GFCI required?

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JDB3

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San Antonio, Texas
Use to be that an outdoor receptacle that was above a certain height was not required to be GFCI protected. The case I have is an outdoor receptacle (single family dwelling) in the soffet (overhang of the house & not readily accessible). Is it required to be GFCI protected? Thanks,
 
Dennis Alwon said:
No exception except for de-icing equipment
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With NEC Plus I am able to go back to 2002 NEC easily, and that was the requirement for 2002 also. All outdoor 15 and 20 amp 125 volt receptacles with exception for de-icing equipment. I would guess there never was any other exception once outdoor receptacles were first included in the GFCI requirements for dwellings, not sure when that was but am pretty sure it has to be at least as long ago as 1987, as that was first code I did installations under and we did have to GFCI protect outdoor dwelling receptacles then.
 
The first mention of GFI in residential I can find is in the 1971 NEC. The 71 says all 120v 15/20amp single phase outdoor recepts shall be protected to be effective 1/1/1973. I have a great library of NFPA handbooks starting with the 1st in 1965.There is value in seeing why code was inserted to how far its been developed.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Usually the height restriction is for the required outlet not for Gfci or not.
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True, but non required outlets were not restricted and were still required to have GFCI protection, except for ice melting equipment outlets.

I used to and still do put receptacles in sofits, and porch ceilings for people that want to use them for holiday lighting. They have always been require to have GFCI protection (since I have been in the trade). Today that GFCI protection can not be at the receptacle location if it is not "readily accessible". I try to connect them to the feed thru of a GFCI on the porch, in the garage, etc. that is readily accessible. I sometimes used to put a GFCI receptacle in the foyer to feed these, then along came AFCI requirements for the foyer receptacle. In fact I have it this way in the house I live in. Sometimes holiday lighting trips GFCI but then the water problem dries up, can be easily reset without going outside.
 
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