InspectAPedia®   -   Search InspectApedia

Proper routing of electric wires in metal studs (C) Carson Dunlop AssociatesElectrical Receptacle Wire Clearance FAQs

Q&A on electrical outlet wire distance from pipes, ducts, nails, damage

Q&A about electrical wire clearance distances, spacings, when wiring up a wall receptacle (plug or "outlet"), switch or similar device.

This article series specifies how far electrical wiring should be kept from hot HVAC ducts, pipes, the surface of wall studs or ceiling joists, and similar restrictions.

This article series describes how to choose, locate, and wire an electrical receptacle in a home.

Page top illustration courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection, education & report writing tool company [ carsondunlop.com ].

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

Electrical Wire Clearances from Ducts & Pipes

Nail Stop Simpson Strong Tie NS2 16Ga © D Friedman at InspectApedia.com These questions & answers about the necessary distances to maintain when wiring an electrical receptacle (loosely also called "outlet" or "wall plug") were posted originally

at ELECTRICAL RECEPTCALE WIRE CLEARANCE DISTANCES

- please be sure to check the guidelines given there.

Photo: I'm holding an electrical wire protection plate used to nail into studs where electrical wires pass through joists, etc. to prevent accidental damage to the wire from later insertion of a nail or screw into that framing member.

On 2018-08-07 by (mod) - distance above an outlet in a residential basement to drill the stud to run wire

I don't think you will find that distance explicitly stated in the model Electrical Codes.

However you certainly need sufficient clearance that the wire is not going to be damaged by the Box mounting and sufficient clearance that the wire can be bent smoothly rather than too acutely or too sharply down to enter the box, and you need some working space.

With wood studs you also need room to secure the wire close to the box - typically by driving a wire staple - before the wire runs up through the hole in the stud.

Typically I would leave a foot vertical clearance or more. But that's just a personal opinion.

On 2018-08-07 by Les

What is the distance above an outlet in a residential basement to drill the stud to run wire to the next outlet down the wall? Is there a minimum space needed above an outlet to run wire?

On 2018-02-14 by (mod) - wall space do I need between an electric stove and an electrical outlet in kitchen?

Laura

Using the U.S. National Electrical Code (NEC) as a model, for a residential kitchen we want to have two separate 20A circuits supplying GFCI-protected electrical receptacles (aside from specialty circuits such as for refrigerator, dishwasher, electric oven or range) and separate from the microwave circuit (20A), lighting circuit and separate (non-gfci) garbage disposer if installed.

Receptacles are

- no more than 48" apart along a countertop, or re-stated, no point along a countertop can be more than 24" from a receptacle. That means that for a kitchen in which the countertop extends to the sink (as most do), there will be a GFCI protected receptacle within 24" of a sink, and where the countertop abuts an electric stove, there will be a receptacle within 24" of the edge of the stove.

There is not a minimum distance specified from the electric stove.

But you should never install an electrical receptacle over the stove or range top itself. The hazard is that the appliance cord plugged into such a receptacle is likely to pass over a stove top burner.

- provided for even short sections of countertop if the section is 12" or more in width along the wall

ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE LOCATIONS
gives electrical receptacle locations & spacings along countertops or walls.

ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE HEIGHT & CLEARANCES
gives recommended heights and other clearance distances for electrical receptacles.

On 2018-02-14 by Laura

How much wall space do I need between an electric stove and an electrical outlet in kitchen?

On 2017-11-16 by JOSH

A nail plate is required at an inch and a quarter, is that counting the sheetrock

On 2017-11-03 by Paul

I read your electrical wiring distance on top, what about cold 1.5" ABS vent pipes. Any distance requirements? Can I run 240 wires around the pipe or next to it? Thanks!

On 2017-02-11 by (mod) - dedicated circuit for furnace controls & blower

Sounds reasonable; what does your furnace's installation manual say about requiring a dedicated circuit? Is there a risk of overloading the circuit, tripping the breaker, and losing heat?

On 2017-02-09 by Jim Kimble

Can I safely add a receptacle to the circuit powering the furnace controls and blower? Assuming, of course, that the blower motor does not use all of the 15-amp circuit's available current limit.

On 2017-01-27 by (mod) - requirement for having GFCI protection

Kathy

I don't think the requirement for having GFCI protection derives from the presence of nearby water piping so much as the location and type of use where the electrical receptacle or light circuit or switch is located. E.g. outdoors, basements, garages, kitchens, bathrooms, wet locations.

So if someone in the shop might plug in to a receptacle some device and then use it while working on a damp or wet or grounded surface that may be a special concern.

What does your electrical inspector say about GFCI and AFCI requirements for your building in general?

On 2017-01-27 by Kathy

We operate a welding shop and have a 3" water line running down the north shop wall approximaterly 3' off the floor. There is an electrical outlet 2 ft above the line 25 ft away from the valve, do I have to have a ground fault?

On 2014-08-24 by (mod) - outlets over hot water baseboard heat?

Yes George.

On 2014-08-24 by GEORGE

CAN YOU PLACE OUTLETS OVER HOTWATER BASEBOARD HEAT ?

Question: how to fix loose electrical receptacles in a ceramic tile or glass mirror wall wall

Is there a way to repair electrical outlets on finished (glass and ceramic tile) walls that were not installed properly without damaging the tile? The outlets and the covers pull away from the wall when the electrical cord plug in removed?
Also, what does it mean when an electrical switch with multiple switches which control recessed lights, the ceiling fan and light on the ceiling fan gets hot; what is happening? Is this a fire hazard? - Mrs. Spencer

Reply:

Mrs. Spencer:

It sounds as if you need a licensed electrician to check and secure your loose electrical outlets - I agree that a loose electrical receptacle is unsafe. But an inspection is needed to understand the underlying problem. It could be simply tightening screws, or it could be that the electrical box itself is not adequately secured in the wall. Luckily there are retrofit parts that can be used and inserted along the box to make it secure, usually without disturbing the surrounding ceramic tile.

Some dimmer switches use a resistor to dim the light and it is common for them to get warm. Very hot - a subjective judgment for homeowners - may indeed be a fire hazard and should be investigated.

Question: electrical outlet height requirements

I was looking at some height requirements on electrical outlets this is a very informational site.

thanks Jerm 4/19/12

Reply:

Jerm, in the article above at ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE HEIGHT & CLEARANCES we give the data you want. Let me know if anything is unclear.


...

Continue reading  at ELECTRICAL RECEPTCALE WIRE CLEARANCE DISTANCES - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Also see

Or see these

Recommended Articles

Suggested citation for this web page

ELECTRICAL WIRE CLEARANCE DISTANCE FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to ELECTRICAL INSPECTION & TESTING

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Search the InspectApedia website

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca

Comment Form is loading comments...

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.


ADVERTISEMENT