GFI Breakers for Equipment in MY Shop

[Mr onetwo]

I am in the midst of changing a bunch of stuff in my shop and it includes a few circuits for equipment that will no longer be considered permanent because I want to feed them with outlets.The goal is to get rid of as much air powered stuff and to make everything as movable as possible.There will be 2 separate 240V 20A single outlets for my compressors. There will be a single 240V 15A outlet for my new overhead hoist mounted centrally feeding a festoon.I want this stuff to be out of the way when not being used. I also will be feeding 3 Hubbell 4-PLEX GFI outlets on separate 120V 20A circuits.Finally I want put an Emporia Smart Plug on the overhead propane tube heater so I can monitor it's power consumption with my Vue Gen2 system. I will have to convert this to a 120V 15A single outlet. Locally we are adopting the 2020 NEC next week. My question is whether I can use regular breakers or will I be forced to use GFI breakers on the 3 equipment locations to meet code. Because the 4-plex outlets are GFI already do I use a regular breaker or do I have to use an arc fault breaker.Everything will be in EMT and the panel is a 150A Homeline PON 30/60 main breaker.Thanks

 

[exranger06]

2020 NEC says that every receptacle in a garage needs GFCI protection. If your 120V receptacles already have built-in GFCI, then you don't need GFCI breakers. Keep in mind that receptacles with built-in GFCI need to be "readily accessible" (an average height person doesn't need a ladder to reach them, and they're not behind a refrigerator or large appliance) so someone can easily reset or test them.

There is no such thing as a 240V receptacle with built-in GFCI as far as I know, so your only option for the 240V stuff is to install GFCI breakers.

Arc fault (AFCI) protection is not required in a garage at all.

 

[billconner]

I'm not clear on the extent of the current work, but if it was built to code when it was first built, you don't have to update it. No if you're doing a renovation and have permits and it will be inspected, exranger06 has the right answer.

 

[u2slow]

Are you pulling a permit? If not, then when did the work get done?

I dont use GFCI in my shop. Thats my choice.

 

[Mr onetwo]

Built in 2008 to code.Basically all new around the panel location except for the wiring in one wall, lighting and heat. No permits.I have found some 2 pole gfi breakers for around 1/2 price so I may just put them in.

 

[u2slow]

Built in 2008 to code.Basically all new around the panel location except for the wiring in one wall, lighting and heat. No permits.

There you go... 2008 rules.

 

[ericm]

If you do need to do the new work to the current code, check to see what modifications your state made to the code when they adopted it. I was looking at another state's modifications to the 2023 code and they took out some of the GFCI requirements, especially for 240v. Among many other changes that appeared sensible to me as a non professional.

 

[PossumDog]

Eaton has a booklet about changes to 2020 NEC. I found a chart on page 5 a helpful summary for my project.

https://www.eaton.com/content/dam/eaton/products/residential/electrical-safety/electrical-safety-national-electrical-code-2020-br1610048en.pdf

What was more difficult for me was finding tamper resistant 250v receptacles. The style I wanted weren't at big box stores, even online. I had to special order them.