GFCI Readily Accessible for Electric Water Cooler (NEC 2014 422.52)

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tw1156

tw1156

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Good afternoon,

I have located a few topics on this forum relating to GFCI requirements for electric water coolers, but my question is in regards to the definition of readily accessible for the GFCI outlet serving the electric water cooler. If the GFCI receptacle is installed on the underside of the electric water cooler and does not require removing any plates to access the outlet, is it considered readily accessible, even though you have to stoop down to access it?

Article 100 Definition: (Readily Accessible). Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to actions such as to use tools, climb over or remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.

This definition makes me think it is readily accessible as the references note mostly "going up"(ladders, climb), but would you argue that stooping down and reaching is also not considered accessible?

Forum Related Posts: http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=168937 , http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=164460
 
tw1156 said:
Good afternoon,

I have located a few topics on this forum relating to GFCI requirements for electric water coolers, but my question is in regards to the definition of readily accessible for the GFCI outlet serving the electric water cooler. If the GFCI receptacle is installed on the underside of the electric water cooler and does not require removing any plates to access the outlet, is it considered readily accessible, even though you have to stoop down to access it?

Article 100 Definition: (Readily Accessible). Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to actions such as to use tools, climb over or remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.

This definition makes me think it is readily accessible as the references note mostly "going up"(ladders, climb), but would you argue that stooping down and reaching is also not considered accessible?

Forum Related Posts: http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=168937 , http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=164460
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I am not trying to be snarky when I reply that unless you need a ladder (or a wheeled crawler?) to get under the unit to reach the GFCI receptacle it is still just as readily accessible.
On the other hand, if there was a railed fence or a safety railing and you had to crawl under it instead of having to climb over it, I would still be inclined to call that not readily accessible.

Readily Accessible does not mean ADA accessible (unless you hire a maintenance engineer with a disability.
 
Just curious, but hypothetically, if the facility is designed to be ADA accessible, and the owner is wheelchair bound, would that not place that receptacle out of reach? As designs require us to factor in all patrons (switch height max of 48", ADA accessible water coolers, etc), would this not be a gray area that is not fully addressed or am I overthinking this?
 
tw1156 said:
Just curious, but hypothetically, if the facility is designed to be ADA accessible, and the owner is wheelchair bound, would that not place that receptacle out of reach? As designs require us to factor in all patrons (switch height max of 48", ADA accessible water coolers, etc), would this not be a gray area that is not fully addressed or am I overthinking this?
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I would say that you are not overthinking it unless it makes it hard for you to deal with the situation where ADA access for the building or space is not mandatory. :)

It would be important for the sole occupant of a space to be able to reach the GFCI buttons as to reach any other receptacle outlet.
 
In definition of readily accessible though, is bending down and reaching considered too much of a movement by the NEC? I would be inclined to say no because no extra tools/climbing/removing obstacles were required. At what point is it not "capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections"? Thanks for the responses so far in working through this topic.
 
There is a big difference between what is required by code and what it desirable for the owner. The NEC even says so, in 90.1(B). I would say that if a person has to bend down, or even kneel down, in order to reset a GFCI, the GFCI is still "readily accessible," as that phrase is used in the NEC. It might not be convenient, if the owner and sole occupant of the building is wheel chair bound. But that means nothing to the NEC. It may mean that the owner will have to pay you extra to make the GFCI easier to reset by a person in a wheel chair.
 
The requirement for GFCIs to be readily accessible is in 210.8. That rule does not apply to your drinking fountain GFCIs in Art 422.
The 2017 NEC does require the GFCIs in Art 422 to be readily accessible.
 
the 2017 added to the wording in the definition of readily accessible to not requiring having to "climb over or under". Not that many consider bending over or kneeling to reset a GFCI "climbing under".
 
tom baker said:
The requirement for GFCIs to be readily accessible is in 210.8. That rule does not apply to your drinking fountain GFCIs in Art 422.
The 2017 NEC does require the GFCIs in Art 422 to be readily accessible.
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Unless 2017 NEC changed 422.5, the drinking fountain GFCI required later on in 422 still must be readily accessible because o 422.5.

