How to Follow the National Electric Code

Every industry has its own set of rules, regulations and standards--and for electricians, it's the National Electric Code (NEC). This is the electrician's bible. Homeowners who choose to do their own electrical work need to abide by the guidelines as set forth in the NEC as well. The problem is, there is a ton of information in the National Electric Code book that homeowners don't need and probably won't understand--so here's how to follow the National Electric Code for some of the most common electrical jobs in your home.

Instructions

1. Before you begin, always check with your local authorities for information on local amendments to the NEC. The NEC provides the basic guidelines for electrical work, but your local authorities may have regulations in place that expand on what's listed in the Code book.

2. There should be one lighting/convenience outlet for every 575 square feet of floor space.

   Unfinished basements and any outdoor outlets need to be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). Ceiling-mounted outlets or inaccessible ones like an outlet behind a refrigerator are exceptions to the rule.

   All outlets must be within 5 and 1/2 feet of the floor. Any point along the base of the wall must be within 6 feet of an outlet. This does not include doorways spaces or fireplaces.

   In the bathroom and garage, any outlet within 6 feet of a sink must be GFCI-protected. All of your kitchen countertop outlets now need to be protected by a GFCI.

3. It is required that each kitchen and bathroom have a permanently installed light fixture controlled by a switch in place.

   Every inhabitable room in your home is required to have switch-controlled lighting, including the hallways, garage area and stairways. The switch can control either a permanently installed light fixture or an outlet with a plugged-in lamp.

4. Two dedicated 20-amp circuits are required for power delivery to the kitchen, dining room, pantry and/or breakfast room. Kitchen countertop outlets should also be fed from these two circuits, not by a single circuit.

   The circuit that feeds the kitchen area should not be shared with any other part of the home.

5. Washing machines and dryers are required to be powered by an outlet located within 6 feet of the appliances.

   Each built-in appliance such as the oven, furnace, central A/C, dishwasher and garbage disposer should be powered by its own dedicated circuit.

Tips & Warnings

• Always turn the electric OFF to whatever circuit you are working on.

• Before doing any work yourself, check with your local authorities to see if you need a permit for the job.