Residential garages

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Sdr96

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Has anyone ever been required to treat a residential garage as a hazardous/classified space because of storing gasoline (for lawnmower, etc.) or because of actually storing a vehicle (instead of a mountain of Christmas lights and old clothes).
 
at what height do you normally mount receps in the garage? The NEC Handbook shows them what looks to be about 48" (commentary following 210.8 A on page 74, which is a pain to plug cords into for tools, etc.

We have a condo project with some detached garages which has caused some internal discussions/debates.
 
Given my own choice, I'll mount at 48" OC AFF. And that's mostly 'cause I think its easier to reach over the stuff that gathers (as the garage is used over the years), than through the stuff.

If the client specifies a different height, then they get their height.
 
Sdr96 said:
Has anyone ever been required to treat a residential garage as a hazardous/classified space because of storing gasoline (for lawnmower, etc.) or because of actually storing a vehicle (instead of a mountain of Christmas lights and old clothes).
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Another "no" here.

I would be interested to see how a classification could be obtained. I remember trying to make it work once, and couldn't, but that was some time ago (and I was bored.)

If the individual in question would like to state the classification of the location, then you will be able to act accordingly - explosionproof equipment and whatnot. When this is brought to light, perhaps the individual will see his/her folly and rescind their opinion. :)

Sdr96 said:
at what height do you normally mount receps in the garage?
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I agree with Al, down to the measurement. :)
 
Even in a commercial repair garage the hazardous area is only from the floor up to 18". And this type of facility would have a greater chance of fuel spilling onto the floor. I don' think that there is any appreciable risk involved with a residential garage.
 
infinity said:
Even in a commercial repair garage the hazardous area is only from the floor up to 18". And this type of facility would have a greater chance of fuel spilling onto the floor. I don' think that there is any appreciable risk involved with a residential garage.
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Well a big YEP out here on the left coast several jurisdictions require all sources of combustion (recepts,clothes driers,washers,water heaters etc) to be at least 18" aff in a residential garage for just that reason.
 
They may have a local thing with them being 18" but It is not in the NEC that way on a Residential Garage. We just had a house rejected because the inspector said the receptacles in the residential garage MUST be higher than 18" by the NEC. Not anything else in the entire house just that on (2) recepts and rejected it...lol.......

Rather PETTY if you ask me........done HUNDREDS of homes at 16" in the garage and never once was it a issue...lol.....anyway...not worth me calling them up and saying " COME ON GUYS".....heck I will just have the guys raise them 6" up.......no biggie.
 
radiopet said:
They may have a local thing with them being 18" but It is not in the NEC that way on a Residential Garage. We just had a house rejected because the inspector said the receptacles in the residential garage MUST be higher than 18" by the NEC. Not anything else in the entire house just that on (2) recepts and rejected it...lol.......

Rather PETTY if you ask me........done HUNDREDS of homes at 16" in the garage and never once was it a issue...lol.....anyway...not worth me calling them up and saying " COME ON GUYS".....heck I will just have the guys raise them 6" up.......no biggie.
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It could be a local code. Did he cite a particular NEC Article to back up his alleged violation?
 
lol......they never do.....the bad thing is they all know I do NEC consulting so it is only MY company they do not put the references on them...but I always get the "SMILEY FACE" on the notice...

Only happens to one of my crews about 1 or 2 times a year on small things like this...good guys but they may do something like not " re-identify the neutrals ( Taping them ) in 14-3 if being used as travelers "

But this was the only thing.......said they had to be minimum 18"...strange enough I personally usually put them at 24" unless the builder or owner wants them at counter height ( 48" )....but for some reason been getting requests to keep them at the same height we put the ones in the house.....and this was the first time it it ever came up.....

The Inspector did happen to tell the homeowner that according to the NEC the rececps in the garage can't be lower than 18"......and made a smart remark " Paul should know that...it's in the NEC "

So.......I just said to the guys...raise them up 6" and be done with it...not worth me calling them and asking them why they has to be so smug about it.....no biggie I guess.
 
The Inspector did happen to tell the homeowner that according to the NEC the rececps in the garage can't be lower than 18"......and made a smart remark " Paul should know that...it's in the NEC "
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The inspector is the one who should know that the 18" requirement is only for commercial garages. He needs to read Article 511.
 
Yep,

But you the deal....better to just move them and smile and move on...since all the wires to them come from above...none from below...it wont take the guys 5 minutes to move them up.....not worth the argument I guess for this......but still did not like the remark.. " Paul should have known this..."...I am not out their TRYING to get around things....just happen to know the code but you see...reputation can sometimes HURT you locally...

Anyway...I will let it go...

Oh...he also said grounding clips instead of ground screws was a violation but he will let that go.......just so happens on (1) outside metal box the helper used a grounding clip instead of a screw.......I told him Section 250.148(A) says that "Listed Grounding Device" was fine.......don't worry about it young fella.....
 
Just tell the home owner to store his gas can in the laundry room. LOL This has to be a local issue. Many people do not store any gas cans in their garage; They have a lawn service.

If customer has no preference, I install at 42".
 
The closest I came was a discussion with an inspector about whether an attached garage could be considered a "separate building or structure" because of the requirement for a fire-wall between the garage and the house. This was in relation to 250.32 and a subpanel in the garage. We came to the conclusion that although the definition of building includes separation by fire boundaries, that it did not apply in this case.

Mark
 
radiopet said:
Anyway...I will let it go...
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I know that a quick fix is sometimes easier than arguing but personally I would not let it go. A simple request for the violated article should end the discussion since it's not in the NEC. It's likely that the inspector made a simple mistake. He should be educated about it so he doesn't keep making the same mistake over and over again. Just my 2 cents.
 
I agree with Trevor, as an inspector I welcome questions....... It sometimes hurts the "pride" when I am found to be mistaken, but in the end I sincerely appreciate the fact that someone took the time to ask questions and/or challenge a call that I have made in error so that I don't make the same mistake twice. This is the way we all become better at what we do. I would hope that your inspectors wouldn't take it personal and if they do their problems run deeper than just being incorrect. No one that I know was born with the knowledge or wisdom to be right all the time.

Pete
 
I know some who would say otherwise...
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