210.52 Dwelling Unit Receptacle Outlets
This section provides requirements for 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere
receptacle outlets. The
receptacles required by this section shall be in addition to any
receptacle that is:
- Part of a luminaire or appliance, or
- Controlled by a wall switch in accordance with 210.70(A)(1), Exception No. 1, or
- Located within cabinets or cupboards, or
- Located more than 1.7 m (51/2 ft) above the floor
Permanently installed electric baseboard heaters equipped with factory-installed
receptacle outlets or
outlets provided as a separate assembly by the manufacturer shall be permitted as the required
outlet or
outlets for the wall space utilized by such permanently installed heaters. Such
receptacle outlets shall not be connected to the heater circuits.
Informational Note: Listed baseboard heaters include instructions that may not permit their installation below
receptacle outlets.
(A) General Provisions
In every
kitchen, family room, dining room, living room, parlor, library, den, sunroom, bedroom, recreation room, or similar room or area of
dwelling units,
receptacle outlets shall be installed in accordance with the general provisions specified in
210.52(A)(1) through (A)(4).
(1) Spacing
Receptacles shall be installed such that no point measured horizontally along the floor line of any wall space is more than 1.8 m (6 ft) from a
receptacle outlet.
(2) Wall Space
As used in this section, a wall space shall include the following:
- Any space 600 mm (2 ft) or more in width (including space measured around corners) and unbroken along the floor line by doorways and similar openings, fireplaces, and fixed cabinets that do not have countertops or similar work surfaces
- The space occupied by fixed panels in walls, excluding sliding panels
- The space afforded by fixed room dividers, such as freestanding bar-type counters or railings
