Change Summary

• Revision clarifies that the receptacle outlets installed for countertop or work surfaces [210.52(C)] are not permitted to satisfy the requirement for receptacle outlet placement (wall spacing) as provided in 210.52(A).

Expert Analysis

The requirements of 210.52(C) titled, “Countertops and Work Surfaces,” covers the NEC requirements for placement of 125-volt, 20-ampere receptacle outlets intended to serve countertop and work surfaces in kitchens, pantries, breakfast rooms, dining rooms, and similar areas of dwelling units. For wall countertop or work surfaces, these receptacles outlets are typically required to be installed so that no point along the wall line is more than 600 mm (24 in.) measured horizontally from a receptacle outlet in that space. These receptacle outlets are typically supplied by one of the 20-ampere rated small appliance branch circuits.

A completely different requirement for receptacle outlet spacing can be found at 210.52(A). This requirement deals with 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets installed in every kitchen, family room, dining room, living room, parlor, library, den, sunroom, bedroom, recreation room, or similar room or area of dwelling unit in such a manner that no point measured horizontally along the floor line of any wall space is more than 1.8 m (6 ft) from a receptacle outlet.

As illustrated in the preceding paragraphs, receptacle outlet installations covered in 210.52(C) are separate from those covered by requirements in 210.52(A). This change clarifies that the receptacle outlets installed for the countertop or work surfaces are not permitted to satisfy the requirement for receptacle outlet placement as provided in 210.52(A).

Another change that occurred at 210.52(C) is a provision for multioutlet assemblies. In some cases, multioutlet assemblies are used as a means to meet the countertop receptacle placement or spacing requirements. A new sentence has been added to the end of 210.52(C) stating that each 300 mm (12 in.) of multioutlet assembly containing two or more receptacles installed in individual or continuous lengths are to be considered to be one receptacle outlet for the purpose of 210.52(C) and spacing requirement for countertops and work surfaces.

Leviton Solution

When laying-out receptacle placement in countertop areas, don’t forget to include USB receptacles. Today’s consumers demand these convenient devices for charging smartphones and other electronic equipment. Adapter-free charging eliminates unsightly clutter contributing to a neat appearance on countertops, Leviton’s USB Charger Devices feature a smart chip that recognizes and optimizes the charging power of your electronic devices for fast and efficient charging. The latest offering incorporates “Type C” ports which many newer phones call for. The Type C platform gives increased power and faster charges.

Leviton USB devices are available in many configurations and many colors, 15- and 20-Amp, 125-Volt. Hospital Grade version is available.

Dual Type-C with Power Delivery (PD) and Tamper- Resistant Outlets Type A and Type-C with Tamper- Resistant Outlets Dual Type A with Tamper- Resistant Outlets 4-Port Type A

USB Charger 6A 5.1A 3.6A 4.2A USB Charger 6A 5.1A 3.6A 4.2A Total Charging Power 30W 25+W 18W 24W Single Port Charging Power 30W 15W 12W 12W Outlet Power 15A Available in 15A and 20A Available in 15A and 20A n/a USB Cable Compatible 3.1, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1 3.1, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1 3.1, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1 3.1, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1 Wiring Back and Side Wiring Back and Side Wiring Back and Side Wiring Wire Leads

USB Wall Charger Dual Type-C™ with Power Delivery With up to 2X the charging power (up to 30W*) of typical USB chargers, our USB In-Wall Charger Dual Type-C™ with Power Delivery is the most advanced, powerful in-wall charger on the market. *On a single port