Do you want to remodel your kitchen but don’t know anything about kitchen electrical code? Don’t worry; you’re in the right place. This article will give you all you need to know about kitchen electrical codes.
Remodeling a kitchen is not a walk in the park. There are many things to consider. You’ll not only have to decide on sinks, countertops, cabinets, appliances, and lights, but you’ll also have to think of the right kitchen wiring to have electricity.
And because electrical codes are regularly updated, you must follow your local code requirements. The kitchen has a host of appliances and hence the National Electrical Code demands that numerous circuits are in order.
What is National Electrical Code?
The National Electrical Code (NEC) is a locally adaptable electrical and wiring-safe installation standard. It’s the safe electrical installation, design, and inspection benchmark for protecting property and people from avoidable electrical hazards.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) recently amended India’s National Electrical Code, which was issued on January 6, 2023, by Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, and Food and Public Distribution and Textiles Piyush Goyal.
The National Electrical Code of India (NEC) is an all-inclusive Electrical Installations Code prepared by BIS, providing guidelines for regulating electrical installation practices across the country. It establishes the basics of electrical safety. The code contains eight parts and 49 sections.
What are the Basics of Home Electrical Circuitry?
Electricity plays a significant role not only in your kitchen but also in the entire home. So, it would be good to understand how it’s distributed in your home. Doing so would help you keep the system safe and well-maintained:
Electricity enters your home via a service head from underground or power lines. A typical service head comprises one neutral wire and two 120-volt wires, which carry power to the appliances and lights around the home.
To power standard home applications, the 120-volt circuits use one phase of electrical service. However, some larger appliances like electric rangers, cloth driers, or water heaters need a 240-volt circuit created using neutral and 120-volt wires.
The electric meter is installed outside the house and is used to measure the amount of electricity used in your home. Your electric utility company monitors it, and the law protects it. So, meddling with it is both illegal and extremely dangerous.
The electrical service panel is the central distribution point for delivering electricity to appliances, switches, and outlets throughout your house; it’s located near the electric meter. The panel service has fuses or breakers that shut off the power to the circuits in case of an electrical system failure.
Make sure to check out the detailed article:
Understand Home Electrical System Basics and How it Works
Now that you’ve got all you need to know about your home’s electrical circuitry, let’s check the number of circuits your kitchen needs.
How Many Circuits Does a Kitchen Need?
For a standard modern kitchen, it should have at least eight circuits. According to the National Electrical Code for kitchen, a kitchen should have at least two 120-volt, 20-ampere receptacles’ small-appliance branch circuits because it uses more electricity than any other room.
Since most of the receptacles are on the walls just above the countertops and would be frequently used, they should be evenly split between the two circuits to avoid overloading. Also, there should be at least one 120-volt, 15-ampere lighting circuit.
Some kitchen appliances should be on dedicated circuits, meaning they don’t share the circuits with other outlets, appliances, or lights. A dedicated electrical circuit serves only one appliance or electrical fixture. Appliances without a dedicated circuit may use more current than the circuit can handle, tripping breakers, blowing fuses, and increasing the risk of an electrical fire. A dedicated circuit protects your appliances, your family, and your home.
The following devices must have a dedicated circuit:
- Dishwasher(120V/15A)
- Refrigerator(120V/20A)
- Electric range (240V/50A)
- Garbage disposal (120V/15A)
- Microwave and Oven
A microwave also requires another 120V/20A, but it can share the circuit with other appliances like a gas stove.
Kitchen Wiring in Remodeled Kitchens
When constructing or remodeling your kitchen, the building code requires you to align wiring and plumbing systems with the requirements of the current national electrical code; this involves adding a Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) and electrical circuits.
Below is the list of required electrical circuits in a kitchen remodel:
Refrigerator Circuit
A modern refrigerator needs a dedicated 20-amp circuit. You could use a small refrigerator connected to the general lighting circuit. However, during remodeling, you must install a dedicated circuit (120/125 volts) for your refrigerator.
For the dedicated 20-amp circuit, you’d need 12/2 non-metallic sheathed wire with a ground for wiring. A refrigerator circuit doesn’t need Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection unless the outlet is in a basement or garage or within a sink’s 6 feet. However, it would need Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) protection.
