North Carolina Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal Risk Management State Electrical Division 2017 State Electrical Code 210.52(A) Wall Space v. Wall Countertop Space

Notice: The following illustrations are approved by the State Electrical Division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal. These illustrations are intended to demonstrate but not supersede the official written interpretations found at the following web address: http://www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/State_Electrical_Division//Default.aspx?field1=State_Electrical_Code_and_Interpretations Joseph Starling Chief State Electrical Engineer & Inspector Illustrated by: Danny Thomas State Electrical Inspector

? 6 feet Date: June 12, 2018 Code: 2017 Electrical Code KITCHEN & Similar Area Subject: Wall Space vs. Wall Countertop Spaces Section 210.52(A) Question 1: A kitchen countertop that is attached to a wall has receptacles mounted above the countertop that comply with section 210.52(C). Are additional receptacles required to be added below the countertop to serve the wall space described in section 210.52(A)? ? How to do 6 feet

Date: June 12, 2018 Code: 2017 Electrical Code Subject: Wall Space vs. Wall Countertop Spaces Section 210.52(A) Answer 1: No. Section 210.52(A)(2) describes the “wall space” within a dwelling including the kitchen, pantries, breakfast rooms, dining rooms, and similar areas. Section 210.52(C)(1) describes the dwelling’s “wall countertop space” in the kitchens, pantries, breakfast rooms, dining rooms, and similar areas. In areas designated for food preparation, the “wall space” described in 210.52(A)(2) and the “wall countertop space” described in 210.52(C)(1) each possess electrical needs that are distinguishable from each other due to the type of appliances that typically utilize such receptacles. Thus, the receptacles in the areas along the walls of a kitchen are either regulated by section 210.52(A) or by section 210.52(C), depending on whether a wall countertop exists in such area. In no case will the sections 210.52(A) and 210.52(C) both regulate the same wall area of the kitchen.

Kitchen & Similar Area Question 1 Illustration Not to Scale Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor. Countertop receptacle not to exceed 20 inches from countertop. Kitchen & Similar Area Electrical Code sections shown below regulate the corresponding areas of the kitchen walls. Acme Microwave 210.52(A) 210.52(C)(1) Acme Range 210.52(C)(1) 210.52(A) 210.52(C)(1) 210.52(A) Acme Refrigerator

Acme Refrigerator A receptacle must be within 2 ft. of the counter edge, or 4 ft. from another receptacle that only serves the countertop. Acme Microwave 210.52(C)(1) Exception 210.52(C)(1) Acme Range 2 ft. 4 ft.

2 ft. A receptacle must be located no more than 2 ft. from the counter edge, or 4 ft. from another receptacle that only serves the countertop. A receptacle must be no more than 6 ft. from the counter wall, or 12 ft. from another receptacle that does not serve the kitchen countertop. Acme Refrigerator A receptacle must be no more than 6 ft. from the counter wall, or 12 ft. from another receptacle that does not serve the kitchen countertop. 210.52(C) Wall Countertop 210.52(A) 210.52(A)

? Kitchen & Similar Area Date: June 12, 2018 Code: 2017 Electrical Code Subject: Wall Space vs. Wall Countertop Spaces Section 210.52(A) Question 2: A kitchen countertop that is attached to a wall has receptacles mounted above the countertop that comply with section 210.52(C). There is at least 2 feet of wall space (area without a kitchen countertop) regulated by section 210.52(A) beside the countertop. Can any of these countertop receptacles used to satisfy the wall space receptacle requirement of 210.52(A) if the countertop receptacles are located not more than 5 ½ feet above the floor? Allowed to use this receptacle for wall space or required to add receptacle for wall space? ?

Kitchen & Similar Area Date: June 12, 2018 Code: 2017 Electrical Code Subject: Wall Space vs. Wall Countertop Spaces Section 210.52(A) Answer 2: No. Section 210.52(A)(4) prohibits the use of the receptacles installed for wall countertop space in the kitchens, pantries, breakfast rooms, and similar areas from simultaneously satisfying the wall space receptacle requirements of 210.52(A). A receptacle would be required for this wall space to comply with 210.52(A)(4) Maximum distance 2 feet or less

Only serves the countertop Maximum distance 6 feet Only serves the countertop Maximum distance 6 feet

? - Receptacle for Countertop ? - Receptacle for wall space Question 3(a): ? - Receptacle for Countertop A living room countertop that is attached to a wall has receptacles mounted above the countertop that are 4 feet above the finished floor. Does section 210.52(A)(4) require additional receptacles to be added below the countertop to serve the wall space described in 210.52(A)? Question 3(b): A living room countertop that is attached to a wall has receptacles mounted below the countertop that are 1 foot above the finished floor. Does section 210.52(A)(4) require additional receptacles to be added above the countertop to serve the wall space described in 210.52(A)? ? - Receptacle for wall space Floor

Answer 3(a&b): No . Section 210.52(A)(4) only prohibits the receptacles specified in section 210.52(C) from simultaneously satisfying the wall space receptacle requirements of 210.52(A). Receptacles serving the living room countertop are not specified by section 210.52(C), Section 210.52(C) only concerns countertop space in the kitchen, pantries, breakfast room, dining room, and similar areas.

Living Room Wall Countertop Floor Question 3(a) Illustration Not to Scale Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor. Living Room No receptacle required to be installed above the living room countertop. Wall Countertop A receptacle must be within 6 feet of wall or 12 feet from another receptacle 210.52(A)(2) Floor

Living Room Wall Countertop Question 3(a) Illustration Not to Scale Wall receptacle not to exceed 5 ½ feet in height from floor. Living Room Wall Countertop No receptacle required to be installed below the living room countertop. A receptacle must be within 6 feet of wall or 12 feet from another receptacle 210.52(A)(2)