threephase
Member
Can somebody reference me to the Article in the code book that deals with Panelboard minimum heights from floor as well as receptacle heights from the floor?
Thanks
Threephase
Thanks
Threephase
Panelboard and Receptacle Minimum Heights
- Thread starter threephase
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician (retired)
Look at 550.11(A).
bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Also be sure to check accessibility requirements (ADA) in your local/state building codes.
threephase
Member
SOunds good.
So is it possible that there's no exact heights here? I thought receptacles were mounted 14" from the ground and Panels were mounted 3' from the ground.
Maybe it's up to the disgression of the electrician or local codes.
So is it possible that there's no exact heights here? I thought receptacles were mounted 14" from the ground and Panels were mounted 3' from the ground.
Maybe it's up to the disgression of the electrician or local codes.
tallgirl
Senior Member
- Location
- Glendale, WI
- Occupation
- Controls Systems firmware engineer
Bea said:
That does seem to be the question, doesn't it?
And to follow up to Roger's comment, think about overhead outlets for things like garage door openers.
The only rules I can think of off the top of my head that affect height are bathroom sinks and countertop spaces.
dsteves
Senior Member
- Location
- Appleton, WI
Not sure about the panelboard off the cuff, but a good rule of thumb for the receps is to make 'em the same as all the other ones in the joint
Dan
Of course, if you're the first one in to install 'em, you can always say you respect chaos and hang 'em wherever you like. Me, I like 12" above finished floor to the bottom of the device box.
Tallgirl, apparently in your case it might not matter on the high end of the spec... ;-)
Dan
Of course, if you're the first one in to install 'em, you can always say you respect chaos and hang 'em wherever you like. Me, I like 12" above finished floor to the bottom of the device box.
Tallgirl, apparently in your case it might not matter on the high end of the spec... ;-)
tallgirl
Senior Member
- Location
- Glendale, WI
- Occupation
- Controls Systems firmware engineer
dsteves said:Not sure about the panelboard off the cuff, but a good rule of thumb for the receps is to make 'em the same as all the other ones in the joint
Dan
Of course, if you're the first one in to install 'em, you can always say you respect chaos and hang 'em wherever you like. Me, I like 12" above finished floor to the bottom of the device box.
Heh. How does random heights affect 210.52 (A) (1)? If "random" is 5' AFF for an outlet, there's not a lot of space measured along that floor line that's within 6' of that outlet
I found a house recently where the bottom was 16" AFF. That was starting to look really weird. I was afraid it was someone elses doing, so I looked for the rust stains on the studs (the house was old enough that all the boxes were metal) and sure enough -- 16" AFF.
I'm not sure whether I've just been insulted or not!
My biggie on height is panels with lift-up doors. It seems that someone out there conspires to set them so that the edge of the door whacks me in the head if I don't duck first.
allenwayne
Senior Member
Receptacle and switch height is usually up to the discretion of the EC,unless there are specific specs on a print which dictate the heights..I know of one builder that specs receps. 10 in to center and switches 36 in to center.All countertop receps are 41 in horizontal.
Smart shops in residential give make sure that everyone has the same length hammer handle. Then everyone can sit the hammer on the floor and set the box on the hammer. Drive that box on, no time wasted measuring.
I like 16" to the bottom of the box. Gets you to ADA compliancy, and you don't have to bend over a mile if your over six feet!
I like 16" to the bottom of the box. Gets you to ADA compliancy, and you don't have to bend over a mile if your over six feet!
allenwayne
Senior Member
Rockyd said:
I`ve used my hammer for regular rough ins and had to make sure my helpers also had the same length hammer.I use a klien so its 14 bottom
It's kind of a pain to get everybody using the same hammer. I find it easier and just as effective to cut several lengths of pipe to recept. height, mark them "recept" in black marker and pass them out to anyone roughing in. You just have to make sure everyone is using them the same way and you don't have one guy measuring from the floor and the next guy measuring from the top of the bottom plate.
dsteves
Senior Member
- Location
- Appleton, WI
The jig is a good idea. I've made 'em out of 2x4 in a pinch.
Tallgirl, by random I mean no two alike. It's a real nice touch, especially along things like kitchen countertops
No insult meant - more of an admiration.
Dan
Tallgirl, by random I mean no two alike. It's a real nice touch, especially along things like kitchen countertops
No insult meant - more of an admiration.
Dan
dsteves
Senior Member
- Location
- Appleton, WI
Mini Me must have been the builder.
Dan
Dan
tallgirl
Senior Member
- Location
- Glendale, WI
- Occupation
- Controls Systems firmware engineer
dsteves said:
I'll have to steal that idea. I always use a tape measure and hope I'm drawing a straight line
Tallgirl, by random I mean no two alike. It's a real nice touch, especially along things like kitchen countertops
I understood that. But if you've got an outlet at 12" AFF, then the next one is 5' AFF, there's only 3' (actually, square root of 11 feet) on either side of that outlet that are 6', measured along the floor line, from the outlet. That's why I asked if putting an outlet 5' up the wall affected 210.52 (A) (1).
So, not only would they be at random heights, they'd also be randomly spaced. A true sign of chaos
dsteves
Senior Member
- Location
- Appleton, WI
Looks like 210.52(A)(1) only concerns itself with the horizontal component of the spacing, so if you lay it out with a random vertical position which doesn't exceed 5-1/2 ft AFF, you're ok. It specifically states the horizontal distance.
I had to draw a little picture to follow your math. Yeah, that would be hokey, but 210.52(A)(1) is ok with that as long as you can drop a plumb bob from each recep and measure between the plumb bobs along the wall/floor interface and come up with <= 12 ft.
One of my coworkers, who seems to exhibit obsessive compulsive behavior, once walked into my lab here and said, "Ah, look! Early chaos!"
Dan
I had to draw a little picture to follow your math. Yeah, that would be hokey, but 210.52(A)(1) is ok with that as long as you can drop a plumb bob from each recep and measure between the plumb bobs along the wall/floor interface and come up with <= 12 ft.
One of my coworkers, who seems to exhibit obsessive compulsive behavior, once walked into my lab here and said, "Ah, look! Early chaos!"
Dan
Last edited:
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Julie,
Don
The measurement is along the floor line for the receptacles that are required by 210.52(A)(1). Any receptacle less than 5'6" above the floor is permitted to meet this requirement.
Don
JohnJ0906
Senior Member
- Location
- Baltimore, MD
DesertRat said:
I use the same idea, but for kitchen counter outlets. 44" hunk of pvc so they are all exactly the same. If you are off just a little , you might not notice, but if they tile the wall over the backsplash, the tiniest varience stands out.
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