Electrical code updates: What homeowners need to know

This is the time of year when people start planning spring home improvement projects and home renovations, and with those come electrical code updates.

If you are a homeowner and you are considering updating your home, you’ll need to understand electrical code updates – and how to handle them.

Most good contractors or qualified electricians will tell you about code updates, but not everyone is honest or knowledgeable. So here is what you need to know. Read on:

What are electrical code updates?

When you renovate or remodel a home, especially if electrical is involved (and it often is!), your contractor has to follow certain rules and regulations from federal officials. What means is, they have to make sure they are using certain types of outlets, boxes, grounding wires and protections depending on the room of the house and whether its indoors or outdoors.

What are some updates I need to know about?

Depending on where in the home, these updates can vary. In a kitchen, for example, there are generally a lot of devices and appliances that use power like your refrigerator or your toaster oven. So you need a certain number of circuits, GFIC protection and different voltages depending on what you are plugging in. Bathrooms also have a high number of requirements, mainly due to the proximity to water (as we all know, water and electricity DO NOT mix). In a bathroom, you’ll need GFCI protected outlets and your lights need to be rated for damp environments, for example.

Your laundry room, living room and bedrooms will also have certain requirements.

These National Electrical Code (or NEC) regulations are put out annually by the National Fire Protection Agency (NEPA). It’s adopted in all 50 states and sets the benchmark for safe electrical design, installation and inspection to protect people and property from electrical hazards.

Quality Electric

If you have questions about your home’s electrical system, we can send an expert Ohio electrician out to do an inspection. Contact us today and let one of our experts explain your options.