The 2008 NEC (National Electrical Code) requires kitchen GFCI receptacles to be installed along countertop surfaces.
GFCI – (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
Actually, this requirement has been in place since the 1996 NEC, and it’s important to remember:
If you have an older range and for some reason decided to replace a regular outlet, you should have a GFCI receptacle installed as a replacement.
kitchen electrical requirements
- Countertop kitchen outlets require at least 2 small appliance branch circuits.
- Kitchen electrical circuits serving countertop outlets must be rated 20 amps (#12 wire)
- Kitchen GFCI receptacles installed on those 20-amp circuits must also be rated 20-amp
Example:F
or 5 kitchen GFCI receptacles serving countertops, there should be a minimum of 2 circuit breakers (or two fuses) in your electrical panel, one protecting 3 of those outlets and the second responsible for another 2 (or 4 and 1 – it doesn’t matter ).
Those two or more electrical circuits that supply power to the GFCI receptacles in the kitchen (above the counter) must also serve the remaining open walls of the kitchen, pantry, and dining room receptacles.
However, they cannot be used for kitchen lighting or outlets located inside cabinets or cupboards (sometimes used for under-cabinet lights, low-voltage transformers or regular-voltage lighting fixtures, microwaves, or other permanently installed appliances). GFCI protection is not required for those additional receptacles, but since they are installed on 20-amp rated circuits, they must also be rated 20-amp.
There are two exceptions; The two (or more) electrical circuits that provide power to the GFCI receptacles in the kitchen can also be used to:
- support the operation of an electric clock
- provide power to ancillary equipment and lighting in gas stoves, ovens or kitchens (electronic display, control panels, etc.)
What is the number of GFCI protected kitchen receptacles required above the counter? It all depends on how long your countertop is…
- Each 12″ wide section of kitchen wall counter space requires a GFCI protected receptacle
- There should be no point along the kitchen counter wall line located beyond 24? from GFCI outlet receptacle (horizontally). Most new appliances are equipped with very short electrical cords to prevent overheating, tangling, etc.
Due to those short appliance cords, the space between electrical outlets must be kept so close. However, electrical outlets in the wall directly above the range, stove, or sink are not required.
- The kitchen refrigerator power supply does not require GFCI protection, just an individual branch circuit (rated 15 amps or more) (if you have a refrigerator in the garage or unfinished basement, NEC 2008 decided to put it on a protected circuit GFCI).
You can use one of two GFCI-protected circuits for small appliances, but a single circuit makes more sense for this purpose.
- The kitchen GFCI requirement also applies to an island and peninsula countertop; if it is 12″ x 24″ minimum, it requires at least one GFCI-protected outlet.
In the event you have a larger island (or any other) countertop, partitioned by the sink, or a range, stove, etc., and there is less than 12″ of countertop space behind that dividing sink or appliance, each one of the sections would require a GFCI protected receptacle.
Kitchen GFCI Outlet Locations Above and Under Counters
- No more than 20″ above
- No more than 12″ below (island and peninsula without backsplashes, dividers, etc.) if countertop overhang is 6″ or less. Those sidewall receptacles create a safety hazard for children who reach into them or anyone who accidentally brushes against the hanging cord, but often this is the only option.
I highly recommend using that kitchen GFCI protected receptacle under supervision (if you have small children) and removing the plug as soon as you’re done.
Garbage disposal, dishwasher, and microwave do not require GFCI protection and cannot be powered by small appliance circuits. Depending on how much power they need (see nameplate or installation instructions), you can use 1, 2, or 3 circuits (if there is nothing else on those electrical circuits).
Here are the typical ratings for those appliances: They should not use more than 80% of the breaker’s rating to protect it if it’s a dedicated circuit, or 50% if the circuit is shared with something else:
- 1/2 HP garbage disposal: 2.5 amps (The WasteMade garbage disposal is the only one I could find with such a small amp rating)
- dishwasher – 9 to 12 amps
- microwave – 4.5 to 12 amps
Example:
small microwave + garbage disposal = 6 amps + 2 amps = 8 amps – you can install both on a single dedicated circuit protected by a 20 amp breaker because they will use less than 50% of the breakers rating (15 amp breaker would be too little)
- No face-up kitchen GFCI receptacles (or unprotected devices, of course) are allowed!