What is true regarding the use of small-appliance branch circuits in kitchens?

The focus on small-appliance branch circuits in kitchens is essential for ensuring proper electrical design for safety and functionality. The accurate representation of these circuits is that they can supply multiple kitchens if they are separately wired. This means that as long as each kitchen has its own dedicated wiring, the circuit can serve multiple appliances across different kitchen spaces.

This adaptability is particularly important when addressing the expanding needs of modern kitchens, often found in homes with separate mother-in-law suites, guest houses, or in multi-family dwellings. By allowing for multiple kitchens on separate circuits, the NEC promotes flexibility while still adhering to safety standards, provided all installations are compliant with the code's requirements regarding circuit capacity and load management.

The other options highlight misconceptions about these circuits. For instance, stating that they can only supply one kitchen overlooks the potential for multiple circuits to be appropriately wired for different kitchen areas, which is not a limitation set by the NEC. Saying they must be 15A circuits doesn't account for the fact that while many small-appliance circuits can be 20A, they can also be designed to cater to the specific load requirements of appliances within the kitchen. As for being restricted to supplying only refrigerators, that would negate the broader purpose of small-appliance branch circuits,