210.8(B) Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel. Other Than Dwelling Units.

A GFCI receptacle located on the roof is considered readily accessible since it is only used while working on the roof. This receptacle was installed by the electrician wiring the HVAC unit. Look closely between the louvers. Can you spot the violation? 
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A GFCI receptacle located on the roof is considered readily accessible since it is only used while working on the roof. This receptacle was installed by the electrician wiring the HVAC unit. Look closely between the louvers. Can you spot the violation? 

Code Change Summary: A new exception was added regarding the accessibility of rooftop GFCI-type receptacles.

All GFCI-type devices are required to be readily accessible. See Article 100 definition below:

Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible). Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to actions such as to use tools, to climb over or remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.

In the previous 2011 NEC®, locating a GFCI type receptacle on a rooftop would be a code violation unless the roof was accessed by a permanently mounted ladder or stairway. If the roof could only be reached by a portable ladder, then the roof was NOT considered readily accessible according to the above definition.

In order to comply with the old code language, the actual GFCI type device protecting a rooftop receptacle would need to be located where readily accessible which usually ends up being at grade level. If an HVAC technician on the roof trips the GFCI for the rooftop receptacle near the HVAC unit, then the worker must go down the ladder to reset the GFCI device in order to resume work.

Now the GFCI type device can be located on the roof even if the roof can only be reached by a portable ladder. This will eliminate going up and down the ladder to keep resetting the GFCI type device for a rooftop receptacle.

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(B) Other Than Dwelling Units. All 125-volt, single phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in the locations specified in 210.8(B)(1) through (8) shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

(1) Bathrooms

(2) Kitchens

(3) Rooftops

(4) Outdoors

Exception No. 1 to (3): Receptacles on rooftops shall not be required to be readily accessible other than from the rooftop.

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210.8(B) Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel. Other Than Dwelling Units.

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

Which of the following GFCI type receptacles is considered readily accessible?

A: A receptacle located behind a heavy appliance.
B: A receptacle located on the ceiling of a commercial repair garage, 15 ft. above grade.
C: A receptacle located above a suspended ceiling, 10 ft. above grade.
D: A receptacle located on a commercial rooftop that can be reached while standing on the roof.
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