Code Q&A: Additional Branch Circuit Requirements for Dwelling Units

Jan. 5, 2017

NEC guidelines for branch circuit requirements for dwelling units

Q. In addition to the general lighting circuits and those provided to supply specific loads, what other specific branch circuits are required for a dwelling unit?

Find the Answer

A. You are also required to provide small-appliance branch circuits, a laundry branch circuit, and a bathroom circuit.

Small-appliance branch circuits — Two or more 20A, 120V small-appliance receptacle branch circuits are required for the 15A or 20A receptacle outlets in a dwelling unit kitchen, dining room, breakfast room, pantry, or in similar dining areas as required by Sec. 210.52(B) [210.11(C)(1)].

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• See the definition of “Receptacle Outlet” in Art. 100.

• A 15A, 125V receptacle is rated for 20A feed-through, so it can be used for this purpose [210.21(B)(3)].

• Lighting outlets or receptacles located in other areas of a dwelling unit must not be connected to the small-appliance branch circuit [210.52(B)(2)].

• The two 20A small-appliance branch circuits can be supplied by one 3-wire, multiwire circuit or by two separate 120V circuits [210.4(A)].

Laundry branch circuit — One 20A, 120V branch circuit must be provided for the receptacle outlets required by Sec. 210.52(F) for a dwelling unit laundry room. The 20A laundry room receptacle circuit is permitted to supply more than one receptacle in the laundry room. The 20A laundry receptacle must not serve any other outlets, such as the laundry room lighting or receptacles in other rooms [210.11(C)(2)].

• The 20A, 120V laundry branch circuit is required, even if the laundry appliance installed is a 30A, 230V combination washer/dryer.

• A 15A receptacle is rated for 20A feed-through, so it can be used for this purpose [210.21(B)(3)].

• GFCI protection is required for 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles located in a laundry room [210.8(A)(10)].

Bathroom branch circuit — One 20A, 120V branch circuit must be provided for the receptacle outlets required by Sec. 210.52(D) for a dwelling unit bathroom. This 20A bathroom receptacle circuit must not serve any other outlet, such as bathroom lighting outlets or receptacles in other rooms [210.11(C)(3)].

• A 15A, 125V receptacle is rated for 20A feed-through, so it can be used for this purpose [210.21(B)(3)].

Exception: A single 20A, 120V branch circuit is permitted to supply all of the outlets in a single bathroom, as long as no single load fastened in place is rated more than 10A [210.23(A)].

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About the Author

Mike Holt

Mike Holt is the owner of Mike Holt Enterprises (www.MikeHolt.com), one of the largest electrical publishers in the United States. He earned a master's degree in the Business Administration Program (MBA) from the University of Miami. He earned his reputation as a National Electrical Code (NEC) expert by working his way up through the electrical trade. Formally a construction editor for two different trade publications, Mike started his career as an apprentice electrician and eventually became a master electrician, an electrical inspector, a contractor, and an educator. Mike has taught more than 1,000 classes on 30 different electrical-related subjects — ranging from alarm installations to exam preparation and voltage drop calculations. He continues to produce seminars, videos, books, and online training for the trade as well as contribute monthly Code content to EC&M magazine.