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RECEPTACLE OUTLETS SPACING & REQUIRED LOCATIONS
General spacing: In every family room, dining room, library, den, bedroom, recreation or similar room, receptacle outlets shall be installed so that no point along the floor line in any wall space is more than 6 feet, measured horizontally, from an outlet in that space, including any wall space 2 feet or more in width and the wall space occupied by fixed panels in exterior walls, but excluding sliding panels in exterior walls. The wall space afforded by fixed room dividers, such as freestanding bar-type counters or railings, shall be included in the 6-foot measurement. A wall space shall be considered a wall unbroken along the floor line by doorways, fireplaces and similar openings. Each wall space that is 2 feet or more in width shall be treated individually and separately from other wall spaces within the room. Where unbroken at the floor line, two or more walls of a room that form a corner shall be considered as a wall space. See FIGURE 5.
Appliances: Appliance receptacle outlets installed for specific appliances, such as laundry equipment, shall be installed within 6 feet of the intended location of the appliance.
Laundry room: At least one receptacle outlet shall be installed to serve laundry appliances.
Bathroom: At least one wall receptacle outlet shall be installed in the bathroom adjacent to each sink location. 20-ampere branch circuit required supplying bathroom receptacle outlets.
Hallways: Hallways of 10 feet or more in length shall have at least one receptacle outlet. The hallway length shall be considered the length measured along the centerline of the hall without passing through a doorway.
GFCI
All single 125 volt, single phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in bathrooms or to serve countertop surfaces in bar areas or kitchens, shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection.
AFCI
Arc-fault circuit interrupters shall protect all single 125 volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets installed in bedrooms.
RECEPTACLE REQUIREMENTS
Receptacles installed for the attachment of portable cords shall be rated at not less than 15 amperes, 125 volts, or 15 amperes, 250 volts, and shall be of the grounding type.
FACEPLATES
Faceplates for flush-mounted receptacles shall be installed and shall completely cover the wall opening and seat against the wall surface. Metal faceplates shall be grounded.
TABLE 6: CONDUCTOR SIZE
CIRCUIT RATING
15 AMP
20 AMP
30 AMP
Conductors (wire): Min. Size (AGW) Circuit Conductors1
14
12
10
1 These gages are for copper conductors. Revised 04/19/07 9
LIGHTING OUTLETS
At least one wall-switch-controlled lighting outlet shall be installed in every habitable room, bathroom, and hallway. In rooms other than bathrooms, one or more receptacles controlled by a wall switch shall be considered equivalent to the required lighting outlet.
Recessed portions of lighting fixture enclosures, other than at the points of support, shall be spaced not less than ½ inch from combustible materials unless the fixture is specifically listed for direct contact.
At least one lighting outlet shall be provided in under-floor spaces, utility rooms, spaces used for storage, or contain equipment requiring servicing. The control switch for such lighting outlets shall be located at the point of entry to such spaces. Where equipment requiring servicing is present, the lighting outlet shall be provided at or near such equipment.
LIGHT FIXTURES IN CLOTHES CLOSETS
The types of fixtures installed in clothes closets shall be limited to surface-mounted or recessed incandescent fixtures with completely enclosed lamps, and surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent fixtures. Incandescent fixtures with open or partially enclosed lamps and pendant fixtures or lampholders shall be prohibited. Fixture installations shall be in accordance with one or more of the following:
1. Surface-mounted incandescent fixtures shall be installed on the wall above the door or on the ceiling, provided there is a minimum clearance of 12 inches between the fixture and the nearest point of a storage space.
2. Surface-mounted fluorescent fixtures shall be installed on the wall above the door or on the ceiling, provided there is a minimum clearance of 6 inches between the fixture and the nearest point of a storage space.
3. Recessed incandescent fixtures with a completely enclosed lamp shall be installed in the wall or the ceiling provided there is a minimum clearance of 6 inches between the fixture and the nearest point of a storage space.
4. Recessed fluorescent fixtures shall be installed in the wall or on the ceiling provided there is a minimum clearance of 6 inches between the fixture and the nearest point of a storage space.
EP
72”
24”
12”
CLOTHES CLOSET
STORAGE SPACE
FIGURE6
ELECTRIC PANELS SHALL NOT BE LOCATED IN CLOTHES CLOSETS, TOILET ROOMS OR BATHROOMS Revised 04/19/07 10
REQUIRED CEILING HEIGHT OF
RESIDENTIAL BASEMENTS
Ceiling
Floor
Example: a 120 square foot family room would require a minimum of 80 square foot of the room to have the minimum 7 foot ceiling height and the remaining 40 square feet could be as low as 6 feet 6 inches from the floor to the finished ceiling.
6’-6” min.
6’-6” min.
7 foot min.
duct
BM
A minimum ceiling height of 7’ is required for two thirds of the room area. Hallways shall have a min. 7’ ceiling height.
Max. projection of furred ceiling is 6” below required ceiling height of 7’
In order to accommodate the installation of beams, ducts, and piping hung from the underside of floor joists in basements and meet the intent of sec.305 of the 2003 IRC we are allowing the above to apply in accordance with sec.1208.2.1 of the 2003 IBC. Bathrooms shall also comply with exc. #4 of IRC sec. 305