Issue Description:

Section 210.52(C)(2) saw extensive revisions between the 2020 and 2023 NEC. All of the requirements around receptacle outlets being installed based on the square footage of the countertop and work surface of islands and peninsulas were removed. Perhaps more significant, the requirement for any receptacle to be installed within islands and peninsulas was removed. You read that right: No receptacle outlet is required to be installed within islands or peninsulas based on the 2023 NEC—with a caveat. The revisions to 210.52(C)(2) in the 2023 NEC essentially changed island and peninsula receptacles to have two requirements (paraphrased):

Receptacle outlets in islands and peninsulas, if installed, must be done in accordance with 210.52(C)(3).

If a receptacle outlet is not provided for islands and peninsulas, provisions must be provided for the addition of a receptacle outlet in the future.

Note: The means by which the provision is made for a future receptacle outlet is not stated by the NEC; therefore, the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) will need to be consulted to determine what they will consider as meeting this requirement.

Because of this change, as well as other changes to 210.52(C)(2) and (C)(3), the 2023 NEC essentially provides three options for island and peninsula receptacle outlet installations, or non-installations, as depicted in the bullet points and photo attached:

Option 1 permits the installation of receptacle outlets above the countertop or work surface, but not more than 20 inches above. Islands and peninsulas with elevated backsplashes present an opportunity for using this option.

Option 2 permits installation of receptacle outlets within the countertop or work surface, provided a receptacle outlet assembly listed for the application is utilized.

Option 3 is utilized when no receptacle outlet is installed within the island or peninsula. In that case, the 2023 NEC requires a future provision to be made where a receptacle outlet could be installed at a later date. The junction box with protective flexible conduit for the NM-B cable is just one example of how this could possibly be done, but it is not required to be done this way per the 2023 NEC.

Resolution Proposed:

Review and confirm with Ownership and AHJ the desired direction to move forward in.

Commentary:

Attachment: 

Author: Sonya Fritz

Disclaimer:  

Technical Information & Proposed Solutions (T.I.P.S.) documents are an open forum for sharing information among staff members.  They represent threads of knowledge from lessons learned during the history of this firm too important to be forgotten.  They are meant to be tools to help each team member elevate the standard of care and practice of architecture by helping head-off and avoid these conflicts and issues on future projects.  T.I.P.S. documents reflect “Resolutions Achieved” and “Commentaries” based on applicable codes, products available, and interpretations of the specific jurisdictions where these issues initially surfaced. They may not in part or as a whole apply to any future projects.  They are intended for general reference only and do not relieve the team members on future projects from the responsibility of thoroughly familiarizing him/herself with each applicable codes for each project developed in this firm.