Required receptacles

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Samuel Petrie

Member
Location
Abbotsford WI
Occupation
Electrician
We are doing a residential new construction project and the inspector is requiring floor receptacles along open banester railing. He is classing that as wall space. What are everyone's thoughts on this??
 

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
We are doing a residential new construction project and the inspector is requiring floor receptacles along open banester railing. He is classing that as wall space. What are everyone's thoughts on this??


IMO you lose this one
(2) Wall Space. As used in this section, a wall space shall
include the following:
(1) Any space 600 mm (2 ft) or more in width (including
space measured around corners) and unbroken along the
floor line by doorways and similar openings, fireplaces,
and fixed cabinets thatdo not have countertops or similar
work surfaces
(2) The space occupied by fixed panels in walls, excluding
sliding panels
(3) The space afforded by fixed room dividers, such as freestanding
bar-type counters or railings
 

infinity

Moderator
Staff member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Journeyman Electrician
The inspector is correct. Even though the receptacles might never be use this one has been in the NEC for decades.
 

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
You aren't required to use floor receptacles, but your client probably isn't going to like other suitable options as much as a floor receptacle.
 

Fred B

Senior Member
Location
Upstate, NY
Occupation
Electrician
You aren't required to use floor receptacles, but your client probably isn't going to like other suitable options as much as a floor receptacle.
What other option you speaking of? Curious, I have a renovation that has about 28 continuous ft of floor to ceiling windows with 2 sliders. Walls are opening and rewire being done. Currently they do t have any along that space, additionally opposite wall space is 35 linear ft of steps off from a 6ft walkway. Only place can think of on that area is in the step riser. Cold air returns are being put there.
 

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
What other option you speaking of? Curious, I have a renovation that has about 28 continuous ft of floor to ceiling windows with 2 sliders. Walls are opening and rewire being done. Currently they do t have any along that space, additionally opposite wall space is 35 linear ft of steps off from a 6ft walkway. Only place can think of on that area is in the step riser. Cold air returns are being put there.
Surface wiring methods would not be prohibited by code, neither would pendant outlets hanging from the ceiling.

Designers likely don't like either of those, may not like the floor outlets either but would accept them over other options if forced to give in to one of the options.
 

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
One them Wiremold "power poles" would be code compliant, if properly placed. but then the floor outlet must be properly placed as well.

Whatever you use needs to be within 18" of the "wall" and no more than 5-1/2 feet off the floor.
 

infinity

Moderator
Staff member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Journeyman Electrician
I would never even thought of that one.

I suppose for OP could also put an outlet box into a wide balaster on railing.
Kwired pointed out that there is more than one way to comply with the 6'/12' spacing rule. A floor box is typically the simplest way but yes if the railing had wide hollow balusters you could cut a box into them and install a receptacle that way too.
 

suemarkp

Senior Member
Location
Kent, WA
Occupation
Retired Engineer
What is the area where this banister is? If it is a 10' long or longer hallway, isn't that an out, as a hallway doesn't follow the 6/12 rule.
 

farmantenna

Senior Member
Location
mass
We are doing a residential new construction project and the inspector is requiring floor receptacles along open banester railing. He is classing that as wall space. What are everyone's thoughts on this??
I visit a house occasionally with a railing wall in a living room that does not have a code required floor box and what do you see? Two white extension cords intertwined in the balusters to power a lamp.
 
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