Countertop outlets facing up?

[tbird]

Has anyone ever seen this. A 1978 home with two outlets installed in the kitchen countertop facing up. Besides the risk of spills and wet rags, is there anything else I should know about?

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[Joe Tedesco]

Receptacles in Countertops and Similar Work Surfaces

in Dwelling Units.

Receptacles shall not be installed in a face-up position in countertops or similar work surfaces.

[Bill Kibbel]

Originally posted by tbird

...is there anything else I should know about?

Each one is there to hold 4 steak knives vertically.

[tbird]

Originally posted by inspecthistoric

Originally posted by tbird

...is there anything else I should know about?

Each one is there to hold 4 steak knives vertically.

I knew it!!

Thanks Joe for the "quote". This is the first time I have ever run into this.

[Jim Katen]

http://www.aplussupply.com/lew-floor-boxes/pufp.htm

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At $70-$90 each, they ain't cheap. But they'd work.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[kurt]

That is one very kewl piece of hardware.

[Bain]

Agreed. Never seen one before.

I bet they'd look wicked cool installed in walls, too.

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by Bain

Agreed. Never seen one before.

I bet they'd look wicked cool installed in walls, too.

Yeah, but for the price, I'd expect them to open and close themselves and play Unchained Melody every time you used one.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Sodapop]

Originally posted by tbird

Has anyone ever seen this. A 1978 home with two outlets installed in the kitchen countertop facing up. Besides the risk of spills and wet rags, is there anything else I should know about?

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Violation of NEC 2008 406.4(E)

[Erby]

Here ya go, Jim.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJDBRG5mnxk

[hausdok]

Finger hovering over the delete key on that last one.

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by hausdok

Finger hovering over the delete key on that last one.

Hey, at least it was the Rightous Bros and not some American Idol idiot.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[hausdok]

Hey, loved the song; just couldn't stand the lame slide show.

OT - OF!!!

M.

[mthomas1]

Best to check with the local AHJ, some will not approve any type of "folding" outlet box on a kitchen counter surface. My favorite solution if you don't mind the look is a Lew Electric "floor nozzle". This one has outlets on both sides:

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by mthomas1

Best to check with the local AHJ, some will not approve any type of "folding" outlet box on a kitchen counter surface. My favorite solution if you don't mind the look is a Lew Electric "floor nozzle". This one has outlets on both sides:

That's a dandy looking thing.

As for the AHJ not approving a folding outlet box, he'd be out of line. AHJs and electrical inspectors aren't supposed to substitute their opinion for the code.

In Oregon, if an inspector rejects an installation, he's got to list the code section that's the basis for his rejection. (Got to write it right on the inspection form.)

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Sodapop]

Originally posted by Jim Katen

In Oregon, if an inspector rejects an installation, he's got to list the code section that's the basis for his rejection. (Got to write it right on the inspection form.)

- Jim Katen, Oregon

Must be nice. We get turned down without the beneift of a code reference.

[mthomas1]

in the case of the flip-up type, the argument is that the "face up" requirement in 406.4(e) is violated as the face of the box is pointed upwards and level with the counter-top. I've read that these:

http://www.mockett.com/default.asp?ID=4&action=detail&partCode=PCS39/EE/HW

are UL listed for kitchen counters, but I don't find such a listing in the specs on the site.

[kurt]

That floor nozzle outlet is the slickest thing I've seen, and I've seen it. Michael lives just around the corner from me.

The outlet is nothing compared to the kitchen it's in. The kitchen is a work of art.

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by mthomas1

in the case of the flip-up type, the argument is that the "face up" requirement in 406.4(e) is violated as the face of the box is pointed upwards and level with the counter-top. I've read that these: . . . are UL listed for kitchen counters, but I don't find such a listing in the specs on the site.

I still say that the inspector is out of line. The NEC doesn't say peep about the direction that the box faces or whether or not it's flush to the countertop. He's substituting his opinion for the code.

- Jim Katen, Oregon