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406.5(G)(2) Receptacle Mounting Under Sinks

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Change Summary

  • Receptacle outlets are still prohibited from being installed in a face-up position in or on countertop surfaces or work surfaces unless the receptacle device is listed for countertop or work surface applications. New provisions were added to prohibit a receptacle from being installed in the face-up position under a sink.
NEC® Text

406.5 Receptacle Mounting.
Receptacles shall be mounted in identified boxes or assemblies. The boxes or assemblies shall be securely fastened in place unless otherwise permitted elsewhere in this Code. Screws used for the purpose of attaching receptacles to a box shall be of the type provided with a listed receptacle, or shall be machine screws having 32 threads per inch or part of listed assemblies or systems, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
(G) Receptacle Orientation.
(1) Countertop and Work Surfaces. Receptacles shall not be installed in a face-up position in or on countertop surfaces or work surfaces unless listed for countertop or work surface applications.
(2) Under Sinks. Receptacles shall not be installed in a face-up position in the area below a sink.

Material taken from the National Electric Code® is reprinted with permission from NFPA 70®, 2020 edition.
National Electrical Code®, Copyright 2019, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. All rights reserved.

Expert Analysis

In previous code cycles receptacle outlets have been prohibited for being installed in the face-up position in or on countertop surfaces or work surfaces and in the face-up position in seating areas or similar surfaces. The concern with receptacle outlets installed in the face-up position is with liquid spillage into the receptacle itself.

406.5(G)(2) Receptacle Mounting Under Sinks

For the 2020 NEC, provisions were added to prohibit receptacle outlets from being installed in a face-up position in the area below a sink. It is a common sight to see plumbing pipes connecting to a sink (supply and drain) leaking from time-to-time under a sink area such as a kitchen sink. If a receptacle for such things as a garbage disposer is installed in the face-up position under the sink, that receptacle is subject to water entering the polarized slots of the receptacle creating a hazardous condition.

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