required recpt's

[mthead]

attn;Inspectors-Contractor providing req. lighting to a room via a switched recpt..
However ,contractor expects same recptacle to be counted in meeting distance requirements between recpt's..[he already pushed the dist.requirements due to the installation of base board units].
My position is that this will be acceptable if he splits the recpt.-top 1/2 switched-bottom 1/2 cont.hot..
What are your views?

 

[iwire]

Re: required recpt's

What code article would tell us it can not be part of the required receptacles?

210.52 Dwelling Unit Receptacle Outlets.
This section provides requirements for 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets.
Receptacle outlets required by this section shall be in addition to any receptacle that is part of a luminaire (lighting fixture) or appliance, located within cabinets or cupboards, or located more than 1.7 m (51/2 ft) above the floor.

Permanently installed electric baseboard heaters equipped with factory-installed receptacle outlets or outlets provided as a separate assembly by the manufacturer shall be permitted as the required outlet or outlets for the wall space utilized by such permanently installed heaters. Such receptacle outlets shall not be connected to the heater circuits.

This tells us outlets that are part of a lighting fixtures or appliances can not be counted and outlets above 5 1/2' feet can not be counted.

It does not say switched outlets can not be counted.

 

[charlie b]

Re: required recpt's

The purpose of having outlets every so often is to permit the owner to plug in (let us say) the vacuum cleaner, without having to run extension cords all over the house. If the person wants to vacuum that room, the NEC will allow them to do it with the lights turned on. I agree with Bob.

 

[bill addiss]

Re: required recpt's

Is this a Dining Room or Kitchen?
If so, the switched outlet wouldn't count.

In other rooms such as Living Rooms and Bedrooms it's very common to have one of the required outlets switched.

Bill

 

[canadian]

Re: required recpt's

Charlie,
I dont think the vacuum cleaner is the intent of having the receptacles space a certain distance..it has a long cord anyways.I feel the intent is for more permanant items that come with a six foot cord such as an aquarium or Tv.Having receptacles with CONSTANT power keeps the homeowner from being forced to run extension cords.Personally ive never switched BOTH sides of a duplex and dont see why one would need to or want to.(in a living area)
Ross

 

[tonyi]

Re: required recpt's

The NEC would allow singles and you could meet the minimums.

Personally, when I do a switched recpt, I split it so half is usable as an ordinary recpt. Most people won't run multiple lamps. When the whole duplex is switched, people get rude suprises when things like clocks are plugged in.

 

[mthead]

Re: required recpt's

Gentlemen-thank you all for your input-while switching 1/2 the recpt. and leaving half hot would seem like common sense to me ,after some reflection[sparked by your comments]I'd have to aggree that it is not required.
Thank you all.

Jim-NY INSP.

[ December 04, 2003, 11:58 PM: Message edited by: mthead ]

 

[speedypetey]

Re: required recpt's

Just a note:
The old standard of "210.70(A)(1)Exc.No.1" is very clear on this.

 

[mthead]

Re: required recpt's

"Interesting Post script";I faxed the contractor my decision [that the code did not ,in fact ,require him to split the receptacle],then spoke with him later today to be sure he'd gotten it.
He told me he saw it after a company meeting this morning.
At the company meeting the question arose re:this situation.
They decided that, while not required,inthe future when this situation arose company policy would be to follow my suggestion and split the recpt..
True story ...