A dwelling-unit dishwasher is supplied by its own 120-volt branch circuit. Which statement describes the ground-fault protection the Code requires for that outlet?
- Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection is required whether the appliance is hardwired or cord-and-plug connected
- BGround-fault circuit-interrupter protection is required only where the appliance is connected with a cord and attachment plug
The connection method is not the trigger. Wiring the appliance directly instead of plugging it in leaves the outlet in place and the requirement along with it.
- CNo ground-fault protection is required, because a hardwired supply point is not a receptacle outlet
An outlet is any point where current is taken to supply utilization equipment, so a hardwired connection is an outlet. Protection is required whether or not a receptacle is present.
- DGround-fault protection is required only where the appliance sits within 6 feet of the edge of the sink
Proximity to a sink triggers protection for receptacles in certain locations, but the appliance rule applies to the listed appliances wherever they sit in the dwelling unit.
Why A is correct
The appliance provisions were written because dishwashers, disposals, and similar equipment sit in wet cabinets where a failing heating element or a chafed lead can energize the frame. Writing the rule around the outlet rather than around a receptacle closes the loophole that hardwiring used to create, so the protection follows the appliance either way.
What this question is testing
This item tests whether you know that ground-fault protection requirements extend to outlets supplying specific appliances, not just to receptacles, and whether you recognize that the rule is independent of location within the room.
On the job
This is one of the most version-sensitive corners of the Code, and it is a frequent source of arguments on remodels. Practically, it means the dishwasher circuit gets a ground-fault breaker, and it means you should warn the homeowner that a nuisance trip on an aging appliance is now a service call rather than an invisible slow leak to ground. Some appliance leakage currents are high enough that a failing unit trips the device immediately after installation.
Memory technique
The rule follows the appliance, not the plug.
Exam tip
Read the ground-fault section subdivision by subdivision. Dwelling receptacles, nondwelling receptacles, boat hoists, and specific appliances are separate lists.
Where to look it up
Ground-fault protection for personnel is early in Article 210, split into subdivisions by occupancy and by the kind of outlet. The appliance list is version sensitive, so confirm it in the edition your state has adopted.