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Thursday, May 25, 2023

Question:

Hi Charlie, recently I was in the shower using the bathroom exhaust fan. After about 10mins the GFCI receptacle located at my bathroom sink area tripped out. Nothing was plugged into the receptacle, but the fan above the shower shut off when the GFCI tripped. I am assuming the fan is the culprit, as nothing else was plugged in. Why would the fan be connected to the GFCI? Does the Code allow for a bathroom fan to be connected to the bathroom GFCI outlet. Thanks, Larry Andrews
A

Answer:

Hello Larry, sorry to hear your bathroom fan is not working. Bathroom exhaust fans are permitted to be installed above the shower/tub space. However, the manufacturer of the exhaust fan likely requires the exhaust fan to be GFCI protected when installed in that location. The Exception found in Section 210.11(C)(3) of the NEC® would permit electrical equipment located in the same bathroom to be connected to the required 20A branch circuit. The installation described in your question would be code compliant as it sounds like the fan is supplied by the load side of the GFCI receptacle serving the bathroom sink area.

ABOUT CQD: The Code Question of the Day (CQD) is NECA and ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Magazine’s flagship National Electrical Code (NEC®) public forum for the industry, sponsored by EATON. The daily distribution of Q&A generates a lively dialogue and shares relative Code-based practical responses.

SUBMIT YOUR CODE QUESTION: Click here to submit a question to for inclusion in an upcoming edition of the Code Question of the Day, or email codequestion@necanet.org. 

CHARLIE TROUT: Charles M. Trout, better known as Charlie, was a nationally known NEC® expert and author. He served on several NEC® technical committees and is past chairman of CMP-12. In 2006 Charlie was awarded the prestigious Coggeshall Award for outstanding contributions to the electrical contracting industry, codes and standards development, and technical training. Even though Charlie passed away in October of 2015, his work continues in spirit. NECA continues to maintain this question forum for its many subscribers in memory and recognition of all his significant contributions to making the NEC what it is today.

NECA STANDARDS: NECA publishes the National Electrical Installation Standards™ (NEIS™), a series of ANSI-approved performance and quality standards for electrical construction. NEIS can be purchased in the NECA Store in three formats: a printed or  PDF download of a standard or, as an  annual subscription service.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: Unless the question requests a response based on a specific edition, all answers are based on the latest edition of NFPA 70® National Electrical Code®.

This correspondence is not a formal interpretation of the NEC® and any responses expressed to the questions are opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of NECA, NFPA, the NEC Correlating Committee any Code-making panel or other electrical technical committee. In addition, this correspondence is neither intended, nor should it be relied upon, to provide professional consultation or services. 

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