Schools add tamper-resistant receptacles throughout, emergency shutoffs in labs and shops, and controls students cannot switch off.
Space | Power | Switching | Lighting |
Classrooms | TR receptacles every 6–10 ft on perimeter walls; quads and AV power at the teaching wall; charging-cart circuits | Vacancy sensor with multi-button keypad at the door; second keypad at the teaching wall | Pendant rows 8–10 ft apart, parallel to the teaching wall; whiteboard row 2–4 ft from the board |
Science labs | GFCI within 6 ft of sinks; bench circuits through a teacher-reachable shutoff | Lighting keypad at the door; emergency power-off at the teacher station | Fixtures over benches, not over fume hoods; wet-listed near sinks |
CTE and shop rooms | 120 V and 208/240 V machine receptacles with emergency stops | Emergency stops at the teacher station and exits | High output over machines; guarded fixtures |
Gyms | TR; recessed or guarded receptacles; floor boxes for events | Key switch or keypad in a staff alcove | High-bays with wire guards at 1–1.5 times mounting height |
Auditoriums | TR; stage and AV power | House-light keypads at entries; theatrical console | House downlights on dimmers; aisle and step lights |
Corridors | TR; cleaning receptacles about every 50 ft | Scheduled; key switch overrides near the office | Vandal-resistant fixtures every 8–12 ft |
Restrooms | GFCI; TR | Ceiling occupancy sensors only | Vandal-resistant fixtures; light the mirror from the front |
9. Code quick reference
The hard limits that apply across all four building types.
Device | Limit | Reference |
Controls and receptacles in accessible spaces | Operable part 15–48 in above the floor; 44 in over counters deeper than 20 in | ADA 308 |
Switches | Handle grip no higher than 6 ft 7 in; none in tub or shower spaces; neutral at most switch locations | NEC 404.8, 404.4(C), 404.2(C) |
Switches over 300 V apart in one box | Barriers between devices | NEC 404.8(B) |
Receptacles near tubs and showers | None within 3 ft horizontally of the edge, up to 8 ft above the rim | NEC 406.9(C) |
Receptacles near sinks and in wet areas | GFCI within 6 ft of sinks, tubs and showers, and in kitchens, baths, outdoors and garages | NEC 210.8 |
Countertop receptacles | No face-up receptacles unless listed; island side receptacles do not count toward the countertop requirement | NEC 406.5, 210.52(C) |
Tamper-resistant receptacles | Required in dwellings, schools, childcare, hotels and similar; not above 5½ ft | NEC 406.12 |
Fixtures in the tub and shower zone | No pendants, track, cord-connected fixtures or fans within 3 ft horizontally and 8 ft vertically; others listed damp or wet | NEC 410.10(D) |
Closet fixtures | No open-lamp incandescent or pendants; 12 in clearance (surface) or 6 in (recessed) from storage space | NEC 410.16 |
Recessed fixtures in insulation | IC-rated, or 3 in from insulation and ½ in from combustibles | NEC 410.116 |
Headroom and protruding fixtures | 80 in clear over walkways; wall fixtures between 27 and 80 in project no more than 4 in | ADA 307 |
Egress lighting | 1 fc minimum on normal power; on emergency power, 1 fc average and 0.1 fc minimum | IBC 1008, NFPA 101 |