I'm renovating my kitchen and I want to add USB outlets to charge my phone and tablet near the countertop. My electrician is telling me everything has to go in conduit, but I've seen houses where it's just exposed along the wall. Is it really mandatory or is it just for aesthetics?
You really shouldn't leave cables exposed near the countertop, it's not just about following the rules! In the kitchen with the humidity, splashes and everything, cable ducts really protect your cables from wear and tear and short-circuit risks.
That said, if your electrician suggests a duct that's too visible and ruins your décor, you can look into more discreet ducts like white ones or ones built into the baseboards - they look way better aesthetically!
The USB outlets themselves with a good cover or a small wall box, that's also a solution to keep them dry while still having easy access.
It's not just about looks, your electrician is right. The conduit is mandatory according to NFC 15-100 standard, especially in a kitchen where there's moisture and splash risks.
The exposed stuff you see at people's places is often old installations or ones that don't meet code, and honestly it's not worth risking electrocution or fire just to avoid a plastic tube. The conduit isn't expensive and barely shows with a bit of paint in the same color, so trust your guy.
Your electrician is right, conduit really isn't just for looks 🔌 In a kitchen with humidity and splashing water, exposed cables degrade fast and it's a real electrocution risk. What you usually see in houses without conduit is generally a "rustic" setup or stuff that dates back before current standards. If you're doing a renovation, you might as well do it properly and follow NFC 15-100, you won't regret it - it protects your installation and gets you compliant with insurance requirements 😊
The conduit really isn't optional in a kitchen - it's required by code and it protects your cables from moisture that could damage them. One thing people often forget: if you install a USB outlet directly into the countertop (like recessed into the surface), you completely avoid the problem of cables running visibly everywhere and it stays accessible. Otherwise you need to go with the conduit, sorry but your electrician's giving you the right advice.
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