Island receptacle at counter top egde

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clark nebaris shaw

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Kitchen island has flat marble top. The cabinet has a base and two posts to support the top. The receptacle was installed on the side just below the counter meeting the 6" rule. Note the front distance is more than 12".

The receptacle is accessible from the side a very short distance but faces the post. The Code does not say that the receptacle has to face you. Has this ever been approved ? The intent is to have a short cord length not to have
a receptacle face you as I understand.

Inspector will not accept this installation. I wanted to know if this has been approved elsewhere?

clark
 
I am not following you. If the counter overhangs is 6" but the recep. is more than 12" from the top of the countertop then the install is not compliant. The code does not care whether the receptacle faces you but it must meet the criteria stated.
 
clark nebaris shaw said:
Kitchen island has flat marble top. The cabinet has a base and two posts to support the top. The receptacle was installed on the side just below the counter meeting the 6" rule. Note the front distance is more than 12".

The receptacle is accessible from the side a very short distance but faces the post. The Code does not say that the receptacle has to face you. Has this ever been approved ? The intent is to have a short cord length not to have
a receptacle face you as I understand.

Inspector will not accept this installation. I wanted to know if this has been approved elsewhere?

clark
Click to expand...
Have you seen these? www.sillites.com
 
The overhang distance is greater than 12" but the receptacle is mounted just below the top on the side?
 
(5) Receptacle Outlet Location. Receptacle outlets shall be located on or above, but not more than 500 mm (20 in.) above, the countertop. Receptacle outlet assemblies listed for the application shall be permitted to be installed in countertops. Receptacle outlets rendered not readily accessible by appliances fastened in place, appliance garages, sinks, or rangetops as covered in 210.52(C)(1), Exception, or appliances occupying dedicated space shall not be considered as these required outlets.
Informational Note: See 406.5(E) for requirements for installation of receptacles in countertops.
​
Exception to (5): To comply with the conditions specified in (1) or (2), receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be mounted not more than 300 mm (12 in.) below the counter-top. Receptacles mounted below a countertop in accordance with this exception shall not be located where the countertop extends more than 150 mm (6 in.) beyond its support base.
(1) Construction for the physically impaired
(2) On island and peninsular countertops where the countertop is flat across its entire surface (no backsplashes, dividers, etc.) and there are no means to mount a receptacle within 500 mm (20 in.) above the countertop, such as an overhead cabinet

Are there cabinets above the island?
 
location

location

The outlet is physically under the counter top but mounted right at the short side of the counter edge about 6" below the counter?

A Sillite was proposed but the Owner does wants a duplex.

Dennis, what you stated is what I agree with. The receptacle does not have to face you to be accessible is my real question.

clark
 
cartoon of island outlet

cartoon of island outlet

here is a cartoon of the installation. Again not facing user, but meets the 6" rule.

clark
 

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cabinets

cabinets

Gregg Harris said:
(5) Receptacle Outlet Location. Receptacle outlets shall be located on or above, but not more than 500 mm (20 in.) above, the countertop. Receptacle outlet assemblies listed for the application shall be permitted to be installed in countertops. Receptacle outlets rendered not readily accessible by appliances fastened in place, appliance garages, sinks, or rangetops as covered in 210.52(C)(1), Exception, or appliances occupying dedicated space shall not be considered as these required outlets.
Informational Note: See 406.5(E) for requirements for installation of receptacles in countertops.
​
Exception to (5): To comply with the conditions specified in (1) or (2), receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be mounted not more than 300 mm (12 in.) below the counter-top. Receptacles mounted below a countertop in accordance with this exception shall not be located where the countertop extends more than 150 mm (6 in.) beyond its support base.
(1) Construction for the physically impaired
(2) On island and peninsular countertops where the countertop is flat across its entire surface (no backsplashes, dividers, etc.) and there are no means to mount a receptacle within 500 mm (20 in.) above the countertop, such as an overhead cabinet

Are there cabinets above the island?
Click to expand...

No,none above. Just a cabinet base with 2 legs in front holding the top.
 
clark nebaris shaw said:
No,none above. Just a cabinet base with 2 legs in front holding the top.
Click to expand...


I would ask the inspector for a clarification of his position. The outlet meets the requirements as stated in the code. It is not more than 12 inches below the counter top, and the counter top on the left or right does not exstend more than six inches from its base, and on the front where the legs are also the supporting base, does not have a counter top exstention over 6 inches.

I would say as writen it is compliant. The outlet direction is ilrelavent.
 
I don't see an issue with the install

Q 1. Is the receptacle within 12" of the top
Q2 Is the receptacle within 6" of the overhang

If yes to both then the inspector is incorrect.
 
clark nebaris shaw said:
The outlet is physically under the counter top but mounted right at the short side of the counter edge about 6" below the counter?

A Sillite was proposed but the Owner does wants a duplex.

Dennis, what you stated is what I agree with. The receptacle does not have to face you to be accessible is my real question.

clark
Click to expand...
The KPR, kitchen power pop-up receptacle by Carlon is a GFCI duplex.
 
I agree with Dennis. The receptacle is not more than 6 inches from the edge of the overhang, looking from the side. Nothing in the code wording says that the receptacle can't also be more than 6 inches from the edge of the overhang, looking from a different side. I call this compliant.

Ask the inspector this question: What if you had a cabinet build with the 12 inch overhang from the side, and the 6" overhang from the "front," and the receptacle in the same corner as shown in your sketch. How would that be acceptable, if your layout is not?
 
charlie b said:
I agree with Dennis. The receptacle is not more than 6 inches from the edge of the overhang, looking from the side. Nothing in the code wording says that the receptacle can't also be more than 6 inches from the edge of the overhang, looking from a different side. I call this compliant.
Click to expand...
But the code does not talk about the plug being not more than 6" away from edge of overhang.
It actually reads a (plug cannot be installed below a countertop that extends beyond 6" beyond it's support base in order to meet the requirement)
IMO I don't think meets the code
 
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Steviechia2 said:
It actually reads a (plug cannot be installed below a countertop that extends beyond 6" beyond it's support base in order to meet the requirement)
Click to expand...
In this case, the receptacle is at a corner of the base. There is one portion of the countertop extending 12 inches in one direction and another portion of the same countertop extending 6 inches in another direction. I would say that this receptacle is located below a countertop that meets the requirement. Not that this matters, but I also think it meets the intent of the requirement.
 
charlie b said:
In this case, the receptacle is at a corner of the base. There is one portion of the countertop extending 12 inches in one direction and another portion of the same countertop extending 6 inches in another direction. I would say that this receptacle is located below a countertop that meets the requirement. Not that this matters, but I also think it meets the intent of the requirement.
Click to expand...

You are probably correct about there intent.
But again it says it cannot be located below a top beyond 6", which it does
 
Steviechia2 said:
But again it says it cannot be located below a top beyond 6", which it does
Click to expand...
It is located below a top that is 6" on one side and 12" on another. Why would the 6" side not count as being the side below which the receptacle is located?
 
charlie b said:
It is located below a top that is 6" on one side and 12" on another. Why would the 6" side not count as being the side below which the receptacle is located?
Click to expand...

Because part of it is located under a top that is 12" as you stated. And it says it shall not be located below a top more than 6'
 
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