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One Outdoor Receptacle

Francis Vineyard

Francis Vineyard

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Jan 1, 2010
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Location
Charlottesville, VA
Does "At least one" mean if there is no rear door; receptacle not required in the back? (There is no balcony, deck, porch, patio, equipment, etc.)

E3901.7 Outdoor outlets.

At least one receptacle outlet that is accessible while standing at grade level and located not more than 6 feet, 6 inches (1981 mm) above grade, shall be installed outdoors at the front and back of each dwelling unit having direct access to grade. Balconies, decks, and porches that are accessible from inside of the dwelling unit shall have at least one receptacle outlet installed within the perimeter of the balcony, deck, or porch. The receptacle shall be located not more than 6 feet, 6 inches (1981 mm) above the balcony, deck, or porch surface.

Francis
 
Francis,

I will dissent from the other esteemed forum contributors and, IMO, only the

one at the front is required. There is no "direct access" to the rear of the

structure. Exiting out of the front door and going around to the rear, IMO,

does not constitute "direct access"!

.
 
It may depend on what code year you are enforcing. I think the key wording is "having direct access to grade". Which in most cases requires one at the back of the dwelling.

Is it the codes intent to prevent homeowners from draging extention cords from another outlet that may not be GFCI protected?

I would require one at the back due to it being accessible.

pc1
 
globe trekker said:
Francis,I will dissent from the other esteemed forum contributors and, IMO, only the

one at the front is required. There is no "direct access" to the rear of the

structure. Exiting out of the front door and going around to the rear, IMO,

does not constitute "direct access"!
Click to expand...
I agree...but can only support the interpretation with the following examples.

Example. Home built to property line with zero fire separation distance. No reason to have a receptacle that can't be accessed from the same property.

Example. Home built with deck that is the width of the home and extends completely out to a wetland. Required for the deck/porch/patio. Not required from "access to grade" provision

Example. Home built on cliff. Lots of them in Colorado mountains. No access to grade from back of house. No receptacle required. No sense to provide one.

However, both the NEC handbook and the IRC commentary are to the contrary. Both interpretations in these documents clearly state that if the home has access to grade, it must have receptacles at front and back. Here's the stupid part though...

R311.3.1 requires that when the landing serving the required egress door is not at grade, that access to grade shall be provided.

This means that ALL homes are required to have an egress door that accesses grade. Therefore the section in question is a big waste of text and time, and it should just state that all homes must have a receptacle at front and back...PERIOD. There is no sense in confusing all of us with the statements about "when" provided access to grade. It is this reason that I must ask myself...

Is the code mistaken to include the wording regarding an analysis of "when" there is access to grade?

OR

Are the interpretations in the handbook and commentary mistaken in not making the analysis of "where" there is access to grade?
 
As usual the wording is nearly identical with NEC for other requirements except this is article in question is different in the IRC. It's almost as if it is combining the IRC and IBC structures.

NEC (2005 my only copy at home :-()

210.52(E) For a one-family dwelling and each unit of a two-family dwelling that is at grade level and not more than 6½ ft. above grade shall be installed at the front and back of the dwelling.

For each dwelling unit of a multifamily dwelling where the dwelling unit is located at grade level and provided with the individual exterior entrance/egress, at least one receptacle outlet accessible from grade level and not more than 6½ ft. above grade shall be installed.

Francis
 
globe trekker said:
Francis,I will dissent from the other esteemed forum contributors and, IMO, only the

one at the front is required. There is no "direct access" to the rear of the

structure. Exiting out of the front door and going around to the rear, IMO,

does not constitute "direct access"!.
Click to expand...
No but the code does not say you must have direct access from the house. It is talking about direct grade access. You don't need a door to have something plugged into an outlight but if you can reach an outlet from grade then it is usuable but must be gfci protected. IMO the intent is to have an outlet in 2 locations.

What if the door was at the back corner on the side of the house-- I really don't see how this enters into requirement.

