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InspectAPedia ® Home ELECTRICAL INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR ACCURACY vs PRECISION of MEASUREMENTS AFCIs ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS ALUMINUM SECs & WIRING ALUMINUM WIRING HAZARDS & REPAIRS AMPS & VOLTS DETERMINATION AMPACITY - the LIMITING FACTOR APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS BACKUP ELECTRICAL GENERATORS BOOKSTORE - ELECTRICAL BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE Cadet & Encore Heater Recall CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILURE CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE for A/C or HEAT PUMP Classified CIRCUIT BREAKER WARNING CONDUIT, ELECTRICAL CORROSION in ELECTRICAL PANELS CORROSION & MOISTURE SOURCES in PANELS CUTLER HAMMER PANEL FIRE DEFINITIONS of ELECTRICAL TERMS DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS DMM Digital Multimeter, How to Use ELECTRIC HEAT ELECTRIC METERS & METER BASES ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH ELECTRIC PANEL AMPACITY ELECTRIC PANEL INSPECTION ELECTRIC PANEL MOISTURE Electric Power Frequency Table ELECTRICAL BASICS EMF RF FIELD & FREQUENCY DEFINITIONS ELECTRICAL GENERATORS ELECTRICAL GROUND SYSTEM INSPECTION ELECTRICAL GENERATORS ELECTRICAL GROUND SYSTEM INSPECTION ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings FEDERAL PACIFIC FPE HAZARDS FIRE SAFETY Checklist, CPSC GENERATORS, ELECTRICAL GFCI PROTECTION,Testing GFCIs AFCIs HEATING COST FUEL & BTU Cost Table HEAT, ELECTRIC HEAT TAPE USAGE GUIDE Hertz - Definitions of KHz MHz GHz THz KNOB & TUBE WIRING LIGHTING, EXTERIOR GUIDE LIGHTING, INTERIOR GUIDE LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEMS LOW VOLTAGE BUILDING WIRING LOW VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER TEST MAIN DISCONNECT MAIN DISCONNECT AMPACITY MOISTURE SOURCES in PANELS MULTI-WIRE CIRCUITS MURRAY SIEMENS Recall PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS PUSHMATIC - BULLDOG PANELS RUST in ELECTRICAL PANELS SAFETY: ELECTRICAL INSPECTION SAFETY Shock Risk Statistics Outside Electrical Inspection Electric Meter & Service Entry Local Electrical Grounding Electrical Panel Interior Inspection Removing Electric Panel Covers Electrical Panel Cover Screws Electrical Panel Interior Hazards Testing Main Breakers or Fuses Inspect Breakers, Fuses, Circuits Testing Receptacles GFCIs AFCIs When to Shut Down Equipment Touching Electrical Equipment Guide to Electrical Test Equipment Using DMMs & VOMs Safely VOLTAGE DETECTION & MEASUREMENT General Electrical Safety Suggestions Electrical Inspection Client Safety SE CABLE SIZES vs AMPS SQUARE-D RECALLS UNDERGROUND SERVICE LATERALS VOLTS / AMPS MEASUREMENT EQUIP WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING ZINSCO SYLVANIA ELECTRICAL PANELS More Information |
This article discusses suggests safety procedures to reduce the chances of injury to or from a client during an electrical inspection. Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman. How to Protect People From Injury During Inspection of an Electrical PanelIn our photograph at page top a young client shows unsafe electrical wiring - lamp cord that has been run through the building wall cavity. Would we permit him to handle this wiring? Did we let him get too close to make this photograph? ASHI Home Inspector Educational Seminar Proceedings: ASHI-NE Chapter Annual conference These electrical inspection suggestions are not a complete inventory of all electrical safety procedures nor of all electrical components that should be inspected; these notes focus on identification of conditions that may present special electrical hazards for the electrical inspector. Contact Us by email to suggest changes, corrections, and additions to this material. Earlier we discussed this topic in detail and offered some strategies in positioning the inspector and client, making sure only one person handles the electrical panel, and other measures. See Electrical Panel Interior Inspection for these details. Electrical Inspection Follow up and Client SafetySince the Standards of Practice for home inspectors (such as those published by ASHI, NAHI, CREIA, and CAHI) require home inspectors to open electric panels, a task not performed in many states during some other types of inspections, we and our clients face additional risks. In a much less serious incident, the author had the personal experience of having a client ask "What's that?" as he reached over our shoulder to stick his finger right into an open fuse socket. Among many reports of fires and accidents whose origin was suspected to be electrical, are reported deaths of a number of electricians and electrical workers - people working in some of the same high-risk areas examined by inspectors.
Recommending action on an unsafe condition can convert a pre-existing problem into an immediate catastrophe if the client or owner calls an untrained person to the property or if he attempts a do-it-yourself repair. Often a referral to local fire inspector, electrical inspector, or utility company can help assure that repairs are prompt, proper, and safe. If you recommend immediate action for an unsafe condition, where possible you should provide some means for the client or building owner to assure that the action which is taken is proper and safe. Inspectors are properly nervous and reluctant to prescribe the actual repair that is needed at a property - they may not know the detailed repair procedure, or there may be alternative repairs, or their description may prompt an un-trained person to try to do the work. The Building Owner or Building Manager Needs to Know About Unsafe Conditions that Need Immediate Action
The inspector should inform the appropriate parties both orally and in writing any suspected unsafe conditions. If an area or component could not be fully inspected, the inspector should explain in writing why she or he did not enter or examine an area or component, and what additional inspections or steps should be taken, as well as the general risks that may be present. Handling Immediate Threats to Life and Safety at a Building InspectionIf in the inspector's judgment equipment is an immediate threat to life and property, such as a boiler whose flue connection has fallen off, we recommend that dangerous equipment be shut down and the appropriate people notified. See Shutting Down Unsafe Equipment. In some cases "appropriate people" includes not only the client and building owner, but also building occupants. In some instances such as sparking electrical panels, gas leaks, or evidence of a fire, the inspector and everyone else should leave the building immediately and from outside, call the fire department and as appropriate, the gas company, police, or rescue personnel. General Electrical Safety Suggestions describes important basic safety procedures, clothing, and equipment for home inspectors and electrical inspectors. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)... Ask a Question or Search InspectApediaQuestions & answers or comments about how to decide when to turn off electrical systems or equipment for safety reasons. Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below. Technical Reviewers & ReferencesRelated Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
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