ICC Residential Electrical Inspectors Practice Exam

According to NEC 210.11(C)(3), what should be the number of branch circuits provided for specific areas in a dwelling?

1. One for each room

2. At least two for kitchens

3. One for bathroom receptacle outlets

4. Three for living rooms

The correct answer is: One for bathroom receptacle outlets

The National Electrical Code (NEC) provides guidelines for adequate electrical circuits to ensure safety and functionality within residential dwellings. According to NEC 210.11(C)(3), when addressing branch circuits for specific areas in a dwelling, especially for bathrooms, it is mandated to have at least one dedicated circuit for bathroom receptacle outlets. This is crucial because bathrooms often have higher safety risks due to the presence of water, and dedicated circuits help to prevent overloading and ensure that other circuits in the home are not affected by the heavy demand that might be placed on the bathroom receptacles. The requirement for one circuit ensures that the bathroom can accommodate necessary appliances such as hair dryers or electric shavers without creating an overload condition on a circuit shared with other areas of the home. This dedicated approach enhances user safety and complies with NEC regulations, which prioritize minimizing potential electrical hazards in wet areas. The other options reflect practices that are not specifically mandated in the same way or do not align with NEC standards as clearly. For instance, kitchens typically require at least two circuits, but this is addressed under different sections of the code, reflecting higher power demands due to appliances rather than just outlets. Therefore, while option C aligns with NEC’s clear directive for bathroom receptacles, the