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Tamper Resistant Receptacles

By
Home Inspector with Miller Home Inspection WA HI Inspector Lic. #209

Yesterday I encountered my first new construction home that was equipped with Tamper Resistant Receptacles. These new receptacles have built in spring loaded shutters which are designed to protect children, and are now being required by the 2008 National Electrical Code.

To me this is alot better than the plastic inserts, which each have to be removed for inspection/ testing. I did notice however that sometimes you have to wiggle your tester to insert it into the receptacle.

Photo from Leviton website.  Notice the distinctive "TR" stamped on the face of the outlet.

Leviton has a great display on how these work at their website and inspectors may be interested in their "Free" tamper resistant receptacle tester. See the link at their webpage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Haslett
Van Warren Home Inspections, NAHI CRI - Fort Knox, KY
Heartland of Kentuckynulls, Best Home Inspector

Harold, thanks for the information. I hadn't heard about these.

But, then again, in KY, we can't use the four-letter C word (code). It is expressly forbidden by the licensing statutes and regulations.

May 28, 2009 04:39 PM
Harold Miller
Miller Home Inspection - Stanwood, WA
Certified Professional Home Inspector

Always interesting to see what new things they come up with.

I don't use the C word in my reports either. I think your state has it right.

Thankfully it is not our job to determine whether homes meet codes. I am more than happy to let the code compliance guys handle that one. There are way too many variables for us to know what county or city is following which version(s) at what specific time.

May 28, 2009 06:49 PM