GFCIs for garbage disposals?

[Rob London]

So I'm trying to find out if garbage disposals should be connected to GFCIs. It seems from a quick internet search that the answer is no, but take a look at the NEC code:


"All receptacles serving kitchen counter tops or within 6 feet of any sink shall have GFCI rotection. 2002 NEC 210.8"Isn't that a firm, "yes"? Unless, of course, your disposal is more than six feet from the sink.

Cheers

Rob

[Michael Larson]

We used to have electricians come by and answer this type of question but alas no more since moderation happened.

http://www.nachi.org/forum/f19/garba...al-gfci-31343/

[James H. Bushart]

If the disposal is NOT hardwired, I recommend a GFCI, knowing that I am not dependent upon the code and what is written will back me up, in a pinch.

Carl Brown and Dale Duffy's board gets quite a few visitors. You can probably get an electrician to respond to you right away.

[Rob London]

Originally Posted by mlarson

We used to have electricians come by and answer this type of question but alas no more since moderation happened.

http://www.nachi.org/forum/f19/garba...al-gfci-31343/

I read that thread thoroughly before I started this one. People seem to think that the code does not require GFCIs for garbage disposals because they are not on sink level, but they don't seem to notice that there is an "or" in the code, not an "and". Kitchen appliances on sink level OR are within six feet of the sink must be protected by a GFCI. As the disposal is underneath the sink I'd say it qualifies. The NEC says nothing specifically about disposals or exemptions from what I can tell.

[James H. Bushart]

The beauty of being a home inspector is that I can recommend things based upon observation and common sense and am not restricted by the code books.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Where did you get that reference? Here is the exact text from the 2002 NEC

210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.

(6) Kitchens — where the receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces

(7) Wet bar sinks — where the receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces and are located within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the wet bar sink.

The answer is "no." There is no (nor has there ever been a) requirement for GFCI protection at an under-counter disposal.

[Mark E. Northrup]

Is this not a problem in it's self. If a motor is pluged into a GFCI the start voltage can sometimes trip the gfci as in the case of a freezer being pluged into one and tripping after you reset it. Leaving the food to get a little warm if not noticed.

[Rob London]

James - Point taken

Jeffery - I got that reference from here: http://74.125.45.132/search?q=cache:...ient=firefox-a

It's possible that it was altered. I'll go with your reference, thanks. If anyone has any further input I'd like to hear it.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jpope

Where did you get that reference? Here is the exact text from the 2002 NEC

210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.

(6) Kitchens — where the receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces

(7) Wet bar sinks — where the receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces and are located within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the wet bar sink.

The answer is "no." There is no (nor has there ever been a) requirement for GFCI protection at an under-counter disposal.

To me, it is common sense to use the GFCI, and I recommend it.

Maybe it is just us old guys, but when I open the doors underneath the sink to poke my head in....the hand that is supporting my weight often has a grip on the wet area countertop, above. As I balance myself with my left hand at the top of the sink, and reach underneath with my right.....I would take comfort in knowing that I was protected by a GFCI.

[rmaday]

Originally Posted by jbushart

To me, it is common sense to use the GFCI, and I recommend it.

Maybe it is just us old guys, but when I open the doors underneath the sink to poke my head in....the hand that is supporting my weight often has a grip on the wet area countertop, above. As I balance myself with my left hand at the top of the sink, and reach underneath with my right.....I would take comfort in knowing that I was protected by a GFCI.

Recmmend visual observation of undersink area prior to inserting right hand.

[Blaine Wiley]

I can't think of a reason for the disposal receptacle to be GFCI protected, hard wired or not.

The disposals are not hard wired here, and a GFCI is not required. Nor is one required for the dishwasher, which is also a plug in appliance.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by jbushart

To me, it is common sense to use the GFCI, and I recommend it.

I'm not sure I understand how you consider it to be "common sense" anymore than many other locations in the home, but that's neither here nor there.

The OP asked for an opinion based on an imaginary code, to which I responded - there is no such requirement.

I support the right of every inspector to make recommendations for "safety upgrades," however, I think there should be something "code based" or "reality based" to make those recommendations on.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jpope

I'm not sure I understand how you consider it to be "common sense" anymore than many other locations in the home, but that's neither here nor there.

The OP asked for an opinion based on an imaginary code, to which I responded - there is no such requirement.

I support the right of every inspector to make recommendations for "safety upgrades," however, I think there should be something "code based" or "reality based" to make those recommendations on.

Would you reconsider is the GD was plugged in to a double receptacle(as most are), leaving another receptacle open for use directly beneath the kitchen sink?

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

In my mind, that would make no difference. The receptacle is not "readily accessible," so it would rarely (if ever) be used except for a fixed appliance - i.e. water heater, dishwasher, trash compactor, etc.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

Absolutely agree, otherwise this is exactly how we end up with all kinds of bogus "rule of thumb" theories and personal preferences expressed by many different Inspectors that get passed around / along until these become "fact" or "normal" criteria. This is often how errors get incorporated and evolve into a standard with no basis in reality or accepted practice. I would personally like for every home I inspect to be 100% safe, have no discrepancies, be cleaned prior to the inspection and be provided with a long list of upgrades and known issues but I don't think that is going to happen any time soon. My preferences are not at issue here. I don't think we should be code inspectors but I do think we should be knowledgeable of codes enough to know where the boundaries are and recognize legitimate "unsafe" conditions, but not make up new ones on my own.