Quite a few houses here have an RV receptacle (homeowner installed) on the exterior. These look like a 220 volt receptacle but are a 110 volt receptacle. I would assume they should be GFCI protected, but they never are. Should this be called out as in need of repair, or is this a special "dedicated" receptacle like a garage freezer or water softener?

I believe the code requires all exterior receptacle outlets to be GFCI. However, repair is a relative term. If I am not sure if it was required when the outlet was installed, then I recommend upgrading. Different term for similar results.

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The apostrophe troll.

Gunnar, I run in to this on homes built last year. I understand your reasoning, but in AZ, we are required to recommend repair, "upgrade" isn't an option.

From the 2008 NEC (been unchanged in this since the beginning of time when GFCI came in). (underlining is mine)
- 210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.
- - FPN: See 215.9 for ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel on feeders.
- - (A) Dwelling Units. All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in the locations specified in (1) through (8) shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

While those are 125 volt receptacles (because of the way they are wired), they are not "15- and 20-ampere" receptacles.

Thus, while they 'should be' (for safety reasons) GFCI protected, they *are not* 'required to be' GFCI protected.

'Should be' - yes.

'Required to be' - no.

That said ... "safety" is not an "upgrade" either.

Just explain to your clients that GFCI protection saves lives, and you are looking out after their lives, and that these 'should be' GFCI protected.

Who pays for it ... that's between the client and the seller. I always tried to give my clients enough ammunition to get the seller to 'pay for' things like that, but, if not, they will typically 'get enough' for other things to take care of it anyway, with the seller's money ...

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Jerry Peck, Construction / Litigation Consultant
Construction Litigation Consultants, LLC ( www.ConstructionLitigationConsultants.com )

Thats interesting. Because the outlet amperage is higher than 20 amps, GFCI protection is not required? That makes little sense.

Fritz,

I know what you mean. I find requirements for 120 (ish) volt GFCI protected receptacle outlets in garages, but not for 240v. Seems to me, twice as much is potentially twice as harmful.

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The apostrophe troll.

I smell a future code change to eliminate the voltage and ampere restrictions for GFCIs in dwelling units....

Actually it does, kind of.

What are you going to plug in to that 30 or 60 amp receptacle? Nothing but an RV which has a cord that is rated for outdoor use and barring a tornado, is fairly weather tight.

What will be plugged in to a 15 or 20 amp exterior outlet? Items that you will be physically handling with a hodge podge assortment of extension cords that are needed to get the job done.



I would make sure that there is a weather proof cover installed and that it is the type that will allow use of the receptacle with the cover still closed.

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Integrity Inspection Service, LLC
www.irsindy.com
(317) 345-1828

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