Range Circuit
An electric range usually needs a dedicated 240/250V, 50A circuit, meaning you’d need to install a 6/3 non-metallic cable to feed the range. However, using a gas range will require only a 120/125V receptacle to power the vent hood and range controls.
Even if you’re not currently using the electric range circuit, installing it during a major remodel is advisable because you may want to convert it to an electric range in the future. Remember that there might be a need to push the electric range back to the wall, so ensure that you position the outlet appropriately.
Although typical circuits for ranges are 50 amps, some units might need circuits as big as 60 amps, while the smaller ones may need smaller units of 30 amps or 40 amps. In kitchens where a wall oven and cooktop are separate units, the National Electrical Code for kitchen allows the two units to use the same circuit, provided the combined electrical loads don’t exceed the safe circuit capacity.
Dishwasher Circuit
When installing a dishwasher, a dedicated 120V/20A circuit is a must, with 12/2 wire and ground. It is advisable to allow enough slack on the non-metallic cable. This allows you to pull out the dishwasher without disconnecting it whenever it needs repairing.
If you want to power the garbage disposal and the dishwasher with the same circuit, ensure that you install a 20A circuit. However, the total amperage of the two appliances should not exceed 80 percent of the circuit’s amperage rating. Also, you need to check with the local authorities about its legality.
Depending on the code’s local interpretation, you may not need Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI) protection, but you may need Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI).
The Garbage Disposal Circuit
According to kitchen electrical code, for this appliance, you will need a dedicated 20A circuit with ground. A dishwasher can share the circuit with the garbage disposal when the local code permits it. But ensure that you confirm with your local building inspector if it is allowed in your area.
Different jurisdictions might have different requirements that would require AFCI and GFCI protection, so it is good to confirm with your local authorities. Although including both GFCI and AFCI is a smart choice, the GFCI can be prone to “phantom tripping” due to surges in the motor start-up.
The Microwave Oven Circuit
The microwave oven requires a dedicated 20A, 120/125V circuit to feed it with 12/2 non-metallic wire with a ground. Microwaves come in different sizes and varieties. While you can mount some above the stove, others are countertop models.
Although you might have seen a microwave plugged into a standard outlet, they need dedicated circuits; the larger microwaves can draw as much as 1500 watts. Since a microwave is plugged into an outlet, the circuit usually requires AFCI protection but not GFCI.
The Circuit for Small Appliances
Your small appliance loads, such as toasters, electric griddles, coffee pots, blenders, etc., need two dedicated 20 amp, 120/125-volt circuits. The minimum number of circuits required by code is two; however, you can add more if your needs necessitate it.
When designing circuits and outlets, consider where you will place appliances on your countertop. If in doubt, add more circuits for the future.
Circuits that power plug-in receptacles for countertop appliances should always be GFCI and AFCI protected.
Kitchen Lighting Circuit
Of course, a kitchen would not be complete without a lighting circuit to illuminate the cooking area. You will require one 15-amp, 120/125-volt dedicated circuit to supply kitchen lighting, including ceiling fixtures, canister lights, under-cabinet lights, and strip lights.
Each pair of lights should have its own switch, allowing you to adjust the lighting. Always think about future demands as well. You might consider installing a ceiling fan or a bank of track lights in the future. As a result, it’s not a bad idea to build a 20-amp circuit for general lighting use, even if the code only requires a 15-amp circuit.
Conclusion
A proper electrical update may significantly increase the value and appeal of any kitchen. Now that you’ve got all you need to know about national electrical code for kitchen, go ahead and remodel your kitchen to how you’ve wished it to be. Good luck, buddy! Did you find the article helpful? Kindly leave a comment in the comment box below.
When remodeling your home, make sure to check out the below article:
7 Incredible Tips to Remodel your Home without Tearing Down Walls!
Author Bio
Fidelis Kinai – Fidelis Muti possess a bachelor’s in English and Journalism and have over four years of professional experienced writing and proofreading materials for print and online platforms, including newspapers, magazines, websites, blogs, and social media accounts. He also have over three years of experience as a marketing assistant and social media manager. He is versatile and diligent and will produce exemplary content within time to meet your deadline. He can deliver most work within 2-3 days; rush orders are accepted whenever possible. He is based in the Kenya but travel often and work for clients all over the world.
