July 22, 2020

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Author: Mike Holt
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 ARTICLE

210 BRANCH CIRCUITS

Introduction to Article 210—Branch Circuits
This article contains branch-circuit requirements such as those for conductor sizing and identification, GFCI and AFCI protection, and
receptacle and lighting outlet requirements. It consists of three parts:
} Part I. General Provisions
} Part II. Branch-Circuit Ratings
} Part III. Required Outlets

Table 210.3 in this article identifies specific-purpose branch circuits. Its provisions for those that supply the equipment listed amend or
supplement the requirements in Article 210 for branch circuits, so it is important to be aware of the contents of this table.

210.8 GFCI Protection Author’s Comment:

Ground-fault circuit interruption protection, located in a readily acces- } According to Article 100, a “Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter”
sible location, must be provided in accordance with 210.8(A) through (GFCI) is a device intended to protect people by de-energizing
(F).  }Figure 210–17  a circuit when a current imbalance is of 6 mA or higher and
does not do so when the current to ground is less than 4 mA. 
}Figure 210–18

}Figure 210–17

}Figure 210–18

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 210.8   |  Branch Circuits

Author’s Comment:

} The GFCI circuit breaker provides ground-fault protection

starting at the breaker, so the entire circuit has ground-fault
protection. A GFCI receptacle provides ground-fault protec-
tion for whatever is plugged into it and also has load-side
terminals that provide downstream protection for any other
receptacle(s) or device(s) on the circuit.
} According to Article 100, “Readily Accessible” means capable
of being reached quickly without having to climb over or
remove obstacles, or resort to the use of portable ladders.

Note 2: See 422.5 for GFCI requirements for specific equipment

such as automotive vacuum machines, drinking water coolers, high-
pressure spray washing machines, tire inflation machines provided }Figure 210–20

for public use, and vending machines. 

Author’s Comment:
Note 3: See 555.9 for GFCI requirements for boat hoists.
Note 4: Additional GFCI requirements for specific circuits and equip- } According to Article 100, a “Bathroom Area” is an area that
ment are contained in Chapters 4, 5, and 6.  includes a basin and one or more of the following: a toilet,
urinal, tub, shower, bidet, or similar plumbing fixture.
For the application of 210.8(A)(7), 210.8(A)(9), 210.8(B)(5), and
210.8(B)(12), the distance is measured as the shortest path an appli- (2) Garages and Accessory Buildings. GFCI protection is required
ance’s supply cord will follow without piercing a floor, wall, ceiling, for all receptacles located in garages and accessory building that have
fixed barrier, or passing through a window.  }Figure 210–19 a floor located at or below grade level not intended as habitable rooms
and limited to storage areas, work areas, and areas of similar use. 
}Figure 210–21

}Figure 210–19

(A) Dwelling Units. 125V through 250V receptacles installed in the }Figure 210–21
following dwelling unit locations must be GFCI protected. 
(1) Bathroom Areas. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles (3) Outdoors. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles located
located in dwelling unit bathroom areas.  }Figure 210–20 outdoors of dwelling units including receptacles under the eaves of
roofs.  }Figure 210–22

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 210.8   |  Branch Circuits

}Figure 210–22 }Figure 210–24

Ex: GFCI protection is not required for a receptacle dedicated to fixed

electric snow-melting equipment if the receptacle is not readily acces-
sible and ground-fault protection of equipment is provided as required
by 426.28 and 427.22.  }Figure 210–23 

}Figure 210–25

Ex: A receptacle supplying only a permanently installed fire or burglar

alarm system is not required to have ground-fault circuit-interrupter
protection.
}Figure 210–23
(6) Kitchen Countertops. GFCI protection is required for all recep-
tacles that serve kitchen countertop surfaces.  }Figure 210–26
(4) Crawl Spaces. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles
located in dwelling unit crawl spaces at or below grade.  }Figure 210–24  Author’s Comment:
(5) Basements. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles located
} Receptacles located below a countertop for appliances such
in finished and unfinished areas of dwelling unit basements.  }Figure
as trash compactors or garbage disposals do not require GFCI
210–25 
protection unless they are located 6 ft or less from the top
inside edge of the bowl of a sink [210.8(A)(7)].

