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Extension cord / phone charging station in lobby - NEC 400

Y

Yikes

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Location
Southern California
Please help me understand NEC 400. I have a client that owns a historic hotel, and they want to add power outlets in the lobby walls and columns so that guests can power their mobile phones, laptops, etc. The walls and columns have historic decoration on them, such that the outlets can only be installed within the baseboard at about 9" AFF, whereas ADA requires 15" AFF minimum.
There are lounge chairs and cocktail tables near the outlets, and I would like to propose a tabletop power extension +USB "power port", similar to the image below, which has a 5' long power cord and overload protection. Does this - - or something like this - - meet code for a commercial hotel lobby?




1651177184275.png
 
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Interesting, never new you had to supply outlets in the common areas of a hotel lobby for public access.

Is not the out for staff use only and when you add a lamp or device like this for public use, then need to meet the height location requirements.

Just like the usb device on lamps today.

I can see it in each room of the hotel, but the lobby area?

Can't wait to see the responses on this one.
 
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think there are two separate issues here.

The NEC does not require any receptacle outlets in a hotel lobby that I am aware of. If any are provided, they have to be tamper resistant in the 2020 NEC, but can be mounted pretty much anywhere. If you have furniture, like a table, with an integral receptacle or device, they can plug into any receptacle and they really don't have any oversight from the NEC. The way I understand it, the NEC stops at the wall outlet in this case, because the "device" you are using is a listed assembly from the end of the cord that plugs into the wall outlet to the point you can plug your phone in on the table. It's not covered by the NEC any more than a coffee maker or a toaster would be.

The ADA requires the "operable parts" to be between 15" and 48" from the ground. If you provide a receptacle at 9", and a cord-and-plug receptacle plugged into that receptacle that is accessible, I'm not totally sure that is specifically acceptable in the ADA world, since the receptacle you are plugging the cord-and-plug receptacle into is not accessible. It's certainly better, and you are certainly providing accessible power - Yikes, I think you are better equipped to answer the ADA side of this than I am.
 
If the tables are not moveable, you could hardwire receptacle outlets into them with an appropriate wiring method instead of plugging them into the wall, that would definitely comply with both the NEC and the ADA.

I'm kind of leery of relying on objects that can be easily removed for accessibility - if you can just unplug the table and remove it, thereby leaving inaccessible receptacles... I would have a hard time swallowing that.
 
Thanks for the responses. To clarify, my specific question was whether NEC 400 allows what is essentially a glorified extension cord to be utilized indefinitely (not temporary) in a commercial space. I think Post #4 answers the question, but I want to be sure.
I already think ADA would find this a reasonable accommodation where historic materials prevent mounting outlets higher on the walls.
 
400.12(1) says no. They could be made available at the front desk and used on a temporary basis. However, if the issue is ADA compliance it's a fail.
 
2017 Code Language:

400.12 Uses Not Permitted. Unless specifically permitted in 400.10, flexible cables, flexible cord sets, and power supply cords shall not be used for the following:

(1) As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure.

It's not a substitute, because it's not required to be there. The tables and cords are not "fixed" in place either, otherwise this would be a non-issue because they could have hard-wired outlets in the tables.

ADA, I tend to agree but can see leniency in an existing building depending on circumstance.
 
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The cord would have to be found on Table 400.4. The cord is five feet long. The cord is probably 16 awg and good for 10 amps. Might be 18 awg and good for 7 amps. I did not find mention of a UL listing. As advertised there are three ac outlets and three usb so six devices can be powered at the same time...."One for All: 3 AC outlets, 2 USB-A ports, and 1 USB-C port deliver power for up to 6 devices."
 
For electrical safety, how would this device be any different than a table lamp or a surge protector for a computer in the lobby? And these are common in hotel rooms. And nearly every Hampton In has one in the high table in lobby breakfast area - built into top like a conference table.
 
ICE, the ADA philosophy is this:
The hardwired outlets are intended for maintenance personnel only, per ADA 205.1 exc. #1.
The maintenance personnel will either use the outlets for vacuums, floor polishers, etc., or they will be the ones to plug in the Power ports and place them on the furniture.

The power ports are for use by the public, and they will be placed by the maintenance personnel on the furniture at an acceptable reach range.
 
If the device is fixed in place it is permanent wiring and that is not allowed. If it is not fixed in place ....well that's vanishing wiring and that is allowed.
 
If the outlet device, like a conference table plug box, is fixed to the table, but the table is just on legs, is that "fixed in place"? Or if the plug box is c-clamped to a table like many in hotel rooms, is that "fixed in place"? In my field, all theatrical lighting is clamped onto a railing or sometimes bolted to a piece of unistrut, and plug and cord connected, and is definitely considered portable by it's listing.
 
Interestingly, I have heard that powerstrips are not allowed to be mounted to anything or it voids their listing... yeah, you know, the ones with keyholes in the back to accommodate mounting screws...
 
bill1952 said:
In my field, all theatrical lighting is clamped onto a railing or sometimes bolted to a piece of unistrut, and plug and cord connected, and is definitely considered portable by it's listing.
Click to expand...
I am sure that if the power cube has a listing that listing definitely describes it as portable. So is a toaster until it's bolted to a table. If the device is used as a permanent fixture it is a violation.

I used to be tasked with business license inspections. I found countless power strips. All were way more robust than the gizmo in this thread. They all had to go.
 
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I never said they could be installed permanently, in place of permanent wiring. They are temporary by virtue of being plug and cord connected.
 
bill1952 said:
I never said they could be installed permanently, in place of permanent wiring. They are temporary by virtue of being plug and cord connected.
Click to expand...
I understand. It is Yikes’s client that wants to use the power cube. It would be a correction were it in my purview. It is not and these devices show up after we are done. Are they a big deal? No. Worst case scenario: the thing shorts out and some guy shrieks like a girl. Well there is the possibility that a GFCI protected 4000 amp service sees that and shuts down a mall….but hey now …emergency illumination needs validation too.
 
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Great topic! should also be placed under accessibility. This continues to be an ongoing conflict, ADA implications vs all "other" codes and regs.
 
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