laundry room outlets

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toddpatrick

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the code states that any receptacle outlet(s) required by 210.52 are to be on a 20 amp circuit. my question is, what about additional receptacle outlets located inside the laundry room that are not required by 210.52?

i have an inspector that is insisting that any outlet in the laundry room is required by 210.52. who is correct?

do the other outlets need to be on a 20 amp circuit?
 
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I would say that as long as you have the one required dedicated receptacle intended for the washing machine, any other receptacles in the room could be from a different circuit. That would be a better scenario than having all the laundry receptacles on the one required circuit in my opinion.
 
You are. Check 210.11(C)(2).

One or more outlets must be installed on a 20A circuit for the laundry, and that circuit can have no other outlets. You can add more circuits if you wish.

Call the inspector's bluff. He won't be able to back up his assertion with a code reference.
 
This is a "laundry room" it is the area talked about in 210.52 . It is an area that is being served by at least one receptacle, fill the laundry area with receptacles if you want but those receptacles are required to be on the laundry branch circuit, just like the one.
I think the key word is area.
 
the laundry "area" can be part of the room, it does not have to be the whole room. Such as the laundry equipment in a corner (area) of the basement, the other receptacles in the basement would not be required to be on the laundry circuit.

With that said, fulfil the requirement for laundry area branch circuit/receptacle(s), then add as many other branch circuits and receptacles as you like.
 
M. D. said:
This is a "laundry room" it is the area talked about in 210.52 . It is an area that is being served by at least one receptacle, fill the laundry area with receptacles if you want but those receptacles are required to be on the laundry branch circuit, just like the one.
I think the key word is area.
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I think "laundry room" is the key, designating the entire room has but the one purpose. If this were say a utility room, serving more than one purpose, additional receptacles/outlets could be classified as not-in-the-laundry-area.
 
Pierre , would you agree that a room could very well be the laundry "area" talked about ?

The argument in my mind is , "are these other receptacles within the laundry area" If they are , they need to be on a or the laundry branch circuit(s). If they are not serving the Laundry Area then go for it , any general purpose branch circuit just like any where else, 6' foot rule will now apply.
 
M. D. said:
Pierre , would you agree that a room could very well be the laundry "area" talked about ?

The argument in my mind is , "are these other receptacles within the laundry area" If they are , they need to be on a or the laundry branch circuit(s). If they are not serving the Laundry Area then go for it , any general purpose branch circuit just like any where else, 6' foot rule will now apply.
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Yes, I agree that could very well be. Of course it would depend on the size of the room, especially if the room is very small and the laundry equipment takes up most of the space.

We all tend to write our responses based on what we deal with on a day to day basis. In the area I work in, some of these homes have "livein" laundry rooms, with closets, counter space, cabinets, builtin ironingboards and all kinds of good stuff. My laundry area is a corner of my bedroom ;) ... okay on some busy weeks it may spread to the whole bedroom... don't tell anyone though.
 
M. D. said:
This is a "laundry room" it is the area talked about in 210.52 . It is an area that is being served by at least one receptacle, fill the laundry area with receptacles if you want but those receptacles are required to be on the laundry branch circuit, just like the one.
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I disagree.

I can install one 20 amp single receptacle to meet the requirement.

I can than add as many 15 amp receptacles from as few or as many other circuits that I chose.

Notice the wording does not use the term "All" as many other code sections do.
 
iwire said:
I disagree.

I can install one 20 amp single receptacle to meet the requirement.

I can than add as many 15 amp receptacles from as few or as many other circuits that I chose.

Notice the wording does not use the term "All" as many other code sections do.
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I agree with Bob and Pierre. Once you've satisfied the requirement you are free to install as many other 15 or 20 amp receptacles as you choose.
 
Both Mike Holt and Charles Miller have written articles on this subject. We first have to begin with some definitions described in Article 100. Outlet : A point on the wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment; and Receptacle Outlet : An outlet where one or more receptacles are installed.

