Top things to cover
We are not electrical inspectors and we focus on external review of conditions. We do not use tools to do testing.
Our focus is to provide the baseline information on the electrical systems so UW can determine exposure
Ages are critical information and how the age was sourced should be provided
When ever access is not available to ANY part of the utilities, it should be noted in the report
Photos
Sometime in addition to the flash on your camera/phone, it is good to have a flashlight to supplement lighting.
All utilities should have photos taken. If there are 6 panel boxes, take a group photo or individual photos as needed.
Inspection Prep
None required
According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), there are 28,600 electrical fires per year.
These fires cause $1.1 billion in property damage and loss and are responsible for 310 deaths and 1,100 injuries each year. The months with the most electrical fires are December and January due to increased use of heating appliances and lights. Most electrical fires start in the bedroom, but the highest number of fatalities occur with fires located in the living room, family room and den.
Here are the 8 most common causes of electrical fires:
Faulty Equipment: Most electrical fires are caused by faulty electrical outlets and old, outdated appliances. Other fires are started by faults in appliance cords, receptacles and switches.
Faulty Cords: Never use an appliance with a worn or frayed cord which can send heat onto combustible surfaces like floors, curtains, and rugs that can start a fire. Running cords under rugs is another cause of electrical fires. Removing the grounding plug from a cord so it can be used in a two-prong electrical outlet can also cause a fire. The reason appliances have the extra prong is so they can be only used in outlets that can handle the extra amount of electricity that these appliances draw.
Light Fixtures: Lamps and light bulbs are another common reason for electrical fires. Installing a bulb with a wattage that is too high for the lamps and light fixtures is a leading cause of electrical fires. Always check the maximum recommended bulb wattage on any lighting fixture or lamp and never go over the recommended amount. Another cause of fire is placing materials like cloth or paper over a lampshade. The material heats up and ignites, causing a fire.
Extension Cords: Misuse of extension cords is another electrical fire cause. Appliances should be plugged directly into outlet and not plugged into an extension cord for any length of time. Only use extension cords as a temporary measure.
Space Heaters: Space heaters are a major cause of electrical fires. Because these types of heaters are portable, many times people put them too close to combustible surfaces such as curtains, beds, clothing, chairs, couches and rugs. Coil space heaters are especially dangerous in this regard because the coils become so hot they will almost instantaneously ignite any nearby flammable surface.
Older Wiring: Outdated wiring often causes electrical fires. If a home is over twenty years old, it may not have the wiring capacity to handle the increased amounts of electrical appliances in today's average home, such as computers, wide screen televisions, DVD players, microwaves and air conditioners.
Older Protection: Breakers should be triggered when circuits get overloaded by too much electricity, but outdated breaker boxes often have worn connectors that do not work, causing the system to overload and start an electrical fire.
Inadequate Electrical Capacity: Forty years ago, the average home had a 60 amp, fuse protected electrical service. Ten years later the average home required 100-amp electrical service and circuit breakers had become standard equipment.
Today, the average new home is equipped with 200-amp electrical service and a distribution panel handling up to 40 fifteen-amp circuit breakers. The kitchen may be equipped with receptacles capable of supplying more than 60 amps to the counter top appliances alone. The air conditioning or HVAC system may take more power than an entire home did 30 years ago.
Spaces Vacated By Missing Breakers
All spaces should be covered in the panel boxes with either breakers or spacers.
Recommendation: Spaces vacated by missing breakers should be filled with breaker replacements, or with appropriately sized spacer covers to reduce the risk of fire due to arcing or spark.
Cover Missing On Service Panel
All panel boxes should have covers.
Recommendation: The panel box at [specify area] was noted to have a missing cover. The missing cover should be replaced to reduce the electrical hazard.
Cover Missing On Junction Boxes
Exposed wires need covers. This applies to junction boxes, outlets, switches, etc
Recommendation: The junction box should be fitted with an approved cover to reduce the hazard from electrical shock.
Broken Light Fixtures
Light fixtures are a leading cause of fires. Pay attention to defects in installation, scorch marks, broken globes, etc.
Recommendation: The light fixture at [specify area] was [specify defect] should be repaired to reduce the electrical shock hazard.
Combustibles Within 2′ of Service Panel
There should be 2′ of clearance around the service panel
Recommendation: Combustible materials and storage should be kept at least two feet away from the circuit boxes and all electrical equipment, to reduce the fire hazard.
FPE Circuits Used
FPE circuits and panels boxes have been found to be defective and should be replaced.?If you suspect FPE please get a CLOSE UP photo of the box and panel.
Recommendation: The electrical panel at [specify area] appears to be Federal Pacific (FPE) brand. The FPE brand has been reported to be defective in certain situations. The entire panel box should be removed and replaced by a professional electrician to reduce the hazard.
Rusted Equipment
Electrical equipment in unprotected or moist areas can corrode and rust. The corrosion may damage the working integrity of the electrical equipment. While moderate rusting is not considered a hazard, it should be noted and photographed. In extreme situations, a recommendation should be made to replace the equipment.
Recommendation: The [specify equipment] was noted to be corroded and rusty. This situation may lead to an electrical hazard and a professional electrician should repair or replace the unit as needed to reduce the electrical hazard.
Debris in Electrical Equipment
All electrical equipment MUST be free of any debris. Cobwebs, nests, etc, should be removed to reduce the fire hazard.
Recommendation: The electrical equipment should be cleaned of all dust, chaff and cobwebs to reduce fire hazard.
Entrance/Weatherhead
The electrical entrance to the meter box is referred to as the weather head. This can sometimes be pulled away from the roof, have improper connections or other defects.
Recommendation: The electrical entrance/weatherhead at the electric meter has pulled away from the building and should be repaired to reduce the hazard.
Worn Electrical Service Entrance Cable
With time, the entrance cable can become worn or frayed with age and exposure to weather conditions, compromising the covering of the cable. If the service cable covering becomes frayed or worn, water could work down through the cable to live parts in your meter or electrical panel. This condition could lead to electric failure, corrosion, or an electrical hazard.
Recommendation: The outer insulation on the electrical service entrance cable is badly worn and should be repaired/replaced to reduce hazard.
Meter Box Loose
Meter boxes need to be securely attached to the building. These repairs need to be made by a professional electrician.
Recommendation: The electric meter was noted to be inadequately secured to the building and should be repaired by a professional electrician to reduce the life and fire hazards.
Fused Protection-Upgrade
Fuses should be replaced with more modern breakers
Recommendation: The existing fuse protected branch circuits should be upgraded to a modern automatic circuit breaker protected service, to reduce the fire hazard.
Burned or Damaged Wiring
When wires become damaged by any cause, they can become a hazard. Typical defects of worn or burnt covering are a typical defect. We do not open up panel covers or remove equipment to view the wiring. You are visually surveying exposed wiring both indoors and outdoors.
Recommendation: The wiring at [specify area] was seen to be [specify defect] and should be repaired by a professional electrician to reduce the electrical hazard.
GFI Circuits
GFI outlets are used in designated locations such as kitchens, bathrooms, garages, outdoor outlets, crawl spaces, and unfinished basements. Although they are useful in other locations, they are required in areas where equipment that draw a large amount of current or may be exposed to water are in order to increase safety.
Recommendation: There should be provided a ground fault circuit interrupter on all circuits servicing the [Specify Area(s)] This will reduce the shock hazard.