Question: Power strips in kitchen
I have seen these power strips that pop up out of a counter in a kitchen, are these power strips Listed for use in kitchen counters? Are they intended to take the place of the small appliance branch circuit?
Answer
UL Lists power strips under the product category “Relocatable Power Taps (XBYS).” Guide Information for this product category can be found on UL’s Online Certification Directory atwww.ul.com/database, and on page 343 in the 2007 UL White Book.
There are some Listed relocatable power taps that have been investigated for use in kitchen counters. They are marked as suitable for use in kitchens and have been subjected to a spill test when the power tap is recessed into the counter with no attachment plugs inserted into the power tap. Relocatable power taps are not intended to be used as a substitute for fixed wiring and are not intended to replace the small appliance branch circuit as detailed inNEC210.52.
This information will be added to the Guide Information for Relocatable Power Taps (XBYS) in the 2008 UL White Book.
