210.8(A)(9) Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel. Dwelling Unit Bathtubs or Shower Stalls.

All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed within 6 ft. of the outside edge of the bathtub or shower stall must now have GFCI protection.
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All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed within 6 ft. of the outside edge of the bathtub or shower stall must now have GFCI protection.

Code Change Summary: A new subsection was added to require ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection (GFCI protection), for 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed within 6 ft. of a bathtub or shower stall.

If a hazard exists and GFCI protection is required for 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed within 6 ft. of any dwelling unit sink, then the same hazard exists within 6 ft. of a bathtub or shower stall.

Now GFCI protection is required for any 125-volt, single-phase, 15- or 20-ampere receptacle installed within 6 ft. of a dwelling bathtub or shower stall.

All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- or 20-ampere receptacles installed in a bathroom must have GFCI protection even if a bathroom receptacle is 100 ft. from any sink, tub or shower. Section 210.8(A)(1) requires GFCI protection for these receptacles any time they are within the envelope of the bathroom, regardless of distance to the sink, tub or shower.

Outside the bathroom, possibly in a hallway, or bedroom, if there are any 125-volt, single-phase, 15- or 20-ampere receptacles within 6 ft. of the shower or bathtub, they now require GFCI protection even if they are not within the envelope of the bathroom.

Below is a preview of the NEC®.  See the actual NEC® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on the “free access” tab and select the applicable year of NFPA 70 (National Electrical code).

2014 Code Language:

210.8(A) Dwelling Units. All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in the locations specified in 210.8(A)(1) through (10) shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

(9) Bathtubs or shower stalls — where receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the bathtub or shower stall.

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210.8(A)(9) Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel. Dwelling Unit Bathtubs or Shower Stalls.

Below is a Real Question from our Electrical Continuing Education Courses for Electrical License Renewal:

Which of the following 125-volt, single-phase, 15- or 20-ampere dwelling unit receptacles must be GFCI protected?

A: A receptacle located in an adjacent hallway, outside the bathroom, 5 ft. from the bathtub.
B: A receptacle located 7 ft. from a shower stall in the bedroom adjacent to the master bathroom.
C: A receptacle located 6.5 ft. from a shower stall outside of the bathroom.
D: A receptacle located in an adjacent hallway, outside the bathroom, 8 ft. from the bathtub.
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