Outdoor Sauna & GFCI protection

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Gigawatts

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Location
Minnnesota
Occupation
Electrician
Using the 2023 NEC in MN

210.8 F now says all exterior outlets need GFCI protection. My application is an outdoor barrel sauna at a customers house. I read in this thread here that suggest a sauna would trip a GFCI. The question is does a sauna heater fall under exception 2 for 'listed HVAC equipment?' I feel I could make the argument either way.
 
Found the manual for the heater, it specifically states

Important! Heater must be connected to a standard 2-pole breaker, no GFI may be used. If this heater is connected to a GFI breaker, nuisance tripping may occur causing unnecessary and unintended wear on internal components. If connected to a GFI breaker, warranty on internal components will be voided.

Guess I could ask my inspector if he'll let it slide but I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and hard place here. Either install it to code and have nuisance tripping or install it not up to code...
 
Gigawatts said:
Found the manual for the heater, it specifically states

Important! Heater must be connected to a standard 2-pole breaker, no GFI may be used. If this heater is connected to a GFI breaker, nuisance tripping may occur causing unnecessary and unintended wear on internal components. If connected to a GFI breaker, warranty on internal components will be voided.

Guess I could ask my inspector if he'll let it slide but I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and hard place here. Either install it to code and have nuisance tripping or install it not up to code...
Click to expand...
All that instruction is telling you is you cannot install that equipment in a location where the NEC requires GFCI protection.
 
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