NY Public School bathroom

[ninin]

Recently at my local public school a young adult slipped in the bathroom while washing his hands and grabbed toward the wall to right himself. His hands were wet and when he did he touched an outlet that was between two sinks (6-8 inches above the line of the sink and even with the soap dispenser) and received a mild shock before the GFI was tripped.

Question #1: Would it be normal for someone to receive a slight shock in that instance?

Question #2: What should we have an inspector look for?

Question #3: Could there be a desing error here with respect to the location of the outlet?

Question #4: Where should I search for this in the NEC?

 

[izak]

Re: NY Public School bathroom

does the outlet have a metal cover?

 

[ninin]

Re: NY Public School bathroom

I don't believe that it is metal. I will double check.

Question three was "design" not desing.

I should also mention that this is brand new ground up construction.

 

[charlie]

Re: NY Public School bathroom

This seems like a setup from someone who doesn't understand electricity or the story is missing facts.

1) In order to receive a shock, there has to be a complete path. I don't see a complete path with one hand against the GFCI receptacle (where was the other hand).

2) A qualified inspector will know what to be looking for to determine the problem if one exists.

3) The location of the receptacle would have nothing to do with this.

4) 210.8(B).

 

[ninin]

Re: NY Public School bathroom

You are correct, I do not understand electricity that well, but it is not a setup.

 

[roger]

Re: NY Public School bathroom

Could the floor be dried to prevent this from happening again?

# 1 Yes

# 2 I agree with Charlie and to go one step further, the inspector should look for soapy water on the floor. (I just can't get away from the slippery floor being the real problem)

# 3 No

# 4 Slippery floors are not really covered in the NEC.

Roger

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: NY Public School bathroom

Question #1: Would it be normal for someone to receive a slight shock in that instance?

GFCIs do not prevent shocks!! They only react to limit the time duration of the shock. The shock must occur before the GFCI reacts. In theory they limit the duration of the shock to a level that will not cause serious harm to most people.
Don

 

[hbiss]

Re: NY Public School bathroom

He received a mild shock before the GFI was tripped.

If the GFI tripped he had to have access to the slots, particularly the hot. Simply placing a hand, even wet on the receptacle would not trip the GFI since the contacts are a considerable distance from the surface. Was anything plugged into the receptacle?

The whole story sounds fishey.

-Hal

 

[charlie]

Re: NY Public School bathroom

The whole story sounds fishey.

Thanks Hal, that is what I think.

 

[jimwalker]

Re: NY Public School bathroom

Perhaps we have a lawyer here looking for how to build a case.
Would think they would start with calling the EC

[ October 15, 2004, 09:26 PM: Message edited by: jimwalker ]

 

[charlie]

Re: NY Public School bathroom

Send me a PM if you think I am wrong but I am closing this thread on general principals. :roll: