Why are outlets now prohibited under cabinets and in kitchen islands

[alarmguy]

Yeah, it is the electricians as they will almost always follow the NEC, then maybe adapt to the local rules. Electricians rarely work in a single city so they need to follow a higher standard. Use the city of Cincinnati OH as an example and they have an inspection department. The next day they could be working in Northern Kentucky (a whole other state) with different inspectors, then in West Chester or Batavia, again with different inspectors (the names of the cities, etc aren't relevant).

Just using the topic of this thread as an example. The NEC says "no outlets on the sides of kitchen islands" so 9 out ot 10 electricians won't install them even though city "X" allows them. Electricians don't contact the inspector to ask "what revision of NEC do you require?"

I think it depends on the builder. Im talking production builders, build entire communities, literally here at the coast we are talking thousands. The contractors follow the builders plans to the exact specifications. I have some experience with this in our new home and past production home.
For example We were missing some low voltage outlets for the TV and one 110 line.
First thing when a warranty claim is filed is the contractor is off the hook if it wasnt in the plans from the builder. The builder then picks up the cost.
I am saying is here in SC/NC areas after all this is a big country so I am not doubting your post Ive never seen a disconnect on the outside in NC and never been in a new home in NC (yet, Ill keep the thread updated) with no outlets on the side of the center island.
About every month my wife and I walk through new constructions.
I do have a family member who just purchased on the SC side (brand new) and I know he has the disconnect now I will ahve to see if he has center island outlets on the side. I never checked and it's a huge center island. I see the disconnects on all the new homes in SC.

 

[zzyzzx]

This is a stupid rule.

 

[D60]

The number of times as a child that I nearly strangled myself on a kitchen island power cord.....PHEW lemme tell ya

@GON try buying any window coverings with a pull cord these days.

It's obviously a complete miracle any of us survived our youth -- and not because of the reckless driving, underage drinking, cliff jumping at the ski area. Nah, it's those kitchen island power cords that'll get ya.

 

[4WD]

A two tier island would provide a safe place …

Bumping this bcs it’s not just an easy solution that adds character - the upper countertop can be perfect for barstools …

 

[Hall]

@GON try buying any window coverings with a pull cord these days.

Like window blinds ? They still have pull cords, don't they and they just don't tie them in a knot at the end anymore. Or are those gone too ?

 

[D60]

Like window blinds ? They still have pull cords, don't they and they just don't tie them in a knot at the end anymore. Or are those gone too ?

I have no idea if it's state-by-state but my parents just got some and there's a button on the bottom finish plate of the blind itself. The local interior finish place said you can't get cords anymore because kids were getting strangled (I know we all know at least three people who had this happen, it's as rampant as opioid use of course).

I just ordered from blinds.com and you just push the blind up or down. It's got the sound of a ratcheting wheel (presumably a "counterweight" of sorts kinda like garage doors). That's great but the mechanism sounds (by ear) complicated and failure-prone. Time will tell.

 

[Hohn]

This appears to be the new way to meet code?

View attachment 265969

Man, it just totally blends in with the decor. /s

 

[zzyzzx]

I just ordered from blinds.com and you just push the blind up or down. It's got the sound of a ratcheting wheel (presumably a "counterweight" of sorts kinda like garage doors). That's great but the mechanism sounds (by ear) complicated and failure-prone. Time will tell.

I'm old, and pretty much every time I thought that something was going to be failure prone, it always or almost always turned out to be failure prone.

 

[zzyzzx]

People will have to go back to running extension cords to kitchen islands now. Because that's safer?

 

[factorytuned2012]

People will have to go back to running extension cords to kitchen islands now. Because that's safer?

Cause stupidity supersedes code lol

 

[KevinMalone]

They've lost the plot with these code changes. I prefer to follow the spirit/intent of regulations where possible