KITCHEN/LOUNGE

[ryuen]

I have a Kitchen/Lounge with: 2 refrigerators, dishwasher, microwaves, sink and 3 dining tables. The Kitchen/Lounge is in a commercial office building. Does the NEC require all the 15A and 20A receptacles to be GFCI? The Kitchen/Lounge is not classified as a commercial kitchen. Would the presence of a stove (permanent provision for cooking) for food preparation change the requirement? This topic has caused much confusion for me.

 

[charlie b]

Re: KITCHEN/LOUNGE

Yes. What is the nature of the confusion? 210.8(B) talks about a kitchen in a non-dwelling unit. It does not talk about "commercial kitchen." The room does not need to be capable of preparing food for a large group of people.

In Washington State, the microwave is sufficient to qualify the room as a kitchen. I am sure that a stove would qualify the room as a kitchen in any state.

 

[ryuen]

Re: KITCHEN/LOUNGE

From a practical stand point, i do not think it is necessary to have a GFCI receptacle in the lounge area opposite the kitchen area (over 20' away). I don't know if I should make every receptacle in this room GFCI or just the receptacles serving the countertop. I guess the safer way to go is to make them all GFCI.

 

[jtester]

Re: KITCHEN/LOUNGE

I agree with Charlie that you are probably stuck with the "kitchen" classification for GFCI. One hint is to look at the revised 210.8(B)(2) in the 2005 NEC. There they define a kitchen, as an area with a sink and permanent food prep and cooking facilities.

If the Architect didn't label it a KITCHEN/LOUNGE, and just called it a lounge, until 2005 you would probably be clear.

Jim T

 

[George Stolz]

Re: KITCHEN/LOUNGE

Originally posted by ryuen:
From a practical stand point, i do not think it is necessary to have a GFCI receptacle in the lounge area opposite the kitchen area (over 20' away). I don't know if I should make every receptacle in this room GFCI or just the receptacles serving the countertop. I guess the safer way to go is to make them all GFCI.

$20 for some peace of mind. Code may be silent on whether the kitchen stops at the end of the tile, but the inspector will have something to say. Overprotection is almost always legal...