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 210.8   |  Branch Circuits

}Figure 210–26 }Figure 210–28

} GFCI protection is not required for a refrigerator recep- (8) Boathouses. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles located
tacle outlet unless it is located within 6 ft from the top in a dwelling unit boathouse.  }Figure 210–29 
inside edge of the bowl of a kitchen sink [210.8(A)(7)]. 
}Figure 210–27

}Figure 210–29

}Figure 210–27 Author’s Comment:

} The Code does not require a receptacle to be installed in

Author’s Comment:
a boathouse, but if any are they must be GFCI protected.
} Outlets supplying dishwashers require GFCI protection
[210.8(D)]. (9) Bathtubs or Shower Stalls. GFCI protection is required for
receptacles located within 6 ft of the outside edge of a bathtub or
(7) Sinks. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles located within shower stall not installed within a bathroom as defined in Article
6 ft of the top inside edge of the bowl of a dwelling unit sink.  }Figure 100.  }Figure 210–30
210–28  (10) Laundry Areas. GFCI protection is required for all recepta-
cles installed in the laundry area of a dwelling unit.  }Figure 210–31

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 210.8   |  Branch Circuits

}Figure 210–30 }Figure 210–32

Author’s Comment:

} According to Article 100, a “Bathroom Area” is one that

includes a basin and one or more of the following: a toilet,
urinal, tub, shower, bidet, or similar plumbing fixture.

(2) Kitchens. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles located

in kitchens or areas with a sink and permanent provisions for either
food preparation or cooking.  }Figure 210–33

}Figure 210–31

(11) Damp and Wet Locations Indoors. GFCI protection is required

for all receptacles installed in indoor damp and wet locations.
(B) Other Than Dwellings. GFCI protection is required for all 125V
through 250V receptacles supplied by single-phase branch circuits
rated 150V or less to ground, 50A or less, and all receptacles supplied
by three-phase branch circuits rated 150V or less to ground, 100A or
less, installed in the following locations. 
}Figure 210–33
(1) Bathroom Areas. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles
located in bathroom areas.  }Figure 210–32
(3) Rooftops. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles located
on rooftops.  }Figure 210–34

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 210.8   |  Branch Circuits

}Figure 210–34 }Figure 210–36

Author’s Comment:

} Ex. Rooftop GFCI receptacles are only required to be readily

accessible from the rooftop itself. }Figure 210–35

}Figure 210–37

}Figure 210–35

(4) Outdoors. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles located

outdoors.  }Figure 210–36 
(5) Sinks. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles located within
6 ft from the top inside edge of the bowl of a sink.  }Figure 210–37 
(6) Indoor Damp and Wet Locations. GFCI protection is required
for all receptacles located in indoor damp and wet locations. 
(7) Locker Rooms. GFCI protection is required for receptacles located }Figure 210–38
in locker rooms with showering facilities.  }Figure 210–38 

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 210.8   |  Branch Circuits

(8) Garages and Similar Areas. GFCI protection is required for all Author’s Comment:
receptacles located in garages, accessory buildings, service bays,
and similar areas.  }Figure 210–39  } A lighting outlet is not required for a dwelling unit crawl
space unless the space is used for storage or has equip-
ment requiring servicing [210.70(A)(3)].

(D) Specific Appliances. Unless GFCI protection is provided in

accordance with 422.5(B)(3) through (B)(5), the outlets supplying
appliances specified in 422.5(A) must have GFCI protection in accor-
dance with 422.5(B)(1) or (B)(2).
Where the appliance is a vending machine as specified in 422.5(A)(5)
and GFCI protection is not provided in accordance with 422.5(B)(3) or
(B)(4), the branch circuit supplying the vending machines must have
GFCI protection in accordance with 422.5(B)(1) or (B)(2).
(E) Equipment Requiring Servicing. GFCI protection is required
for the heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration equipment recep-
tacles required by 210.63(A).  }Figure 210–40 
}Figure 210–39

(9) Crawl Spaces. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles

located in crawl spaces at or below grade level.

