Per the 2020 National Electric Code, your Air Conditioner or Heat Pump will now be required to be GFCI protected.
This came about as a result of multiple people being shocked from units that were not GFCI protected and notably the unfortunate death of 12 year old Vontrell Pargo who came in contact with an energized Air Conditioner while playing with friends.
This is one of many changes in the 2020 Electrical Code.
GFCI protection of 120 volt circuits has been required in many locations for a long time and that list of locations keeps getting longer and longer. The 2020 code will now require GFCI protection of both 125 and 250 volt receptacles (and outlets in the case of the outdoor HVAC) in all locations that require GFCI protection. For example, all basement receptacles will be required to be GFCI protected, which is a change from unfinished basements that required them.
It also includes 250 volt receptacles. This means your electric range located in the basement will need GFCI protection.
If you have questions about these requirements, or why a previous sentence said “125 and 250 volt,” and why I talked about “receptacles” as different from “outlets,” you might want to take my “Electrical Refresh and Reset for Home Inspectors,” course I will be doing on January 29th.
We will be discussing this important GFCI information as well as numerous other electrical issues you may be unaware of or can benefit from hearing repeated.
This will be 8 hours of electrical fun with my side-kick Dylan Chalk. Hope to see you there—at least virtually via Zoom.
By Charles Buell, Real Estate Inspections in Seattle
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