Replies

1. 
   BillHartmann | Feb 07, 2007 09:15am | #1

   "I had an electrician tell me that the outlets on each side of the sink have to be on different circuits - I have no idea where that comes from. Does anyone else have that interpretation?"

   I wonder if he is from Canada? They have very different rules on kitchen circuit there.

   You can download the 2005 NEC Handbook from here.

   http://64.202.175.112/nec/2005nech.pdf

   That is the code along with explaintion and background details.

   Here is one short comment.

   "The small-appliance branch circuits illustrated in
   Exhibit 210.25 are not permitted to serve any other outlets, such as might be connected
   to exhaust hoods or fans, disposals, or dishwashers. The countertop receptacles are also
   required to be supplied by these two circuits if only the minimum of two circuits is
   provided for that dwelling. Note that only the counter area is required to be supplied by
   both of the small-appliance branch circuits. The wall receptacle outlets in the kitchen
   and dining room are permitted to be supplied by one or both of the circuits, as shown
   in the two diagrams in Exhibit 210.25."

   "Because the countertop receptacle outlets generally supply more of the portable
   cooking appliances than the wall receptacles in the kitchen and dining areas, the
   counter areas must be supplied by no fewer than two small-appliance branch circuits.
   The Code does not specify that both circuits be installed to serve the receptacle
   outlet(s) at each separate counter area in a kitchen, but rather that the total counter area
   of a kitchen must be supplied by no fewer than two circuits, and the arrangement of
   these circuits is determined by the designer or installer.
   For example, a single receptacle outlet on a kitchen island is not required to be
   supplied by both of the small-appliance circuits serving the counter area. To provide
   efficient distribution of the small-appliance load, the number of receptacles connected
   to each small-appliance circuit should be carefully analyzed. The concept of evenly
   proportioning the load as specified in 210.11(A) (for loads calculated on the basis of
   volt-amperes per square foot) can be used as a best practice in distributing the number
   of receptacle outlets to be supplied by each of the small-appliance branch circuits.
   Where additional small-appliance branch circuits are installed, they are subject to all
   the requirements that apply to the minimum two required circuits.
   The two circuits that supply the countertop receptacle outlets may also supply
   receptacle outlets in the pantry, dining room, and breakfast room, as well as an electric
   clock receptacle and electric loads associated with gas-fired appliances, but these
   circuits are to supply no other outlets. See 210.8(A)(6) for GFCI requirements
   applicable to receptacles serving kitchen counters."

   "I looked at Audel's code interpretation book for the 2005 code and they said that the two appliance circuits could only have one outlet each."

   I think that something got lost in editing. What would make sense is that there has to be at LEAST ONE receptacle, for the countertop, on each circuit.

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   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
1. 
   caseyr | Feb 09, 2007 04:55am | #2

   Thanks, Bill.I was hoping you would help me out here. The .pdf of the NEC is great. I was wishing I had one to be able to search it. I left my hard copy of the NEC up in Oregon so have been relying on a "NEC pocket handbook" which doesn't have the greatest index. Even though the on-line version clarifies things somewhat, I still think the wording of the NEC in regard to kitchen small appliance circuits leaves a lot of ambiguity and should be improved.