• Welcome to the new and improved Building Code Forum. We appreciate you being here and hope that you are getting the information that you need concerning all codes of the building trades. This is a free forum to the public due to the generosity of the Sawhorses, Corporate Supporters and Supporters who have upgraded their accounts. If you would like to have improved access to the forum please upgrade to Sawhorse by first logging in then clicking here: Upgrades

GFCI Protection of Drinking Water Coolers

jar546

Forum Coordinator
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
10,971
Location
Somewhere Too Hot & Humid
NEC 422.5(A) provides a list of appliances that require GFCI protection with water coolers being one of them (2). NEC 422.5(B) requires that the GFCI be readily accessible.

A common problem that I have is that for final inspection, many times the receptacle is hidden and enclosed behind the water cooler cover. This is OK if the receptacle is protected by a GFCI breaker in the panelboard but not OK if the actual GFCI test/reset receptacle is inside the cover and is a violation.

Something to remember to check on your next inspection. Remember, not all GFCI protection requirements are in NEC 210.8.

IMG_5813.JPG
 
Soooooooo.....Any outdoor equipment that has a door (or indoor for that matter) on the enclosure is not readily accessible? Or are we saying that "hinged" obstacles are OK?
 
Soooooooo.....Any outdoor equipment that has a door (or indoor for that matter) on the enclosure is not readily accessible? Or are we saying that "hinged" obstacles are OK?

Read the definition.

capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to actions such as to use tools, to climb over or remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders and so forth
 
Shown location is not accessible too as the DF is not located in an alcove or has cane rails.
 
Shown location is not accessible too as the DF is not located in an alcove or has cane rails.
It is accessible for users, there are no obstacles to front or side approach. Cane rails are a different issue.
In your other response about not being correctly accessible to reset the breaker, no part of the quote seems to prohibit doors (like inside a kitchen cabinet) or tool-free panel removal.
 
AD ... not sure i understand your comment. I agree its missing cane signal devices. But as far as being accessible to HC users ... there are no barriers.
 
DFs must be either in an alcove or have cane detection if they project more than 4" from the finished face of walls on POT's, mounted at compliant heights and with knee space to be accessible.
 
Good/Bad.....Right/Wrong.....Like it or not, according to the NEC, the 'Readily accessible' term has the same meaning weather applied to GFCI protection devices or service disconnecting means.

Would you allow a service disconnect behind/underneath the drinking fountain?

Just asking.
 
LC, it seems we/you and I are speaking about different things. Disconnect can be behind/underneath.
The DF on the other hand is not installed in an ADA compliant manner.
 
2011NEC 422.52 Electric Drinking Fountains. Electric drinking fountains shall be protected with ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection.

Does not say readily accessible or direct you to a list of appliances.

Must be a code change after the 2011NEC indicating "readily accessible".
 
ADAguy, I do think we are speaking about different things. The NEC definitions of accessible and readily accessible are quite different than the ICC definitions of accessible.

I was commenting on the original post regarding GFCI protection and the 'readily accessible' requirement of 210.8 in the NEC.
 
2011NEC 422.52 Electric Drinking Fountains. Electric drinking fountains shall be protected with ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection.

Does not say readily accessible or direct you to a list of appliances.

Must be a code change after the 2011NEC indicating "readily accessible".

It is actually in 422.5(A) and (B).
 
Why don't GFCI need working space? They are required to be tested monthly.

110.26 Working space for equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized shall comply with the dimensions of 110.26(A)(1), (A)(2), and (A)(3) or as required or permitted elsewhere in this code.
 
Rick, that's an excellent point, the GFCI's are required to be tested monthly. So the newer code change would allow the GFCI's to be tested putting the receptacle outside the drinking fountain shroud or cover. MPO is the GFCI outside the cover looks terrible and an access panel should be designed on the shroud and an exception should be proposed to the code.
 
Top