I stopped by the World's Biggest Bookstore yesterday and picked up Electrical Code Simplified(this version is for Ontario but there's one for the other provinces too). It's a book which takes the ontario electrical code and simplifies it so even someone like me can understand. I bought the book to help me determine how to properly (according to the Electrical Safety Authority of Ontario) complete some upcoming electrical work. I'm glad I got it becuase I've learned some new stuff and confirmed some old.
The biggest thing I learned is that electrical work I do on my home (aside from replacing switchs, lights and outlets) requires a permit, a rough inspection and a final inspection. I haven't actually done any work yet that requires this but it's good to know!
I also learned that I was right to be frustrated with the quality of the electrical work in my parents house. I complained bitterly that the boxes should be installed flush with the finished surface. The workers who completed their renos (many years ago) didn't do this. It meant that the new switches I installed didn't look quite as finished as I wanted and weren't quite as sturdy. Maybe someday I'll go back and resolve that.
The project I am planning is going to be more complicated than I initially thought. I want to run a cable out to the middle of our yard so I can have an outlet near our tree for lights. I figured if I bought the right kind of cable (which I did) I could just bury it 2 feet down and be done with it. Turns out I need to fill the 2 foot trench with sand, lay the cable, cover it with sand and gravel and then cover that with treated wood. And I have to get it inspected. Good thing I checked! :)
The last surprise (although maybe it shouldn't have been a surprise) is that I can't get a permit to work on anyones house but my own (because I'm not a licensed electrician). My Dad (or Mom) can get a permit and I can work under it (because I'm family) but I could not do the same for a friend. Now that I think about that, it's probably a good thing (I have a good reason I can't install a new outlet for a friend now!).
2 comments:
Your bed time reading is very eclectic since you bought your house Rob. I am so glad you are up to date on the electrical code but what are you going to do now that you know? Do it right? Get permits? You can't unknow.
We love you dearly
MOM
:) That's a good question. Most people I've talked to try to follow the code but don't get inspections (including many electricians). I'm going to call the ESA next week to find out what the penalty is if I don't get a permit/inspections and what they do if your house has already had work done that doesn't comply with the code (i.e. most homes!). My guess is they don't do anything so I will probably go ahead and do small projects on my own but get inspections for projects I might worry about (ie. running a new outdoor cable).
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