The study confirmed a lot of electricians' beliefs - and directly challenged the assumptions behind much code growth.
First, for the "non-problems."
"Old" equipment generally performed well, when subjected to the same UL testing as was done at the time of manufacture. That is, wire insulation (even brittle rubber) and circuit breakers (even FPE and Zinsco) worked, unless they were damaged in some way. Likewise, old switches and receptacles either did just fine, or had some obvious problem with them.
The houses either had very few / no code issues .... or had plenty. As in 'more than 25.' here we are speaking of basic violations (things like over lamping and over fusing), rather than, say, not having the more recently required telephone jack.
The code problems were -no surprise to sparkies here - generally associated with poor attempts to change / modify / "improve" the original electrical system.
Probably the biggest hazard found lurking within the homes was suggested by signs wires had overheated. This was indicated by either the older rubber insulation decaying, or by scorched insulation. The most common site of this was near lighting fixtures, suggesting over-lamping for extended periods. There was also the matter of over-fusing.
Poor splicing / flying splices / and double lugging were all common features of additions to the original electrical work. Sometimes the report understates things: for example, "extension cords left in place" was a very nice way of describing a cord that came out of a receptacle, a cord that was then stapled to the baseboard, and then went in a hole in the wall - where it fed a newly installed receptacle. Such cords always had several coats of paint. (Though one more recent such was found, only it used the newer yellow romex :D)
Receptacles found generally fit into two categories: either they were the original two-prong type, or someone had replaced them with three-prong types. In several instances, the three-prong receptacles were wired in a manner that would fool a plug-in tester.
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Just for grins, let's look a my personal home. I think this will show what we have to deal with.
My place was built in 1940. No skimping here - it was wired with romex that just might have come from the very first production run. Very 'cutting edge' at the time; K&T was commonly used in this neighborhood until Kennedy was President.
The kitchen had a single receptacle - you could only plug in one item. In the only electrical change made over the years, a duplex receptacle was added for a refrigerator. Naturally, this receptacle was installed in a non-compliant manner.
Wires near the lighting fixtures (both of them!) is in good shape. The reason for this is suggested by the fact that I still have the glass covers to these fixtures; over-lamping was prevented by the lack of room in the globes.
The main room, which measures about 12 ft square, and has 28 ft. of continuous wall, has a single duplex receptacle, part of which is switched. There's another 6 ft. wall section, and there was a 4 ft. section - both without any receptacles. It's safe to assume that this room has seem many extension cords / power strips / cube taps / adapters over the years.
It's very likely that the room was once larger, with the wall that creates a bedroom being added later. This would account for the presence of three receptacles in the bedroom - none on either side of the dividing wall.
The only receptacle in the bath is the one in the base of the light over the sink. Two prong, no GFI.
The original service - in use until a few years ago - was a 60 amp fuse box. Two of the four fuse spaces were used for household wiring. A third was for the space heater in the bath. The range fuses were not used (gas range). The water heater was fed from a second meter.
One outside light; no outside receptacles.
I think we can see how my place's electrical is inadequate for even a fairly modest modern life. I know, it's hard to imagine a kitchen without both a fridge and a toaster - but that was the state of thing in 1940. Likewise, out living rooms have far more to plug in than just a radio and a lamp.
