GFI for a drinking water fountain???
- Thread starter nodsl
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macmikeman
Senior Member
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Re: GFI for a drinking water fountain???
Nodsl the trick is to not confuse drinking water fountains with decorative fountains. That bieng said, if the drinking water fountain was cord and plug connected at any location requiring a gfi as a matter of course then the answer is yes.
Nodsl the trick is to not confuse drinking water fountains with decorative fountains. That bieng said, if the drinking water fountain was cord and plug connected at any location requiring a gfi as a matter of course then the answer is yes.
A
a.wayne3@verizon.net
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Re: GFI for a drinking water fountain???
macmikeman what does that mean ????At any location reguiring a gfci.yes....If it is located in an area that requires a gfci ????That goes without saying.
macmikeman what does that mean ????At any location reguiring a gfci.yes....If it is located in an area that requires a gfci ????That goes without saying.
bphgravity
Senior Member
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- Florida
Re: GFI for a drinking water fountain???
Here's another prime example of how the NEC and UL falls short. One of these entities should be requiring this.
Both organizations are very concerned with water and electrical conditions, especially when personal contact is with the electrical equipment.
This simply comes down to the idea of what you can do verses what you should do.
Here's another prime example of how the NEC and UL falls short. One of these entities should be requiring this.
Both organizations are very concerned with water and electrical conditions, especially when personal contact is with the electrical equipment.
This simply comes down to the idea of what you can do verses what you should do.
electricmanscott
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- Massachusetts Master Electrician, one man show.
Re: GFI for a drinking water fountain???
Bryan I am not sure what you are getting at. Are you saying any electrically operated equipment that uses water should be gfci protected? Dishwasher, disposal, refrigerator? Bottom line here is that a drinking fountain does not require gfci protection.
[ April 22, 2004, 09:26 AM: Message edited by: electricmanscott ]
Bryan I am not sure what you are getting at. Are you saying any electrically operated equipment that uses water should be gfci protected? Dishwasher, disposal, refrigerator? Bottom line here is that a drinking fountain does not require gfci protection.
[ April 22, 2004, 09:26 AM: Message edited by: electricmanscott ]
Re: GFI for a drinking water fountain???
Scott and John are correct, the water in a drinking fountain never comes in contact with the power source, yet a 120v water heater element is submergered and it doesn't require GFCI protection.
Water itself is not a cause for GFCI protection.
Bare foot on a terrazo, stone, or tile floor is as dangerous if not more so.
Roger
[ April 22, 2004, 10:19 AM: Message edited by: roger ]
Scott and John are correct, the water in a drinking fountain never comes in contact with the power source, yet a 120v water heater element is submergered and it doesn't require GFCI protection.
Water itself is not a cause for GFCI protection.
Bare foot on a terrazo, stone, or tile floor is as dangerous if not more so.
Roger
[ April 22, 2004, 10:19 AM: Message edited by: roger ]
bphgravity
Senior Member
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Re: GFI for a drinking water fountain???
It is less about the water issue than it is about personal and intimate contact that is asssoicated with certain equipment. I am not so concerned with refrigerators, dishwashers, and the like due to the intended use of the appliances. My refrigerator and dishwahser have plastic handles and components. Not all metallic objects are covered, but most that are personal handled by me. And I know there are appliances that are stainless steel and completely metallic, but thats not the total point.
I believe the code requires GFCI protection in kitchens, bathrooms, and garages; not because of the water element, but because of the fact that this is where persons are using energized appliances in their hands for possibly extended periods.
Every water fountain that I have ever seen and used were completely metallic. I have both hands on the unit and drinking water in contact with the metallic parts. It just makes sense to me to be GFCI protected.
Can you think of a logical and reasonable reason to not GFCI protect a water foutain, or a refrigerator for that matter? The code is a good starting point, but not the final design point. Just my opinion.
It is less about the water issue than it is about personal and intimate contact that is asssoicated with certain equipment. I am not so concerned with refrigerators, dishwashers, and the like due to the intended use of the appliances. My refrigerator and dishwahser have plastic handles and components. Not all metallic objects are covered, but most that are personal handled by me. And I know there are appliances that are stainless steel and completely metallic, but thats not the total point.
I believe the code requires GFCI protection in kitchens, bathrooms, and garages; not because of the water element, but because of the fact that this is where persons are using energized appliances in their hands for possibly extended periods.
Every water fountain that I have ever seen and used were completely metallic. I have both hands on the unit and drinking water in contact with the metallic parts. It just makes sense to me to be GFCI protected.
Can you think of a logical and reasonable reason to not GFCI protect a water foutain, or a refrigerator for that matter? The code is a good starting point, but not the final design point.
Just my opinion.Re: GFI for a drinking water fountain???
The way we treat water fountains are if you install a single recptacle inside the water fountain no GFCI needed. If the recptacle is located outside the unit then we install it on a GFCI. If the compressor goes to ground (most likely cause of failure) IMO Then it will trip the breaker. If there is an accessable recptacle then you have the ptetial of persons using some other electric appliance and touching the metal surface. Just like standing wet andbarefoot in a bathroom using all the appliances we find in there.
The way we treat water fountains are if you install a single recptacle inside the water fountain no GFCI needed. If the recptacle is located outside the unit then we install it on a GFCI. If the compressor goes to ground (most likely cause of failure) IMO Then it will trip the breaker. If there is an accessable recptacle then you have the ptetial of persons using some other electric appliance and touching the metal surface. Just like standing wet andbarefoot in a bathroom using all the appliances we find in there.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
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- Master Electrician
Re: GFI for a drinking water fountain???
nodsl
GFCI protection for a drinking fountain is not required by the NEC.
nodsl
GFCI protection for a drinking fountain is not required by the NEC.
charlesa@tjnorris.com
Member
There is actually nothing in the code requiring a GFCI receptacle for drinking fountains. The reasoning behind not putting one in is due to maintenance. In most cases, the drinking fountain is mounted such that the receptacle that it plugs into is inaccessible. If the receptacle does trip, then the unit has to be removed from the wall to reset it. We typically design a GFCI receptacle on our plans and make notations that if the drinking fountain is hard wired or if the receptacle is completely inaccessible, then GFCI protection is not required.
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