Electrical inspections that ensure any electrical system operates safely, efficiently, and is compliant with the National Electrical Code, as well as help in electrical maintenance since you get to anticipate and undertake all electrical repairs on time.

The exact costs incurred for complete electrical inspections of any building may vary depending on the electrical system’s size and complex structural integrity. However, despite the convenience and the expenses, electrical inspection has unmatched benefits that range from ensuring the safety of the occupants to guaranteed efficiency of the electrical systems.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was hard for homeowners to get willing electrical contractors for in-person inspection due to the imposed lockdowns. Many jurisdictions in Denver, CO, and around the globe resorted to remote electrical inspections to minimize costly downtimes in building projects and maintain safety standards during the pandemic.

The pandemic passed, but the world discovered remote electrical inspections’ convenience, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, which is why remote inspections are embraced globally and are becoming standard practice in different industries.

This article investigates the concept of remote electrical inspections and how they will affect the way electricians serve their clients.

Understanding Remote Electrical Inspections

Remote electrical inspections are part of Remote Video Inspections for building safety. Under RVI, inspections are carried out virtually with the help of live video and other digital tools. The electrical inspector liaises with an electrical contractor on-site who videos different components of the electrical system and relays it to the inspector. The inspector then rates the system against a checklist for electrical inspection.

In Colorado, remote home electrical inspections generally follow the RVI procedure as follows:

• Ascertaining eligibility as not all electrical works qualify for remote inspection. The process is limited to only a few areas, and many jurisdictions also require the person scheduling the inspection to be a qualified electrician.
•  Scheduling with the local electrical inspectors and ensuring all documentation is in order.
•  Setting the ground by ensuring the quality of internet connectivity, availability of necessary tools, and eliminating disruptions.
•  The inspector identifies the job site on video and begins the electrical inspection, closely maintaining communication with the on-site electrician.
•  The inspector then enters the inspection results into AHJ’s database and communicates the same to the electrician and customer, such as happens with the AHJ in Denver, CO.

Tools for Remote Electrical Inspections

Currently, remote electrical inspections rely heavily on non-specialized hard and soft tools, whose major advantages are handiness and ease of use. Smartphones, tablets, and computers are the leading hardware used.

The technology remote electrical inspections rely on includes:

•  Audiovisual equipment for live video streaming.
•  General communication apps like Microsoft Teams, Facetime, Skype, Zoom, etc.
•  Specialized virtual inspection apps that perform scheduling, data collection, report generation, and file-sharing functions with the ability to interact with digitized codes and checklists.
•  Digitized code and checklists for electrical inspection.
•  Internet connectivity.

Regulatory Framework for Remote Electrical Inspections

Remote electrical inspections have been regulated within the larger framework of RVIs for building safety. A lot of the regulation has happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, mostly at the state and county level. However, a major attempt can be traced to NFPA’s position paper in 2018, which recommended regulation around permits, plan review, and inspection software. Of particular emphasis was the need for site verification, strictly requiring the video inspection to begin outside the building and capture identifying landmarks.

A regulatory framework, the NFPA 915, has been in the works since 2019. It covers the requirements and inspection processes, including eligibility for remote inspection. NFPA 915 will also offer guidelines on the requisite qualifications of the inspection assistant.

In 2020, the International Code Council (ICC) also issued a guidelines handbook on the process of remote video inspections and necessary training.

In Colorado, the RVI guidelines, under which remote electrical installations fall, stipulate that only occupied residential establishments can be remotely inspected for final inspections, re-inspections, and rough-in inspections.

The regulations deal with the following key components:

• Remote site coordination.
•  Address and permit verification.
• Personnel.
• Detailed inspection.
• Documentation.
• Quality assurance.

A local electrician in Arvada, or any electrician near Denver will request the inspection for you if you are in their vicinity. They then have the duty to schedule and be on-site for the inspection.

Advantages Of Remote Electrical Inspections

If you are yet to have Arvada electricians or other professionals within Denver, CO inspect your buildings, here is why you should advocate for remote inspections.

