Kitchen Outlets

Remodling Kitchen. installing a 54 inch wide casement window which will come within 4" of the counter top. That 4" will have a back splash. My Question: It's my understanding I am to have an outlet every 4 ft. (also under the window is our sink which will be 36" wide) How do I install an outlet in this situation or will the inspector let us go more then the 4ft? Doesn't seem like a good idea to have an outlet anyway above the sink.

Thanks,

 

1. there is no 4' rule.

2. no point (countertop) can be more than 2' from an outlet.

3. the sink does not count as counter space.

4. place an outlet on either side of the sink(within 2') and you will be ok.

 

I think there is a rule about distance from sink,, I forget it now,, but you dont need one above the sink thats for sure.

 

Not sure what you may have been thinking of sberry, but there's no rule about distance from a kitchen sink. Receptacles can be as close as you want, and can even be above the sink if you want, although I would highly discourage that. As Jxofaltrds, just install a receptacle within two feet of both outside edges of the sink.

 

You are required a receptacle within 2' of the sink. YOu are also required to have a receptacle serving that counter space within 2' of the opposite end of that same coundter space.

If you install your receptacle within 2' of that sink you your counter is long enough to need a second receptacle to serve within 2' of the opposite end of that same counter space and you do not exceed 4' between the two receptacles then you are within code. If you have a counter space that is so long that when you place a receptacle within 2' of each end of that counter space but yet that counter is so long that you exceed 4' between those two adjascent receptacles then you must add a third receptacle becuase the first receptacle can only serve 2' both ways [toward the sink and toward the second receptacle in line] if you credit the 2' for the one receptacle serving toward the second receptacle in line of that same counter space and that second receptacle serves 2' back towards the first receptacle then you have the 4' of counter space served. If you exceed 4' between to receptacles on an unbroken counter space then you must add a third or fourth receptacle so that no spot on that counter space is more than 2' from a receptacle.

Parallels the 6'/12' rules in your receptacle design for living areas the 2'/4' rule would apply to the unbroken counter area.

The NEC says in a living area no point along a wall can be more than 6' from a receptacle. 6' from end/12' between

The NEC says in a kitchen counter area no point along an unbroken counter space may be more than 2' from a receptacle. 2'from end/4' between.

Also be aware that a counter space more than 12" wide or wider must also be served by a receptacle over that kitchen counter.

This rule parallels the same type rule in the living area; any wall that is 2" wide or wider must be served by a receptacle in that living area.

Hope this helps

Wg

 

I have seen some folks discussing extra deep countertops. If you had a three foot deep countertop, now you can't even reach. I assume that this means that the 2 foot rule only applies along the wall, although I know that's not true because of islands and penninsulas. I know how any logical person would interpret, but not everyone is.

 

Counter spaces and islands have their own specific rules pertaining to receptacle placement serving islands or penninsular. The unbroken counter space of a penninsular or island that is wider than 12" or longer than 24" must be served by a receptacle. The counter space broken by sink etc. still applies to islands or penninsular. If you have an island or penninsular that is with an appliance or sink in the middle then you have two island or penninsula counter spaces. If either island or penninsular counter space has a short demension of more than 12" or a long demension of more than 24" then a receptacle must serve that counter space. YOu would treat this island or penninsula counter space that is broken by an island or penninsular as two different islands or pennisula counter spaces each having its on counter space measurment.

You could have a 2' wide kitchen sink in an island with two counter spaces that are 11" x 23" on each side of that sink and no receptacle is required for either counter space.

This 1' on the short demension and 2' on the long demension rule applies only if the counter area exceeds either of the two demension limited length. Then only one receptacle is required to serve that island or penninsular counter area no matter how much wider or longer than the 1' short of 2' long demensions. What I am saying is that you could have an unbroken island that is 20' long and only one receptacle would have to serve that island counter space no matter how much bigger than the 1' short and 2' long demension limited lengths.

There is also an exception now in the 2002 that says if your island or penninsular counter space is flat and no cabinets or place to mount a receptacle is above that counter space within 18" above that island or penninsula counter spaces then no receptacle must be installed at all. You may omit the receptacle requirement no matter how big the island or peninsular is if that counter space if flat and no place to mount a receptacle within 18" above the counter space.

This exception does not apply to kitchen counter spaces along a wall. If that window is in the way then you still must install a recetpacle to serve that kitchen counter area within 2' of any end of a kitchen counter and placed so that no point along that kitchen counter area is more than 2' from a receptacle. No exception is provided for kitchen counter areas along a wall.

The exception only applies to islands or penninsula and only if that island or penninsula counter area is flat with no place to mount a receptacle within 18" above that flat island or penninsula counter area.

HOpe this helps

Wg

 

The rule doesn't care how deep your counter is. The 2-foot measurement is only the horizontal distance, and is measured along the wall.

 

John, you are correct only when it pertains to kitchen counters along hte wall. The NEC is mute concerning depth of kitchen counters along a wall.

However there is a limit of 12" wide on the short demension and 24" long on the long demension concerning islands and penninsular. Both the width maximum 12" and length maximum 24" of an island or penninsular have a maximum demension until a receptacle must serve that island or penninsular counter area. If either demension is exceeded then at least one receptacle must serve that island or penninsular area.

A kitchen counter along a wall has no minimum or maximum depth concern when it pertains to receptacle placement as you said. Islands and penninsula are with different rules that apply where both a maximum depth or length limit exists controlling receptacle placement.

HOpe this helps

Wg