November 15, 2019
You purchased a beautiful lamp for the family room and realize the power supply cord does not reach a receptacle outlet. How about a kitchen appliance? You set an appliance at the desired location and a receptacle outlet is not within reach of the power supply cord. Sometimes an extension cord then becomes necessary and without giving it any thought, you have just created a home safety hazard for you and your family. The need for an extension cord in these scenarios should not have been necessary. Why, because a receptacle outlet should have been installed within reach of the appliance/fixture power supply cord. An extension cord is intended as a temporary, not permanent wiring method. Based upon the National Electric Code (NEC), locations that receptacle outlets are required include; Receptacles shall be installed so that no point along the floor line in any wall space is more than 6 feet, measured horizontally, from an outlet in that space. In kitchens, receptacle outlets shall be installed at each wall counter space that is 12 inches or wider. Receptacle outlets shall be installed so that no point along the wall line is more than 24 inches, measured horizontally from a receptacle outlet in that space. At least one receptacle outlet shall be installed at each island counter top space and at each peninsula counter top space. At least one wall receptacle outlet shall be installed in bathrooms within 36 inches of the outside edge of each basin. At least one outdoor receptacle outlet shall be accessible at grade level at the front and back of the dwelling. One receptacle outlet shall be installed for the laundry, at least one for each car space in a garage and one in hallways of 10 feet or more in length. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that each year, about 4,000 injuries associated with extension cords are treated in emergency rooms. About half the injuries involve fractures, lacerations, contusions, or sprains from people tripping over extension cords. Thirteen percent of the injuries involve children under-five years of age; electrical burns to the mouth accounted for half the injuries to young children. CPSC also estimates that about 3,300 residential fires originate in extension cords each year, killing 50 people and injuring about 270 others. The most frequent causes of such fires are short circuits, overloading, damage, and/or misuse of extension cords. If you must use an extension cord, please follow the guidelines outlined in CPSC document #16 and be extremely careful! Greg Genser, owner of Cypress Inspections is a Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) licensed Professional Real Estate Inspector #2962, International Code Council (ICC) Residential Combination Inspector #5186780-R5 and a Texas Master Electrician (TMEL) #12817. Visit www.cypressinspections.com for additional information.