In a basement with three separate unfinished areas, each with a perimeter of 30 feet, what is the minimum number of receptacles?

In a basement with three separate unfinished areas, each with a perimeter of 30 feet, what is the minimum number of receptacles?

• A. 9
• B. 3
• C. 1
• D. 6

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is about how many receptacle outlets are required to provide convenient power access along wall spaces. In finished, habitable spaces, the rule is that no point along the wall should be more than six feet from a receptacle, which effectively means outlets need to be spaced along the walls so that gaps don’t exceed about twelve feet between outlets. However, these are unfinished basement areas. Unfinished spaces aren’t treated the same as habitable rooms for the purpose of that spacing rule, so the minimum requirement is much simpler: at least one receptacle in each separate unfinished area to provide power access. With three separate unfinished areas, you need one receptacle in each area, giving a total of three outlets. If those areas had been finished living spaces, the six-foot rule would push you to place more outlets along the walls (roughly three per 30-foot perimeter in each area, totaling more outlets). But for this scenario, the minimum is one per unfinished area, which equals three outlets in total.

The key idea here is about how many receptacle outlets are required to provide convenient power access along wall spaces. In finished, habitable spaces, the rule is that no point along the wall should be more than six feet from a receptacle, which effectively means outlets need to be spaced along the walls so that gaps don’t exceed about twelve feet between outlets.

However, these are unfinished basement areas. Unfinished spaces aren’t treated the same as habitable rooms for the purpose of that spacing rule, so the minimum requirement is much simpler: at least one receptacle in each separate unfinished area to provide power access. With three separate unfinished areas, you need one receptacle in each area, giving a total of three outlets.

If those areas had been finished living spaces, the six-foot rule would push you to place more outlets along the walls (roughly three per 30-foot perimeter in each area, totaling more outlets). But for this scenario, the minimum is one per unfinished area, which equals three outlets in total.