| Having conducted over 1,500 home inspections in the | | | | plate markings will be accessible. |
| Barrie, Orillia and Alliston area there are some electrical | | | | All branch circuits within 1.5 m from the floor shall be |
| defects that keep appearing. Having just completed a | | | | adequately protected from mechanical injury. |
| two-day CEC course I made notes and will list these | | | | 3 way switches will be supplied for any stairs |
| common defects. Note: These are quotes from the | | | | containing four or more risers, except an un-finished |
| Canadian Electrical Code and may differ from your | | | | basement, which is excempt. |
| local authority. It is always recommended that you | | | | Pot Lights |
| check with your local authority for any local rules that | | | | When buying pot lights for your home, always ensure |
| may apply. | | | | that you read the manufactures installation instructions |
| Code REF: 12-3024 Unused Openings in Boxes, | | | | prior to purchasing. Many halogen pot lights are |
| cabinets and fittings | | | | designed for installation in suspended ceiling as they |
| Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, and fittings shall be | | | | require air space to prevent overheating. |
| effectively closed by plugs or plates affording | | | | If you are installing pot lights into your attic, carefully |
| protection substantially equivalent to that of the wall of | | | | read your manufactures instructions and specifically |
| the box, cabinet or fitting. | | | | look for required clearances. It is possible to build a 3 |
| This is always picked on any home that has had any | | | | sided box out of drywall or plywood and install this |
| renovations or change of heating system. Plugs are | | | | over the pot light. You have now met the |
| available from most hardware stores that just snap | | | | manufactures installation requirements and can now |
| into place and only cost pennies. | | | | cover you boxes with insulation, protecting your attics |
| Receptacles for Dwelling Units. | | | | insulation integrity. |
| Locationexcept as otherwise provided for in this Code, | | | | Over 50% of the pot lights I scan with my thermal |
| in dwelling units duplex receptacles shall be installed in | | | | imaging camera show huge amounts of heat loss. Not |
| the finished walls of every room or area, other than | | | | only do a majority of pot light installations not have |
| kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, laundry rooms, water | | | | adequate insulation installed on top of them, but usually |
| closet rooms, utility rooms, or closets, so that no point | | | | the installer has compressed and waded through the |
| along the floor line of any usable wall space is more | | | | blown in attic insulation and left exposed trails through |
| than 1.8m horizontally from a receptacle.at least one | | | | out the attic. |
| duplex receptacle shall be provided in each area, such | | | | Insulation |
| as a balcony or porch that is not classed as a finished | | | | Although I have covered this issue in my Ice Dams |
| room. | | | | article, I am still going out many times a week for attics |
| One receptacle for refrigerator and if gas stove one | | | | with leaks, ice build up or moisture issues. |
| not more than 130mm from floor. | | | | Do not stuff insulation into your rafters along your |
| Sufficient 15 amp/split or T-slot so that distance is not | | | | outer wall unless you are 100% sure of how much |
| greater than 900mm. | | | | ventilation you need and where your soffit vents are. |
| At least one duplex receptacle shall be provided at | | | | Some older homes only have a couple of vents in their |
| ground level. | | | | soffits so it is a recipe for disaster to arbitrarily plug up |
| One duplex receptacle per car parking in residential | | | | your soffits. Also, your insulations R-value comes from |
| garage. | | | | the air trapped in the insulation. Compressing or rolling |
| Stove receptacles shall be located at a height not | | | | insulation negates most of its R value and then you |
| exceeding 130mm at center of receptacle. | | | | have only accomplished preventing your attic from |
| Electric water heaters shall be controlled by | | | | being properly ventilated. |
| temperature regulating device and also be provided | | | | If you have questions about any of these items, call |
| with a secondary protection that will open if | | | | your local municipality or city building department or one |
| temperature reaches 96 C. | | | | of your local professional home inspectors for some |
| Electric water heaters shall be installed so that | | | | free advice. |
| electrical supply connections, service covers, and name | | | | |