RECEPTACLE OUTLET HEIGHTS ABOVE COUNTER

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byin

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Hi,

Is there a minimum height requirement for receptacles above a kitchen counter for commercial buildings? Thank you!
 
curt swartz said:
True but if they do get installed they probably have to conform with ADA reach requirements.
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And for ADA doesn't one usually end up putting them on the front face of the cabinets below the counter top because traditional locations above the counter are out of ADA reach?
 
kwired said:
And for ADA doesn't one usually end up putting them on the front face of the cabinets below the counter top because traditional locations above the counter are out of ADA reach?
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Not necessarily, there are different reach ranges for side approach and forward approach. There are also counter height requirements in ANSI 117.1 for accessibility.

Chris
 
kwired said:
And for ADA doesn't one usually end up putting them on the front face of the cabinets below the counter top because traditional locations above the counter are out of ADA reach?
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We have always put them above. I believe the maximum height gets reduced to 44" over a 24" counter.
 
curt swartz said:
We have always put them above. I believe the maximum height gets reduced to 44" over a 24" counter.
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44" above the counter or from floor level?:blink:

Can you have additional receptacles outside that zone as long as you have whatever is required within the zone or do they all need to be in a certain zone? Would think receptacles dedicated to a particular appliance might have some exceptions at the very least.
 
Welcome to the forum

growler said:
It good if you can get the cover plate on...some people don't think of that.
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One hotel I did the v/d/v on, the guest room cabinets were put on top of finished floor/padding/carpets, which wound up putting the receptacle in the middle of a granite backsplash instead of above it. The EC was not happy having to move all those boxes (not his fault but redoing all the cabinets/countertops would have been more expensive).
 
kwired said:
44" above the counter or from floor level?:blink:

Can you have additional receptacles outside that zone as long as you have whatever is required within the zone or do they all need to be in a certain zone? Would think receptacles dedicated to a particular appliance might have some exceptions at the very least.
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When dedicated they are excepted. Examples include receptacles for refrigerators, clocks, dishwashers, telecom, etc. Exception to the exception is TTY telecom.

Problem with compliance is that you can't have a cabinet under the counter if there is a receptacle above the counter, which makes office kitchenettes difficult to comply with.

As to having additional receptacles outside that zone, that does not fly. It's like having a shower in a commercial office building. You don't need one by code, but if you put one in, it has to comply.

In Florida we have had our own ADA (called the Florida Accessibility Code for Building Construction) since circa 1992. It is registered with USDOJ which means if you comply with ours, you are deemed to comply with federal ADA.

PBS did a 2002 documentary titled something to the effect of "10 years after the passing of the ADA..." and yours truly was their qualified expert. I tried to get a copy of the program but by the time I asked the producer for a copy she said she did not have it archived, which seemed strange.
 
kwired said:
44"above the counter is still pretty high, even if over a 24" high counter:happyyes:
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Forget the counter height for a moment, it could be a 34" tall cabinet.

We need to consider the counter depth when talking ADA numbers.

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Yes, I was referring to height off the floor for a typical 24" deep cabinet. We normally set the top of switch boxes or high receptacles at 48" off the floor. If the switches or receptacles are going over a standard 24" deep cabinet in and ADA area they get set slightly lower. I have seen them spec'd at 44" and 46".
 
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