Under 2011 NEC this GFCI did not have to be readily accessible though.
 
kwired said:
Unless 2017 NEC changed 422.5, the drinking fountain GFCI required later on in 422 still must be readily accessible because o 422.5.

Under 2011 NEC this GFCI did not have to be readily accessible though.
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My original comment was based on the 2014 NEC.
 
tom baker said:
My original comment was based on the 2014 NEC.
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Then you were correct that 210.8 doesn't apply. The GFCI for the drinking fountain is still required to be accessible in 2014 by 422.5. 422.5 did not exist in 2011 so then the GFCI did not need to be readily accessible.
 
tw1156 said:
Article 100 Definition: (Readily Accessible). Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to actions such as to use tools, climb over or remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.

. . . would you argue that stooping down and reaching is also not considered accessible?
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I would not argue that stooping down and reaching is in the definition.

Stooping down and reaching is not using tools.
Stooping down and reaching is not climbing over or removing obstacles.
Stooping down and reaching is not using a portable ladder.

With a counter backsplash mounted GFCI, one leans over and reaches. That is acceptable as readily accessible. Seems similar to stooping and reaching. Or kneeling and reaching. Or standing and reaching. Or laying down and reaching.
 
al hildenbrand said:
I would not argue that stooping down and reaching is in the definition.

Stooping down and reaching is not using tools.
Stooping down and reaching is not climbing over or removing obstacles.
Stooping down and reaching is not using a portable ladder.

With a counter backsplash mounted GFCI, one leans over and reaches. That is acceptable as readily accessible. Seems similar to stooping and reaching. Or kneeling and reaching. Or standing and reaching. Or laying down and reaching.
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So in your opinion is a GFCI receptacle located behind but just below the top of an appliance like a chest freezer or a clothes washer readily accessible? Might be as easy to reach as other things you described. Might be easier for a guy that is 6 foot 4 tall vs someone that is only 5-0, but NEC doesn't mention physical size of users for things like this either.
 
kwired said:
So in your opinion is a GFCI receptacle located behind but just below the top of an appliance like a chest freezer or a clothes washer readily accessible? Might be as easy to reach as other things you described. Might be easier for a guy that is 6 foot 4 tall vs someone that is only 5-0, but NEC doesn't mention physical size of users for things like this either.
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It also depends upon how close to the wall, and how deep (person to receptacle) the appliance is, and how far "just below" is. . .
can one go around behind the appliance? Or does one have to climb over or remove the obstacle? Appliances are far from one size also.
 
al hildenbrand said:
It also depends upon how close to the wall, and how deep (person to receptacle) the appliance is, and how far "just below" is. . .
can one go around behind the appliance? Or does one have to climb over or remove the obstacle? Appliances are far from one size also.
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I hear you, but am guessing a majority of inspectors say no regardless of how little or how much "behind" it is and probably the same with the drinking fountain.
 
kwired said:
I hear you, but am guessing a majority of inspectors say no regardless of how little or how much "behind" it is and probably the same with the drinking fountain.
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This installation at this drinking fountain is "on the underside", which I take as exposed and NOT behind. But only the Opening Poster can explain this exactly.
 
al hildenbrand said:
This installation at this drinking fountain is "on the underside", which I take as exposed and NOT behind. But only the Opening Poster can explain this exactly.
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Most I have been involved with are inside (you have limited space where it will fit and is hard to get exact placement at rough in) but the bottom is usually open so you can easily gain access to unplug it (or reset a GFCI) and no tools needed if you are lying on the floor.
 
The receptacle would be exposed on the wall with the water cooler cord plugging into it. Thanks again for talking this one out.
 
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