A TECHNICAL REPORT ON GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT

INTERRUPTERS (GFCIs) APPLICATION AND STANDARD USE

ABSTRACT
This
presentation
covers
the
application and standard use of
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
(GFCIs) in electrical system as
defined under Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA)
General Electrical Standard and as
prescribed by the UL Standard and
National Electrical Code.
Introduction
The use of electricity in and around
homes, commercial and industrial
spaces has been a great benefit in
increasing mans work load as well
as
providing
comfort
and
entertainment. As with the good
things, such use of electric power
poses problems that cannot be
avoided. Among these problems
are the possibilities of accidental
electrocution and fire hazards.
What are GFCIs?
A GFCI is an inexpensive electrical
device that can either be installed
in electrical system or built into a
power cord to protect people from
severe electrical shocks. It is a
device that detects any leakage
current in an electrical circuit and
trips the circuit whenever the
leakage current is greater than 5
mA. Greater use of GFCI could
further reduce electrocutions and

mitigate thousands of electrical

burns and shock related injuries.
Ground fault protection is
integrated into GFCI receptacles
and GFCI circuit breakers for
installation into electrical system,
especially for circuit outlets in
particular vulnerable areas such as
where electrical equipment is near
water. GFCI is a device that protect
against
injury,
shock
and
electrocution hazard. The term
GFCI is to mean personnel
protection as defined by the UL
specification.
Three types of GFCIs used at
work sites:
a. GFCI Receptacle used in
place
of
standard
receptacle.
b. Portable GFCI when
plugged into a standard
receptacle
converts
a
standard receptacle into a
GFCI receptacle.
c.
GFCI Circuit Breaker
combines leakage current
detection
with
the
function
of
a
circuit
breaker.
Standard Rules for Installation
of GFCI
Occupational
Health
and
Safety Regulation
Section
19.15(1)
of
the
Occupational Health and Safety

Regulation states: When used

outdoors or in wet or damp
location,
portable
electrical
equipment, including temporary
lighting, must be protected by an
approved ground fault circuit
interrupter of the Class A type
installed at the receptacle or on the
circuit at the panel, unless another
acceptable means of protection is
provided.
The
portable
electrical
equipment referred to in Section
19.15(1) includes extension cords
and power tools that are used on
120 volts system at 20 amperes or
less are not hot wired to a
permanent electrical system.
National
Electrical
Code
(NEC)
The circuits that require GFCI
protection are designated by the
National Electrical Code (NEC). The
NEC typically only applies to a new
construction or major renovations.
The coverage of GFCI protection
has gradually increased over the
years.
The National Electrical Codes
(NEC) National Fire Protection
Associations (NFPA) 70 requires
GFCIs for receptacles located
outdoors, near swimming pools and
vending machines; and also in
bathrooms,
garages,
kitchens,
crawl spaces, and near laundry
machines and utility sinks.

In
educational
facilities,
places where the installations of
GFCIs are recommended include:
Science laboratories: Lab
table sinks that include
electrical outlets
Home
economics
rooms:
Kitchen counters with sinks
with electrical outlets
Industrial arts shops: Ideally,
the circuit for the entire shop
should be protected. Often
shops have overhead doors,
allowing water to be tracked
into the work area
Fine arts classrooms: Potters
wheels use water to shape
the clay; if the wheel is
powered by an electrical
motor,
protection
is
necessary
Swimming
pools:
The
requirements for electrical
wiring in or adjacent to pools
and spas are provided in the
National
Electrical
Code
(NEC), which should be
consulted by a qualified
person.
Specific NEC requirements for
GFCIs include: 125 volt receptacles
within twenty feet of the inside
walls
of
the
pool,
lighting
fixtures/outlets in the pool area
between five feet and ten feet from
the inside wall of the pool, and
motors/controllers
used
in
electrically operated pool covers.

Locker rooms: Sinks with

electrical outlets for hair
dryers, etc.
Electrical outlets on the
building
exterior:
Receptacles that are not part
of the permanent wiring of
the building (such outlets
hooked
into
portable
generators for carnivals and
similar temporary outdoor
uses) should have GFCIs
Wet or damp environments
or where electrical devices
could contact fluids
NEC
GFCI
requirements
(and
effective date):
a. Underwater
pooling
lighting (since 1968)
b. Receptacles:
o Outdoors (since 1973)
o Bathrooms
(since
1975)
o Garages (since 1978)
o Kitchens (since 1987)
o Crawl Spaces and
unfinished basements
(since 1990)
o Wet bar sinks (since
1993)
o Laundry and utility
sinks (since 2005)
Also consider portable GFCI
protection:
a. Whenever
operating
electrically

powered
garden
equipment
(mower,
hedge
timer,
edger, etc.)

