According to NEC® minimum requirements, how many receptacles should be installed along a 15-foot long kitchen countertop in a house?

In residential kitchen design, the National Electrical Code (NEC) specifies the number of receptacles that must be installed to ensure adequate access to power for small appliances. According to NEC requirements, for a countertop that is 15 feet long, there must be at least one receptacle outlet for every 4 feet of countertop space.

When you have a 15-foot long countertop, you can calculate the required number of receptacles by dividing the length of the countertop by the spacing requirement. Therefore, 15 feet divided by 4 feet yields 3.75. According to NEC guidelines, when this calculation results in a fraction, you must round up to the next whole number, as each section of the countertop that requires a receptacle needs at least one outlet.

Consequently, rounding 3.75 results in 4 receptacles being necessary to meet the NEC standards. This ensures that even with appliances placed on different sections of the countertop, there is adequate access to power without reliance on extension cords, which can create safety hazards. Thus, the correct answer reflects compliance with these NEC requirements.