Tamper Resistant Receptacles

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dana1028

Senior Member
A question came up on an inspection: Do the receptacles located inside the medicine cabinet have to be tamper resistant [medicine cabinet came with the receptacles already installed (and listed) by the mfr.]?

406.11 refers us to the receptacles required in 210.52 => 210.52(D) makes a requirement for at least one receptacle installed within 3' of the outside edge of each basin [2008 NEC].

As an inspector my response was: 'Since you have met the requirement of 210.52(D), I don't believe those receptacles inside the cabinet must meet the TR requirement.' [i.e. 'go for it.']:thumbsdown:

Now you can bash me for being a softy.
 

jxofaltrds

Inspector Mike®
Location
Mike P. Columbus Ohio
Occupation
ESI, PI, RBO
A question came up on an inspection: Do the receptacles located inside the medicine cabinet have to be tamper resistant [medicine cabinet came with the receptacles already installed (and listed) by the mfr.]?

406.11 refers us to the receptacles required in 210.52 => 210.52(D) makes a requirement for at least one receptacle installed within 3' of the outside edge of each basin [2008 NEC].

As an inspector my response was: 'Since you have met the requirement of 210.52(D), I don't believe those receptacles inside the cabinet must meet the TR requirement.' [i.e. 'go for it.']:thumbsdown:

Now you can bash me for being a softy.

You are looking for reasons to PASS an inspection not reasons to FAIL an inspection.

If the medicne cabinet is listed, I say TR not required. Still need GFCI protection.

Why GFCI?

Thanx for the GFCI reminder - I'll be sure to verify, but I believe the med cab is being supplied through the lav GFCI recep.

Only bathroom on this circuit.
 

dana1028

Senior Member
You are looking for reasons to PASS an inspection not reasons to FAIL an inspection.

I'm not sure what you are saying. As an inspector I look for reasons to either pass or fail an inspection - if a job is installed per code it passes, if a job is not installed per code it fails. I believe the medicine cab receps do meet the code requirement and thus does pass....I thought I might get some code nazis that disagreed with my logic.

Why GFCI?
Because 210.8(A)(1) says ALL receps in a bathroom must be GFCI protected.


Only bathroom on this circuit.
Is that an: "only this bathroom allowed on this circuit or only receptacles in any of the bathrooms are allowed on this circuit response?
 

jxofaltrds

Inspector Mike®
Location
Mike P. Columbus Ohio
Occupation
ESI, PI, RBO
Is that an: "only this bathroom allowed on this circuit or only receptacles in any of the bathrooms are allowed on this circuit response?

If the GFCI feeds another (different) bathroom receptacle then the medicine cabinet can not be on that circuit.

Also if it is 'in' the cabinet does it have to be GFCI protected? Is this any different than a receptacle under a sink.

Do I think that a good electrician should GFCI protect it? Yes! Can an inspector require it? Not sure.
 

hurk27

Senior Member
If the GFCI feeds another (different) bathroom receptacle then the medicine cabinet can not be on that circuit.

Also if it is 'in' the cabinet does it have to be GFCI protected? Is this any different than a receptacle under a sink.

Do I think that a good electrician should GFCI protect it? Yes! Can an inspector require it? Not sure.

Mike all receptacles in bathrooms are required to be GFCI protected, There are no exceptions to 210.8(A)(1)

(A) Dwelling Units. All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and
20-ampere receptacles installed in the locations specified in
(1) through (8) shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter
protection for personnel.

The above in red is very clear and 210.8(A)(1) just says bathroom, there are no exceptions to receptacles under a counter or in a cabinet like in a kitchen where the code only requires receptacles serving the counter top to be protected.

The same goes for outdoor receptacles as well as garages and un-finished basements.

Also 210.11(C)(3) does not distinguish between a receptacle located in a cabinet or on a wall, it requires that the 20 amp bathroom receptacle circuit to serve all the receptacles in bathroom(s), if this circuit only serves one bathroom then it can also serve the lights and or other items in this one bathroom, but it can always serve the receptacles.

3) Bathroom Branch Circuits. In addition to the number
of branch circuits required by other parts of this section, at
least one 20-ampere branch circuit shall be provided to
supply bathroom receptacle outlet(s). Such circuits shall
have no other outlets.

Note the (s) on the end of the word "outlet"

So if the receptacle is in the confines of a bathroom it applys, even if it is in a cabinet it is still accessable only from the bathroom not another room.
 
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hurk27

Senior Member
Think about this, since the NEC has removed the exceptions in 210.8 with your above thinking, we would be allowed to put a freezer in the garage then build a cabinet around it and then say it is no longer in the garage??? I would think not.
 

jxofaltrds

Inspector Mike®
Location
Mike P. Columbus Ohio
Occupation
ESI, PI, RBO
Mike all receptacles in bathrooms are required to be GFCI protected, There are no exceptions to 210.8(A)(1)



The above in red is very clear and 210.8(A)(1) just says bathroom, there are no exceptions to receptacles under a counter or in a cabinet like in a kitchen where the code only requires receptacles serving the counter top to be protected.

The same goes for outdoor receptacles as well as garages and un-finished basements.

Also 210.11(C)(3) does not distinguish between a receptacle located in a cabinet or on a wall, it requires that the 20 amp bathroom receptacle circuit to serve all the receptacles in bathroom(s), if this circuit only serves one bathroom then it can also serve the lights and or other items in this one bathroom, but it can always serve the receptacles.