b. With electric tolls (drills,

saws, sanders, etc.) for do
it yourself work
What are the NEW RULES for
GFCIs
Occupational
Safety
and
Health
Administration
(OSHA)
OSHAs recent changes to General
Industry 29CFR1910 Subpart S,
Article 1910.304(b)(3) defines GFCI
usage for all of General Industry
and establishes a need for a
different class of GFCIs, GFCIs for
voltage over 150 V. prior to this
new regulation OSHA did not
require
GFCIs
protection
for
voltages above 220V, single phase
for General Industry. Today there is
a lot more equipment requiring
higher voltages because they need
a significant amount of power with
better efficiency.
From
Subpart
S,
Article
1910.304(b)(3)(ii)
The following requirements
apply
to
temporary
wiring
installations that are used during
construction

like
activities,
including
certain
maintenance,
remodeling, or repair activities
involving buildings, structures or
equipment.
This
includes
extension
cords, quad boxes, spider boxes,
portable distribution panels AND
anything not part of a buildings
permanent wiring.

used by employees
receptacles.
From
Subpart
S,
Article
1910.304(b)(3)(ii)(A)
All 125 Volt, single phase,
15,
20,
and
30
Ampere
receptacle outlets that are not part
of the permanent wiring of the
building or structure and that are in
use by personnel shall have ground
fault interrupter protection for
personnel.
From
Subpart
S,
Article
1910.304(b)(3)(ii)(B)
Receptacles other than 125
Volt, single phase, 15, 20, and
30 Ampere receptacle outlets that
are not part of the permanent
wiring of the building or structure
and that are in use by personnel
shall have ground fault interrupter
protection for personnel.
From
Subpart
S,
Article
1910.304(b)(3)(ii)(C)
Where the ground fault
circuit
interrupter
protection
required by paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(B)
of this section is not available for r
Receptacles other than 125 Volt,
single phase, 15, 20, and 30
Ampere,
the
employer
shall
establish
and
implement
an
assured
equipment
grounding
conductor program covering cord
sets, receptacles that are not a part
of the building or structure, and
equipment connected by cord and
plug that are available for use or

on

those

Where GFCI Should Be Used

NEC 305 6 specifies GFCIs shall
be used for 15, 20, and 30
Ampere temporary wiring and must
be specified by UL or other
qualified testing organizations. If a
receptacle is installed as part of the
permanent wiring and used for
temporary
electrical
power,
portable GFCI is required.
Examples of 1910.304(b)(3)
(ii) Applications:
Municipal/Institutional:
Wastewater Treatment Plants,
Electricity
Generating
Plants,
Airports, Subway, Train and Bus
Stations, Hotels, Restaurants and
Convention Centers.
Exemptions for the Use of GFCI
OSHA ground fault protection rules
and
regulations
have
been
determined
necessary
and
appropriate for the employees
safety and health. It is the
employers responsibility to provide
either: (a) GFCI on construction
sites for receptacle outlets in use
and not part of the permanent
wiring of the building or structure;
or (b) a scheduled and recorded
assured
equipment
grounding
conductor program covering all
cord sets, receptacles which are
not part of permanent wiring of the
building
or
structure,
and
equipment connected to cord and

plug which are available for use or

used by the concerned personnel.
CONCLUSION
The GFCIs work by detecting the
leakage current through a ground
fault than can cause electrical
shock. GFCIs in practice is used or
installed
whenever
temporary
power is used (for example,
whenever extension cords are used
rated 120V single phase 15 to 30
Amperes) and devices are also
installed along receptacle outlets
located in wet and damp locations
to mitigate accidental shocks and
electrocution.

REFERENCES:
Ground Fault Protection on
Construction
Sites.
US
Department
of
Labor
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration.
OSHA
3007,
1998.
Risk Topics. Zurich Services
Corporation, Sept. 2011
CPSC Fact Sheet. Consumers
Product Safety Commision, USA.

Antman, Steve, et al. New Rules

for Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupters. IEEE Paper No.
ESW2011 03.
National Electrical Code. City of
Phoenix Amendments to the
2008 National Electrical Code
(Approved April 1, 2009)
2011 National Electrical Code
(NEC) Updates Standard for the
Safe Installation of Electrical
Equipment
http://www.metlabs.com/blog
/product-safety/2011national-electrical-code-necupdates-standard-for-thesafe-installation-of-electricalequipment/
Occupational Safety & Health
Administration

US
Department of Labor
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/et
ools/construction/electrical_in
cidents/gfci.html
NEC Requirements for GroundFault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)
http://ecmweb.com/codebasics/nec-requirementsground-fault-circuitinterrupters-gfci?page=1