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mitrellim

Electrical Outlet Placement Help

6 years ago

Hi friends,

I have read up on the code, and I would run these plans by the inspector here, but he only answers when there is an actual inspection. I would rather find out my issues now.


Do these plans look OK generally?


More specifically, I am confused by the 2ft wall rule. Do I need an electrical outlet on all three walls under the stairs since each is more than 2 ft?



Thanks much!



Comments (8)

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    The general rule is that any space on a wall has to be within 6 ft of an outlet if you follow the wall as a path. You ignore corners (meaning that if you reach a corner, you turn and continue the counting with the existing measurement).

    Your utility room will need more.

    Your office walls are 12'2"? It'll need more.

    And your stair area will need another one.

    I didn't pour over the details of your plan so there may be more needed.

    Note that this is the minimum requirements. It's always better to do more than the minimum. Think about how furniture will be placed and whether any are convenient for plugging in a vacuum, etc.

    mitrellim thanked greg_2015
  • 6 years ago

    The two foot rule is if the wall is under two feet then you don't need an outlet there. But a corner doesn't end a wall.

    The example would be if there was a one foot section of wall between two doors then you don't need an outlet. If that section is two feet, then you do.

    If there's a door, then one foot of wall, then a corner. That means that the next outlet has to be within 5 feet of the corner on the next wall. (So that the distance from the door is (1+5) = 6 ft)

  • 6 years ago

    And I can't stress enough that this is the minimum requirements. If you are doing this work yourself, add a lot more outlets. It's cheap.

    Nobody has ever complained that there are too many outlets. It's always that there aren't enough.

  • 6 years ago

    Thanks for your thorough response. This is a basement.


    The utility room will not have a washer and dryer, as those are on the first floor.


    The bathroom receptacle is directly to the right of the door, where the vanity will also be, so it will be within 3' of the sink.


    I am not sure what you mean by "outside receptacle." Do you mean one that is outside the house? Thankfully, the house already has those installed.


    Thanks again for the comments. They are helping me solidify my plans and hopefully pass the first electrical inspection :)

  • 6 years ago

    Yep, on the outside of the house, one on the front and back.

    Also, don't forget you'll need interconnected/hardwired smokes in each bedroom and in the area outside the bedrooms. In many cases you're also required to have CO detectors.

    What are you doing for egress in the subterranean bedrooms and for the basement in general? What about the light and ventilation requirements?

  • 6 years ago

    I have already cut out two egress windows (fun job, as the slabs were 9.5" thick!) in both bedrooms. As for the lights, they are indicated in the form of the circles. I did a previous "finish" of the basement, where I added recessed lights, but I didn't finish any walls, floors, etc. The ceiling was sprayed black.


    I forgot to add the lights on the plans in the utility room, but there are a sufficient number in there as well.


    I intend to add the smoke detectors.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    The CO detectors are also required to be installed by the IRC (if your locality uses it, many do) now if you are adding bedrooms (which you are) or you are adding fuel-fired appliances or fireplaces (unclear from your plans). There's no requirement for the CO detectors to be hardwired or interconnected. One outside of the two new bedrooms will be sufficient.

    mitrellim thanked Ron Natalie