Electrical Circuit Requirements for Kitchens

In addition, kitchens require small appliance circuits and at least one lighting circuit. Be aware that not all local Building Codes have the same requirements. While the NEC (National Electrical Code) serves as the basis for most local codes, individual communities can, and often do, set their own standards.

Electrical code basics and recommended practices for kitchen renovation often seem like pointless rules cooked up in an office boardroom, as electrical code eventually does get hammered out across conference tables. Most of it, however, originates from people who work in the field: electricians, contractors, and other industry professionals.

The NEC requires the kitchen to have at least two 120-volt ( 120V ), 20-ampere ( 20A ) small-appliance branch circuits for receptacles. Most of these receptacles are on the walls above the countertops, and because they are likely to see a lot of use, they must be split evenly between the two circuits to prevent overloading.

This is exactly how changes in the kitchen island and receptacle outlet requirements in the 2020 NEC came about. What Actually Happened? A public input was received by NEC Code-Making Panel 2 (CMP-2) on the number of receptacle outlets for kitchen island locations in a dwelling unit.

Kitchen Electrical Code Requirements and Energy Efficient Specifications: NOTE: All the electrical outlets located in the kitchen area must have GFCI protection. Be sure to check with your local building authority for the specific NEC Electrical Codes that apply to your area.

What is the NEC code requirement referring to individual circuits for a microwave wiring in a kitchen? In addition to code requirements, remember that the manufacturer's instructions may also say that it needs a dedicated circuit, which code requires you to follow.

Like all other wiring in the home, kitchen wiring is subject to local code requirements. Most local codes are based on the National Electrical Code (NEC), but local authorities can make omissions or modifications to the NEC recommendations as they see fit. The local code, not the NEC, is the law.

In an effort to safeguard even more electrical installations, the NEC has expanded requirements for GFCI-type receptacles. Since 1971, the NEC has expanded the requirements for ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) to protect anyone who plugs into an electrical system. Initially, it was only required for temporary wiring at construction sites and in dwelling unit bathrooms, but in recent years

The national electrical code defines a “wet location” as an area that is subject to saturation with water or other liquids, and unprotected locations exposed to the weather. The national electric code has another definition for “damp locations” that is more subjective, but if you think the receptacle is going to get wet, use an in-use cover.

This is a significant change, and kitchens will now become somewhat of a “puzzle” since both GFCI and AFCI protection is required. If I were to wire a kitchen according to the 2014 NEC, I would probably accomplish this via a GFCI-protected subpanel (specifically dedicated to the kitchen), and use AFCI circuit breakers to feed the kitchen.