Which statement is true about GFCI protection for kitchen countertops?

• A. They require GFCI protection
• B. They require AFCI protection instead of GFCI
• C. They require no protection
• D. They require GFCI only in bedrooms

Answer: (A)

GFCI protection is required for kitchen countertops because those outlets are used in wet or damp conditions and near sinks, where the risk of electric shock is higher. A GFCI quickly detects any difference between the current going out on the hot conductor and the returning current on the neutral, and it trips the circuit in a fraction of a second. That rapid disconnection helps prevent a severe shock if a person accidentally creates a path to ground through a wet hand or a spill.

The rule is that receptacles serving kitchen countertops must be GFCI protected, including outlets on islands and peninsulas that serve countertop surfaces. This protection is a fundamental safety requirement, separate from other protections like AFCI, which guards against arc faults but does not replace the need for GFCI in these locations.

So, the true statement is that kitchens require GFCI protection for countertop receptacles. The other options aren’t correct because: there is protection in kitchens, not none; it isn’t limited to bedrooms; and AFCI does not substitute for GFCI in this scenario.