TR receptacles

[Sifu]

In a commercial remodel of a dental office, receptacles are being added in the waiting room, and several existing to remain. I don't spend much time in the NEC, especially for existing buildings. Do the new receptacle need to be TR and the existing remain unchanged, or is there a mechanism to compel the others to be upgraded.

 

[mark handler]

Not quite everywhere.

406.12TR Receptacles

• Dwelling units in all areas specified in 210.52 and 550.13
•  Guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels
•  Child care facilities Preschools and elementary education facilities
•  Business offices, corridors, waiting rooms and the like in clinics, medical and dental officesand outpatient facilities
•  Subset of assembly occupancies described in Article 518.2 to include places of waiting transportation, gymnasiums, skating rinks, and auditoriums
•  Dormitories

Informational Note: This requirement would include receptacles identified as 5-15, 5-20, 6-15, and 6-20 in ANSI/NEMA WD 6-2016, Wiring Devices — Dimensional Specifications.

Exception to (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7): Receptacles in the following locations shall not be required to be tamper resistant:

•  Receptacles located more than 1.7 m (5 1⁄2 ft) above the floor
•  Receptacles that are part of a luminaire or appliance
•  A single receptacle or a duplex receptacle for two appliances located within the dedicatedspace for each appliance that, in normal use, is not easily moved from one place to anotherand that is cord-and-plug-connected in accordance with 400.10(A)(6), (A)(7), or (A)(8)
•  Nongrounding receptacles used for replacements as permitted in 406.4(D)(2)(a)

 

[wwhitney]

Do the new receptacle need to be TR and the existing remain unchanged, or is there a mechanism to compel the others to be upgraded.

There is no mechanism in the NEC to compel an existing receptacle to be upgraded. 406.4(D)(5) says "Listed tamper-resistant receptacles shall be provided where replacements are made at receptacle outlets that are required to be tamper-resistant elsewhere in this Code, except in one of the following cases:" So only newly installed receptacles, as new work or replacement, are covered.

The NEC doesn't have any sort of language about change of use or change of occupancy. It is of course possible that some other code would require an existing space to be brought up to the standard of new construction, but I'm not as familiar with other codes as I am with the NEC.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Sifu]

406.4(D)(5) says "Listed tamper-resistant receptacles shall be provided where replacements are made at receptacle outlets that are required to be tamper-resistant elsewhere in this Code,

This is the part I missed.

 

[steveray]

New TR…..old stay…change of occ gets tough

 

[jar546]

From a practicality standpoint, it has been my experience that existing receptacles get changed for aesthetic symmetry anyway. Therefore, they must be updated to TR where required. A crappy contractor can’t be compelled to change existing, however, good contractors will put this into their estimate anyway for the negligible costs. A good design professional will include the aesthetic changes in their design.