Last Updated on May 1, 2023 by Kevin Chen
Image source Medium
Whenever you want to charge your phone, the first thing that will come into your mind is an electrical outlet. They are in every building and infrastructure, making it easy for us to power different electric devices.
Are you planning to install new outlets in a building? You would obviously think about the most convenient location for the installation.
However, no matter how convenient the location may be, you should ensure that it complies with local regulations.
This is where the National Electrical Code (NEC) outlet height comes in.
The height of the outlet that you choose should be in compliance with the NEC codes.
These codes cover all the critical aspects of the height including safety of the outlet, accessibility, convenience among others.
Keep reading as we discuss everything you should know about the codes that define the height of the electrical outlet.
NEC outlet height requirements
Before you even think of any other requirements, you should start by asking yourself whether you meet the NEC height requirements for the electrical outlets.
The National Electrical Code defines the height requirements for the electrical outlet to range between 12 inches to 48 inches.
At the same time, NEC states that each electrical outlet that you install must be at least 18 inches away from another outlet. This rule applies to rooms with many outlets.
This means that the minimum height of the outlet rom the floor is 15 inches while the maximum height is 48 inches.
These measurements are taken from the center of the outlet to the floor and should be doe on a straight line.
According to NEC, these standard heigh requirements apply to both residential and commercial buildings.
However, we are cognizant of the fact that there are numerous situations where owners of the buildings will consider bending these rules to meet specific needs.
For example, specific features of the building may require you to either go higher or lower than the defined height requirements by the NEC.
You may also need to consider the requirements by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which states that electrical outlet heights should not be more than 54 inches above the ground.
Why does the height of the electrical outlets matter?
It is not enough to know the electrical code outlet heigh requirements. You should strive the reasons behind these requirements and why you should adhere to them.
Accessibility
The first reason is for easy accessibility. The right heigh will ensure that everyone in the building will have an easy access to the outlet or switch. You don’t want an outlet to be at a high position where some users will have challenges in accessing it. Maybe short users will have to stand on platforms in order to reach the outlet.
Similarly, you wouldn’t want the outlet to be too low such that you will be straining to reach plug your electronic devices into it.
Accessibility is also an important factor in case of electrical emergency. Anyone will be able to access the outlet or switch and turn it off or unplug the devices in question. In doing so, they may end up reducing the extent of damage due to electrical issue.
The height should also consider the needs of the people with disabilities. They should be able to access the electrical outlets regardless of their physical challenges. This is why we have the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and many other acts that define the height requirements for the electrical outlets.
Safety reason
Safety plays a critical factor when choosing the appropriate height for an electrical outlet.
How does safety factor come into play?
The most basic reason is a perfect height will protect the outlet from physical damage. Items in the room such as pieces of furniture may end damaging the outlets when moved around. By choosing the right height, you will be able to protect your outlets from such damage.
Safety also comes to play in relation to the users in the building. The right height will protect users from electrical shock. Some electrical outlet installation may end up exposing naked wires which can cause accidents and injuries if not well handled.
Special applications
While it is vital to know the general height requirements, you should be aware of the special cases. Some rooms have unique features when it comes to the electrical outlet installations.
This means that you should give them special attention when deciding the height requirements.
These rooms include kitchen, bathrooms, garages, commercial places, outdoor spaces, workshops among others.
Let’s look at each of these special applications and their height requirements.
Outlet height for kitchen
Both the NEC and the ADA have outlined their codes when it comes to the outlet heights from the floor for the kitchen.
The codes take into consideration the common activities that take place in the kitchen such as cooking and washing dishes.
According to NEC, if you are installing, 120-volt receptacles in the kitchen, then they should be at a minimum height of 15 inches above the floor. If you are installing 120-volt receptacles in the kitchen, they should be at least 20 inches high above the floor
ADA recommends that the height of the electrical outlets in the kitchen should range anywhere between 15 inches and 8 inches depending on the design of the kitchen and the appliances that you are installing.
Like in most applications, most installers prefer to follow the ADA codes when it comes to choosing suitable heights for electrical outlets.
You should also consider the general outlook and design of your kitchen before deciding on the perfect height of installation.
Which appliances are you going to install in the kitchen? They will have an impact in determining the ideal height for the kitchen outlets.
Height outlet for the garage
A garage is another special case that you should consider when deciding the electrical code outlet height.
Just like in kitchens, garages have numerous features that require special attention when deciding the outlet height. For example, there tends to be lots of movements in the garage and this will have an impact on how high the outlet should be.
The ideal height for outlets in the garage is between 18 inches and 24 inches above the ground.
This height selection will allow users to plug in devices to the outlets without any constraints.
Still, there are several other factors that you should consider when deciding the garage outlet height. They include:
- The function of the outlet: Here, you will have to as yourself whether you will be using the outlet to charge your vehicle or you will use it for powering other devices. If it is for the electric vehicle, then the outlet should reasonably high. If it is for powering other devices, then you should consider a lower height.
- Size and dimension of the vehicle: Still on the aspect of the vehicle, the outlet height should match the size of the vehicle that will be in the garage. The electrical outlet should be considerably high if your garage will have large vehicles such as SUVs, trucks or even buses. On the other hand, the outlet should be
You should also consider the welfare of the people who will be frequenting the garage. This is where the ADA electrical code outlet height comes in. The right height will minimize accidents cases in the garage due to the wrong choice of height.
Outlet height for the basement
Image source The Spruce
A basement is another sensitive area when analyzing height requirements for the electrical outlets.
NEC and ADA tend to have different height requirement codes when it comes to the basement areas.
NEC requires that the electrical outlets should be at least 12 inches high from the floor of the basement area while ADA stipulates that the outlets should be at least 15 inches high from the floor.
So, which code should I go with?
Like most electricians, you will be good with the ADA codes when choosing the outlet height for the basement area.
Electrical code for the receptacle height
Just like in the case of the electrical outlets, there are electrical codes for the receptacle heights. They define the maximum and minimum receptacle heights for safety, accessibility and convenience of the users.
According to the NEC the maximum receptacle height should be at least 15 inches above the floor. ADA recommends 12 inches above the floor.
The ultimate decision will depend on you as you will have to consider other factors such as the purpose of the receptacle and the design of the building.
Conclusion
At this point, you know all the essentials about the electrical code outlet height. You appreciate the importance of these codes and the role that they play in the installation of the outlets.
Next time you are installing new electrical outlets or changing the positions of the existing outlets, strive to comply with these codes.
It is advisable to consult with professional electricians when deciding the about the heights of the outlets.
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