Once the wow factor ebbs when buying a new house, there are important safety issues. Your inspector needs to make sure the builder has completed these correctly. These changes to the National Electrical Code went into effect in 2023. All new houses and renovations must be brought to these standards.
1. What’s happening to kitchen islands?
Kitchen islands are no longer supposed to have receptacles on them unless they are the type that pops up or are mounted above the counter (i.e. a raised bar). However, builders have to provide wiring for being connected in the future. So, there should be an unused receptacle or junction box under the kitchen counter. Many builders do not have this provision available.
2. Why are Emergency Disconnects outside?
Emergency disconnects used to be in the main panel box. They are now required to be on the outside of the house in an accessible location. In an emergency, time matters! Shutting off the house electrical in a flood or fire by emergency personnel needs to happen quickly. Having a standard location makes that faster. The bright red sticker with bold white letters makes the box easier to find too. Importantly, stopping the flow of electricity quickly saves lives.
3. What does the disconnect location affect?
The main disconnect is now outdoor with the bright red sticker. But, the panel box with all the breakers may still be outside, in the garage, or other approved locations. These boxes don’t typically have another whole house disconnect, so the main panel box is now a subpanel box.
Many new home builders wire these panel boxes wrong. Bonding of the neutral and ground bus bars must happen with the Emergency Disconnect. This bonding should NOT happen at a subpanel. In the event of a fault, the easiest pathway for electricity is through the subpanel ground wire to the bonded neutral at the Emergency Disconnect so the circuit is completed and the breakers trip. Without that bonding at the Emergency Disconnect, the current doesn’t have a clear pathway during a fault and can energize all the metal wires, parts, and YOU!
4. What are back fed breakers?
Back fed breakers have a plastic clip or require a screw to secure them in the panel box. Normal plug in breakers do not require this feature. Normal breakers pull out easily for replacement. A back fed breaker deals with electricity being fed opposite to the normal circuit path. Any item that generates an alternate source of electrical current feeds back to the panel. This includes generators, solar panels, and bidirectional EV chargers. Back fed breakers assure that the connection is not loose while it is coursing with so much electricity, thereby saving property and lives. Additionally, proper transfer switches to disconnect from the main power grid are also important to save utility worker lives.
Making sure your home is safe is our number 1 priority. Because the codes are constantly changing, it is difficult for builders to keep up with them. This is why third party home inspections are so important.
Learn more about residential electricity at Engineering Mindset in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUSNa-7Hecw