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General Electrical Requirements

By
Home Inspector

Just some information on general electrical requirement:

 

RECEPTACLE SPACING

Within 6-feet of the edge of any door

Not more than 12-feet apart along wall

At all wall spaces 24" or more wide

Within 24" of edge of sink, range, refrigerator, and end of counter

Not more than 4-feet apart along counter top

At all counter spaces 12" or more wide

At all kitchen island counter spaces

At all kitchen peninsula countertops

KITCHEN:

Not more than 20" above countertops

BATHROOM:

Within 3-feet of each basin

GARAGE:

A minimum of 1 receptacle required in garage

HALLWAY:

1 receptacle required for hallways 10-feet or more in length

OUTDOOR:

1 receptacle required at the front and back of dwelling, located less than 6-1/2 feet above grade

H. V. A. C.:

1 receptacle within 25-feet on air conditioning unit.

 

G. F. C. I. RECEPTACLES

KITCHEN: All kitchen countertop receptacles must be GFCI protected

OUTDOOR: All outdoor receptacles must be GFCI protected

GARAGE: All general purpose garage receptacle must be GFCI protected

BATHROOM: All bathroom receptacles must GFCI protected

WET BAR SINK: Receptacles within 6-feet of sink must be GFCI protected

WORKSHOP: Receptacles in grade level workshop/storage buildings must be GFCI protected

 

A. F. C. I. (ARC-FAULT) OUTLETS

BEDROOM: All bedroom/sleeping area outlets must be AFCI protected

 

BATHROOM CIRCUIT

AMPERAGE: Minimum of 1 - 20 amp circuit

DEDICATED: Circuit supplying more than one bathroom cannot supply any fan, light,

or receptacle, other than the bathroom receptacle(s)

 

WASHING MACHINE CIRCUIT

SIZE: 20-amp circuit

DEDICATED: Circuit cannot supply any light, receptacle, etc. other than washing machine receptacle

 

KITCHEN CIRCUITS

SIZE: 20-amp rating for all kitchen receptacle circuits.

# OF CIRCUITS: Minimum of 2 - 20 amp circuits to supply kitchen

 

NAIL PLATES

HOLES: Required where edge of hole is less than 1-1/4 inch from face of stud.

NOTCHES: Nail plates required over all notches for wiring.

P. V. C. Required where PVC piping is less than 1-1/4 inch from face of stud.

 

ATTICS

SCUTTLE HOLE: Wiring stapled to sides of rafters/ joists within 6-ft of the attic entrance.

SPACING: Attic wiring must be stapled not more than 4-1/2 feet apart.

BOXES: Wiring must be stapled within 12-inches of each box.

 

WALLS

PLASTIC BOXES: Wiring must be stapled within 8-inches of plastic wall boxes.

METAL BOXES: Wiring must be stapled within 12-inches of metal wall boxes.

STUDS: Wiring must be stapled 1-1/4 inch from the face of the stud.

SPACING: Wiring must be stapled not more than 4-1/2 feet apart along studs.

 

EXPOSED WIRING

WALLS: Exposed wires in wall must be protected with PVC or EMT up to 8-ft above floor

ATTIC: Protection required within 6-feet of scuttle hole (unless run on side of joist).

OUTSIDE: Exterior wiring must be protected up to 8-feet above grade.

 

UNDERGROUND WIRING

UNDER SLAB: Must be in conduit (PVC) until outside of building.

BELOW GRADE: Must be protected by conduit to a depth of 18-inches minimum.

ABOVE GRADE: Must be protected by conduit up to 8-feet above grade.

 

BURIAL DEPTH

SERVICE CABLE: 24-inches deep to top of cable

U. F. ROMEX 24-inches deep to top of romex

P. V. C. 18-inches deep to top of conduit

RIGID CONDUIT: 6-inches deep to top of conduit

DRIVEWAYS: All wiring under driveways must be 24-inches deep minimum.

 

ALUMINUM WIRING

CORROSION: All aluminum wires must have oxidation inhibitor at terminations.

SPLICES: Copper & aluminum can only be spliced with split bolt connectors rated for that use.

 

SMOKE DETECTORS

WHERE REQUIRED:

1. In each sleeping room.

2. Outside each sleeping area (in immediate vicinity).

3. Each story of the dwelling unit.

POWER: Smoke detectors must be hardwired and have battery backup

WIRING: Smoke detectors must be interconnected to activate all detectors at once

 

P. V. C.

COLOR: All electrical PVC must be gray in color and UL listed for electrical use.

 

FOOTER GROUND

REBAR: #4 ground wire must be connected to 20-foot length of rebar in footer and

extended to the outside for connection to the ground rod.

 

CLOTHES CLOSETS

OPEN BULB: Open bulb incandescent fixtures are not allowed in clothes closets.

INCANDESCENT: Enclosed incandescent fixtures must be at least 12" from storage areas.

RECESSED: Recessed fixtures must be at least 6" from storage areas.

FLUORESCENT: Fluorescent fixtures must be at least 6" from storage areas (shelves).

 

ATTICS:

LIGHTS: A switched light must be installed in all attics used for storage.

HVAC: A receptacle and light is required in all attics containing HVAC equipment.

 

REQUIRED LIGHTING

BATROOMS: Wall switched light fixture required.

KITCHENS: Wall switched light fixture required.

STAIRWAYS: Light fixture required switched at top and bottom of stairs.

HALLWAYS: Wall switched light fixture required.

GARAGES: Wall switched light fixture required.

DOORWAYS: Light fixture required at each exterior doorway.

OTHER: Bedroom, living rooms, etc. may have switched receptacle instead of light.

 

4-WIRE CIRCUITS

RANGE: Ranges require a 4-wire circuit, 4-wire receptacle, and 4-wire cord.

DRYER: Ranges require a 4-wire circuit, 4-wire receptacle, and 4-wire cord

SUB PANEL: Sub panels require a 4-wire supply with a separate ground buss at sub panel.

 

GROUND ROD

LENGTH: 8-feet long minimum.

GALVANIZED: Galvanized ground rods must be 5/8" minimum diameter.

COPPER: Copper ground rods must be 1/2" minimum diameter.

PIPE: Galvanized pipe ground rods must be 3/4" minimum diameter.

CLAMP: Ground clamps at, or below grade, must rated for below ground use.

DEPTH: Ground rods must be driven full depth into earth.

Anonymous
Darrell Harrison

Good stuff, quick and to the point. Thanks for sharing.

Aug 22, 2008 02:19 PM
#1