Electrical Service Boxes

Electrical Service Boxes

The service box includes a circuit breaker which can be used to shut off all the power in the house, or a switch with a handle located on the outside, and the service fuses inside. The cover on the service box is often sealed by the utility.  Air conditioners are required to have a Service Shut Off on exterior of house.

The service box may stand alone, although in modern homes, the service breaker is often incorporated into the service panel. In either case, it is important that the rating on the box itself, is at least as large as the service entrance cables and fuses or breakers inside. For example, if a house has service entrance wire and fuses rated for 100-amps, a box rated for only 60-amps is not acceptable. More than 60- amps flowing through this box may lead to overheating.

Every home should have a disconnect means so the system can be shut off. Working on a live electrical system is very dangerous. In the U.S. (and in some Canadian situations) it is permitted on existing installations to have up to six switches to disconnect all the house power.

Electrical Codes

Wiring safety codes are intended to protect people and property from electrical shock and fire hazards. Regulations may be established by city, county, provincial/state or national legislation, usually by adopting a model code (with or without local amendments) produced by a technical standards-setting organisation, or by a national standard electrical code.

Disconnect missing from service box 

 

 

 

 

Electrical Service Box

The First Electrical codes were created in the 1880’s with the commercial introduction of electrical power. Many conflicting standards existed for the selection of wire sizes and other design rules for electrical installations.

The first electrical codes in the United States originated in New York in 1881 to regulate installations of electric lighting. Since 1897 the US National Fire Protection Association, a private non-profit association formed by insurance companies, has published the National Electrical Code (NEC). States, counties or cities often include the NEC in their local building codes by reference along with local differences. The NEC is modified every three years. It is a consensus code considering suggestions from interested parties. The proposals are studied by committees of engineers, tradesmen, manufacturer representatives, fire fighters and other invitees.  Many of the NFPA codes have been adopted worldwide as the Standard for various types of equipment and installations.  Sprinkers, Fire Hydrants, Fire Extinguishers, Airport Safety Reguations and Commercial Cooking Equipment to name just a few.  In Canada the authority to use the NFPA publications typically comes from Canadian Standards such as the National Building Code of Fire Code.

Since 1927, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has produced the Canadian Safety Standard for Electrical Installations, which is the basis for provincial electrical codes. The CSA also produces the Canadian Electrical Code, the 2006 edition of which references IEC 60364 (Electrical Installations for Buildings) and states that the code addresses the fundamental principles of electrical protection in Section 131. The Canadian code reprints Chapter 13 of IEC 60364, but there are no numerical criteria listed in that chapter to assess the adequacy of any electrical installation.

Although the US and Canadian national standards deal with the same physical phenomena and broadly similar objectives, they differ occasionally in technical detail. As part of the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) program, US and Canadian standards are slowly converging toward each other, in a process known as harmonization.

To enable wires to be easily and safely identified, all common wiring safety codes mandate a colour scheme for the insulation on power conductors. In a typical electrical code, some colour-coding is mandatory, while some may be optional.

Service Boxes and Panels

In a conventional 60-amp service with circuit breakers, the breakers will trip when the current in either leg reaches 60-amps. Where fuses are used in the main service box, each fuse works independently. If more than 60-amps flows through one fuse it will blow. This leaves roughly half the house without power, including part of the electric stove, for example. If more than 60-amps flows through the other fuse, it too will blow, leaving the entire house without power.

Federal Pioneer & Federal Pacific Electrical Panels

Federal Pioneer Stab Lok Breakers

Federal Pioneer Panel Problems – The Electrical Safety Authority has revised and re-issued a Safety Flash that was originally published in 1997 – their concern is that potential problems might still exist for Federal Pioneer breakers that may not trip! Schneider Canada has announced a voluntary Replacement Program on certain NC015 and NC015CP Breakers. The affected circuit breakers are Federal Pioneer NC015 and NC015CP, Single Pole Rated 15A, Stab-Lok Circuit Breakers – Manufactured between August 1, 1996 and June 11, 1997. These circuit breakers can be identified by a Square / rectangular shaped BLUE colored handle Replacement breakers are identified by a hole drilled in the handle (Blue color) OR Replacement breakers manufactured after January 1, 1999 are identified with a rounded and ribbed handle (Blue color) Check for a square / rectangular handle with a hole, as illustrated or a rounded / ribbed handle – these are OK and not impacted by the recall notice. Breakers with black handles are also OK to use and not impacted by the recall notice. Contractors/Electricians: For any suspect blue-handled circuit breaker replace the breaker and return it to Schneider Electric for full credit, or contact Schneider Electric Customer Care Centre at 1-800-565-6699 or the Schneider Electric Recovery Administration team, at 1-866-333-1490 for additional information. Customers should call their contractor or call Schneider.

