floor outlet receptacle

[Linda J. Foster]

There are two separate floor outlets in family room, ceramic tile floor. Walls are further than 6' from outlets.

The covers are slightly 'domed', overall height is appx. 1/4". The covers sit on top of floor, not 'into' floor surface.

Can't see the height in pic,,,,

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

[quote=lfoster]
There are two separate floor outlets in family room, ceramic tile floor. Walls are further than 6' from outlets.
Hi Linda,
I don't know the size of this room but that is probably why you have receptacles in the floor
I have seen this type of floor “mounted” receptacle many, many times. It is not unusual and they only "problem" here is that the covering is ugly and does not match the ceramic tile.
The covers are slightly 'domed', overall height is appx. 1/4". The covers sit on top of floor, not 'into' floor surface.
Since the edges are rounded and not "sharp "this covers the "tripping issue". Once again the coverings are ugly but do not pose a tripping hazard.
Can't see the height in pic,,,,

Here is the information from the IRC covering this issue. I have also looked into the IBC, and The ICC electrical codes. None of them address the "height issue".

2006 international residential code for one and two family dwellings
E3801.2.1 Spacing.
Receptacles shall be installed so that no point measured horizontally along the floor line in any wall space is more than 6 feet (1829 mm), from a receptacle outlet.
E3801.2.2 Wall space.
As used in this section, a wall space shall include the following:
1. Any space that is 2 feet (610 mm) or more in width, (including space measured around corners), and that is unbroken along the floor line by doorways, fireplaces, and similar openings.
2. The space occupied by fixed panels in exterior walls, excluding sliding panels.
3. The space created by fixed room dividers such as railings and freestanding bar-type counters
E3801.2.3 Floor receptacles.
Receptacle outlets in floors shall not be counted as part of the required number of receptacle outlets except where located within 18 inches (457 mm) of the wall.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by Speedy Petey

1)2) I did not know juice could make "sparks".
Sorry, this will NOT happen.

Do yourself a favor. Pour a liquid of your choice into one of these receptacles and simply observe.

3) What is a "horizontal" floor box?????

Where did I state "horizontal floor box"? I've never heard of one.

It says "Horizontal floor receptacle"

If the receptacle is not protected in any way, I write it up. This is one of many protective covers that I'd like to see.

[Speedy Petey]

Sorry David, wrong word. Floor receptacle. SEMANTICS in this case.

I still ask, what is a horizontal floor receptacle? And if it has a legal floor cover why would your write it up?

Of course you should write it up if not a proper floor receptacle box/cover. No one ever disputed this.


I HAVE seen liquid in a receptacle, and it never "sparked". Water IS NOT a good conductor. Especially not enough to create a bolted fault.

[Speedy Petey]

Originally Posted by fcarrio

Just curious, where is it located, Hallway, Bedroom, etc. are there other electrical outlets within 6 feet?

If a floor receptacle is located more than 18" from a wall it cannot be counted towards the "required" receptacles in a room. Once it goes beyond this 18" it hold NO bearing on the other receptacles in the room and is simply a convenience receptacle.

The fact that it is within 6' from another receptacle is meaningless. For one thing, to be counted as a required receptacle it can be 12' away, not 6'.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

The only comment I will make about water being a conductor is this...it is a weak one but it is one in a sense that if we are talking about saturation of the outlet with water and it is "STANDING"....and you reach and come in contact with the water it could very well be your last contact...if the conditions are right...

So it is not as much in just having a liquid associated with it..it is what happens as we come in contact with the liquid in this example.

I believe that IF you saw sparks...there is another issue going on in that outlet that preceeded this event....and the moisture simply assperated the condition.

[Greg Fretwell]

Pure water is a poor conductor but that is hard to find. It only takes a small bit of minerals to make it a surprisingly good conductor. I did some experiments many years ago with a white bucket and 2 10ga probes exactly 1 foot apart, 6" in the water.
<from memory I think the following was true>
Using distilled water the conductivity was very low but a pinch of salt made a 60w bulb start to glow. With a shotglass of salt the 60w bulb burned a warm yellow.
My well water was similar to the test "ionized" water. When I used (Gulf) sea water (~37PPT) the bulb was almost full brightness.

If you want to try this be sure your test setup is such that you are nowhere near the bucket when you energize it since the seawater was boiling pretty good with power applied.

