Medicine Cabinet w/ Built-In GFCI

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DSamson

DSamson

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San Francisco, CA
I'm roughing in a house with medicine cabinets to be installed in each of the bathrooms. The medicine cabinets each have 2 duplex GFCI receptacles built-in. Do these qualify for 210.52(D)?

"The receptacle outlet shall be located on a wall or partition that is adjacent to the basin or basin countertop."

They're definitely within 3 ft., my question is, is the surface mounted medicine cabinet, mounted on the wall a "wall or partition?" Do inspectors show concern for the fact that the receptacles are behind the medicine cabinet door?

Thanks for your help.
 
210.52 Dwelling Unit Receptacle Outlets.
This section provides requirements for 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets. Receptacle outlets required by this section shall be in addition to any receptacle that is part of a luminaire (lighting fixture) or appliance, located within cabinets or cupboards, or located more than 1.7 m (51/2 ft) above the floor.
Click to expand...

Emphasis mine - the way I see it, in the cabinet doesn't count. I put them a little out of side on the sides of the vanity.... But I believe you won't be allowed to do that anymore in '08 - not sure about that yet???? :confused:
 
e57 said:
the way I see it, in the cabinet doesn't count.
Click to expand...

Do we know if the medicine cabinet is a light fixture or appliance?

If not that part may not apply.

It goes on to say "located within cabinets or cupboards" which suggests on cabinets or cupboards would be fine.

That aside I agree with 480 talk, to the person who will be deciding.
 
I'm in the ,..they don't count as the required receptacle outlet, camp.

I think it is clear where it is to be located.
 
M. D. said:
I think it is clear where it is to be located.
Click to expand...

Me too..

It is to be located below 5.5' and within 36" of the sink. :cool:



The fact it may be mounted on a cabinet does not appear to be a problem.

In a kitchen does wire mold screwed to the bottom of the upper cabinets count as the required receptacles?

Gotta go to work....
 
"
The receptacle outlet shall be located on a wall or partition that is adjacent to the basin or basin countertop."
Click to expand...
the exception provides relief , after reiterating where it is required to be ,..

"The receptacle shall not be required to be mounted in the wall or partition where the receptacle outlet is installed on the side or face of the basin cabinet not more than 12' below the countertop
Click to expand...
.

Otherwise it is required to be in the wall or partition.


Not saying it is the end of the world or that the good ole inspector will have a problem , but it seems clear to me where they are to be located in a dwelling unit bathroom.
 
If I spent the money for a cabinet with built-in GFCI receptacles, and then was told they didn't qualify as the required receptacle, I'd be upset, especially if I chose it to avoid wall-mounted receptacles.
 
The NEC does not care if you are upset. It says what it says. My interpretation is that receptacles in a Medicine Cabinet are in ADDITION to the required receptacles, but I am sure that others would interpret it differently. You will need to get an interpretation from the AHJ in your jurisdiction. Customers are "upset" all of the time. Most often they don't want a receptacle installed in the island in the kitchen. "You can't cut a hole in my new cabinet". I can if you want to pass inspection....
 
Medicine Cab GFCI

Medicine Cab GFCI

Hello All,

Original Poster here. . .

First, the jurisdiction I'm working in is still under the 2002 Code, so no 12" exception.

Second, the built in in receptacles in the medicine cabinets are at the bottom, so they're below 5.5 ft.

Thanks
 
I probably would not have a problem with it other than...if the bathroom gets remodeled and the cabinet removed, there go your outlets.

Now since others here will tell you that you can't predict the future....

I also go along with check with the AHJ.
 
DSamson said:
Hello All,

Original Poster here. . .

First, the jurisdiction I'm working in is still under the 2002 Code, so no 12" exception.

Second, the built in in receptacles in the medicine cabinets are at the bottom, so they're below 5.5 ft.

Thanks
Click to expand...

When you say "in the medicine cabinets " are they behind the door of the cabinet?? that is to say do I have to open a door to plug in an attachmnet plug??
 
I think they count. I have mounted receptacle in the side of base cabinet before at HO's request and never had an issue. That does not mean that another inspector won't have an issue with it, so I agree to check, but as I said, I feel like it meets the requirements if it is the "zone."
 
If I was the customer I'd want a counter top receptacle in my bathroom. Where would I plug in my cordless tooth brush? Run my cord into the medicine cabinet?
 
wireman71 said:
If I was the customer I'd want a counter top receptacle in my bathroom. Where would I plug in my cordless tooth brush? Run my cord into the medicine cabinet?
Click to expand...


If its cordless why would you even need a receptacle? :grin:
 
wireman71 said:
If I was the customer I'd want a counter top receptacle in my bathroom. Where would I plug in my cordless tooth brush? Run my cord into the medicine cabinet?
Click to expand...
You miss the point here. IF I had a cordless toothbrush charger stand and an outlet inside of the cabinet, I would want to keep that mess out of sight and inside of the cabinet.

You don't need the corded part of the appliance when using it.

Kills 2 stones with one bird here. :D
 
Medicine Cabinet w/Built in GFCI

Medicine Cabinet w/Built in GFCI

The cabinets that I have seen with recpts pre-installed inside them ,generally had 15A recpts intended to be used for cordless device charging and were not to be used instead of the required GFI recpt.They generally will mention this in the instructions--this is to avoid the lawsuit that might arise when mrs. h/owner plugs in her hairdryer and closes the door on the cord so she can see herself in the mirror.
The intended purpose for these recpts is to get the charging stands for the razor,toothbrush and XXXX epilator off the counter .
Short ans-you still need a gfi recpt mounted so as to meet 210.52 requirements.
 
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