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Improper Electrical Installation

Many home owners like to install electrical equipment and wiring.   As a Professional Home Inspector I would like to list some of the common mistakes that I encounter when inspecting homes in the Barrie ON area.  Note:  Although a home owner is allowed to install his own electrical wiring, they are required to take out a permit and have installation inspected by the ESA.

Many home owners use metal stud walls in basements, which require special grommets or standoffs when installing electrical cables.  Metal studs on basement exterior walls is not a good ideas as metal conducts heat and cold extremely well and can also cause moisture issues due to humidity in air contacting cold areas created by conduction of cold through metal studs.

Most custom builders will use the mould proof treated wood studs when framing in basements. Pressure treated lumber is recommended for sill plate with a moisture barrier between concrete and wood required by building code.

Junction Boxes

Ontario codes 12-3016(1) and 12-112(3) specify that all junction boxes must remain accessible.  Junction boxes also require a cover plate to be installed.

Kitchen Installations

Kitchens require at least 2 15 amp multi-wire (split receptacles) or 20 Amp (T Slot receptacles) branch circuits to supply receptacles located along the kitchen counter work surface.

210.52(B)(1)
(1) Wall Counter top Spaces. A receptacle outlet shall be installed at each wall countertop space that is 300 mm (12 in.) or wider. Receptacle outlets shall be installed so that no point along the wall line is more than 600 mm (24 in.) measured horizontally from a receptacle outlet in
that space.
Exception: Receptacle outlets shall not be required on a wall directly behind a range, counter-mounted cooking unit, or sink in the installation described in Figure 210.52(C)(1).

This also includes the requirement for kitchen islands to have an outlet installed.

Ontario electrical code requires a dedicated electrical outlet to be located behind fridge location.  This circuit is allowed to provide power to a clock also.

GFCI ( Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)

Exterior receptacles within 8ft (2.5m) of finished grade (since 1975).

Bathroom & washroom receptacles (since 1986).

Receptacles within 5ft (1.5m) of all sinks (since 2006).

Hydro massage bathtubs must be GFCI protected.

Spas and hot tubs must be GFCI protected.

Receptacles, equipment, and buildings around pools have numerous requirements.

Metal Stud Wall Installation

The Ontario Electrical Safety Code requires that metal stud partitions be bonded to
ground so that the branch circuit over current device will operate in the event the studs become energized.

Securing Cable at Boxes

The electrical cable is required to be secured within 8” to 12” of box with a wire staple.  Also you must have a 12” loop of unbroken cable on the outside of box or 6” of cable end available on the interior side of finished wall to permit replacement without major reconstruction.

Extension Cords

Flexible extension cords must never take the place of permanent wiring; they are not designed or intended for permanent installations. Once the task has been completed, the cord should always be disconnected and properly stored away for future use.

Protection of Electrical Cables

Electrical cable should be protected against mechanical damage where it passes through floors or on the surface of walls in exposed locations under 5 feet from the floor.

If burying an electrical cable you should call the ESA and find out the exact requirements for your particular location.  The area where cable is buried determines depth and protection required

Dedicated Circuits
These are some of the most common items that require a dedicated electrical circuit for:

Fridge
Range or stove
Cook top
Water Heater
Heat/Air Conditioning
Dishwasher
Clothes Washer
Clothes Dryer
Furnace
Exterior lights and Outlets

Renovations without a Building Permit

The major concern when performing a home inspection and these deficiencies are noted is the fact that you now know that the work was done without a permit and that would most likely apply to all the work done by homeowner.

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As always,  CAVEAT EMPTOR –  BUYER BEWARE

An Educated Consumer is a Smart Consumer