Which protective feature is specified for outdoor installations where required?

• A. Weatherproof enclosures
• B. No protection outdoors
• C. GFCI protection is required for outdoor installations where specified.
• D. Outdoor installations require only standard indoor outlets.

Answer: (C)

Outdoor installations pose a higher shock risk because of moisture and wet conditions, so the protection focus is on fast fault protection. GFCI protection continuously monitors the current flowing in the hot and neutral conductors and trips the circuit the moment it detects any imbalance, usually in well under a second. This rapid disconnection dramatically reduces the chance of severe shock if a person comes into contact with a live part that is also wet or grounded.

Weatherproofing and enclosures matter for durability and environmental protection, but they don’t provide the electrical fault protection that GFCI offers. When the code specifies outdoor locations, GFCI protection is the required protective feature to reduce shock hazard, making it the best answer for outdoor installations.