National Electrical Installation Standards

Standards as High as Your Own

 
?
Thursday, January 5, 2017

Question:

Re: CQD answer published Wednesday, December 21, 2016 -Garage Outlets

Hello, In your answer to the Code Question of the Day that was published on Tuesday, December 20, 2016, you stated that it is permissible to install garage door openers on the same circuit as the garage receptacles.  I respectfully disagree because the garage receptacles shall be in addition to those that are required for the garage door openers per Sec. 210.52(G).

Truly, Joseph A. Kraft

A

Answer:

Hey Joseph thanks for your comment. Your are correct that the receptacle(s) must be in addition to the receptacle(s) installed for specific equipment as stated in 210.52(G) but it doesn't prohibit those receptacles from being supplied from the same branch circuit.

A change to the 2017 NEC in 210.52(G) requires at least one receptacle outlet to be installed in each vehicle bay and it cannot be more than 5 1/2 ft above the floor. Also new to the 2017 NEC is 210.11(C)(4) which requires at least one 20 ampere branch circuit be installed to supply receptacle outlets in garages. Other outlets (such as lighting) are not allowed as stated in the last sentence of that new subdivision.

ABOUT CQD: The Code Question of the Day (CQD) is NECA and ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Magazine’s flagship National Electrical Code (NEC®) public forum for the industry, sponsored by EATON. The daily distribution of Q&A generates a lively dialogue and shares relative Code-based practical responses.

SUBMIT YOUR CODE QUESTION: Click here to submit a question to for inclusion in an upcoming edition of the Code Question of the Day, or email codequestion@necanet.org

CHARLIE TROUT: Charles M. Trout, better known as Charlie, was a nationally known NEC® expert and author. He served on several NEC® technical committees and is past chairman of CMP-12. In 2006 Charlie was awarded the prestigious Coggeshall Award for outstanding contributions to the electrical contracting industry, codes and standards development, and technical training. Even though Charlie passed away in October of 2015, his work continues in spirit. NECA continues to maintain this question forum for its many subscribers in memory and recognition of all his significant contributions to making the NEC what it is today.

NECA STANDARDS: NECA publishes the National Electrical Installation Standards™ (NEIS™), a series of ANSI-approved performance and quality standards for electrical construction. NEIS can be purchased in the NECA Store in three formats: a printed or  PDF download of a standard or, as an  annual subscription service.

NECA SAFETY PRODUCTS & PUBLICATIONS: NECA produces electrical safety publications and products for the industry including jobsite safety guides, handbooks and resource kits. View a full listing of available resources and products »

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Unless the question requests a response based on a specific edition, all answers are based on the latest edition of NFPA 70® National Electrical Code®.

This correspondence is not a formal interpretation of the NEC® and any responses expressed to the questions are opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of NECA, NFPA, the NEC Correlating Committee any Code-making panel or other electrical technical committee. In addition, this correspondence is neither intended, nor should it be relied upon, to provide professional consultation or services. 

UPDATE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION PREFERENCES: Subscribe or Unsubscribe from this list.