GFCI Needed?

[Tscott]

Hey guys,
The shop is moving along well. the roof started going on yesterday, and we should be done with the shell by next week. Then i will take over with the inside.


My question is, in a garage or workshop, will i need to install GFCI outlets everywhere or just around a sink if I have one. I am going by what ever version of the NEC that Florida uses. My initial wiring will be pretty minimal, just a fraction of the outlets, and some of the lights.

Tom

 

[Stuart in MN]

From what I can find online Florida has adopted the 2008 edition of the NEC, which means you need GFCI protection on all receptacles in the garage. For future reference it's covered in Article 210.8(A)2.

 

[kbs2244]

I belive if you feed the outlets downline from a GFI used as the first outlet from the panel it will protect the whole circuit.

 

[Mike83]

I belive if you feed the outlets downline from a GFI used as the first outlet from the panel it will protect the whole circuit.

Yes. I think you could also use GFI breakers instead?

 

[Tscott]

From what I can find online Florida has adopted the 2008 edition of the NEC, which means you need GFCI protection on all receptacles in the garage. For future reference it's covered in Article 210.8(A)2.

Thanks guys,
For everyones general info. I found that you can view versions of the NEC code at the below link:

http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=70

More specifically the 2008 version can be viewed here:

http://www.nfpa.org/freecodes/free_access_document.asp?id=7008SB



There is of course no copy or paste, but at least you can read it without shelling out the 75 bucks to get a hard copy or PDF.

I will plan to use GFCI breakers for the outlets.

Tom

 

[Stuart in MN]

I belive if you feed the outlets downline from a GFI used as the first outlet from the panel it will protect the whole circuit.

Yes. I think you could also use GFI breakers instead?

You can do it either way. More often than not people will use the feedthrough feature on a GFCI receptacle since it's less expensive than buying GFCI circuit breakers.

 

[pereiracycles]

Hope you guys don't mind me reviving this dead thread. From the code it sounds like the GFCI receptacles are required for all garage outlets. Can they or can't they be wired with GFCI breakers or downstream of GFCI receptacles? I'd rather not shell out for 12 GFCIs if I don't have to.

 

[ghnl]

Either a GFI circuit breaker -or- a GFI outlet as the first outlet in the circuit then feed the remaining outlets from that GFI outlet using the 'feed' terminals. i.e. ALL the outlets need to be protected - but they don't all need to be GFI outlets (because if wired as described, all outlets are GFI protected).

GFI outlets usually come with a page of stickers you can apply to the downstream outlets to indicate they are properly protected.

 

[nate379]

Does your garage have to be inspected? If not, I would put regular outlets.

I can see the point for them in the bathroom or kitchen, but in the garage... when was the last time you had a pool of standing water in there and accidentally dropped your curling iron in it?

They seem like a good idea, but they are a very finicky with high load applications like power tools, 120v air compressors, etc. Also they don't get along with block heaters very well either.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

You need GFCI protection to meet code, on the ground floor. How you accomplish this, is up to you.

1) GFCI circuit breakers in the panel for each receptacle circuit, kinda pricey but works well and the breakers are probably not as prone to failure as the much cheaper GFCI receptacles. You use standard duplex receptacles in the boxes.

2) install a GFCI receptacle at the beginning of each circuit and supply all other boxes (with standard receptacles in them) from the feed thru of the GFCI.

3) install a GFCI receptacle in every position in every box. Again, rather pricey.

Charles

 

[Falcon67]

I put them in my shop, code or no code. Tools are double insulated, I'm careful with spills - still, stuff happens. I put one at the head of each plug run to protect the downstream outlets.

 

[pereiracycles]

I plan to get the work permitted and inspected, so I want to do it right. Thanks for the info. Much clearer now.