GFCI breaker for multiple rooms

**Ken Amelin** · 07-14-2011, 08:08 PM

I inspected a home today where a 20A GFCI breaker served the bathroom, the bathroom fan, the bath vanity lights and the recessed lights in two other rooms.

Is this OK to do or is this a code issue?

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**Jerry Peck** · 07-14-2011, 08:36 PM

That is okay. It is one of the options.

**Rollie Meyers** · 07-14-2011, 10:38 PM

This is a copy & paste from the 2008 NEC 210.11(C) (3).

(3) Bathroom Branch Circuits. In addition to the number
of branch circuits required by other parts of this section, at
least one 20-ampere branch circuit shall be provided to
supply bathroom receptacle outlet(s). Such circuits shall
have no other outlets.

Exception: Where the 20-ampere circuit supplies a single
bathroom, outlets for other equipment within the same
bathroom shall be permitted to be supplied in accordance
with 210.23(A)(1) and (A)(2).
FPN: See Examples D1(a), D1(b), D2(b), and D4(a) in
Annex D.

The issue of the OP's post would depend on the NEC in effect at the time of the work was performed, it does not comply w/ the 2008, & nor does it comply w/ the 2005 which is when that change first came into the NEC, if that was done before those 2 editions then it's fine.

**Jerry Peck** · 07-15-2011, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Rollie Meyers

This is a copy & paste from the 2008 NEC 210.11(C) (3).

(3) Bathroom Branch Circuits. In addition to the number
of branch circuits required by other parts of this section, at
least one 20-ampere branch circuit shall be provided to
supply bathroom receptacle outlet(s). Such circuits shall
have no other outlets.

Exception: Where the 20-ampere circuit supplies a single
bathroom, outlets for other equipment within the same
bathroom shall be permitted to be supplied in accordance
with 210.23(A)(1) and (A)(2).
FPN: See Examples D1(a), D1(b), D2(b), and D4(a) in
Annex D.

The issue of the OP's post would depend on the NEC in effect at the time of the work was performed, it does not comply w/ the 2008, & nor does it comply w/ the 2005 which is when that change first came into the NEC, if that was done before those 2 editions then it's fine.

Rollie,

You said "it does not comply w/ the 2008" which you posted above, but what Ken asked does comply with that.

Or I am missing something in there.

**Jim Port** · 07-15-2011, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Rollie,

You said "it does not comply w/ the 2008" which you posted above, but what Ken asked does comply with that.

Or I am missing something in there.

The way I see this Jerry, the problem is the lighting in the other two rooms. Either the 20 amp circuit serves only receptacle loads which can be multiple bathrooms OR the circuit can have lighting and fans etc but only serve ONE bathroom.

**Jerry Peck** · 07-15-2011, 04:08 PM

(bold is mine)

Originally Posted by Jim Port

The way I see this Jerry, the problem is the lighting in the other two rooms.

Man, I was sitting right next to that elephant in the room and did not even see it ... you are quite correct.

MY READING seems to be slipping lately (yes, I have to ding myself just like I have dinged others on reading) ...

**Ken Amelin** · 07-15-2011, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by Rollie Meyers

This is a copy & paste from the 2008 NEC 210.11(C) (3).

(3) Bathroom Branch Circuits. In addition to the number
of branch circuits required by other parts of this section, at
least one 20-ampere branch circuit shall be provided to
supply bathroom receptacle outlet(s). Such circuits shall
have no other outlets.

Jerry,

The way I read this is that the bathroom circuit can have no other outlets. Doesn't that mean that lights in other rooms cannot be supplied by the bathroom cicuit?

**Rick Cantrell** · 07-15-2011, 04:15 PM

Ken
It's in the execption

Exception: Where the 20-ampere circuit supplies a single
bathroom, outlets for other equipment within the same
bathroom shall be permitted to be supplied in accordance
with 210.23(A)(1) and (A)(2).
FPN: See Examples D1(a), D1(b), D2(b), and D4(a) in
Annex D.

**Rick Cantrell** · 07-15-2011, 04:26 PM

Ken
I misread your question.
You are correct.

**Jerry Peck** · 07-15-2011, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by Ken Amelin

The way I read this is that the bathroom circuit can have no other outlets. Doesn't that mean that lights in other rooms cannot be supplied by the bathroom cicuit?

Ken,

No, think "outlets" and not "receptacle" outlets - lighting outlets are also "outlets".

All the other electrical "outlets" in the same bathroom may be on that same 20 amp circuit.

What I missed when I read your post was the last part about "and the recessed lights in two other rooms" - I read it as "and the recessed lights" ... I completely and totally missed the very critical "in two other rooms" part.

The 20 amp bathroom receptacle outlet circuit may supply as many receptacle outlets in as many bathrooms as you want ... or ... one 20 amp circuit may supply ONE bathroom and as many outlets in that bathroom as you want.

Bert de Haan · 07-16-2011, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by Ken Amelin

I inspected a home today where a 20A GFCI breaker served the bathroom, the bathroom fan, the bath vanity lights and the recessed lights in two other rooms.

Is this OK to do or is this a code issue?

I ran across the same thing. The en-suite GFCI also controlled the electrical in the master bedroom. I wrote it up as a safety concern.