Author’s Comment:

} According to Article 100, a “Garage” is a building or portion

of a building in which one or more self-propelled vehicles
can be kept for use, sale, storage, rental, repair, exhibition,
or demonstration.

(10) Unfinished Areas of Basements. GFCI protection is required

for all receptacles located in the unfinished areas of basements. 
(11) Laundry Areas. GFCI protection is required for all receptacles }Figure 210–40
located in the laundry area.
(12) Bathtubs and Shower Stalls. GFCI protection is required for (F) Outdoor Dwelling Unit Outlets. GFCI protection is required for
all receptacles installed within 6 ft of the outside edge of a bathtub all outdoor dwelling unit outlets, other than those for snow-melting
or shower stall not installed in a bathroom as defined in Article 100.  equipment covered in 210.8(A)(3) Ex.   }Figure 210–41 
(C) Crawl Space Lighting Outlets. GFCI protection is required for Ex: GFCI protection is not required on lighting outlets other than those
120V lighting outlets in crawl spaces.  covered in 210.8(C).

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 210.12   |  Branch Circuits

Author’s Comment:

} AFCI protection is not required for outlets located in bath-

room areas, garages, or outside.

(B) Dormitory Units. AFCI protection is required for all 15A or 20A,
120V branch circuits supplying outlets in dormitory unit bedrooms,
living rooms, hallways, closets, bathrooms, or similar rooms or areas. 
}Figure 210–52 

}Figure 210–41

210.12 Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection

Arc-fault circuit-interrupter protection, located in a readily acces-

sible location, must be provided in accordance with 210.12(A), (B),
(C), and (D).
(A) Dwelling Units. AFCI protection is required for all 15A or 20A,
}Figure 210–52
120V branch circuits supplying outlets in dwelling unit kitchens, family
rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms,
sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, laundry areas, or (C) Guest Rooms and Guest Suites. AFCI protection is required
similar rooms or areas.  }Figure 210–51  for all 15A and 20A, 120V branch circuits supplying outlets in guest
rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels.  }Figure 210–53 

}Figure 210–51
}Figure 210–53

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 210.12   |  Branch Circuits

(D) Branch Circuit Extensions or Modifications—Dwelling Units,

Dormitory Units, Guest Rooms, and Guest Suites. Where 15A or
20A, 120V branch-circuit wiring is modified, replaced, or extended in
any of the areas specified in 210.12(A), (B), or (C), the wiring must
be AFCI protected. 
Ex: AFCI protection is not required for extension wiring that is less than
6 ft in length (raceway or cable) if no outlets or devices, other than
splicing devices, are added. This measurement does not include the
conductors inside an enclosure, cabinet, or junction box.

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 ARTICLE
422 APPLIANCES
Introduction to Article 422—Appliances
Article 422 covers electric appliances that are fastened in place, permanently connected, or cord-and-plug-connected. The core content
of this article is contained in Parts II and III. Parts IV and V are primarily for manufacturers, but you should examine appliances for
compliance before installing them.

422.5 GFCI Protection

(A) General. The following appliances rated 60A or less must be GFCI
protected by Class “A” protective devices [422.5(B)]. 
(1) Automotive vacuum machines.  }Figure 422–2

}Figure 422–3

}Figure 422–2

(2) Drinking water coolers and bottle fill stations.  }Figure 422–3
(3) Cord-and-plug-connected high-pressure spray washing machines.
(4) Tire inflation machines.  }Figure 422–4
(5) Vending machines.  }Figure 422–5
(6) Sump pumps.  }Figure 422–6
(7) Dishwashers.  }Figure 422–7
}Figure 422–4

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 422.5   |  Appliances

}Figure 422–5 }Figure 422–7

Note: Section 210.8 specifies requirements for GFCI protection for

the receptacle outlets where the location warrants such protection.
(B) Type and Location. The GFCI must be readily accessible and be:
(1) A GFCI circuit breaker,
(2) A GFCI device or receptacle,
(3) A GFCI integral with the attachment plug,
(4) A GFCI within the supply cord not more than 12 in. from the attach-
ment plug, or
(5) A factory installed GFCI within the appliance.

}Figure 422–6

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