail and laundry drop every 12-15 feet I would say no GFCI protection required. It would be incumbent upon the person plugging into the laundry drop to provide their own GFCI device. Either by habit or spec we almost always use GFCI circuit breakers for the laundry drops.

Sidewalk shed structures have a lengthy list of requirements in NYC.

SECTION 590.8
Section 590.8 – Add a new section 590.8 to read as follows:
590.8 Sidewalk Shed Lighting. All sidewalk shed lighting installations shall comply with the following
conditions in addition to all other relevant provisions of this code:
(1) Such lighting shall be installed in a metal raceway approved for outdoor use.
(2) All junction boxes shall be suitable for damp or wet locations.
(3) A minimum wire size of 12 AWG shall be used for the installation.
(4) All fixtures shall be suitable for outdoor locations.
(5) Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection is required on receptacles and lighting.
(6) The installation shall be properly grounded and bonded.
(7) The panel supplying power to the sidewalk shed lighting shall have a directory that clearly indicates
which circuit is being used to supply power.
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