Receptacle spacing

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augie47

augie47

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"Food for thought" question:
Residence has a 12 ft wall space between door openings and the only receptacle is a duplex mounted at 5' AFF which will power a flat screen.
Common sense dictates a more easily accessible receptacle is needed but what about a Code reference ?

210.52(A)(1) states "no point measured horizontally along the floor line in any wall space is more than 6 ft from a receptacle outlet". Does that cover this situation ? Does that measurement mean literally on the floor ?
If so, adding a duplex receptacle 18" AFF would not technically resolve the problem on a 12 ft wall as the 18" AF would make it slightly over 6' along the floor line :)
 
I think the situation you describe is Code compliant, assuming the receptacle is at the middle (6' point) of the wall.

If the TV receptacle was higher than 5.5', then an additional receptacle would be required.
 
I would say the one for the TV doesn't count as it's a dedicated use, but I probably would get to worked up about only one in that 12' space.
 
You only measure along the floor line to get the spacing between receptacles. A 12 foot wide wall can have one receptacle in the middle, and meet the requirement for no point along the wall being more than 6 feet from the receptacle. The height of the receptacle above the floor is not taken into account, when determining the spacing. To be specific, you don't start at the doorway, measure along the floor line to a point immediately below the receptacle, and continue measuring upwards to get the total distance.
 
Since it's not possible to measure horizontally along the floor line to any point on the wall, the receptacle's height on the wall <= 5.5' is optional.
 
charlie b said:
You only measure along the floor line to get the spacing between receptacles. A 12 foot wide wall can have one receptacle in the middle, and meet the requirement for no point along the wall being more than 6 feet from the receptacle. The height of the receptacle above the floor is not taken into account, when determining the spacing. To be specific, you don't start at the doorway, measure along the floor line to a point immediately below the receptacle, and continue measuring upwards to get the total distance.
Click to expand...

To me, a point measured horizontally along the floor line is just that, even if that point happens to be 1/2" away from the corner.

I you use the old A squared plus B Squared = C squared method, a receptacle 12" above the floor in a 12' wall space where measured even a 1/2" from the very corner would not seem to meet the requirement.

Although I really don't loose any sleep over the deal.

If the receptacle was behind a flat screen TV and you cant get to it what good is it as accessible to use ?
I'd put one in anyway.

JAP>


JAP
 
The Pythagorean theorem for outlet spacing. Lol. No, you measure along the floor line to get the length of the wall space, in this case 12 ft. Therefore 1 outlet in the center would meet the requirement of no part of the wall space being over 6 ft from a receptacle that is mounted lower than 5.5 ft. , not part of a lumnaire or appliance, not switch controlled, and not inside a cabinet (210.52).

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richie921 said:
The Pythagorean theorem for outlet spacing. Lol. No, you measure along the floor line to get the length of the wall space, in this case 12 ft. Therefore 1 outlet in the center would meet the requirement of no part of the wall space being over 6 ft from a receptacle that is mounted lower than 5.5 ft. , not part of a lumnaire or appliance, not switch controlled, and not inside a cabinet (210.52).

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Click to expand...

one outlet in the floor at 6' in a 12' wall maybe, but, the way it is worded we could bat this back and forth to no end. :)
And I think that's what the OP was thinking also.

JAP>
 
augie47 said:
a duplex receptacle 18" AFF would not technically resolve the problem on a 12 ft wall as the 18" AF would make it slightly over 6' along the floor line :)
Click to expand...

A duplex receptacle 18" AFF in the middle of a 12 ft wall would be 6' measured horizontally along the floor line of the wall space (in both directions.) That would meet the requirements of 210.52(A)(1).

Here's one for you...a 7.5' wall hits a 90degree corner and continues for another 7.5' (so the total length of the wall space is 15'.) How do you serve that wall space with one receptacle?
 
The statement "Along the floorline" is what always causes the debate, has for a long time, and will continue long after today.

JAP>
 
I'm sure that's how he read it but there would be nothing to bat back and forth. This IS the accepted interpretation of that section countrywide. Pick up any published study guide, code reference, training manual and they ALL say the exact same thing. The intent was never to have field mechanics take out an abacus to figure outlet spacing.

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richie921 said:
I'm sure that's how he read it but there would be nothing to bat back and forth. This IS the accepted interpretation of that section countrywide. Pick up any published study guide, code reference, training manual and they ALL say the exact same thing. The intent was never to have field mechanics take out an abacus to figure outlet spacing.

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Click to expand...

Which is exactly my point. It's "Acceptable" and the "Intent" is not a definite.


The speed limit is 70 mph, how come everyone is not getting tickets for going 70 and 1/2 mile an hour?

Same here.

There are some rules that just by human nature allow flexibility.

JAP>
 
david luchini said:
Here's one for you...a 7.5' wall hits a 90degree corner and continues for another 7.5' (so the total length of the wall space is 15'.) How do you serve that wall space with one receptacle?
Click to expand...
If it is an inside corner, you could use a single floor receptacle placed in the corner, 18" off each wall.

If it's an outside corner, I don't think it is possible. :)

Cheers, Wayne
 
david luchini said:
...
Here's one for you...a 7.5' wall hits a 90degree corner and continues for another 7.5' (so the total length of the wall space is 15'.) How do you serve that wall space with one receptacle?
Click to expand...
You don't. The measure along the floor line is that of the wall, not the path of the cord.
 
david luchini said:
A duplex receptacle 18" AFF in the middle of a 12 ft wall would be 6' measured horizontally along the floor line of the wall space (in both directions.) That would meet the requirements of 210.52(A)(1).
Click to expand...

And the studs had better be miraculously placed exactly where they need to be for this to happen.

This wont ever happen with a nailon box and a single 12' wall studded at 16" centers.

That dang stud at the 64" mark aint gonna cut it if you stake a nailon box on either side of it.

Better start carrying cut-in boxes to meet the 6' intent of the code. :)


JAP>
 
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Good Lord over thinking a section already with a clear accepted meaning. There is no way to serve a 15 foot wall space with 1 receptacle

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