New Jersey unfinished garage receptacle height

G

guavatone

Member
Location
Wayne, New Jersey
Occupation
Electric Engineer
My electrician insists NEC requires electrical outlets be 4 feet off the ground, but I can’t find anything that confirms this. Anyone know if this a North Jersey specific code? In my garage it doesn’t make sense to run conduit that high, but maybe the conduit could be run below and then up to the 4 foot height receptacle to make inspectors happy?

Thanks in advance folks. Appreciate any help.
 
What type of garage? If this is for a dwelling garage then there is no minimum height and NJ has no local amendment. For a commercial repair garage the first 18" can be considered a hazardous location so there are restrictions for below 18".
 
infinity said:
What type of garage? If this is for a dwelling garage then there is no minimum height and NJ has no local amendment. For a commercial repair garage the first 18" can be considered a hazardous location so there are restrictions for below 18".
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Ty. It’s an Attached Unfinished non living but with drywall. Maybe some in the trade follow what they were taught and not actually aware of ‘real’ NEC code. Is that possible?

Oh it’s residential
 
guavatone said:
Ty. It’s an Attached Unfinished non living but with drywall. Maybe some in the trade follow what they were taught and not actually aware of ‘real’ NEC code. Is that possible?

Oh it’s residential
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Lots of misinformation gets passed along in the electrical trade. When in doubt ask the electrician for a specific code reference.
 
guavatone said:
It’s an Attached Unfinished non living but with drywall.
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The sheetrock is already installed, correct? For garages I always put receptacles at 4' just because things get stored and floors get wet. If it's finished, conduit looks perfectly fine run between boxes at 4'. Always nice to see a craftsman's work bending conduit and not just throwing some NM in a wall and covering it up.

-Hal
 
guavatone said:
I didn’t want to insult him after questionings him already. So there should be a section number for it right?
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There would be a code section that required them to be at 4' if this were an actual code requirment but there isn't one becuse it's not a requirement. Asking for a code reference when none exists can convince someone that they were wrong. That choice is up to you.

If you don't want them at 4' then just tell the sparky to install them where you want them. You can always contact the local electrical inspector for confirmation as to what is or in this case isn't reqired.
 
I agree that there is no height requirement that I know of for receptacles but even in a residential garage if it has a gas fired water heater or boiler doesn't it have to be 18" off the floor to the flame?
 
Not a flood zone. The longer story is that this main job is for a new 200 Amp panel - upgraded from old pushmatic. The full job is the 200A QO panel, interlock and EV charger. Permit acquired for all. No gas lines boiler in the garage.

I may just DIY some lines after inspection of current work. If I’m home for the inspection I could ask the inspector these questions. But code is code. And 4 feet off ground in these areas seems less safe and less convenient.

Ideally I would post a drawing here, but the panel is the far corner off the 2 car garage ( near car doors) with the cutoff switch and meter on the outside near panel. Opposite side has door to home with same wall as home space.

My plan was to run outlets to the back wall of the garage with conduit preferably 16-24” above ground.

BTW does the same codes apply to unfinished basement. From the NEC I saw seemed to lump unfinished garage and basement in the same category. The only 4 requirements I saw was
1. GFCI on each branch
2. No outlet boxes higher than 5.5 feet
3 outlet 16 or 18 inches from floor ( can’t remember)
4. TR Outlets?
 
Not a code issue, but why don't you like 4 feet? For garages/workshops somewhere around 4 feet is a good height. Garages get stuff stored on the floor close to the wall. Like stuff you are not using summer/winter seasonal stuff. When the receptacles are low they tend to get blocked.
 
There are 2 windows at 3 feet off ground. That space is being used for storage.

I think the larger issue is being told it’s NEC when it isn’t.

Happy thanksgiving folks. Thanks for the help here
 
If you're not in a flood zone then there would be no height restrictions.
The town has no authority to create one other then defining the flood elevation, which in you case does not apply.
 
guavatone said:
If I’m home for the inspection I could ask the inspector these questions. But code is code. And 4 feet off ground in these areas seems less safe and less convenient.
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Not sure why you need to ask the inspector anything. It's not a code requirement and the electrician is incorrect. You're the customer so have the receptacles installed the way you want them installed. If the electrician is in doubt have him contact the EI for clarification.

If you're just looking for confirmation beyond what's been posted in this thread you can contact the NJ DCA:

www.nj.gov

NJ Department of Community Affairs

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is a State agency created to provide administrative guidance, financial support and technical assistance to local governments, community development organizations, businesses and individuals to improve the quality of life in New Jersey.
www.nj.gov
 
guavatone said:
And 4 feet off ground in these areas seems less safe and less convenient.
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In my opinion they are much more convenient in a garage at 4', than at the traditional height for dwelling unit receptacles. My installs always had the garage receptacles about 4' AFF.
Who wants to bend over and possibly have to move things to plug in a cord or a tool?
 
1 It is never an insult for the customer to specify what they want.
2 That specification must be written on the back of a large enough check.
3 There isn't a requirement that the receptacles be at 4 feet, but it is a very good idea for things like workbenches.
4 If the receptacles are at 4 feet, the conduit could be above, below, or at the same level.
5 You can certainly have receptacles at both 18" and at 48"
 
I like anything above 42" for a garage but in the case the customer is always right. Customer wishes may not always be the best design but they're paying the bill.
 
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