GFCI required for receptacle in a water heater closet with door to exterior?

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gary

gary

Senior Member
Location
California
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Retired electrical contractor / general contractor
I was asked to install a receptacle in a residential water heater closet with a door to the exterior. It was to be used for a possible future recirculation pump. The building has a raised foundation and the closet has a wood floor a few feet above grade level. I installed a GFCI thinking it might easily be used as an exterior maintenance outlet, but don't think it was required by the NEC. I DO think it would have been required if the water heater had been sitting on a concrete slab, but I'm not sure about that either. Any thoughts?
 
I agree with both points. If it became a legal issue I don't see it being Code required but the possibility of iit being used the same was as an outside outlet makes having it GF a good idea.
 
To Jumper's question, this outlet was not on a dedicated circuit, but I'm curious as to why that would be relevant to the need for GFCI protection. By the way, I tried to use the "Reply with Quotes" button to reply directly to your response but found I couldn't enter any text into the browser window that opened. Is this a known issue with the forum? Also, for those of you who think GFCI was not required, was that only because the water heater is on a raised foundation? I'm assuming that if the WH was sitting on a slab at grade level, it would need the GFCI, unless there is an exception that would allow me to use single receptacle for the recirculation pump.
 
gary said:
To Jumper's question, this outlet was not on a dedicated circuit, but I'm curious as to why that would be relevant to the need for GFCI protection. By the way, I tried to use the "Reply with Quotes" button to reply directly to your response but found I couldn't enter any text into the browser window that opened. Is this a known issue with the forum? Also, for those of you who think GFCI was not required, was that only because the water heater is on a raised foundation? I'm assuming that if the WH was sitting on a slab at grade level, it would need the GFCI, unless there is an exception that would allow me to use single receptacle for the recirculation pump.
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I do not why your "Reply with Quote" button did not work.

GFCI is not required because the location is not listed in 210.8. While accessible to exterior, it is not located there. Slab on grade is not relevant IIRC.

If the circuit is tapped/ or located from one that listed in 210.12, then AFCI protection is required; hence, my question
 
That is very interesting and I thank you for the information. I did think it was all about the "slab on grade." In this particular case, I tapped into an adjacent bedroom circuit and I will have to upgrade that circuit to AFCI. By the way, I see now that I can enter text after using the "Reply With Quotes" button, but I can't use the Enter key to start a new paragraph. I also see that doesn't matter because the forum software knows where to locate the quote! Thanks to everyone who replied!
gary said:
To Jumper's question, this outlet was not on a dedicated circuit, but I'm curious as to why that would be relevant to the need for GFCI protection. By the way, I tried to use the "Reply with Quotes" button to reply directly to your response but found I couldn't enter any text into the browser window that opened. Is this a known issue with the forum? Also, for those of you who think GFCI was not required, was that only because the water heater is on a raised foundation? I'm assuming that if the WH was sitting on a slab at grade level, it would need the GFCI, unless there is an exception that would allow me to use single receptacle for the recirculation pump.
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If the room is at grade level then I would say that art. 210.8(A)(2) applies. I would consider this an accessory building
 
iwire said:
How can a closet in the same building be an accessory building?

That sounds like an inspector stretching the code.
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An accessory building would be incidental to the main structure, since the water heater serves a main purpose directly related to the main structure I would not consider it "accessory'' Although not required to be GFCI it would be a good idea and would probably be used for outdoor use merely by its convenient location.
 
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