Let's look at the NEC requirement

(E) Outdoor Outlets. Outdoor receptacle outlets shall beinstalled in accordance with (E)(1) through (E)(3). [see

210.8(A)(3).]

(1) One-Family and Two-Family Dwellings. For a onefamily dwelling and each unit of a two-family dwelling that is at grade level, at least one receptacle outlet accessible

while standing at grade level and located not more than 2.0 m (61⁄2 ft) above grade shall be installed at the front and back of the dwelling.
Click to expand...
I think this is better written and is quite clear
 
Why not "having direct access from grade" or write the same as the other sections? Nevermind that it's not always what we think it should say.

Glenn, similarly when a window is converted to a door, then the required receptacle and illumination gets installed as applicable for convenience as it may be the intent. Can't allow people to run extension cords through the window in these new houses.

Francis
 
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globe trekker said:
Francis,I will dissent from the other esteemed forum contributors and, IMO, only the

one at the front is required. There is no "direct access" to the rear of the

structure. Exiting out of the front door and going around to the rear, IMO,

does not constitute "direct access"!

.
Click to expand...
"at the front and back of each dwelling unit having direct access to grade"

The dwelling unit has direct access to grade. Only one direct access is required to trigger the requirement for the receptacles.
 
It does not say you need direct grade access from the house. It states direct grade access. The two family dwelling that has one unit over the other would nt need front and back outlets for the upstairs unit unless there were balconies etc.
 
Dennis said:
It does not say you need direct grade access from the house. It states direct grade access. The two family dwelling that has one unit over the other would nt need front and back outlets for the upstairs unit unless there were balconies etc.
Click to expand...
I'll go along with that. Half way. It does say that the dwelling has direct grade access. It says this about the receptacle, "At least one receptacle outlet that is accessible while standing at grade level".

If you say that "direct grade access" refers to the receptacle I would point out that the access to the receptacle is addressed with the first sentence. If direct grade access refers to the receptacle it infers that there is access to grade from the receptacle and that's backwards.
 
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The cmp wants there to be a receptacle at the front and back of the house where an individual can walk up and plug something in so that it would alleviate extension cords all over the yard. These outlets are meant for the people living there to use when needed- hence accessible from the grade level NOT the house having a door that has access to grade.
 
I'm pretty sure that we get to the same place no matter what we each think the code says.
 
FWIW, I too believe that the wording in the NEC is clearer, and the wording in the IRC

should mirror the NEC. In reading the NEC, it DOES indeed require one at the front

& back of the dwelling. My bad! :(

(My Disclaimer: I do not know everything, nor do I claim to. I am here to learn and

exchange viewpoints, opinions and ideas, ..even if I am wrong. This is what this forum

is about! I do not want to be disrespectful, viewed as being "up on any high horse" or a

perceived "know-it-all". We have too much of that presence already! I seek input

from anyone that can do it in a civil and respectful manner, ..not flame anyone

with differing views & opinions, and most of all, ...provide me with the correct answer

the fastest! Thanks in advance for your input and indulgence!) :D

Let the dialogue continue!

.
 
globe trekker said:
FWIW, I too believe that the wording in the NEC is clearer, and the wording in the IRCshould mirror the NEC. In reading the NEC, it DOES indeed require one at the front

& back of the dwelling. My bad! :(

(My Disclaimer: I do not know everything, nor do I claim to. I am here to learn and

exchange viewpoints, opinions and ideas, ..even if I am wrong. This is what this forum

is about! I do not want to be disrespectful, viewed as being "up on any high horse" or a

perceived "know-it-all". We have too much of that presence already! I seek input

from anyone that can do it in a civil and respectful manner, ..not flame anyone

with differing views & opinions, and most of all, ...provide me with the correct answer

the fastest! Thanks in advance for your input and indulgence!) :D

Let the dialogue continue!

.
Click to expand...
Get off yer high-horse you dis-respectful know-it-all

I'm feelin' a bit brudger-ish today
 
The question often arises, does the receptacle on the side of the house to service the A/C condenser count as either one of these?
 
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