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Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Question:

Re: CQD answer published Monday, February 19, 2018 -GFCI Protection for Dwelling Unit Basement Receptacles

Uhhhhhh Charlie?

Which is it yes or no. The writer has asked the exact same question in two different ways and you have given two different answers.... both plugs are located in the basement.... both plugs operate a specific alarm, both plugs are located next to the load Center, but you have said yes for one and no for the other which is it Charlie? Charlie can you please take the time to explain why you said one plug was acceptable and the other was not?

Thanks, Oliver Allen

A

Answer:

Hey Oliver thanks for your follow-up question. You are correct, two different questions (situations) - two different answers, that is often how the NEC is. In general, 15 and 20 ampere 125 volt receptacles in unfinished basements of dwelling units must have GFCI protection as stated in 210.8(A)(5). The exception to (5) allows omitting GFCI protection for permanently installed fire alarm or burglar systems. This is consistent with the last sentences in 760.41(B) and 760.121(B) which prohibit GFCI protection for fire alarm systems based on rules in NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. Some of these systems can also be used as security equipment, see

http://productspec.ul.com/details.php?ccn=UTRZ

for more information.

There is no exception to 250.8 for septic or other types of alarms, apparently because no one has submitted a Public Input or supplied sufficient substantiation, to omit the GFCI protection in those cases. An alarm circuit could be directly wired (without using a cord and plug connection) then GFCI protection is not required. The NEC does not give us the reasons why but we can sometimes learn more about that from the reports available in the archived information on the document information pages at nfpa.org.

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.

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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.

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