Questions tagged [code-compliance]
For questions relating to compliance with laws and ordinances of federal, state/province and local jurisdictions. Questions should also be tagged with the specific area of construction involved.
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Any US building codes about a door opening into a hallway near a stairway?
A while ago I changed a door out from my tiny bathroom so that it opens outside of the bathroom and into the hallway. It looks attractive and provides a great deal more room in the bathroom making it ...
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Covering a former service panel turned junction box
This is in Colorado, United States.
Having some remodeling ongoing, I've had a contractor upgrade my existing electrical service panel, a 100-A Cutler-Hammer, with a new Square D 200-A panel on the ...
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Do the quick connectors in my new bathroom fan need to be in a junction box?
I recently replaced a bathroom extractor fan. The new model uses "quick connect" electrical connectors, where I stick the house wiring into this little plastic device, and apparently that's all! The ...
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What NEC section, if any, covers an owner wiring their own home?
A question answered by Karl Katzke said:
you are allowed to pull an electrical permit on your OWN residence
Can anyone tell me if there is language in the NEC to this effect and if so what is the ...
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Is there a way to wire a door jamb switch in parallel with a light switch that wouldn't make a code inspector upset?
I would like my storage/utility room to turn on the lights immediately when I open the door (like a fridge), but I don't want to exclusively use a door jamb switch -- sometimes we need to close the ...
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Dishwasher electrical connection up to code?
When I removed my dishwasher in order to level the floors and install new flooring, this is what I found:
It looks like the electrician just left the wire sticking out of a hole in the wall, but not ...
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How do I carry electrical power across a pond?
Suppose I need to run power to an outbuilding. The line will run underground. Between the supply and outbuilding is a long, wide pond. Going around the pond isn't really feasible.
This is not a ...
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Are "terminal block" style junction boxes allowed in the US?
In the UK it seems pretty common to see junction boxes with built-in screw terminals that are used only for splicing wires from 2 or more cables together.
Typical example:
(source)
Sample wiring ...
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How should I run cables through interior wall to garage?
Please excuse me if this has been asked before, I searched previous questions but didn't find anything similar...
I have my computer in our garage because of less noise, heat, dust, etc... also it's ...
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Per IRC, are flexible PVC couplings ever allowed to be used above ground for PVC to PVC connections?
It is my understanding that flexible PVC couplings (e.g. Fernco) meet the definition of Mechanical Joint in the international residential code. The 2015 IRC prohibits the use of Mechanical Joints on ...
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How to safely and legally join building wire behind drywall
I had a small kitchen fire and the electrical wire behind the drywall in my kitchen melted. What is the best way to safely and legally (to code) rejoin the wire?
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Is it within code to complete 12g wiring circuit with 10g wire?
In installing a dishwasher on a dedicated 20amp circuit on 12g wiring, I've come short about 5 feet to run a line. I have some surplus, heavier, 10g wire. Would it be safe to install a junction box ...
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Can I use green wire in a residential wall box?
This is a 1985 home wired with typical NM-B wire and plastic wall boxes.
I have a few light switches around the house that have no ground connection. There are ground wires in the box, but the ...
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Should galvanized steel pipe be used as a tub spout?
I have a 90 degree fitting coming down from my shower valve. Also have a screw on tub spout trim. Right now there is a 6" galvanized pipe that connects the 90 to the tub spout trim. Is the ...
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Electrical outlet in low voltage bracket?
I generally do my own electrical work but needed to upgrade my service from 100A to 200A so I hired someone. I had them add some outlets to my garage while they were at it because I was feeling lazy.
...
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Can I use 4x4 posts as the primary support for a deck?
I have an old cedar deck, and most of the decking and vertical support posts are rotted out. I'd like to rebuild the deck as-is, just replacing the rotting pieces.
The current design is as follows:
...
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Is it OK to have a 20 Amp receptacle on a circuit with 12 AWG wiring and a 15 Amp breaker?
I have a hypothetical question:
If you have a 15 Amp breaker connected to a 20 Amp T type outlet with (20 Amp) 12 AWG wire, is it within code, below code, or above code, where code means the National ...
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Is there any acceptable way to cover a junction box?
The outlet for my range hood was misplaced. It needs to be 4 inches to the side. I can make the junction and move the wiring to the new location but I really don't want to have the empty plate exposed....
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Does the arrangement of breakers within a panel matter or follow any rules?
When somebody is installing breakers initially or doing a major remodel, are there rules or restrictions that must be followed in regard to which breaker goes where in the panel spaces?
Obviously dual-...
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Is it ever safe to have 14 gauge wire anywhere on a circuit protected by a 30 amp breaker?
I was doing some work in an old house I recently moved into, and found that my dishwasher and garbage disposal (and some outlets near them) are on a 30 amp breaker. However, some of the electrical ...
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Are generator interlock kits permitted in residential applications?
There have been some questions on the site lately, that reference using interlock kits with portable generators.
This has inspired me to read through article 702 Optional Standby Systems of the NEC (...
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Can I mix AV and Power cables in the same raceway?
I've read that you cannot mix power cables and low-voltage cables (in my case: HDMI, CAT6, USB) in the same raceway (that plastic conduit that stick to the outside of the wall)
But in every home I've ...
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Under what circumstances is 5/8" drywall required?
From what I understand the code usually discusses things like fire rating (not specific thickness) as they relate to required material, and also the fastener pattern and what thickness to use versus ...
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What is the best way to wire for 120 volt & 240 volt remote power on a saltwater dock that is located 800 feet from the house main panel?
I have a saltwater dock that extends 625 feet from shoreline with an elevated junction box at the dock entrance, which is located an additional 175 feet from the dock entrance to the main panel of my ...
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Was this installed to code and is it still to code?
