Receptacle mounting height

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I'm heavy commerical here, been in all the Local universities, "Go Duke",
all the drawings are ADA compliant, and two out of three are State inspected, and they have tape measures ... and I said for "based on handicap occupancy."
 
iwire said:
I don't choose the height it will be on the plans here are the most common measurements.

All measurements are from finished floor to center of the device.

60" for temp sensors if they do not have any controls on them

48" controls.

44" above work surfaces.

18" for receptacles.

If we are doing dwelling units the receptacles might drop to 16".
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Here in coastal NC that is pretty close to our standards. I've seen it vary from EC to EC.


celtic said:
I like this hammer:
nvgframing.jpg

www.estwing.com

It's like 22 oz. and 16" long ....makes a nice hole (and even more dramtic when "on side") when looking for a buried box.
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My brother, a commercial electrician in MD, came to visit a few years ago and worked with me on a rough in one day. He asked recept. heights and I told him "hammer high."

"What if I have a different sized hammer?"

"Doesn't usually show if the same hammer is used per room."

"It does if I use my 22" Estwing!" :grin:

I payed closer attention to the individual hammers after that.
 
iwire said:
I have even been given the finished horizontal distance between receptacle and data plates.

That can be a pain to rough for.
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No kidding, because those Caddy plate thing-a-ma-jigs already have three boxes evenly spaced out. If the dimensions don't coincide with that, you're stuck with using Kruse straps or your own home-made blocking.
 
How about a classified area??

How about a classified area??

In relation with my original post, here is the situation, there is a car "service/repair garage" which lies under NEC 511 "Commercial Garages, Repair and Storage". The enforcing agency (i.e. inspector) saw that some of the receptacles in the garage were mounted at 18" AFF on center. He is claiming that the lower part (center to bottom) of the receptacle will be at the "classified area zone", and wants either to have the recepts moved or installed using the appropiate installation for classified areas.

As most of you fellas (and I do also) agree that "mount a receptacle at 18-inches A.F.F." means "mount a receptacle at 18-inches on center", is the inspector's claim correct?
Thanks for aaaalll your answers...I'll look forward for your comments on this one. thanks:smile:
 
mdshunk said:
That doesn't even seem to fall within the ADA reach limits. I wouldn't enjoy trimming out a 13" TTB receptacle very much.
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Marc, ADA allows 9" if there is wheel chair side approach.

Roger
 
l3city said:
As most of you fellas (and I do also) agree that "mount a receptacle at 18-inches A.F.F." means "mount a receptacle at 18-inches on center", is the inspector's claim correct?
Thanks for aaaalll your answers...I'll look forward for your comments on this one. thanks:smile:
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That is not what it means, 18" A.F.F. means the lowest part not the center.

For an example A.F.F. may also be used for other architectural details such as counter tops, this doesn't mean the center of the counter top thickness, it will mean top or bottom depending on the item.

Roger
 
mdshunk said:
Yes, very true, but the more conservative front approach reach limits are almost used as guidance on mounting heights.
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And as already mentioned, for us older guys still doing the installations. :grin:

Roger
 
I have always seen A.F.F. as meaning Above Finished Floor.

So if your roughing off a slab that you know is going to get 3/4" of ceramic tile latter you need to account for that.
 
cadpoint said:
I'm heavy commerical here, been in all the Local universities, "Go Duke",
all the drawings are ADA compliant, and two out of three are State inspected, and they have tape measures ... and I said for "based on handicap occupancy."
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They are ADA compliant but not mandated minimums and maximums.

These are not D.O.I. requirements either.

Roger
 
l3city said:
As most of you fellas (and I do also) agree that "mount a receptacle at 18-inches A.F.F." means "mount a receptacle at 18-inches on center", is the inspector's claim correct?
Thanks for aaaalll your answers...I'll look forward for your comments on this one. thanks:smile:
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The language in 511.3(B)(1) ['02 ...relocated under '05? ~ 511.3(B)(3)(1)] states:
For each floor, the entire area up to a level of 450 mm (18 in.) above the floor shall be considered to be a Class I, Division 2 location.
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I think the inspector is correct.
 
Receptacles mounting height

Receptacles mounting height

:smile:

roger said:
That is not what it means, 18" A.F.F. means the lowest part not the center.


Roger
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Thanks for your reply..

Well, let's supose you have a drawing in which it is not mention to "mount at 18-inches A.F.F." but only "mount at 18-inches" , does this makes a difference? What I try to say here, is that there will always be a "finished floor" and no matter (according to my perception) if it says 18" AFF or just 18-inches", still the height is not clear (and I think that is why a common practice for contractors is to mount devices on center). Of course, you have to consider final finished floors as this will impact the final location, and there will be a difference for mounting furniture and bigger electrical equipment, but this is not the case, this is a device, not a big piece of equipment.

I'll appreacite any comments..thanks for your time
 
l3city said:
:smile:


Thanks for your reply..

Well, let's supose you have a drawing in which it is not mention to "mount at 18-inches A.F.F." but only "mount at 18-inches" , does this makes a difference? What I try to say here, is that there will always be a "finished floor" and no matter (according to my perception) if it says 18" AFF or just 18-inches", still the height is not clear (and I think that is why a common practice for contractors is to mount devices on center). Of course, you have to consider final finished floors as this will impact the final location, and there will be a difference for mounting furniture and bigger electrical equipment, but this is not the case, this is a device, not a big piece of equipment.

I'll appreacite any comments..thanks for your time
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If the contract documents do not specify to bottom, center, or top it may be time for an RFI or just a phone call to the designer, other than that, in this classified area the device will have to be outside the 18" classified area.

As an aside, there is some relief for certain areas if there is sufficient air exchange but this would probably have to be stated by an engineer that it is actually the case.

1008716895_2.gif


Roger
 
l3city said:
Well, let's supose you have a drawing in which it is not mention to "mount at 18-inches A.F.F." but only "mount at 18-inches" , does this makes a difference?
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celtic said:
If there is no notation about height on a print, my standard is pretty much 18" for outlets, 48" for switches (but pay "special" attention to tiled areas)
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From post #4

You wouldn't be able to put a switch plate 1/2 on tile 1/2 off the tile [404.4(9)(A)]....why would a recept. be any different ~ especially in a classied location?
 
roger said:
That is not what it means, 18" A.F.F. means the lowest part not the center.
Roger
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I always understood it to mean to the bottom of the box, but it seems to me that I have seen it measured to center before. Now that may have been a HO decision after seeing a blueprint state, ie., 44" AFF. It has been a long time since I had to deal with commercial plans. Our commercial jobs are smaller scale, so I will concede to other opinions on that one.
 
roger said:
If the contract documents do not specify to bottom, center, or top it may be time for an RFI or just a phone call to the designer, other than that, in this classified area the device will have to be outside the 18" classified area.

As an aside, there is some relief for certain areas if there is sufficient air exchange but this would probably have to be stated by an engineer that it is actually the case.

1008716895_2.gif


Roger
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Are those Mike Holt's cars? Where's the Bentey?
 
the blue mule said:
Hey Celtic, ever get tired of cleaning out your switch boxes from Drywallers mud? Went to 46" top of box for this reason.
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Thats great for 8' ceilings, most of the houses I do are 9' ceilings, They use 54" rock....
 
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