Hello All, I (my mason) have replaced the front wall of a late 1700’s farm house in N.W. MA.
when I replace the outlets on the interior wall I plan to “cap off” the old BX ungrounded stuff and install new grounded outlets and run romex to the service
panel in the basement. My question is: does code dictate the number of outlets
I need to install per room? I know that in new construction the “6′ ” rule applies.
I would like to replace the receptacles just as the were,dead center of each room.
each room’s wall being 14′ wide
As this will be inspected (which is good) anything else I should look out for?
Thanks
-Josh
Replies
"As this will be insected ...."
You need to check these details with you local AHJ (code inspector)
you can run as many outlets as you want but you cannot exceed the total wattage on useage.
Not an electrican here but, if I recall you can't have an outlet more then 12' away from the last one in the same room (not including kitchens & baths). Also on new construction they install arc fault in all bedrooms. If your tearing stuff up now would also be a good time to add smoke alarms. Around here if you pull a permit to update (over $1000 in work) you have to update the smoke alarms.
the NEC states....."Receptacles shall be installed so that no point measured horizontally along the floor line in any wall space is not more than six feet from a receptacle opening....
not including doors or sliding panels
Can't say for sure with your inspector.
If the interior wall was completely open, I think my inspector would want the entire wall (not the whole room, just the open wall) brought up to current code; i.e., 2 outlets in a 14' wall. If the wall was not open, replacement in original position(s) would be fine.
Check with him. I have always found my inspectors to be fairly reasonable guys, especially if you consult before you do the work. Typically they will stick a tag on a window with a note for subsequent inspectors.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
"farm house in N.W. MA."
NW Massachusetts?
In Ma electricle work must be done by a licensed electrician, who should know the rules.
bobl Volo, non valeo
Baloney detecter
If you are the homeowner and you pulled the building permit,you can do the electrical! But... w/permit the area you are working on needs to be up to current code. 12' rule but do ask your local inspector as he will have the final say good luck. <!----><!---->
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"you can do the electrical"it's not what the state says.electrical and plumbing have to be done by licensed people.
bobl Volo, non valeo
Baloney detecter
fyi for Mahttp://www.mass.gov/bbrs/code.htmhttp://www.mass.gov/dfs/osfm/fireprevention/cmr/index.htm
bobl Volo, non valeo
Baloney detecter
Don't know MA law. Do know Delaware law.
Her, there is a provision called a "Home Owner's Electrical Permit", allows a homeowner to do electrical work of any sort in their home. Property cannot be a rental unit or listed for sale. The permit number will allow the homeowner to obtain an inspection. Permits are issued after a test is passed, generally very complex questions like the function of the black wire in a 120v circuit, and a nominal fee is paid ( something like $5). Permit is good for the duration of the project - could be a single new circuit all the way to a total house rewire.
Always seemed a bit goofy to me, as follows: homeowner goes to the local big box, buys a book and some supplies and installs a new circuit or three to feed his new basement workshop machinery. He calls the inspection department to set up an inspection; the first words out of their mouth is "what's your electricians license number" No license - no inspection (also no follow up from L&I). If the homeowner tells them his homeowner's permit number - he gets scheduled for an inspection.
Assuming the purpose of electrical inspections is to assure safe installations, wouldn't the DIY homeowner perhaps "need" the inspection more than the licensed professional? Never made sense to me, but that's how it is here.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
You migth want to think about overinstalling receptacles.
Place one in the center of each wall. Then place additional ones down in the baseboards. Also I think that floor receptacles count if they are "near" the walls (guessing that it is within 2ft, but need to do some research on that).
The idea is to keep the look, but still have enough receptacles.
......... (guessing that it is within 2ft, but need to do some research on that).BH, It's 18 " from the wall
Nice idea, especially if some "matching" unobtrusive covers could be found or stained / painted to match the baseboards.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
There are all sorts of covers availabel, but pricy
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If I understand your question, it boils down to whether you're simply replacing grandfathered outlets (in which case the 6-foot rule doesn't apply) or instead doing "new construction". This is very, very much subject to interpretation. Some inspectors are happy to see any "progress" in the direction of current code, even if not complete compliance. Others will insist on 100% compliance if you do much more than change the outlet cover.
happy?
i'm not sure of the exact amt. but my electricians tell me that anytime the protion opf e-work exceeds 15% of the whole, they are required to bring everything up to code. I can see how that can wide open to interpretation. Doesn't effect me much since we typically do a whole house renovation with goal of coming up to snuff and beyond anyway
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Here I believe it's something like 50%, and it applies to the whole house, not just the electrical work. Unless you're doing an awful lot of electrical work you won't trigger that clause.But likely if you completely redo a room, and modify the electrical to any extent at all, they're going to expect it to be brought up to code for the room. An individual wall would be up to the EI, probably based at least a bit on pragmatic issues.They're also a lot stricter with commercial work. Especially in the plant where I work someone POed the BI some years back, and any mod at all triggers a hunt for code violations within a half-mile radius.
If ignorance is bliss why aren't more people
happy?