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Published in: August 2009
Category: With 30 states having completed adoption processes for the 2008 National Electrical Code® (NEC), support for section 406.11, which requires tamper-resistant receptacles to be installed in new homes, has been overwhelmingly positive.
Twenty-nine of the 30 states have adopted the 2008 NEC with the tamper-resistant Code intact. These include: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming. Alabama, Illinois and Texas jurisdictions are enforcing the Code at local levels. Wisconsin adopted the Code last year, but put a delay on implementation until Jan. 1, 2010.
In addition, 14 states are presently considering NEC adoption.
To date, only Indiana has rejected section 406.11, and electrical safety advocates hope the decision might be overturned when the state’s residential code is revised. Officials in Georgia, Kentucky and Ohio initially resisted the tamper-resistant Code adoption, but the decisions were overturned after considering feedback from electrical experts, medical professionals and local citizens.
The officials in those 29 states should be commended for embracing a greater level of child electrical safety. But the real credit goes to the local representatives of supportive organizations like the American Burn Association, Safe Kids USA, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the International Association of Electrical Inspectors, the National Electrical Contractors Association, and Electrical Safety Foundation International. Without their help, the Code adoption status at “half-time” probably wouldn’t be the same.
For more information, visit www.childoutletsafety.org.
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#1 by KYLE at September 3rd, 2009
TAMPER RESISTANT RECEPTACLES ARE A FINE ADDTION TO THE CODE, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THERE WERE MANY OTHER HAZARDS THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED FIRST (SUCH AS THAT NASTY BARE GROUND IN NM CABLE THAT GETS EVERYONE IN TROUBLE). THE NEC SHOULD NOT BE A REPLACEMENT FOR GOOD PARENTING.
#2 by Raymond at October 6th, 2009
We have been enforcing the TR & WR requirements for prox 7 months now and there has been a steady feedback that there are many devices that are VERY difficult to insert an appliance cord into. Not just the GFCI devices, but the standard 15 amp devices also. I know that it does not make sense, but the plug tester seems to be easier to insert than a two wire cord. It probably just due to the larger mass in the hand with the gfci/polarity tester. Who can answer this phenomenon, who can we and the little lady that cannot use her vacuum or her heart/lung machine appeal to?
#3 by Bob at October 21st, 2009
Does anyone have a feeling for how widespread the implementation of the TR/WR code change enforcement is in Illinois at this point?