If we read 210.52(F) "for dwelling units" it indicates that AT LEAST ONE receptacle outlet shall be installed for the laundry. Notice that it doesn't say "washer or dryer." If you look at 210.11(C)(2) it indicates that this circuit shall have no other outlets. Notice that it doesn't say "no other receptacle outlets." You are permitted to install a 20 amp circuit to serve the "laundry" and install (1) or more receptacles in that laundry room (or area) to serve only that area or room. It cannot leave that room (or area) and serve any other area. If you choose to install additional receptacles from another circuit you are also permitted to do that as long as you have satisified the requirement for the dedicated laundry receptacle outlet.
 
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OK, I'm going to throw this into the mix. If a laundry room has a washing machine and a gas dryer, can the one required circuit be used to supply the washer and dryer or does the dryer require it's own circuit too?
 
m73214 said:
OK, I'm going to throw this into the mix. If a laundry room has a washing machine and a gas dryer, can the one required circuit be used to supply the washer and dryer or does the dryer require it's own circuit too?
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That depends on what they need in amperage.If over 50% (10 amps for either one) then i say no.
 
goldstar said:
If we read 210.52(F) "for dwelling units" it indicates that AT LEAST ONE receptacle outlet shall be installed for the laundry. Notice that it doesn't say "washer or dryer." If you look at 210.11(C)(2) it indicates that this circuit shall have no other outlets. Notice that it doesn't say "no other receptacle outlets." You are permitted to install a 20 amp circuit to serve the "laundry" and install (1) or more receptacles in that laundry room (or area) to serve only that area or room. It cannot leave that room (or area) and serve any other area. If you choose to install additional receptacles from another circuit you are also permitted to do that as long as you have satisified the requirement for the dedicated laundry receptacle outlet.
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The original question referred to 210.52, but 210.52(F) doesn?t have any 20amp requirements nor does it have restrictions on the circuit. All of the restrictions are in 210.11(C).

As goldstar said, it doesn?t say clotheswasher or dryer. Since there?s no definition of the word ?laundry?, the inspector should allow room for customer/contractor definition.

When we see a second (or third or fourth) receptacle on the same circuit as the clotheswasher, we assume they are plugs designated for laundry usage (ironing etc). As long as the circuit doesn?t leave the laundry area or include hardwired lights, then the circuit complies with 210.11(C).

When we see a circuit other than the clotheswasher (gas dryer) circuit come into the laundry area and supply the second (or third or fourth) receptacle, we assume those plugs are general purpose which can be on 20a or 15a and include hardwired lights.

The only thing we?re looking for is that the circuit supplying the clotheswasher (gas dryer) is 20a, doesn?t supply outlets outside of the laundry area, and doesn?t supply hardwired lighting outlets.

m73214 said:
OK, I'm going to throw this into the mix. If a laundry room has a washing machine and a gas dryer, can the one required circuit be used to supply the washer and dryer or does the dryer require it's own circuit too?
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The code doesn?t require separate circuit. Check the manufacturers instruction to see if they require separate circuits.

David
 
iwire said:
Notice the wording does not use the term "All" as many other code sections do.
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That is the key. There is a difference between saying "this circuit shall serve all . . . " and saying "there shall be at least one . . . ." As the laundry outlet requirements are worded, you can satisfy the minimum by installing one 20 amp circuit, and then add other 15 or 20 circuits to serve the wet bar and the TV and the fridge and the vibrating massage chair that are all going into the laundry room. ;)
 
OK. I confess. They are actually in rooms near to the laundry room, and the chair only vibrates when one of the cats is scratching it claws on the sides. :rolleyes:
 
the chair only vibrates when one of the cats is scratching it claws on the sides.
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:) :grin:

We've got ours trained not to scratch on the furniture, when we are around. Now they just use our legs except when we are gone and then they continue to use the furniture.
 
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