In 1995 an electrician who was also a friend of the family helped me out by installing a sub panel in my garage. He tapped the feeder cable directly into the main lugs in the main box and ran them to ...
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Do GFCI protected devices need to be labeled as such, if they are protected from another location?
I'm doing a fairly substantial rewire of about half my house. In many places, like kitchen, bath, and outside/garage, I've replaced circuit breakers in my box with GFCI or dual function breakers. ...
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Can I install lights on a 20 amp circuit that has receptacles already wired?
I have never been able to ask the following question and get a simple straight answer and would like to know why there is a controversy, and what the answer really is.
The question: Can a 20 amp 12 ...
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Electrical Code Compliance Question
UPDATE:
First. Thank you guys for your responses. My apologies for the picture issue. I couldn't figure out how to put them in the post originally so I created the link. These should be better.
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Are there locations in a residence where a non tamper resistant receptacle can still be used?
Assume for a second that my jurisdiction has adopted 2011 NEC code as legally binding without significant amendment. This code requires (406.11) that 120V 15/20A outlets in all areas defined in NEC ...
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Can new construction recessed lights be installed in inaccessible ceilings?
In California, does code allow me to install recessed lights in a ceiling which which be inaccessible once closed up? (Such as between floors)
I have seen it done many times but I was thinking that ...
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Using fire retardant sealant for low-voltage cables through walls
I plan to wire my house with CAT6 cables, running inside the walls (drywall, wood). I would have to drill through the floor and probably through fire blocks in between the studs.
Lot of guides advise ...
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Main Breaker Panel in Garage w/o Garage Doors
We have a recent second floor & garage addition, and the main panel was moved to the garage from its old location.
Due to COVID and our general contractor's procrastination (we have since fired ...
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Do UL-listed product specifications or NEC rules take precedence?
An interesting question arose elsewhere. Suppose you break out a "New, Old Stock" item. It is UL-approved and has UL-approved instructions.
The instructions say to do X.
However, since the ...
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Are tamper resistant outlets required in a cabinet with child proof latches?
Like many people, I have a dishwasher and a disposer, which are plugged into an outlet in the cabinet under the kitchen sink. Also like many, this is where I keep a whole host of cleaning products and ...
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How to run wire through corner with lots of studs
I have a new garage addition that I'm doing the electrical for. I got to the point of running the wires for the front coach lights and realized a snag. I'm trying to figure out the best way to run ...
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Can I wire a refrigerator and dishwasher on the same circuit?
Can I wire a refrigerator and dishwasher on the same 20 amp circuit?
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Can I re-task a large conduit to hold a small conduit and low voltage cables?
To revisit our occasional questions on sneaking a low voltage cable into an AC mains conduit...
Suppose you have a fairly large electrical conduit, say, 1-1/2". You also have some sort of ...
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What do I need to provide the cable company with for grounding, when wiring my own house?
I'm planing to do my own electrical wiring for a new house, and the cable company needs something to attach their ground wire to when they mount the demarcation box.
I'd like a clean looking install, ...
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Can you skin over an existing roof deck that is breaking down?
Working on reshingling my roof. The roof deck turned out to be 3/8" plywood which is starting to break down due to the number of times the roof has been replaced.
The deck is not rotting out except ...
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How can I frame around a service panel in the corner of the room and maintain clearance?
I'm refinishing my basement (1952 CMU masonry duplex) and need help figuring out how to frame around the electrical box that was replaced before the we put up the insulation. Unfortunately, the panel'...
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How can I resheathe behind brick fascia without removing the brick?
The original builders of my house used a material called "Aluma Sheath", also known as Dennyboard, to sheathe my house. Dennyboard is a radiant coating on two sides of a 1/8 sheet of a fiberous ...
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Is there any significance to a red machine screw? [closed]
While cleaning the garage I found this red colored machine screw.
I know that green screws signify a ground connection but I've never heard specifics about red screws. Is this for any specific common ...
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Considerations for hardwiring electronics project in wall
What things will I need to consider for hardwiring a planned electronics project into the wall?
The plan is a DIY smart thermostat. An LCD touchscreen panel will be flush with the wall. Attached to ...
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Is my contractor right that our nonreturnable hardwired heated towel rack can't be installed in our bathroom?
We're working with a design-build firm, doing a gut reno on our primary bath. We purchased a Watermark TWRD3-24 electric towel rack (it's a set of 3 individual heated bars, specs and instructions here)...
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Is it legal to have one breaker control four rooms?
I live in a two bedroom apartment in New York City. I have noticed that one breaker controls the lights and outlets in the two bedrooms and the bathroom as well as the hall. Is this even legal?
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Do I need to "protect" low voltage cables that are run through an insulated wall?
I'm planning to run speaker cables from a new outlet at an uninsulated wall to a new outlet at an insulated wall. I've already run Cat5e and coaxial cable to the uninsulated wall, and am comfortable ...
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What are the legalities associated with mounting splicing wire connectors?
There are some situations, such as those involving large junction or pull boxes that serve as central takeoff points for many-plexed homeruns or homerun banks, enclosures that form central splice ...
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Code: How can a transfer switch not switch neutrals?
I'm looking at this Reliance Controls transfer switch. I certainly won't buy it and don't recommend one, but the huge hank of wires going from switch to panel only has one neutral wire in it.
How ...
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Can a private electromechanical meter be placed between the utility's meter and the main breaker?
I want to run an experiment which compares the readouts of the newer electronic smart meters against older electromechanical meters.
Is there anything in the NFPA 70 or any other law or code which ...
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Can I install a receptacle outlet below a window?
I need to add a receptacle outlet to an existing line. I will run the line from an existing receptacle outlet. Is it okay to locate the new outlet below an existing window?