A refrigerator may be supplied by a separate 15-amp circuit. Which NEC citation allows this?

A refrigerator may be supplied by a separate 15-amp circuit. Which NEC citation allows this?

• A. 210.52(B)(1) Exception 2
• B. 310.16(A)
• C. 310.15(B)
• D. 210.22(B)(2) Exception 1

Answer: (A)

The situation tests the allowance for a dedicated refrigerator circuit in a kitchen. In dwelling kitchens, two small-appliance branch circuits are required to serve countertop receptacles. However, there’s an explicit exception that lets the refrigerator be supplied by its own separate circuit, typically 15 A, and this circuit is not counted among the required small-appliance circuits. That exact language is found in 210.52(B)(1) Exception 2, which is why this citation is the correct one for allowing a separate 15-amp refrigerator circuit. The other code references deal with conductor ampacity and general receptacle rules, not with enabling a dedicated refrigerator circuit, so they don’t apply to this scenario.

The situation tests the allowance for a dedicated refrigerator circuit in a kitchen. In dwelling kitchens, two small-appliance branch circuits are required to serve countertop receptacles. However, there’s an explicit exception that lets the refrigerator be supplied by its own separate circuit, typically 15 A, and this circuit is not counted among the required small-appliance circuits. That exact language is found in 210.52(B)(1) Exception 2, which is why this citation is the correct one for allowing a separate 15-amp refrigerator circuit. The other code references deal with conductor ampacity and general receptacle rules, not with enabling a dedicated refrigerator circuit, so they don’t apply to this scenario.