1. 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

2. 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:
Joseph Starling
Chief State Electrical Engineer & Inspector
Illustrated by:
Danny Thomas
State Electrical Inspector

3. ? 6 feet Date: June 12, 2018 Code: 2017 Electrical Code
KITCHEN & Similar Area
Subject: Wall Space vs. Wall Countertop Spaces
Section (A)
Question 1:
A kitchen countertop that is attached to a wall has receptacles mounted above the countertop that comply with section (C). Are additional receptacles required to be added below the countertop to serve the wall space described in section (A)? ?
How to do
6 feet

4. Date: June 12, 2018
Code: 2017 Electrical Code
Subject: Wall Space vs. Wall Countertop Spaces
Section (A)
Answer 1:
No. Section (A)(2) describes the “wall space” within a dwelling including the kitchen, pantries, breakfast rooms, dining rooms, and similar areas. Section (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 (A)(2) and the “wall countertop space” described in (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 (A) or by section (C), depending on whether a wall countertop exists in such area. In no case will the sections (A) and (C) both regulate the same wall area of the kitchen.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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)

8. ? Kitchen & Similar Area Date: June 12, 2018
Code: 2017 Electrical Code
Subject: Wall Space vs. Wall Countertop Spaces
Section (A)
Question 2:
A kitchen countertop that is attached to a wall has receptacles mounted above the countertop that comply with section (C). There is at least 2 feet of wall space (area without a kitchen countertop) regulated by section (A) beside the countertop. Can any of these countertop receptacles used to satisfy the wall space receptacle requirement of (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? ?

9. Kitchen & Similar Area Date: June 12, 2018 Code: 2017 Electrical Code
Subject: Wall Space vs. Wall Countertop Spaces
Section (A)
Answer 2:
No. Section (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 (A).
A receptacle would be required for this wall space to comply with (A)(4)
Maximum distance 2 feet or less

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

11. ? - 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 (A)(4) require additional receptacles to be added below the countertop to serve the wall space described in (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 (A)(4) require additional receptacles to be added above the countertop to serve the wall space described in (A)?
? - Receptacle
for wall space
Floor

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

13. 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 (A)(2)
Floor

14. 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 (A)(2)