Illegal Receptacle Cover?

[jar546]

One of my Permit techs told me they were having a problem because they lost power in their bathroom receptacle. I asked if they reset the GFCI button and they said there wasn’t one so I said oh go into your panel and try there and she sent me a picture and there were no GFCI breakers. I then told her that there’s probably a GFCI receptacle in the other bathroom that is feeding this one and she said no they’re all the same with no test or reset buttons. Now this is a rental department in Florida and the building was constructed in the 1990s.
I said I would come over and take a look, but she ran it to one of the maintenance guys who came over and popped this thing off, which tells the story.
how cheap are these landlords that they can’t even remove and replace a receptacle and cover and they have to buy these stupid things that now cover the test and reset buttons of GFCI’s?

 

[Mr. Inspector]

Are these covers listed? GFI's need to be accessible. Do you need a tool to get them off?

 

[e hilton]

But it looks so sleek and modern …

 

[jar546]

Are these covers listed? GFI's need to be accessible. Do you need a tool to get them off?

You need a tool to get it off and access the test/reset buttons. Listed? I have no idea.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

That's gotta be illegal.

 

[tmurray]

In Canada, we can't even have a receptacle that is live in a closed cabinet (there are ways to cut off power when the door closes). I can't imagine this would be acceptable here.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

In Canada, we can't even have a receptacle that is live in a closed cabinet (there are ways to cut off power when the door closes). I can't imagine this would be acceptable here.

How come? I see receptacles all the time in closed cabinets, even GFI type like in roof top HVAC units, at cell tower site cabinets and in kitchen cabinets (under sinks, cabinet above built in microwaves and counter appliance cabinets).

 

[Gregg Harris]

Tamac/ Allure makes these covers, which are to cover up painted,dirty, etc. decora outlets. They do make one for GFI that allows access to reset/trip.

 

[tmurray]

How come? I see receptacles all the time in closed cabinets, even GFI type like in roof top HVAC units, at cell tower site cabinets and in kitchen cabinets (under sinks, cabinet above built in microwaves and counter appliance cabinets).

I'm not sure. I think it has to do with it being "buried". To my knowledge, this would only apply to regular cabinets and not equipment cabinets for HVAC or other similar applications.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

So where do you put the receptacle for the garbage disposal, dishwasher or built in microwaves.

 

[steveray]

So where do you put the receptacle for the garbage disposal, dishwasher or built in microwaves.

Breaker…which is oddly enough, inside a “cabinet “…and part of why I hate the NEC