Change Summary

• A new 422.23 titled Tire Inflation and Automotive Vacuum Machines has been added to Article 422
• Any tire inflation equipment or vacuum machine for public use must be protected by ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection for personnel
• The GFCI protection (circuit breaker or outlet device) is required to be readily accessible

Expert Analysis

Public vacuums and tire inflation stations are installed in multiple locations such as at motor fuel dispensing facilities, service centers, and car wash facilities, and so forth. Ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection provides effective shock and electrocution protection for persons. The substantiation for this new requirement included a report of an electrical shock incident that occurred while a person was using a tire inflation machine. The substantiation also indicated that tire inflation and vacuum machines are located in commercial establishments and are heavily used by the public. The equipment is often exposed to rain, snow, and puddles of accumulated standing water and are usually misused to the point of deterioration and failure. Abused, deteriorated electrical equipment combined with a wet environment is a condition that contributes to the increased risk of an electrical shock and electrocution hazards. Over the years, GFCI’s have demonstrated their value in preventing electrocution in exactly these conditions. Action by Code Making Panel-17 results in this new GFCI requirement enhancing protection for the public from shock and electrocution. The GFCI devices required by this section must be readily accessible.