Avoid Electrical Inspection Failure on Your Next Project

Top Electrical Code Violations for Residential Permits
Source: City of Greenville

According to Buddy Skinner, City of Greenville Assistant Building Codes Administrator, 25 percent of all electrical inspections on single family residential projects fail.  Below is a list of the top reasons for inspection failures:

1. Receptacle outlets should be located so that one can be reached within 6-feet measured along the wall surface in either direction. Outlets should also be located on any wall space 2-feet or larger. (2012 International Residential Code E3901.2)
2. Receptacle outlets on kitchen counters should be located so that one can be reached within 2-feet measured along the wall surface in either direction. Outlets need to be installed above any kitchen counter 12-inches or wider. (2012 IRC E3901.4)
3. Seal all drilled or notched holes in top and bottom plates with an approved material. (2012 IRC R302.11)
4. Any neutral conductors (white in color) used as a phase conductor for a 220-volt circuit should be marked with black tape. This is commonly seen on conductors feeding a water heater or mechanical unit. (2012 IRC E33407.1 and E3407.2)
5. Receptacles cannot be installed within or directly over a bathtub or shower stall. (2012 IRC E4002.11)
6. No light fixture or fan can have suspended parts within 3-feet horizontally or 8-feet vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower stall threshold. (2012 IRC E4003.11)
7. Watch the number of conductors that are installed in electrical boxes. A standard 20-cubic inch nail-on electrical box can have two romex wires and a device. A 22-cubic inch nail-on electrical box can have three romex wires and a device (2012 IRC E3905.12)
8. Provide at least 6-inches of wire for device connection at each electrical box. (2012 IRC E3406.11.3)
9. Arc-fault circuit protection is required for all circuits within a dwelling except for those required to be ground-fault protected. Wiring that supplies only smoke detectors do not have to be arc-fault protected. (2012 IRC E3902.12)
10. In new dwelling units that have attached garages or fuel-fired appliances, carbon monoxide alarms must be installed outside each separate sleeping area near the bedroom or bedrooms. (2012 IRC R3015)
11. Make sure that the bonding device is properly installed on all temporary power poles. (2012 IRC E3609)
12. Where rebar is installed in footings, a bonding jumper must be connected from the rebar to the ground in the panel box. (2012 IRC E3608.1.2)
13. Tabs in plastic boxes are designed to secure conductors and should not be removed. (2012 IRC E3403.3)
14. Outdoor receptacles are required at grade level (not higher than 6’6’’) at the front and back of every dwelling and on every porch and balcony. (2012 IRC E3901.7)
15. Observe burial depth requirements for underground cables and raceways (2012 IRC Table E3803.1)
16. Nonmetallic cable (Romex) can only be used in dry locations (2012 IRC Table E3801.4) Note: Romex cannot be used in conduit outside to feed a mechanical unit.
17. Ground-fault protected outlets are required in the crawl space and basement. (2012 IRC E3902.4 and 3902.5)