A Well-Wired Kitchen

While most homeowners want to adhere to codes, they’re most concerned with how their kitchen looks. Yet following electrical codes should be a top priority, and easily attained with the right steps in place.

“Complying with most codes is very feasible,” says Gary Golka, president of Mesa, Ariz.-based Golka Electric. “Especially with some pre-planning and effective communication between the general contractor, electrician, cabinet supplier, cabinet installer and the countertop installer.”

Kitchen Receptacle Outlets
General kitchen receptacle outlets are required to be served by a minimum of two 20-amp small appliance branch circuits. Larger kitchens are better served by additional circuits, although not required by the National Electrical Code, says Larry Bobo, a Palmer Lake, Colo.-based master electrician.

While NEC doesn’t limit the number of receptacle outlets allowed on a small appliance branch circuit, local jurisdiction requirements may apply, Bobo says. He provides two general receptacle kitchen outlet spacing guidelines:

• Install a receptacle within six feet in either direction of a doorway, and then every 12 feet, so that no point along the floor line is more than six feet from a receptacle outlet.
• Areas wider than two feet require a receptacle outlet, including wall spaces and fixed-room dividers such as free-standing bar-type counters or railings.

Small Appliance Circuits
Small appliance circuits also feeding countertop receptacle outlets are required to be Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protected, Bobo says. Abide by these requirements:

• Any countertop wider than one foot requires a receptacle outlet.
• Receptacle outlets must be installed every four feet so that no point along the wall line is more than two feet measured horizontally from a receptacle outlet in that space.
• Countertops separated by range tops, refrigerators, or sinks are considered separate countertop spaces.

Lighting Requirements
NEC kitchen lighting requirements specify one light be controlled by a wall switch, and that the circuit supplying lighting loads not be an appliance circuit, Bobo says. “The new requirements exempt kitchen lighting from being protected by an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI), even though most remaining lighting circuits in a dwelling will be required to be AFCI protected.”

The general light level in a kitchen should be greater than the remainder of a home, excluding bathrooms, Bobo says. “It’s better to err on the side of too much light and reduce it with dimmer switches, than to have inadequate lighting. The current trend is to utilize a group of evenly spaced recessed can lights over installing a single light fixture. This gives a seamless lighting level and reduces shadows significantly.”

Consumer Considerations
Consumers should create a design-layout list for their kitchen, then work with the contractor to accommodate code requirements, says Bob Baird, training and development vice president for Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc.

“Think upscale,” recommends Baird. “Have them consider what they want their kitchen to be like in five or ten years. It’s much easier and cost-effective to make changes now, rather than later.”

To help homeowners design the kitchen they want, Baird suggests going over these questions with the customer:

• Are you building a new home and designing a kitchen from scratch or are you retrofitting?
• What is the layout of the kitchen?
• What fixed/portable appliances do you plan to install? What are the locations and power requirements?
• What kind of lighting do you want/need: Ceiling? Under cabinet? Swag? Recessed? Surface Mount? Full voltage? Low voltage?
• What kind of lighting controls? Basic? Dimmers? Mood Lighting?
• What kind of exhaust fan do you want? Do you want a ceiling fan?
• What kind of heating/cooling requirements do you need?
• What are your required and desired locations for lighting and appliance outlets?
• How many circuits do you need and what sizes do they need to be?
• Have you selected your lighting fixtures?
• Have you chosen colors for your outlets and switches?
• What materials/installation practices do you need to comply with NEC requirements?
• Do you have special requirements due to disabilities and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act?
• What brand of equipment do you want? Does it have a warranty?