I wanted to eliminate backsplash outlets only to have holes cut into my lower cabinets. Contractor says this is code for Atlanta GA

Question

My house is on a slab with the electrical coming from the ceiling. I thought that using the outlet strips and having them hard wired with the connections being accessible through the fixture would avoid unnecessary holes in the cabinetry. Instead, the contractor lowered the existing backsplash outlets into the bottom cabinets!! I do not understand how this could possibly be code as he insists since there was more wire added behind the wall to extend these outlets to the cabinet interior!! I feel like my expensive cabinets have been trashed and there is a hazard with the outlets being accessible to foreign objects or fingers. Can anyone explain?

Answer 1

Code allows receptacles almost anywhere. But normally you have (and I think code requires) receptacles in a kitchen every 4' (certain exceptions around doors, appliances, etc.) in accessible places. I understand that to mean:

• backsplash (most common)
• in the countertop (though I don't recommend that because they can get wet too easily)
• on the end of a base cabinet just below the counter (I have one of those, very convenient)
• on the bottom (i.e., accessible from underneath) of top cabinets
• hanging down from the ceiling (unusual, but can work well for islands)

Anything inside a cabinet (top or base) is a problem because you will inevitably put stuff inside the cabinet which will block the receptacle. Plus most cords running from inside the cabinet to the counter will not be long enough as the 4' distance is based on cords being 2 to 3 feet long, and much of that will be used up just getting from the door to the receptacle.

So this all sounds a bit messed up. I'm not worried about the look (not my cabinets...) but I am worried about the functionality.