Fridge on non-GFCI circuit. Does it need its own circuit/breaker?

Question

My Fridge trips my GFCI circuit breakers. I'm setting it up on its own circuit. Does it have to be the only thing on the circuit and breaker or can I run the circuit to other plugs like my water chiller (which has not yet set off the GFCI...). Or can it be the first run in a circuit with past outlets GFIC protected at the outlet? Since my walls aren't covered yet, I'm able to run the extra circuit. I doubt most folks are in this position with a fridge that seems to daily trip the GFCI breaker

Answer 1

In my jurisdiction I can use a standard breaker then put a GFCI receptacle for the kitchen counters.

If you have both a fridge and a chiller on the circuit that will max out most circuits so I would run a separate circuit for the chiller and fridge to be on that 20 amp branch circuit and the other receptacles on its own circuit.

Unfortunately I see a lot of fridges and clothes washers that trip the modern breakers.

Answer 2

I think your question is based on a little misunderstanding of what NEC requirements are. The relevant NEC paragraphs say:

210.8(A) Dwelling Units. All 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles installed in the locations specified in 210.8(A)(1) through (A)⁠(11) and supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

(6) Kitchens — where the receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces

(7) Sinks — where receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) from the top inside edge of the bowl of the sink

There is no requirement for the fridge to be on a dedicated circuit unless the instructions that come with the fridge say so. (NEC 110.3(B))

The Small Appliance Section 210.52 requires kitchen outlets to be 20A, but there is an exception that allows 15A dedicated circuits to feed an appliance like a fridge, you could not extend that to your water cooler since it would be no longer dedicated. That section doesn't effect GFCI requirements.

There is no special requirement or exception regarding for GFCI for a fridge. If the behind the fridge it can be considered to not be serving countertop surfaces, if within 6' of the sink protection it is required.

It also doesn't say how to provide the protection. You can use breakers, load terminals from the first receptacle on the circuits, or feed all the j-boxes unprotected and protect each outlet with individual receptacles.

Since 2014 the NEC has required the GFCI reset to be "readily accessible", which to "remove obstacle" doesn't satisfy the NEC definition, so to protect a dedicated receptacle behind a fridge without using a GFCI breaker you would need to place a dead face GFCI adjacent to the fridge. You could extend that fridge circuit from load or line side of the dead face to any receptacle in the kitchen, pantry or dining type area. The requirement for GFCI protection for those receptacles would need to be evaluated individually.