Change Summary

• The revision expands the GFCI requirements of this section to all garages, service bays, and similar areas except for vehicle exhibition halls and showrooms
• List item (8) has been revised by removing the list of items for which receptacles could be used since it was not inclusive
• The words “other than vehicle exhibition halls and showrooms” have been added

Expert Analysis

List item (8) has been revised to become more enforceable and provide more complete GFCI protection requirements for all 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in garages, service bays, and similar areas in other than dwelling units.  The 2011 NEC limited GFCI protection to areas where electric hand tools, diagnostic equipment, etc. are used.  Information provided in the substantiation for the 2014 change indicated that many commercial garages have receptacles installed for purposes other than the use of hand tools. In geographical areas that experience winter, many garages for cars, trucks and busses have 125-volt, 15- or 20-ampere, single-phase receptacles installed at each stall for electric engine block heaters or even for level 1 electric vehicle chargers. Cordand-plug connected engine block heaters may not be listed and therefore not subject to the maximum leakage current requirement standard for appliances when these receptacles are not GFCI protected. The frame of the vehicle can possibly become energized during a ground fault condition, posing an electric shock hazard to personnel. Action on Comment 2-27 provides the necessary relief for vehicle exhibition halls and showrooms of automobile dealers. This revision provides needed clarification for designers, installers and inspectors relative to the applicability of GFCI requirements in this rule.