Use a ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) wherever heat tapes are plugged in.
That is the part of the CPSC statement that I was thinking about.
The first GFP requirement was in the '87 code and only applied to heat tape that did not have a metal covering. The proposal called for GFCI, but was revised to GFP at the comment stage. The reason for the change was that on long industrial type installations that the normal leakage current would often exceed the 5mA trip point of a GFCI. In the 96 code the GFP requirement was expanded to cover all heat tape, even that with a metllic covering. This was based fires that were started by heat trace, even with a metallic jacket, when protected by standard breakers. 96 was also the year that 550 required GFCI protection for the mobile home heat trace receptacle. One of the substantiations said that 60% of the heat tape related fires occur in mobile homes. There were comments that recommended GFP in place of GFCI, but they were rejected. This same issue (GFP vs GFCI) was addressed again in the 99 code cycle with CMP 19 requiring the continued use of GFCI protection. The panel statement said in part "the panel's intent is to provide protection for personnel".
Don
