Wet Bar Fridge

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Dedicated circuit not required and GFCI not required if receptacle is behind fridge and not accessible from the countertop work area.
 
Check 210.8(A)(7). The section that said that GFCI was only needed for "receptacles that serve countertops in the area of a "wet bar" sink was removed in 2005. Any 15 or 20 amp 125-volt receptacle within six feet of a wet bar sink must be GFCI protected. Even if it is a single receptacle. Even if it is behind the refrigerator. Even if it is a twistlock receptacle. No exceptions.
 
haskindm said:
Check 210.8(A)(7). The section that said that GFCI was only needed for "receptacles that serve countertops in the area of a "wet bar" sink was removed in 2005. Any 15 or 20 amp 125-volt receptacle within six feet of a wet bar sink must be GFCI protected. Even if it is a single receptacle. Even if it is behind the refrigerator. Even if it is a twistlock receptacle. No exceptions.
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Agreed, I have to explain this quite often when I call out for the receptacle feeding a refrigerator next to a wet bar sink (Within 6') to be GFCI protected. Same with the microwave outlet in the cabinet above the sink or next to the sink.

Chris
 
I stand corrected. I assume that in a kitchen environment, the same would apply to a refrigerator within 6' of the sink also even if the receptacle was behind the appliance?
 
raider1 said:
Agreed, I have to explain this quite often when I call out for the receptacle feeding a refrigerator next to a wet bar sink (Within 6') to be GFCI protected. Same with the microwave outlet in the cabinet above the sink or next to the sink.

Chris
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What theory/intent do you mention? Or do you simply say because it's in the code. What basically is the difference between a typical wetbar layout, as you mention, and a Kitchen layout? ie. refrigerator receptacle and receptacle in a cabinet above the sink.
 
dcspector said:
What theory/intent do you mention? Or do you simply say because it's in the code. What basically is the difference between a typical wetbar layout, as you mention, and a Kitchen layout? ie. refrigerator receptacle and receptacle in a cabinet above the sink.
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The basic difference is that a kitchen has permanent provisions for cooking, where as a wet bar typically doesn't have the cooking provisions.

Now before you ask me where I am comming up with the permanent provisions for cooking defining a kitchen, I will state that the 2008 NEC has included this in the definition of ALL kitchens in Article 100.

So 210.8(6) requires receptacles that serve the countertop to be GFCI protected, adn 210.8(7) requires all 125 volt 15 and 20 amp receptacles within 6' feet of a wet bar to be GFCI protected. I don't pretend to explain or justify the differences in the code, just enforce the code sections as they are written.

Chris
 
480sparky said:
Kitchens are different from wet bars.
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So you are saying that in a kitchen, if a refrigerator was within 6' of a sink, no GFI protection would be required if the receptacle was behind the appliance?
 
That's my take on it. For kitchens, only the receps that serve the counter are required to be GFId.

210.8(A)(6) and (7) aren't that complicated.
 
raider1 said:
I don't pretend to explain or justify the differences in the code, just enforce the code sections as they are written.

Chris
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I understand Chris. Sometimes we just have no idea for the reasoning. This versus a Kitchen makes zero sense to me.
 
dcspector said:
I understand Chris. Sometimes we just have no idea for the reasoning. This versus a Kitchen makes zero sense to me.
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I agree. What makes a refrigerator next to a wet bar sink more dangerous then a refrigerator next to the kitchen sink?

Chris
 
raider1 said:
I agree. What makes a refrigerator next to a wet bar sink more dangerous then a refrigerator next to the kitchen sink?

Chris
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There's more, shall we say, 'spirited' liquids associated with a bar? :grin:
 
480sparky said:
There's more, shall we say, 'spirited' liquids associated with a bar? :grin:
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The refrigerator in my kitchen is stocked with "spirited liquids", I guess this is because I don't have a wet bar.:)

Chris
 
disposals, under-sink compactors, and insta-hot do not require gfi, but a wet bar fridge with no access to the outlet without removal of the fridge requires one. Way to go NEC.
 
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