OCPD ‘s in Bathroom

[A/A Fuel GTX]

When did OCPD’s become illegal in a residential bathroom? I have a home inspection report for an older home where that issue was raised.

 

[david luchini]

Think it was the 1993 Code.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

Thanks. So if the house is older than ‘93, it’s not a violation.

 

[rc/retired]

Thanks. So if the house is older than ‘93, it’s not a violation.

IMO, yes.

Ron

 

[Fred B]

So who is responsible if the panel was originally not in a bathroom but later someone added a bathroom to include the space the panel was in? Who moves, the bath or the panel?

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

So who is responsible if the panel was originally not in a bathroom but later someone added a bathroom to include the space the panel was in? Who moves, the bath or the panel?

We’ll, the house was built in the mid eighties. There is no history available. I can’t worry about when and if the house was modified.

 

[AC\DC]

So who is responsible if the panel was originally not in a bathroom but later someone added a bathroom to include the space the panel was in? Who moves, the bath or the panel?

They will say it's electrical issue. Never seen a job that the plumbers says I'll just move the bathroom over there.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

They will say it's electrical issue. Never seen a job that the plumbers says I'll just move the bathroom over there.

Yeah, but if that was the original location of the bathroom, it wasn’t an issue when the place was built in the eighties. The NEC is not retroactive.

 

[JohnE]

Goes back to at least 1987. My father had an issue where an inspector told him he can't put a GFCI receptacle in a bathroom as it was an ocpd. This was around '87, so it could go back further. After a lot of back and forth the inspector came around.

 

[AC\DC]

That inspector did not know what he was saying a gfci is not a ocpd

 

[kwired]

That inspector did not know what he was saying a gfci is not a ocpd

I will second that.

Some OCPD's also have GFCI protection integrated into them, but a GFCI receptacle does not respond to overcurrent conditions other than ones that are also a ground fault condition.

 

[JohnE]

That inspector did not know what he was saying a gfci is not a ocpd

Exactly, which is why I said he finally came around. It took a call to a well known MECA representative to help convince him. (MA Electrical Contractor's Association). It was so basic, but even handbook citations wouldn't convince him. But the point was that this was in mid to late 80's, so the code dates back at least to '87

 

[david luchini]

But the point was that this was in mid to late 80's, so the code dates back at least to '87

The section for overcurrent devices "Not Located in Bathrooms" was an addition in the 1993 NEC.

It doesn't exist in the 1987 or 1990 NEC.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

The section for overcurrent devices "Not Located in Bathrooms" was an addition in the 1993 NEC.

It doesn't exist in the 1987 or 1990 NEC.

Thanks for the clarification!