Island receptacles

[IllinoisContractor]

how can you call a fastened piece of cabinetry not wall space?

A wall space is a wall. Cabinets are cabinets.

The whole purpose of the code requirements for dwelling unit receptacle outlets (210-52) is to minimize the use of cords across doorways, fireplaces and simular openings. A simular opening would be a cabinet with a door. If you have a wall of cabinets with doors, what in the world would you need an outlet for? The cabinets have doors that swing out. Are you going to put a table with a light on it in front of a cabinet with a door? That should be interesting to see what happens when you open the cabinet door.

I can understand putting an outlet on a counter within the cabinets. Even more so if you put a 2 foot wall between the cabinets (2 foot wall space requirement) where you could possibly put a table and lamp. Otherwise, what in the world are you gong to plug into an outlet in the middle of 12 feet of cabinets with swinging doors? I'm sorry but I just don't get it.:smile:

 

[pmiller]

Sometimes we put plugmold just under the counter if we don't have room for a remodel box. I don't know if this works in this application

 

[Dennis Alwon]

A wall space is a wall. Cabinets are cabinets.
Otherwise, what in the world are you gong to plug into an outlet in the middle of 12 feet of cabinets with swinging doors? I'm sorry but I just don't get it.:smile:

How about a vacuum or a lamp. So if I have a den with cabinets on every wall and lets say bookshelves above the cabinets so that every wall in the room is covered with these cabinets, then are you saying that no receptacles are required in this room?????


I beg to differ. The simple statement in art. 210.52 that states that outlets in the cabinet must be in addition to the required outlets tells us that the outlets are required when cabinets exist on the wall.

Don't you think that wall cabinets constitute a fixed room divider as in art. 210.52 (A)(2)(3) I realize that an example is a free standing bar type counter but I believe I cabinets on a wall would also fit this description.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Sometimes we put plugmold just under the counter if we don't have room for a remodel box. I don't know if this works in this application

Plugmold should be just fine if it is an island or peninsula (art. 210.52(C)(5)(2). Plugmold is okay on a counter below the upper cabinet but not below the countertop unless it is an island or peninsula.

 

[stickboy1375]

The cabinets have doors that swing out. Are you going to put a table with a light on it in front of a cabinet with a door? That should be interesting to see what happens when you open the cabinet door.

A cabinet fastened to a wall is wall space, I don't believe for a minute that the NEC just had sheetrock in mind...:wink:

 

[IllinoisContractor]

The simple statement in art. 210.52 that states that outlets in the cabinet must be in addition to the required outlets

Exactly right. The outlets in the cabinets must be in addition to the required outlets because the cabinets are not recognized as wall space. It they were then the outlets in the cabinets would count for the wall space requirements.

 

[IllinoisContractor]

How about a vacuum or a lamp

.
Are you really going have a lamp in front of cabinets with swinging doors? Doesn't that present a safety issue. Do you think that maybe the code requirement is thinking about this very safety issue? That maybe this is why they do not require a receptacle in this situation?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Exactly right. The outlets in the cabinets must be in addition to the required outlets because the cabinets are not recognized as wall space. It they were then the outlets in the cabinets would count for the wall space requirements.

No, how are you interpreting that to mean what you are saying.
Read it careful--

This section provides requirements for 125 volt, 15 and 20 amperer receptacle outlets. Receptacle outlets required by this section shall be in addition to any receptacle that is part of a luminaire or appliance located within cabinets or cupboards, OR located 51/2' above the floor.

It simple means if an outlet is within a cabinet or 51/2' above the floor than you must add another receptacle to satisfy 210.52