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island outlet

B

BSSTG

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
729
Location
Seadrift, Tx.
Greetings all,

I'm being forced to go to a city council meeting this week for a variance request. I flagged a house flipper awhile back for lack of an electrical outlet at the island. She had added the island as an after thought, therefore it would be a pain to chip the slab for wiring etc. She filed the proper paper work for a variance for that section of the NEC dealing with that and in our locale those variance requests go to city council after having been turned down by our "variance committee".

I expect to be asked to say a few words as to Code requirements which I have no problem with. What I'm wondering though is that if I'm asked why that requirement is in the Code, what is the reasoning behind it. I've been a master electrician for a long time and a student of the NEC since the 70's and I really don't know the exact reasoning as to why islands are required to have outlets. I expect it's for preventing the use of cords, convenience and so forth.

Any of you folks know of the history as to the requirement should I be asked?

As always, thanks for the feedback!

Merry Christmas

BS
 
It is all part of the general code requirements to avoid extension cords. Someone will want to plug something in up there and we don't want anyone tripping over the cord, tipping over a hot fryer or something.

Is it a valid concern? Who knows but it is the code.
 
I agree it is to avoid cords however there is another argument that an outlet on the side of an island is more dangerous than none at all. For example if a hot pot were plugged into the island receptacle it is possible that a young child could come by and pull the pot of the counter and burn themselves. I am not sure if this has ever happened but it is another side to the story.
 
So that an appliance cord or extension aren't run from an appliance on the counter, over a walk space, to another outlet.

Person walks through space, pulling appliance from island counter top.

mj
 
BSSTG,

Theres more than the outlet at play with an island counter, some AHJ require the wiring circuit to be protected in conduit to protect the wiring from damage caused by a sharp object like sissors or a knife!

pc1
 
I am not sure about a "retractable" cord but it would be interesting to hear the arguments about a pendant cord that was 20" above the counter.

What I have seen done was some sort of decorative upright structure from the counter to the ceiling with a chase inside for a cable. (a wine rack, plant shelf or whatever) This is where the decorator meets the EC.
 
Rider Rick said:
Do it to code or remove the island and move on.
Click to expand...
I don't understand why this lady has not pulled the island to be honest. This house has been in limbo for months.

BSSTG
 
BTW what is so sacred about the floor? My wife (a builder) had the boys chip up a groove in more than a few floors when the customer decided they wanted an island or sparky forgot the sleeve for the power. It is only a little concrete and some tile.

If you are careful and a little lucky, you only lose one row of tile.

She used to figure that a house sitting was costing the company about $350-400 a day so it was not even a close call.
 
We had the same challenge to our appeals board a few years back, on the basis of "hooking the cord in the island." the appeal was turned down cold. Cords on floors are far more a hazard than one at the counter level. The same kid could be walking by when clutsy Grandma spills the pan of gravy off the stove.
 
You might take the "it's up to you" approach and tell the council that they adopted the code and in accordance with the adopted code they only way to get rid of the requirement is to amend that part of the code out. The building codes are not like the zoning codes; no variances. The council must amend it or enforce it. Quote the administrative section of the code.; First there is required by the code to be a Board of Appeals and not a variance board (R112) and if the council is the Board of Appeals it cannot provide a "variance"; and must inforce the code as adopted (R112.2).The only time a variance is allowed is for flooding (R112.2.2)

As a legal body they must inforce the code they adopted or amend it.

Be sure to dust off your resume before telling them the above. :)
 
Who in their right mind would want a cord hanging from the ceiling in their residential kitchen. That would never fly on any of my jobs. Besides if the house is finished that would also be an issue.
 
I do recall we had apartment units where all the appliance wiring was run down from above the kitchen and the island receptacles were mounted on a column drop down from the ceiling.

Just to show people will still use extension cords regardless.

IMG_0950.jpg


Francis
 
Uncle Bob said:
You might take the "it's up to you" approach and tell the council that they adopted the code and in accordance with the adopted code they only way to get rid of the requirement is to amend that part of the code out. The building codes are not like the zoning codes; no variances. The council must amend it or enforce it. Quote the administrative section of the code.; First there is required by the code to be a Board of Appeals and not a variance board (R112) and if the council is the Board of Appeals it cannot provide a "variance"; and must inforce the code as adopted (R112.2).The only time a variance is allowed is for flooding (R112.2.2)As a legal body they must inforce the code they adopted or amend it.

Be sure to dust off your resume before telling them the above. :)
Click to expand...
The Codes, when codified, amended the variance process. There is no board of appeals much to my dismay. It puts poiliticians in charge of the variance process which is totally wrong IMO. However, it is what it is. I don't make the rules, just try to wade through them. I've learned not to get stressed by the variance process as is. It's not worth it. Besides, it takes the monkey off of my back once in awhile.

BSSTG
 
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