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WIRING ALTERNATIVES
FOR "TWO WIRE" (NON GROUNDED)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Housing & Inspection Services
356-5130
The National Electrical Code (NEC) has established rules for replacement of receptacles of nongrounded
electrical systems.
NEC 406.3(D)(3) Grounding type receptacles and cord connectors having grounded contacts shall have those
contacts effectively grounded.
THIS GROUNDING TYPE RECEPTACLE
LACKS A GROUNDING CONDUCTOR
REPLACE WITH:
Tamper Resistant
Grounding
Receptacle
OR
Receptacle or
Circuit Breaker
Tamper Resistant
Ground-Fault
Circuit-Interrupter
Note: A receptacle found to be defective or improperly wired that is located in one of the following locations must
be replaced with a tamper-resistant G.F.C.I. receptacle.
CODE REQUIRED LOCATIONS FOR GFCI OUTLETS IN DWELLING UNITS.
1. All bathrooms.
2. Garages, except not readily accessible dedicated receptacle (freezer, refrigerator).
3. Outdoors within 6’-6” of grade.
4. Crawl spaces at or below grade and unfinished basements, except dedicated receptacle for laundry circuit
or a single receptacle for a sump pump.
5. Receptacles serving kitchen counter tops, except dedicated receptacle (stove, refrigerator).
hisinsp\wirealts.doc
6/2010
406.3 General Installation Requirements.
Receptacle outlets shall be located in branch circuits in accordance with Part III of
Article 210. General installation requirements shall be in accordance with 406.3(A)
through (F).
(A) Grounding Type. Receptacles installed on 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits shall
be of the grounding type. Grounding-type receptacles shall be installed only on circuits
of the voltage class and current for which they are rated, except as provided in Table
210.21(B)(2) and Table 210.21(B)(3).
Exception: Nongrounding-type receptacles installed in accordance with 406.3(D).
(B) To Be Grounded. Receptacles and cord connectors that have equipment grounding
conductor contacts shall have those contacts connected to an equipment grounding
conductor.
Exception No. 1: Receptacles mounted on portable and vehicle-mounted generators in
accordance with 250.34.
Exception No. 2: Replacement receptacles as permitted by 406.3(D).
(C) Methods of Grounding. The equipment grounding conductor contacts of
receptacles and cord connectors shall be grounded by connection to the equipment
grounding conductor of the circuit supplying the receptacle or cord connector.
The branch-circuit wiring method shall include or provide an equipment grounding
conductor to which the equipment grounding conductor contacts of the receptacle or
cord connector are connected.
(D) Replacements. Replacement of receptacles shall comply with 406.3(D)(1), (D)(2),
and (D)(3) as applicable.
(1) Grounding-Type Receptacles. Where a grounding means exists in the receptacle
enclosure or an equipment grounding conductor is installed in accordance with
250.130(C), grounding-type receptacles shall be used and shall be connected to the
equipment grounding conductor in accordance with 406.3(C) or 250.130(C).
(2) Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters. Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protected
receptacles shall be provided where replacements are made at receptacle outlets that are
required to be so protected elsewhere in this Code.
(3) Non–Grounding-Type Receptacles. Where attachment to an equipment grounding
conductor does not exist in the receptacle enclosure, the installation shall comply with
(D)(3)(a), (D)(3)(b), or (D)(3)(c).
(a) A non–grounding-type receptacle(s) shall be permitted to be replaced with
another non–grounding-type receptacle(s).
(b) A non–grounding-type receptacle(s) shall be permitted to be replaced with a
ground-fault circuit interrupter-type of receptacle(s). These receptacles shall be marked
“No Equipment Ground.” An equipment grounding conductor shall not be connected
from the ground-fault circuit-interrupter-type receptacle to any outlet supplied from the
ground-fault circuit-interrupter receptacle.
(c) A non–grounding-type receptacle(s) shall be permitted to be replaced with a
grounding-type receptacle(s) where supplied through a ground-fault circuit interrupter.
Grounding-type receptacles supplied through the ground-fault circuit interrupter shall be
marked “GFCI Protected” and “No Equipment Ground.” An equipment grounding
conductor shall not be connected between the grounding-type receptacles.
(E) Cord-and-Plug-Connected Equipment. The installation of grounding-type
receptacles shall not be used as a requirement that all cord-and-plug-connected
equipment be of the grounded type.
(F) Noninterchangeable Types. Receptacles connected to circuits that have different
voltages, frequencies, or types of current (ac or dc) on the same premises shall be of
such design that the attachment plugs used on these circuits are not interchangeable.
w/HIS/406.3GeneralInstallationRequirements.doc