Electrical outlets near doorways.

[Teo2006]

Can any one tell me if there is a code requirement specifying that electrical outlets must be placed within X number of feet next of a doorway ? Thanks for your help.

[Doug Miller]

Yes, there is. The NEC requires that no point on a wall be more than 6 feet from an outlet, measured along the wall. This means, in effect, that there must be an outlet within 6 feet of any doorway, and not less than every twelve feet thereafter. This does not apply to closets, hallways, or staircases, or to walls less than 24 inches long -- and there are more stringent requirements for kitchens. Consult the Code for all the gory details if you wish, but that's the essence of it.

[bowgus]

I have an outlet beside a door. Wait a minute ... make that 2 outlets beside doors. Oh, no ... make that three ... there's the one on the back deck by the sliding door. No code up here that says there's a required minimum distance.

[Doug Miller]

No, but there *is* a maximum distance, and I think that's what the OP was asking about.

[hallerb]

I have ADDED outlets by doors for convenience using things like vacuums and floor scribbers.

[Mark Lloyd]

How about switch-height outlets? They're easier to reach.

[Oren]

I can pull a cord through a doorway and plug into an outlet. What is a scribbers?

-- Oren

"Well, it doesn't happen all the time, but when it happens, it happens constantly."

[hallerb]

."

typo floor scrubber, for like cleaning carpet.

i hate having to move furniture to plug something in

[Harry K]

Same here. Kicking myself for putting all my outlets down by the floor when I rewired.

Harry K

[TheClassic]

myself for putting all my outlets down by the floor

[hah]

Misspelled scribblers.

[maradcliff]

Just curious. I dont have a code book handy. Is this just for residential homes and businesses? What about barns and garages? I was just wiring my barn and I am not even close to this. For example, I DONT put outlets in animal stalls. Thats dangerous to them (even though I use GFIs), but there is no reason to have a outlet in there. Animals dont need outlets for their microwave ovens

In all honesty, where I live, no one is going to care how many outlets I have, but I am just curious.

Mark

[Doug Miller]

Homes. Not barns. Not garages. Don't know about commercial installations.

[snip]

Then do as I suggested: consult the Code for details.

[Goedjn]

Not specifically, in the NEC. The only spacing requirement is that, for any point at the base of any wall more than 23" wide, there must be an outlet within 6' that you can get to without crossing a doorway.

That ends UP meaning that there has to be an outlet within

6 feet of the door, unless there are other doors breaking up the wall. You could easily, for instance, design a mudroom/entry with three doors, a closet, and a stairway leading off in various directions such that there's no place you're required to have an outlet.

But you ought to have one anyway. Put it in the same box as a light switch if you have to.

[autobus_prime]

An electrical outlet directly below the switch (usually found by a door) can be a nice place to plug in a night light. It's where you need one, and being below the switch makes it less likely to be blocked.

[Beachcomber]

It is worth remembering that the point of these NEC requirements is to discourage the use of extension cords.

Just a few decades ago, many extension cords were of the cheap, crummy "zip cord" type, thin 18 g. wires, thin insulation with plastic multi-outlet receptacles on the end. The were easily overloaded and started many fires even though they carried the UL seal of approval.

Also... In addition to overloads, these cords were easily damaged by kids, chewed on by pets, smashed by furniture, and tread on by being placed under carpets.

For those of you who are old enough to notice, you can't buy these cheap extension cords new anymore. New extension cords are all of a miniumum thickness and conductor size. Still, it is desirable not to have to use an extension cord, if possible, and avoid having to use one in a permanent situation at all costs.

If you have a new home, the reason your kitchen counter is full of electrical outlets is that the authorities absolutely don't want you using an extension cord to plug in a deep fryer or your George Foreman electric grill. Notice also that these days, all of these appliances come with short cords (about 2 feet or so) which are intended to be used with this bountiful multiplicity of kitchen outlets.

Beachcomber

[pawlowsk002]

BC:

Well, the wires may be bigger, but inexpensive extension cords are still made from zip cord, which can still be pet-chewed and door- smashed. Any flexible cord trailing across a floor or under a carpet, whether zip cord or SO cable, is more in harm's way than permanent wiring would be (though you'd have to work fairly hard on the SO cable (: ) so I guess the objection still stands. Anyway a big mess of extension cords looks like heck.

Cordially yours: G P

[Mark Lloyd]

A good place for one.

[Mark Lloyd]

I have one like that. It's often in exactly the right place for an outlet.

[bowgus]

Maximum distance? Don't think so. There's the so many outlets on a wall ... nothing to do with doorways. Well, probably against code to install an outlet in a doorway.