Robertschu
New User
- Location
- Chicago
- Occupation
- Electrician
I had an inspector tell my guys today per 2023 nec the fridge and stove receptacles can not be behind the appliances.
Refrigerator receptacle
- Thread starter Robertschu
- Start date
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I don't have the 2023 yet but I doubt that's correct. What code section?
qcroanoke
Sometimes I don't know if I'm the boxer or the bag
- Location
- Roanoke, VA.
- Occupation
- Sorta retired........
If they are GFI's they have to accessible. AFAIK
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
True but that's not new for the 2023 so I'm wondering where this info came from.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
qcroanoke
Sometimes I don't know if I'm the boxer or the bag
- Location
- Roanoke, VA.
- Occupation
- Sorta retired........
If the receptacle is GFI protected by a GFI breaker or GFI receptacle feeding it the receptacle behind the refrigerator does not have to be readily accessible.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
There is a difference between a GFCI receptacle and a GFCI-protected receptacle.
Understood but that may be where the inspectors comments originated.....
rc/retired
Senior Member
- Location
- Bellvue, Colorado
- Occupation
- Master Electrician/Inspector retired
No. As long as the fridge outlet is more than 6' from a sink, GFCI protection is not required.
A GFCI receptacle outlet behind a refrigerator is probably not readily accessible.
Ron
Fred B
Senior Member
- Location
- Upstate, NY
- Occupation
- Electrician
2023 made the change so the GFCI requirement, wording was changed to just Kitchen not kitchen countertop.
Correct but there are options to avoid the accessibility issue. Many ways to get that protection, receptacle, breaker, load feed from another GFCI device, Blank face GFCI, etc.
2020 basically same as 2017, in 2023 in a kitchen the 6 ft limit not applicable ALL receptacles must be GFCI protected per 2023 NEC 210.8(A)(6)
210.8(A)(7) is a brand new requirement for an area with a sink and any of the following: a permanent provisions for food preparation, beverage preparation, or cooking.
So that would sound like even an area that didn't fit the definition of a kitchen but had all except permanent cooking still need to have GFCI
Then 210.8(A)(8) still has the 6ft requirement related to a sink.
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
If a fridge is on rollers, it is "readily accessible" per the NEC definition.
Had this exact argument with an AHJ once, he had never read the definition of "Readily Accessible" before, in fact he was not aware there was a definition in the NEC. I had my wife pull the fridge away from the wall, he accepted it.
(Then I took out the GFCI receptacle, because it was on a fridge and I don't want to lose all my food again...)
Had this exact argument with an AHJ once, he had never read the definition of "Readily Accessible" before, in fact he was not aware there was a definition in the NEC. I had my wife pull the fridge away from the wall, he accepted it.
(Then I took out the GFCI receptacle, because it was on a fridge and I don't want to lose all my food again...)
Fred B
Senior Member
- Location
- Upstate, NY
- Occupation
- Electrician
But I haven't seen one yet that once you adjusted the levelers that it was still able to roll.
But what will you do for the 23 code? Take the fridge out of the "kitchen" area?
qcroanoke
Sometimes I don't know if I'm the boxer or the bag
- Location
- Roanoke, VA.
- Occupation
- Sorta retired........
They have audible alarms in gfi's that sound on trip.
Or if it's my house it gets removed until I sell the house.
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
If anyone comes to inspect my electrical again while I’m here, it goes back in. Not that big of a deal.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
I see rolling the refrigerator out to access the GFCI as "removing an obstacle" and it would get a red tag around here.
curt swartz
Electrical Contractor - San Jose, CA
- Location
- San Jose, CA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
I definitely agree!
fishin' electrician
Senior Member
- Location
- Connecticut
How does a definition include an ambiguous phrase like "and so forth"?
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Welcome to the NEC.... "or similar to" or "similar rooms" etc
brycecomber
Member
- Location
- Colorado
- Occupation
- Electrician
How do i ask a question or make a post?