Kitchen Outlet Requirements

The national electric code requires the following parameters for safety and efficiency in your kitchen.

Kitchen outlet requirements. The countertop receptacle outlets in kitchens must be supplied by no fewer than two small. Flex your math muscle. Kitchen electrical circuits serving countertop outlets must be rated for 20 ampers 12 wire kitchen gfci receptacles installed on those 20 amp circuits must be also 20 amp rated. The nec doesnt specify the number of receptacle outlets you must have in the kitchen but it does have a specific requirement for outlets serving counter spaces more than 12 inches long.

The first step to outlet success is understanding residential wiring requirements. A receptacle outlet is then required for every additional 17 m 2 18 ft 2 of countertop or work surface. Small appliance circuit countertop space wall and hallway space. All 15 amp and 20 amp outlets whether gfci or not must be tamper resistant in the following kitchen related places.

And b no point on the kitchen counter measured at the wall may be more that 24 inches away from a receptacle. In kitchens electrical outlets should be placed no farther than 48 inches apart so that no point on the countertop is more than 24 inches away from a receptacle. Dishwasher air gap device. The maximum distance to the vent is 6 feet under the irc.

The code requires two or more 20 ampere circuits for all receptacle outlets for the small appliance loads including refrigeration equipment in the kitchen dining room pantry and breakfast room of a dwelling unit. A a receptacle shall be installed for any counter that is 12 inches wide or greater. For the piping after the trap the irc requires 1 12 inch pipe while the upc requires 2 inch pipe. 2 wall counter spaces see figure 1.

A receptacle outlet shall be installed at each wall countertop space that is 300 mm 12 inches or wider. Any countertop wider than one foot requires a receptacle outlet. There can be no part of the countertop farther than 24 inches from an outlet which means that the maximum spacing between countertop receptacles is 48 inches. 1 at least two 20 ampere branch circuits shall supply kitchen countertop receptacles.

Any countertop 12 inches wider or more should have an outlet on the wall behind the countertop. Outlets should not be positioned higher than 20 inches above countertops with certain exceptions for physically disabled persons and for islands or peninsulas where this height rule cannot be met. Receptacle outlets shall be installed so that no point along the wall line is more than 600 mm 24 inches measured horizontally from a receptacle outlet in that space. Kitchen electrical outlets installed above the countertops require at least 2 small appliance branch circuits.

If you have not done electrical work for a few years you may be surprised by this requirement. 1 wall countertop spaces. In addition at least one receptacle outlet should be located within 600 mm 2 ft of the outer end of the peninsular countertop or work surface. The minimum pipe size for the drain parts under the sink and including the p trap is 1 12 inch.