Island Outlet Outage - AFCI next?

W@ttson

W@ttson

Senior Member
Location
NJ-USA
Occupation
PE
I recently found out that per the 2023 NEC, islands no longer require to have outlets. Blew my mind, I found out by accident due to a youtube video. I thought it was a click bait title.

After years of increasing the requirements for outlets at island, poof, gone.

I had never seen such an about face and got me wondering - could the great invasion of AFCI breakers be next?
 
W@ttson said:
I recently found out that per the 2023 NEC, islands no longer require to have outlets. Blew my mind, I found out by accident due to a youtube video. I thought it was a click bait title.

After years of increasing the requirements for outlets at island, poof, gone.

I had never seen such an about face and got me wondering - could the great invasion of AFCI breakers be next?
Click to expand...
Dreamer.
 
W@ttson said:
I recently found out that per the 2023 NEC, islands no longer require to have outlets. Blew my mind, I found out by accident due to a youtube video. I thought it was a click bait title.

After years of increasing the requirements for outlets at island, poof, gone.

I had never seen such an about face and got me wondering - could the great invasion of AFCI breakers be next?
Click to expand...

No such luck. That provision was only removed because it made too much sense.

We’re on the 2020 NEC in California, so I’m not familiar with the actual wording, but it’s my understanding that they are not just not required, but they are prohibited in islands in the 2023. Someone who is on that code will no doubt set me straight.
 
Seven-Delta-FortyOne said:
We’re on the 2020 NEC in California, so I’m not familiar with the actual wording, but it’s my understanding that they are not just not required, but they are prohibited in islands in the 2023. Someone who is on that code will no doubt set me straight.
Click to expand...
They're not required but they also not prohibited they just cannot be installed on the side like they were in the past. That means you'll need one mounted within the countertop surface like a pop-up style.
 
infinity said:
They're not required but they also not prohibited they just cannot be installed on the side like they were in the past. That means you'll need one mounted within the countertop surface like a pop-up style.
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And there is only one manufacturer that has a pop-up assembly that is actually listed for countertop use. There are a number who advertise theirs are listed for that application, but but most often, when you dig into the listing you find that they are listed only for use in portable furniture.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
And there is only one manufacturer that has a pop-up assembly that is actually listed for countertop use. There are a number who advertise theirs are listed for that application, but but most often, when you dig into the listing you find that they are listed only for use in portable furniture.
Click to expand...
Also many of these not kitchen countertop ready ones are not tamper resistant. Hubbell makes a code compliant one:

 
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don_resqcapt19 said:
That loophole is being removed in the 2026 code. No receptacle permitted within 24" of the counter top, measured in any direction other than up.
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It’s just crazy for me. In NJ, 2020 got adopted not too long ago. Does that mean every NEW installation in NJ is hazardous?
 
W@ttson said:
It’s just crazy for me. In NJ, 2020 got adopted not too long ago. Does that mean every NEW installation in NJ is hazardous?
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Of course not. Hopefully NJ amends this section right out of the code. Please update your location to indicate where you are in the great state of New Jersey.
 
infinity said:
Also many of these not kitchen countertop ready ones are not tamper resistant. Hubbell makes a code compliant one:

Click to expand...
We have accepted these before too, on one job. You can see why they are not commonly used...

www.kitchenpowerpopups.com

Lew PUR20GD-B Round Kitchen Pop Up Outlet, GFCI, Brass

Buy the Lew Electric PUR20GD-B pop up receptacle that hides in your kitchen countertop with brass top, 20 Amp outlet, and integrated GFCI protection.
www.kitchenpowerpopups.com www.kitchenpowerpopups.com
 
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