I may try this again with better testing standards if anyone is interested.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Couple that with most solvents having so many chemicals and so on within it...could happen I guess....

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by Speedy Petey

And if it has a legal floor cover why would your write it up?

Hey Speed,

Are you illiterate or just simply not reading my posts correctly?

Would you be so kind to highlight where I had stated that I'd write up a floor receptacle that had a legal floor cover.

You need to wake up a smell the Daises my friend.

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

Originally Posted by Speedy Petey

If a floor receptacle is located more than 18" from a wall it cannot be counted towards the "required" receptacles in a room. Once it goes beyond this 18" it hold NO bearing on the other receptacles in the room and is simply a convenience receptacle.

The fact that it is within 6' from another receptacle is meaningless. For one thing, to be counted as a required receptacle it can be 12' away, not 6'.

See the information that I listed in my post above {#17};

2006 international residential code for one and two family dwellings
E3801.2.1 Spacing.
Receptacles shall be installed so that no point measured horizontally along the floor line in any wall space is more than 6 feet (1829 mm), from a receptacle outlet.
E3801.2.2 Wall space.
As used in this section, a wall space shall include the following:
1. Any space that is 2 feet (610 mm) or more in width, (including space measured around corners), and that is unbroken along the floor line by doorways, fireplaces, and similar openings.
2. The space occupied by fixed panels in exterior walls, excluding sliding panels.
3. The space created by fixed room dividers such as railings and freestanding bar-type counters
E3801.2.3 Floor receptacles.
Receptacle outlets in floors shall not be counted as part of the required number of receptacle outlets except where located within 18 inches (457 mm) of the wall.

[Marc D. Shunk]

I'm not sure why everyone's jumping Speedy's case. You all are saying the same things in different ways. Speedy's just making sure everyone's on the same page.

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

Originally Posted by Marc D. Shunk

I'm not sure why everyone's jumping Speedy's case. You all are saying the same things in different ways. Speedy's just making sure everyone's on the same page.

No one is jumping on his case. However if you're going to attempt quote code or speak in an authoritative manner and contradict someone you should be correct in what you say.

2006 international residential code for one and two family dwellings
E3801.2.1 Spacing.
Receptacles shall be installed so that no point measured horizontally along the floor line in any wall space is more than 6 feet (1829 mm), from a receptacle outlet.
E3801.2.2 Wall space.
As used in this section, a wall space shall include the following:
1. Any space that is 2 feet (610 mm) or more in width, (including space measured around corners), and that is unbroken along the floor line by doorways, fireplaces, and similar openings.
2. The space occupied by fixed panels in exterior walls, excluding sliding panels.
3. The space created by fixed room dividers such as railings and freestanding bar-type counters
E3801.2.3 Floor receptacles.
Receptacle outlets in floors shall not be counted as part of the required number of receptacle outlets except where located within 18 inches (457 mm) of the wall.


From the information that we have gathered here this floor receptacle is nothing more than a "convenience receptacle". The picture clearly shows that it is covered and thus supposedly protected.
I am sure that there will be many that come up with their "what if" scenarios but then again all of this debate is meaningless and serves no useful purpose.

[Marc D. Shunk]

Originally Posted by fcarrio

I am sure that there will be many that come up with their "what if" scenarios but then again all of this debate is meaningless and serves no useful purpose.

No, 'what if's', brother. It's clear to me that you're both saying the same thing in different ways. No matter...

[Speedy Petey]

Originally Posted by dvalley

I recommend (to my clients) that all horizontal floor receptacles be terminated and capped. When I do find these, there's only one or two in the house.

David, first off, chill the hell out!

Explain the above quote then. I must be confused by your ambiguosity.
It sounds like you would write up any floor receptacle.

[Speedy Petey]

Originally Posted by fcarrio

E3801.2.1 Spacing.
Receptacles shall be installed so that no point measured horizontally along the floor line in any wall space is more than 6 feet (1829 mm), from a receptacle outlet.

Frank, I am surprised with all your years of experience you still do not understand this.

"No point along a wall is more than 6' from a receptacle."
This DOES NOT mean the receptacles must be 6' apart. It means they can be 12' apart.
Point to a spot on the wall. There must be a receptacle within 6' of your finger, in either direction.