GFCI Protection for Refrigerators: What You Need to Know

Does a Refrigerator Need a GFCI Outlet? NEC Guidelines
  • All commercial buildings/kitchens are required to have GFCI for refrigerators.  See NEC 210.8(B)(2).
  • In a Dwelling Unit (house or apartment) refrigerators located inside the kitchen do NOT have to have a GFCI.  See 210.8(A)(6), Exhibit 210.13, 210.52(B)(1), 210.52(B)(2), 210.52(B)(3), and Exhibit 210.28.  If the circuit feeding the refrigerator outlet is branched to any other outlet, it must be a 20-A circuit.  If the circuit feeding the refrigerator outlet is a dedicated individual circuit, than it can be either 15-A or 20-A.
  • In a garage or an unfinished basement of a Dwelling unit, the refrigerator must have a GFCI circuit.  In fact ALL outlets must be GFCI in garages and unfinished basements.  See 210.8(A)(2) and Exhibit 210.10.

nec, gfci, Grounding & Earthing Protection Devices, refrigerator, surge-protection devices, Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter, Ground Fault Protection, safety
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