Recently bought a house with a furnace/water heater utility room in the basement surrounded by a bedroom and playroom space. We just had a water filtration system put in this room that requires a plug. I thought it was really odd that there was no outlet receptacle in this room. My plan is to piggyback off the bedroom receptacle, but I want to make sure that there's nothing in the code about not putting receptacles X distance from water heater or furnace. I'm tracking that it's unfinished basement so the first outlet of the double duplex needs to be GFCI. Am I missing anything? Thanks!
Electrical – Installing outlet receptacle in unfinished basement furnace/water heater room
basementelectricalreceptacle
Related Solutions
You're referencing the wrong code section.
Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable
Romex is covered by article 334 Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable: Types NM, NMC, and NMS.
Nonmetallic Extensions
Article 382 covers a cable known as FlatWire, or Concealable Nonmetallic Extension (CNE) cable.
Notice that this cable has a single insulation layer over the conductors. Whereas NM cable has insulation on the conductors, and an outer insulated sheath.
You'll have to check with the Authority Having Jurisdiction, but I'd say "smurf tube" on a wall in a shop is a no no.
National Electrical code allows ENT for exposed work, but not where subject to physical damage. Which means if you're trying to protect your cable from physical damage, you can't use ENT (unless you protect the ENT from physical damage as well).
National Electrical Code 2014
Chapter 3 Wiring Methods and Materials
Article 362 Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing: Type ENT
II. Installation
362.10 Uses Permitted.
1) In any building not exceeding three floors above grade as follows:
a. For exposed work, where not prohibited by 362.12
b. Concealed within walls, floors, and ceilings362.12 Uses Not Permitted. ENT shall not be used in the following:
(9) Where subject to physical damage.
If you don't want to use metal conduit, schedule 80 PVC conduit is identified for areas of physical damage.
Article 352 Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride Conduit: Type PVC
II. Installation
352.10 Uses Permitted.
(F) Exposed. PVC conduit shall be permitted for exposed work. PVC conduit used exposed in areas of physical damage shall be identified for the use.
Informational Note: PVC Conduit, Type Schedule 80, is identified for areas of physical damage.
Related Topic
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- Basement – Extra vents required for Direct-vent furnace
- Electrical – Unfinished basement electrical re-wiring, protecting cables on cinderblock, also corrosion concerns
- Electrical – Need to branch off a receptacle series, but not at the end of the run. Best practices
Best Answer
Nothing special needed here except the GFCI since this room is not finished. Finished rooms in a basement depending on how long back may not have AFCI or GFCI protection but adding a receptacle in an unfinished basement room would require a GFCI even if no water present. The outlet can be directly adjacent to the equipment no spacing is required no covers or anything else is required by the national electric code.