A kitchen waste disposer is connected with flexible cord and an attachment plug so the unit can be removed for service. What cord length does Article 422 permit for that connection?
- ABetween 6 inches and 18 inches
A 6-inch minimum is shorter than any cord length the Code recognizes for this appliance and would not permit the disposer to be lowered from the sink flange for service.
- Between 18 inches and 36 inches
- CBetween 3 feet and 6 feet
The 3-foot to 4-foot range applies to built-in dishwashers and trash compactors, which sit farther from their receptacle. Applying that range to a disposer leaves excess cord where the drain and disposal body can chafe it.
- DAny length up to 10 feet, provided the receptacle remains accessible
No cord length in this section is open-ended. Long cords under a sink are the classic setup for a pinched conductor behind a cabinet drawer or trap.
Why B is correct
The disposer cord range of 18 to 36 inches is short enough to prevent excess cord from coiling in the cabinet and long enough to let the unit drop out of the mounting ring for service. It is one condition among several, including the grounding-type plug and an accessible receptacle.
What this question is testing
This checks whether you know the specific cord-and-plug allowances that make an appliance connection legal, and whether you keep the disposer range separate from the dishwasher and compactor range.
On the job
Under a kitchen sink you often have a disposer and a dishwasher sharing the same cabinet, each with a different permitted cord range and its own receptacle rules. Mount the receptacle in the adjacent cabinet or on the side wall so it stays accessible and away from the drain, use the correct kit cord with the strain relief the appliance provides, and keep the plug end out of the wet zone under the trap. Local amendments sometimes address dishwasher receptacle placement, so confirm with the inspector on new construction.
Memory technique
Disposer measures in inches, 18 to 36; dishwasher measures in feet, 3 to 4.
Exam tip
Learn the three appliance cord ranges as a set, since exam questions routinely swap one appliance for another while keeping the same numbers.
Where to look it up
Article 422 Part II, the section on flexible cord connections for specific appliances, with separate paragraphs for disposers, dishwashers, and trash compactors.