Meeting Rooms

[Dennis Alwon]

The 2017 nec may have gone overboard on the rule requiring the number of receptacles in a meeting hall. Apparently, this is a proactive rule to avoid possible injuries.

210.71 Meeting Rooms.
(A) General. Each meeting room of not more than 93 m2
(1000 ft2) in other than dwelling units shall have outlets for
nonlocking-type, 125-volt, 15- or 20-ampere receptacles. The
outlets shall be installed in accordance with 210.71(B). Where
a room or space is provided with movable partition(s), each
room size shall be determined with the partition in the position
that results in the smallest size meeting room.
Informational Note No. 1: For the purposes of this section,
meeting rooms are typically designed or intended for the gathering
of seated occupants for such purposes as conferences,
deliberations, or similar purposes, where portable electronic
equipment such as computers, projectors, or similar equipment
is likely to be used.
Informational Note No. 2: Examples of rooms that are not meeting
rooms include auditoriums, schoolrooms, and coffee shops

A nice Mike Holt graphic

 

[ActionDave]

I predict a dramatic decline in the number of meeting rooms and an increase in dining halls or table and chair storage rooms.

 

[GoldDigger]

I predict a dramatic decline in the number of meeting rooms and an increase in dining halls or table and chair storage rooms.

:thumbsup:
Sparsely packed storage rooms, of course. Often used for whiteboard and projector storage too.

And with lots of phone and network connections so people can monitor the status of the storage.

 

[peter d]

[looking at drawings]

"What is this room going to be?"

"No idea, they haven't decided what to make it yet."

 

[Buck Parrish]

Theirs plenty of room for phone chargers. But. they're suppose to be off during the meeting.:happyno:

 

[JFletcher]

Guess I need to make some signs that read:

"Quiet, Please: Not Meeting In Progress"

 

[retirede]

"...intended for gathering of seated occupants..."

Since sitting too much is now determined to be bad health-wise, just declare that all meetings will be standing-only.

 

[kwired]

I predict a dramatic decline in the number of meeting rooms and an increase in dining halls or table and chair storage rooms.

Storage room idea will save money on requirements related to emergency egress also.

 

[tom baker]

Ha! we knew what a meeting room was until we had to add receptacles. Same thing happened in 1972 with bathrooms - GFCIs and kitchens (2002?) when GFCIs were required, all of a sudden we didn't know if it was a bathroom or not.

 

[kwired]

Ha! we knew what a meeting room was until we had to add receptacles. Same thing happened in 1972 with bathrooms - GFCIs and kitchens (2002?) when GFCIs were required, all of a sudden we didn't know if it was a bathroom or not.

When I first started in the trade 1987 NEC was what was in use, GFCI's were required within 6 feet of kitchen sink, I can't say for certain but believe that was also required in 1984 NEC.

2002 might have been when they changed it to all kitchen counter top receptacles, though 1999 sort of sticks in my mind for that change.

 

[charlie b]

The 2015 WA State Energy Code requires a controlled receptacle within 6 feet of any uncontrolled receptacle in certain types of rooms. Meeting rooms are included. The 2017 NEC revision requires the floor receptacle in a meeting room to be at least 6 feet from the wall. That means that you need both a controlled and an uncontrolled receptacle on the floor. I don't yet think we have reached the height of absurdity, but we are getting close!

 

[GoldDigger]

Set up all floor duplex receptacles as split, one side controlled, the other side uncontrolled?

Or does the WA code combined with NEC allow you to use only controlled receptacles and just not plug anything in that would not be compatible with a controlled source?

 

[charlie b]

Set up all floor duplex receptacles as split, one side controlled, the other side uncontrolled?

That is probably what I would do. The absurdity that I see is that nothing is going to be plugged into a floor receptacle unless someone is in the meeting room. So to put in the extra time and expense for a control scheme is never going to save any energy.

 

[gadfly56]

That is probably what I would do. The absurdity that I see is that nothing is going to be plugged into a floor receptacle unless someone is in the meeting room. So to put in the extra time and expense for a control scheme is never going to save any energy.

Oh, I don't know. I frequently plug in my laptop in such a space and leave it up and running for days. :roll::roll:

 

[tom baker]

Ha! we knew what a meeting room was until we had to add receptacles. Same thing happened in 1972 with bathrooms - GFCIs and kitchens (2002?) when GFCIs were required, all of a sudden we didn't know if it was a bathroom or not.

Sorry I should of added commercial kitchens

 

[don_resqcapt19]

That is probably what I would do. The absurdity that I see is that nothing is going to be plugged into a floor receptacle unless someone is in the meeting room. So to put in the extra time and expense for a control scheme is never going to save any energy.

Don't forget about 406.3(E) when you do that type of project.