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Electrical Code Updates

Electrical hazards result in tens of thousands of residential and commercial accidents and house fires each year.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that electric wiring problems cause 30,000 home fires, 200 deaths, nearly one thousand injuries, and over $600 million in property damage every year. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), faulty wiring accounts for 20 percent of electrocutions.

Failure to bring a home up to the current electrical code is often to blame.

What Are Electrical Code Updates?

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is the nation’s singular standard for safe electrical installation and wiring practices. The NEC sets electrical code standards for safe electrical design, installation, and inspection to protect people and property from electrical hazards.

First published in 1897, the NEC is updated every three years by the NFPA to reduce accidents and minimize fire hazards resulting from the use of electricity.

The 2020 edition of the NEC is the most current electrical safety guide.

Why Is It Important to Be Informed about Electrical Code Updates?

Here’s an example: Did you know that as ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) requirements have been expanded over the years, the number of residential electrical shock incidents have gone down? Being informed about electrical code updates such as these gives homeowners the insight to better protect their lives and property.

The Professionals at Mr. Electric Are Well-Versed on Electrical Code Updates

Because of the intricacies and often extensive changes to the National Electric Code every three years, it’s important to have a professional check your home for outdated wiring as new electrical code updates are released.

You can trust the professionals at Mr. Electric® to be thoroughly knowledgeable about the latest electrical code updates, allowing them to:

  • Check that your home is up to the latest requirements for electrical wiring and equipment, installation, and more.
  • Inspect a home you’re interested in prior to purchase to ensure that it’s a sound investment and safe for your family.
  • Prevent the delay of the sale of your home due to electrical issues discovered during inspection.
  • Protect you from injury, loss of life, and possible liability issues arising from electrical incidents in your home.

The 10 Most Important Updates from the 2020 NEC Electrical Code

Below are 10 of the most notable changes in the 2020 NEC electrical code:

  1. Exterior emergency power disconnect switches must be installed at all new one- and two-family dwellings. This measure is intended to make safer working conditions for emergency responders.
  2. Service disconnect rules concerning de-energizing panel boards have been altered to improve electrical worker safety; that includes your local Mr. Electric.
  3. Load calculation tables have been revised to reflect modern improvements in energy efficiency. The change is largely due to the widespread use of LED lighting, which is drastically more energy-efficient than older bulb types.
  4. A new general requirement has been instituted to cover cables exposed on ceilings and walls.
  5. Requirements for GFCI protection have expanded to include all 125- and 250-volt receptacles supplied by a single-phase circuit of 150 volts or less to ground.
  6. All basement receptacles must also have GFCI protection, regardless of whether the basement is finished.
  7. A new section has been added governing the use of modern Ethernet cables that transmit data and electrical power simultaneously.
  8. Requirements for solar-generated energy storage continues to be revised to keep pace with evolving home energy storage technologies, such as the Tesla Powerwall home battery.
  9. Surge protection requirements have been enhanced to protect sensitive safety equipment, such as hard-wired smoke alarms.
  10. A new item in the code governs how homeowners may transfer power from electric vehicle (EV) batteries to residential wiring.

In partnership with the Electrical Safety Foundation International, Mr. Electric can ensure the safety of your home and family with the implementation of the most up-to-date electrical code and safety standards available.

Contact Mr. Electric for an electrical safety checkup today. You can schedule your electrical inspection online or call us directly at (844) 866-1367.