Why are outlets now prohibited under cabinets and in kitchen islands

[nwjones18]

No, external outlets, essentially flush mounted for example on a kitchen island where one can plug a cell phone charger or whatever into.

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I just had my house remodeled and they put outlets like that in my island..

 

[GON]

I just had my house remodeled and they put outlets like that in my island..

Was a building permit and government inspection required as part of the remodeling?

 

[SC Maintenance]

I have an outlet in my island, and honestly I understand why you don't want them there. I worry about myself catching it while moving around and pulling whatever its attached to off the island. I still use it though - and am cognizant of it.

I also have outlets in the master closet, and in a downstairs closet - which also has a light and light switch.

Built in 2014. Of course this is South Carolina so the code could be still from the 40's for all I know. In general I haven't had any electrical issues. Now the 1996 built house I had in Charlotte NC had a lot of wiring I wouldn't want again.

 

[johnmyster]

Sometimes local codes will inject practical common sense where the NEC is lacking.

 

[4WD]

A two tier island would provide a safe place …

 

[GON]

I do a lot meat grinding and slicing etc and I feel its safer than having to run an extension cord on a floor or something.

Your post brought back this memory:

 

[eljefino]

Probably comes down to the human condition.

Some people will run a crock pot or blender on the island then put it away.

Others dump their mail and will have an octopus of phone chargers there, and order take-out.

Imagine hitting your hip absent-mindedly on a plug at that height and bending it.

 

[nwjones18]

Was a building permit and government inspection required as part of the remodeling?

Sure was..

 

[burbguy82]

Any ideas why the change in kitchen outlet locations? Will existing homes need these outlets removed in order to pass an inspection if the owner is selling their home?

No, existing need not comply.

My guess it has something to do with exposed wiring ( not protected by conduit or the like). Unlike in walls, wiring can be "open" and perhaps damaged by a pot or pan or whatever.

Further, if the cabinet is designed with that in mind, all wiring could be hidden. It is unlikely that cabinet makers will do this due to cost.

Chances are, if you have an outlet in your island, somewhere in the accessible area of the island, you will be able to see Romex.

 

[factorytuned2012]

If romex/nm cable is used it has to be protected from physical damage which you could sleeve in a piece of conduit. My kitchen island has a 1900 electrical box with a blank cover and two individual runs of carflex liquidtight going to each end of my island THHN was pulled through the liquidtight.

 

[repairman54]

I think NYC still requires BX cable to be used, no Romex, due to rats chewing through Romex. At least it used to be that way.

 

[SC Maintenance]

If romex/nm cable is used it has to be protected from physical damage which you could sleeve in a piece of conduit. My kitchen island has a 1900 electrical box with a blank cover and two individual runs of carflex liquidtight going to each end of my island THHN was pulled through the liquidtight.

Mine has a shallow box and ENT - which is secured properly to the conduit hole.

Same as my garbureator. Dumb question, how much better is Liquidtite? I really don't love the garbureator being in only plastic conduit given its under the sink. I do believe its tied into the ground fault run however, so likely OK.

 

[factorytuned2012]

I think NYC still requires BX cable to be used, no Romex, due to rats chewing through Romex. At least it used to be that way.

Chicago also known for their metallic raceways

 

[factorytuned2012]

Mine has a shallow box and ENT - which is secured properly to the conduit hole.

Same as my garbureator. Dumb question, how much better is Liquidtite? I really don't love the garbureator being in only plastic conduit given its under the sink. I do believe its tied into the ground fault run however, so likely OK.

is your disposal hardwired? there's plain o liquid tight and then there's armored liquid tight which is mc cable covered in the liquid tight conduit. for under cabinet wire sleeving and protection either one is sufficient.

 

[factorytuned2012]

Here’s how I done mine

What hasn’t been mentioned is that code requires the neutral blade of the receptacle to be mounted upwards

 

[97prizm]

Hmmm I didn’t know they was a thing. My house was built in 2014 and has an outlet in the master closet. I also have one under the kitchen island but maybe the code has since changed.

Some of the newer houses I've seen don't have ceiling lights in the bedrooms which is nuts. A friend of mine lived in a home like that in high school. It drove me crazy as all you had were lamps.

 

[burbguy82]

Here’s how I done mine

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What hasn’t been mentioned is that code requires the neutral blade of the receptacle to be mounted upwards

This is what I was talking about in my reply above #29. Yours looks to be safe, the wire is protected with conduit, with one issue, perhaps. If they did not ground the metal junction box, that could be a possible and direct way to get shocked. Slamming pots and pans around in a cabinet or unsecured wires around draw slides and cause shock or fire in some cases. In your case, this would not be an issue. Also, cut in boxes are not code compliant.

 

[factorytuned2012]

This is what I was talking about in my reply above #29. Yours looks to be safe, the wire is protected with conduit, with one issue, perhaps. If they did not ground the metal junction box, that could be a possible and direct way to get shocked. Slamming pots and pans around in a cabinet or unsecured wires around draw slides and cause shock or fire in some cases. In your case, this would not be an issue. Also, cut in boxes are not code compliant.

that j box is well grounded and also protected by an AGFCI circuit.

 

[Hall]

I just had my house remodeled and they put outlets like that in my island..

Was a building permit and government inspection required as part of the remodeling?

NEC isn't the "law" nor is it followed 100% everywhere. Some localities might follow/enforce NEC rules from 2 years prior or 5 years prior.

 

[opus1]

I heard it was because crockpots and other hot appliances can get caught with children pulling and playing around...

This is what I'd heard as well. I suppose strangulation could also be an issue but I would expect the plug would come out of the outlet in that case.

What I don't get is that even if the plug is in a "doghouse" on the counter or is retractable like the picture posted earlier, how does this fix the issue? I don't leave my cords wound together when using my coffee-maker, so that excess cord has to go somewhere, and it will likely be hanging off the counter and posing the same risk as if the plug was on the side of the cabinet vs plugged into the receptacle on top of the counter.