What You Should Know About A Home Electrical Safety Inspection

Electrical ProblemsSep 6, 20202 min read

Bathroom requirements would include combination fan and light having its own 20-amp circuit. All outlets in the bathroom must be GFCI and light fixtures in a shower area must be covered with a lens and be moisture resistant.

Kitchen requirements would include microwaves, refrigerators, dishwashers and garbage disposals, all having their own circuit. In addition, there should be two receptacle circuits located above a countertop. Finally, the oven, electric range or cooktop must have its own dedicated 240-amp circuit.

The living room, dining room and bedrooms would all have similar requirements. Wall switches that control ceiling lights or outlets where lamps are plugged in need to be installed near to the entry door. Outlets should also be installed not more than 12 feet apart from one another and any ceiling fixtures should be controlled by a wall switch and not a pull chain mechanism.

The laundry room requirements would include washers and dryers having their own 20-amp receptacle, with the electric dryer having its own 240-volt circuit.

Staircases and hallways have their own set of electrical codes primarily because they serve as a safe way out of the home, should there be a need to get out. Whether from a fire, severe storm, or any other emergency situation, it is important to ensure that all codes are compliant. For starters, if a hallway is longer than 10 feet there should be an outlet installed for miscellaneous purposes and sufficient lighting all along the staircase. If the stairway winds or turns there should be additional lighting installed as well. Finally, there should be three-way switches installed at the top and bottom of the stairway and at each end of the hallway.

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