ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Above and beyond the NEC

I'm always interested in doing a better-than-the-code-minimum installation. What do you do that's a notch above what's required?

One that comes to mind for me when I replace all the worn outlets in a house, I have the homeowner tell me which ones they use for the vacuum and put commercial-grade outlets there.

Dave

One that comes to mind for myself is i gfci protect the washer maching outlet. Do to the fact we all the h/o is going to plug in something like a iron there during the daily rush and just possibly they may come into contact with some water, plus little kids love to climb up there.

Another is smoke dectectors in crawl spaces as well as attic but thats just do to the fact im also a firefighter!

I would always tell my customers that I guarantee my installations for life: During either my lifetime or theirs (whicever ends first), I will replace any worn out wiring or devices free of charge (not including faceplates, fixtures or appliances). Invariably, there would be more work they needed, while I was there, that made it profitable for me to give away a couple of switches or receptacles. They always loved it when I would say, "All done, no charge." I always loved it when they would say, "While you are here, could you...."

Good idea about the smokies.

NJ,
Most of the smokes that I have seen are not listed for use in ambients below 32°F or above 120°F. Have you found some that are listed as suitable for use in the attics?
Don

I have just started doing such with in the last year, however i have not received any complaints as of yet about any problems. To answer your questions, no i just used the same as i was using inside the home. However i just spent about an hour researching your question and have found that it is NOT recommended to install in such locations. The apps i installed had a attic fan and gabble vents so it never surpassed 100 degrees up there but im sure it got chilly up there. I see BRK makes a heat dectector that trips around 130 or if a increase of more then 15 degrees with in a minute. Maybe these could be used. I myself will discontinue putting them in said locations untill i speak with a company rep. On the same kind of topic i feel it should become code to require strobe/horn in res. applications. I recently saw a talk show about how people sleep through regular detectors it was scary. Esp as a firefighter.{ Alittle long winded sorry}

I guess the most common things I do beyond the NEC are these.

1)Supports: raceways, cables, enclosures etc. beyond the code minimums and then some.

2)Wire Size: usually one or more sizes up from minimum.

3)Raceway Size: again one or more sizes up from minimum.

4)Identification: Mark panel and circuit designations on J-Box covers, utilization equipment etc.

I will be thinking of this question some more, it is a good one.

Bob

NJ,
I think that even a 130°F heat detector is too low for an attic, I'd look at at least 165°. That is what I have in my attic now. I had photo detector type smokes there, but condensation caused them to trip and I replaced them with heats.
Don

I agree 100 % 130 is to low but my only thing is a smoke is going to catch the fire faster then a heat dect. But anything is better then nothing. I just hope that they can come out with something in the future to cover these types of areas, but be senstive enough for res. work. Maybe they should start using duct detectorsesp since the high efc. furnace run every few mins. it would prob pick up on the smoke pretty fast.

Lightly loaded plug circuits.