If there is a non-functional stove or evidence of the prior installation of a stove can a microwave be a primary cooking source?

• A. Yes
• B. Not allowed
• C. No
• D. Only if the microwave is UL listed

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that the primary cooking source in a kitchen must be a functional cooking appliance, typically a stove or range. A microwave is considered a secondary appliance used for reheating or limited cooking, not the main cooking surface required by NSPIRE. If the stove is non-functional or there’s evidence a stove was previously installed, you cannot designate a microwave as the primary cooking source because it cannot fulfill the role of the main, fully capable cooking appliance. UL listing does not change this; safety listing ensures electrical compliance, but it doesn’t make a microwave the primary cooking appliance. In this situation, the standard would require addressing the non-functional stove and not relying on the microwave as the primary source.