P
Pulse Beacon

Where do you have to use tamper resistant outlets

Author

John Castro

Published Apr 19, 2026

Tamper-resistant receptacles are also now required in hotel rooms, child care facilities, preschools, elementary education facilities, waiting areas in medical and dental clinics, dormitories, and waiting areas in any place of assembly, anywhere children may not be closely supervised.

Are tamper resistant outlets required by code?

Tamper-resistant (TR) receptacles were first required within the 2008 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC).

Do I need tamper resistant outlets in garage?

Receptacles for garage-door openers located more than 5½ feet above the floor are required to be tamper-resistant. Floor receptacles located more than 18 inches from the wall are required to be tamper-resistant, even though 210.52 does not specify these receptacles as required receptacles.

Do I have to replace outlets with tamper resistant?

1 Answer. Yes. If you’re not making changes, there’s no requirement to swap them out. If you are changing out the receptacles for any reason, you’ll have to install tamper resistant receptacles.

When should you use weather resistant outlets?

According to the NEC, all 15-amp and 20-amp, 125-volt and 250-volt non-locking receptacles installed in wet or damp locations shall be weather resistant receptacles. This means they should be installed in any area exposed to weather: Residential decks, porches, yards etc.

What's the difference between a tamper resistant outlet and a regular outlet?

The new tamper-resistant outlets look just like regular outlets but have an interior cover that will open only when the two prongs of a plug are inserted simultaneously. This prevents children from sticking something into one of the slots and getting burned or electrocuted.

Why is it important to install tamper resistant plug sockets in all bedrooms?

Each of the benefits of tamper-resistant outlets ensures your family’s health and safety. Dangers of electrocution drop, along with the risk of electrical fires caused by curious kids. Children may try to stick narrow objects into electrical outlets just to see what happens.

Where must GFCI receptacles be installed in residential garages?

GFCI protection is required for 125-volt to 250-volt receptacles supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to the ground. GFCI receptacles are required in bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, basements, laundry rooms and areas where a water source is present.

What is a tamper resistant GFCI outlet?

Outlets with a TR and GFCI rating are the safest outlets that you can install in your home, as they protect against potential electric shock. Tamper-Resistant Outlets. TR outlets protect the outlet from tampering and user from shock via spring-loaded shutters.

What is code for electrical outlets in garage?

As of the 2017 NEC, newly constructed garages need at least one dedicated 120-volt 20-amp circuit that serves only the garage. This circuit may also power receptacles mounted on the exterior of the garage.

Article first time published on

How far should receptacles be off the floor?

The standard height for wall outlet boxes is about 12 inches from the top of the floor covering to the bottom of the receptacle box (or 16 inches to the top of the box).

Do outdoor GFCI need to be WR?

You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a weather-resistant GFCI receptacle, and weatherproof covers for this style of receptacle are also easily found. Article 210.8(A)(3) of the National Electrical Code, says that outdoor receptacles must be GFCI protected.

Do I need weather resistant GFCI in garage?

Weather Resistant GFCI Required by 2008 National Electrical Code for use in damp or wet areas including: Patios, decks, porches, pool areas, garages, yards, and other outdoor damp locations. … When installing a weather resistant GFCI in a damp location remember that you must also use a weather resistant cover.

Do you need a special GFCI outlet for outside?

Outdoor electrical outlets differ from indoor outlets because they have watertight covers that protect the outlet even with a cord plugged in. Plus, the National Electrical Code requires all outdoor outlets to be GFCI outlets (ground fault circuit interrupter outlets).

Are tamper resistant outlets required in Ontario?

The updated code requires new homes to have tamper-resistant receptacles, designed to prevent children from inserting objects like hairpins, keys and nails that could cause them to receive a shock.

Do commercial buildings need tamper resistant outlets?

Commercial buildings do not need tamper-resistant outlets. Such outlets help protect against things like electric shock and are only required in places where children under seven visit frequently, such as pediatric rooms, playrooms, and residential buildings.

How do you beat tamper resistant outlets?

If your tamper resistant outlet won’t open, there’s some consolation. These outlets loosen up with use. After installation, the best solution is simply to use the outlet a lot. Plug something in and unplug it about 100 times to loosen the outlet up.

How do self grounding outlets work?

Self-grounding outlets are three-prong outlets that automatically ground to the outlet metal box they are attached to via the mounting screws on the outlet assembly, or via a green pigtail wire from the outlet assembly that is screwed to the metal outlet box.

Should outlets under sink be GFCI?

210.8(A) requires receptacles serving the kitchen countertop to be GFCI protected. It also requires GFCI protection for receptacles within 6′ of a sink, but only sinks not in a kitchen.

Do I need AFCI in garage?

The 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) requires the protection of an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) for 15 and 20 amp circuits in all newly built residential areas, but they are not needed in bathrooms, garages, or outdoor areas.

Does a refrigerator need a GFCI?

Residential Kitchen In a dwelling unit (residential), GFCI protection is only required for kitchen receptacles that serve the countertop surfaces. There’s no requirement to GFCI protect receptacles that serve a refrigerator. Unless the fridge is plugged into a countertop receptacle.

Does a detached garage need GFCI outlets?

Electrical outlets in detached garages must be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).

How many outlets do I need for a 2 car garage?

The basic rule for garage receptacles is that one receptacle outlet needs to be installed in each vehicle bay and not more than 5 ½ feet above the floor.

Where are AFCI breakers required?

AFCI protection is currently required for all 15 and 20 amp branch circuits providing power to outlets* in residential family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, and similar rooms or areas.

How high should receptacles be in a garage?

Garage electrical outlet location: In the garage electrical outlets should be 18″ or more above floor level.

Do bathroom outlets need to be on a dedicated circuit?

Although a bathroom may seem like a small space that might effectively be served by a circuit extension off an adjoining room, the NEC now requires at least two dedicated circuits for each bathroom: A 20-amp receptacle circuit for plug-in appliances. … Light fixtures and wall switches must be on a separate circuit.

What is code for outlet spacing?

The US National Electrical Code, Section 210.52, states that there should be an electrical outlet in every kitchen, bedroom, living room, family room, and any other room that has dedicated living space. They must be positioned at least every twelve feet measured along the floor line.

Do outdoor receptacles need AFCI?

AFCI protection is not required for outlets located outside or in garages or bathroom areas.

What does WR on an outlet mean?

Weather-Resistant Receptacles (WR): All 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in damp or wet locations are now required to be approved and marked as weather-resistant (WR).

Does the NEC require the receptacle to be installed on the porch?

2020 NEC 210.52(E)(3) The revised Code now requires that a receptacle be installed to serve the balcony, deck, or porch when the balcony, deck, or porch is within 4 inches of the dwelling unit. …

What happens if GFCI gets wet?

Even after a wet GFCI outlet dries out, there are chances that it might have suffered corrosion and affected the other wires in the wall. Before restoring electricity, it is essential to call an electrician for an inspection. They will either repair the outlet or replace it altogether to ward off any possible hazard.