You need to determine more carefully what requirements must be met.
There are two different ground fault concerns in the code. Ground Fault
Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are used for protection of personnel from
electrical shock and are needed in wet areas. Ground fault protection of
equipment is required for motor circuits but this protection is for the
wiring and motor, not protection against electric shock. GFCIs are not
necessarily required simply by the presence of plumbing.
GFCIs are for protection of personnel from electric shock due to wet
conditions. GFCI protection is generally required for receptacles due to
the poor dependability of portable circuits and grounding. Only in some
areas like pools are additional permanently installed equipments
required to provide protection from shock.
The NEC (NFPA 70-2012) requires GFCIs in the locations below. The code
in effect is the one adopted by Tennessee which may be this or an
earlier version of NFPA 70 and may have modifications.
The GFCI and/or motor ground fault protection is usually part of the
site installation done by the local electrician. That generally makes it
a burden on the owner, not the product manufacturer unless the product
codes require it to be built in. Which GFCI or motor protectors to
choose would often depend on the brand of electrical panel involved.
The following locations require GFCIs to some extent. There are
exceptions and limitations. Sometimes 120V receptacles are required.
Sometimes circuits must be protected.
Bathrooms
Garages
Crawl spaces
Unfinished Basements
Kitchens
Sinks
Boathouses
Boat Hoists
Indoor wet locations
Showers
Garages
Rooftops
Outdoors
Drinking Fountains
Spray Washers
Vending Machines
Hydromassage Units
Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs
Fountains
Marinas
Bodies of Water
Electric Signs
Electrified parking spaces
Elevators and lifts
Space Heating Cables
Construction Sites -
Health Care Facilities
Mobile Homes
Recreational Vehicles
Pipeline Heating
Aircraft Hangers
Bob Johnson
ITE Safety <www.itesafety.com>
On 04/13/2012 10:22 AM, Kunde, Brian wrote:
Our company makes a 230VAC product (laboratory/light industrial) that
has a water connection. We received word from a customer in Tennessee,
USA, who says the NEC and/or the Tennessee Electric Code requires a
GFCI be used with this product. We are not experts in the NEC so can
anyone confirm this to be true? We did not know GFCI were required for
non-consumer products.
Our product uses a Frequency Drive to speed control a 2hp motor. EMI
from the drive causes false trips in the GFCI. On a similar 115VAC
product we found GFCI based on the 2006 requirements worked just fine
as was immune to the EMI caused by a Frequency Drive, but we cannot
find such a reference on 230VAC GFCI.
Can anyone suggest a 230VAC 2 pole GFCI that is immune to EMI from
Frequency Drives?
Does the NEC allow for an alternative for a GFCI such as adding a
secondary earthed ground bonding conductor or wiring the power cord
direct?
Thank you all for your help.
The Other Brian
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