Note the (s) on the end of the word "outlet"

1st he did not install a receptacle. He installed a cabinet that happens to have a receptacle in it. Should we GFCI it? Yes. is it required? that is what we are debating. If between studs is it in the room? Yes it is installed and in the room.

210.11(C)(3) only deals with the ONE required circuit. It does not require additional receptacles to be on that circuit or require them to be 20 AMP.
it allows more than one recptacle on that circuit but does require ALL to be on that circuit. If this is false then I could not install an in the wall ironing board in a bath.
 

jxofaltrds

Inspector Mike®
Location
Mike P. Columbus Ohio
Occupation
ESI, PI, RBO
Think about this, since the NEC has removed the exceptions in 210.8 with your above thinking, we would be allowed to put a freezer in the garage then build a cabinet around it and then say it is no longer in the garage??? I would think not.

What if it was in a closet 'off' a garage? GFCI? Not in the garage. AFCI? Not 'in' the house.
 

hurk27

Senior Member
1st he did not install a receptacle. He installed a cabinet that happens to have a receptacle in it. Should we GFCI it? Yes. is it required? that is what we are debating. If between studs is it in the room? Yes it is installed and in the room.

210.11(C)(3) only deals with the ONE required circuit. It does not require additional receptacles to be on that circuit or require them to be 20 AMP.
it allows more than one receptacle on that circuit but does require ALL to be on that circuit. If this is false then I could not install an in the wall ironing board in a bath.

Most med cabs we install now if they have a receptacle they will have separate leads and the instructions will even say to install them on a GFCI protected circuit.

Nothing in this code section says we can't install more circuits, but if we do they become bathroom receptacle circuits (BRC's) by virtue of serving receptacles in the bathroom, the same goes for the kitchen if we install extra 20 amp circuits to serve other counter top receptacles are they not still considered SABC's? same goes for a dinning room.
The definition of a circuit is by where it serves, if it serves the laundry room and or equipment it is then a laundry circuit and is required to follow the rules of a laundry circuit, if you run another circuit to the laundry room to serve a ironing board is it still a laundry circuit?

What if it was in a closet 'off' a garage? GFCI? Not in the garage. AFCI? Not 'in' the house.

That could be a gray area but the code does say "un finish areas at or below grade" so it seems mute
 

jxofaltrds

Inspector Mike®
Location
Mike P. Columbus Ohio
Occupation
ESI, PI, RBO
Most med cabs we install now if they have a receptacle they will have separate leads and the instructions will even say to install them on a GFCI protected circuit.

Nothing in this code section says we can't install more circuits, but if we do they become bathroom receptacle circuits (BRC's) by virtue of serving receptacles in the bathroom, the same goes for the kitchen if we install extra 20 amp circuits to serve other counter top receptacles are they not still considered SABC's? same goes for a dinning room.
The definition of a circuit is by where it serves, if it serves the laundry room and or equipment it is then a laundry circuit and is required to follow the rules of a laundry circuit, if you run another circuit to the laundry room to serve a ironing board is it still a laundry circuit?



That could be a gray area but the code does say "un finish areas at or below grade" so it seems mute

Disagree. A lighting circuit in a bath is not required to be 20 AMP and it is required to be there. Same with the laundry.

If I had a circuit in the kitchen, the laundry and the bath what is it called?

I think of a closet as finished!?
 
Location
durham,nc
Occupation
Electrical contractor
I'm in the middle of trying to get the inspectors to approve the recepticle in the medicine chest as the required one right now . There saying because it is behind a door it doesn't meet the requirements , I'm saying the rquirement doesn't say anything about that other than with in 3 ft of basin, Any help on this from ya'll? Sorry to go off topic but the listing label on these require that they be on a gfci circuit, so yes it needs to be protected per manufactor.
 
T

taylorp

Guest
I'm in the middle of trying to get the inspectors to approve the recepticle in the medicine chest as the required one right now . There saying because it is behind a door it doesn't meet the requirements , I'm saying the rquirement doesn't say anything about that other than with in 3 ft of basin, Any help on this from ya'll? Sorry to go off topic but the listing label on these require that they be on a gfci circuit, so yes it needs to be protected per manufactor.

I am assuming that this installation is in a dwelling? If so, you are not reading 210.52 very closely.

210.52 Dwelling Unit Receptacle Outlets. This section
provides requirements for 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle
outlets. The receptacles required by this section
shall be in addition to any receptacle that is:
(1) Part of a luminaire or appliance, or
(2) Controlled by a wall switch in accordance with
210.70(A)(1), Exception No. 1, or
(3) Located within cabinets or cupboards, or
(4) Located more than 1.7 m (51⁄2 ft) above the floor

210.52(D) Bathrooms. In dwelling units, at least one receptacle
outlet shall be installed in bathrooms within 900 mm (3 ft)
of the outside edge of each basin. The receptacle outlet
shall be located on a wall or partition that is adjacent to the
basin or basin countertop, located on the countertop, or
installed on the side or face of the basin cabinet not more
than 300 mm (12 in.) below the countertop.
Receptacle
outlet assemblies listed for the application shall be permitted
to be installed in the countertop.
Informational Note: See 406.5(E) for requirements for installation
of receptacles in countertops.
 

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
IMO, the TR is not an issue however it may still be required. With the 2011 NEC it seems clear that receptacles 5'6" above the floor do not need TR, nor do receptacles that are part of an appliance or luminaire. I would stretch this meaning and be a softy also. The intent is to keep kids from getting into it so I think the receptacle in the cabinet over the sink would satisfy the intent
 
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