Cost-Effectiveness

Remote electrical inspections are a very cost-effective way of performing electrical inspections, especially in circumstances where resources are strapped. Indeed, among the earliest applications of remote virtual inspections was by a tiny cash-strapped inspection team in Clark County, Washington hoping to increase capabilities.

Re-inspection jobs tend to be simple and brief, which makes remote inspections all the more appealing, particularly when inspecting buildings in rural areas with great distances between job sites. Furthermore, as remote electrical inspections utilize commonplace and cost-friendly tools and technology, ubiquitous technologies such as smartphones allow inspection to be free or have only a nominal cost.

Increased Efficiency And Speed

Remote electrical inspections increase efficiency and save time for all parties involved. Since inspectors need not leave their offices, they save on traveling costs. Electrical inspectors can also complete more jobs in a day remotely than they would if they had to travel around. The visual tools used in remote inspections can also give greater detail of the area being inspected than natural eyes would, allowing inspection results of a higher quality.

Electrician contractors and their clients enjoy shorter wait times for their electrical installations to be approved and can move their projects along faster.

Enhanced Safety

Remote electrical inspections in 2020 were popular due to their enhanced safety. By minimizing contact, the building industry could continue without the fear of spreading infections. Even post-pandemic, remote inspections are still a safer way of conducting electrical inspections as there is reduced contact with hazardous elements of the system.

Also, digital inspection tools enhance how the partners interact with the electrical code and regulations during inspection. Such interactions improve compliance and enhance safety.

Remote Electrical Inspections: Case Studies And Success Stories

While few case studies on remote electrical inspections are on record, a few pointers indicate what its destiny has been thus far. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was increased interest in the idea, with the states of Minnesota, Virginia, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado all releasing guidelines regulating the process. Other stakeholders also showed heightened interest, as indicated by the increased downloads of online resources.

When surveyed by the ICC, 63% of building inspectors admitted they had partially transitioned to remote inspections. However, 60% claimed they lacked the capability to make the transition. West Hartford, CT, and Clark County, WA, are examples of two counties whose adoption of remote inspections can be a gauge. Only a few months into the lockdown of 2020, West Hartford had over 600 remote inspections, while Clark County averaged 50 remote inspections a day, and notably, there was no significant deviation in the number of failed inspections from that typically experienced by in-person inspections.

Despite the rising interest and application of remote inspections, skepticism around the effectiveness still exists within the industry, whether this be due to ignorance, limited collaboration among stakeholders, and inadequate technical skills. Because of this, it is on the industry itself to overcome the barriers that these issues create.

The Future of Remote Electrical Inspections    

On many fronts, the future of remote electrical inspections is still an unexploited potential. Though the efforts at formulating a regulatory framework are well underway, there needs to be standardization on such matters as choice of tools, eligibility for remote inspection, and the qualifications of the personnel on-site. The framework leaves these choices to stakeholders.

Primarily, remote electrical inspections utilize smartphones, tablets, and computers with common apps. Not being specialized, these standard tools limit the scope to which remote electrical inspections can be applied. Developing specialized tools would give better feedback and foster closer collaboration. Specialized cameras would provide better images, and the apps would integrate communication, video capability, digitalized code, and other aspects of the inspection process.

Soon, it will be possible to run whatever technology exists on the powers of AI and IoT to provide augmented reality tools for superior remote inspections. As more effective tools become available, it will be possible to extend the scope of situations to which remote electrical inspections can be applied.

Training And Skill Development For Electricians

Remote inspections are a highly collaborative process, and the electrician must cultivate the requisite communication skills to play his bridging role between the inspector and the client. They must develop relevant technical and soft skills to integrate seamlessly into the remote inspection process. The better they can adopt the technology of remote inspections, the faster, safer, and more efficient they can do their job. 

Electricians must ground themselves in the whole process of remote inspections, learning about scheduling, site preparation, and collaborating remotely with the inspector. They should also learn the technicality of relevant hard and soft tools, as the more tools they are comfortable with, the smoother the process will be. Moreover, remote inspections demand that electricians on the ground be more active than they are in traditional inspections. Fortunately, the ubiquity of technology means the learning curve is not that steep.

Conclusion

Remote electrical inspections may have been borne of the needs of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, discovering its potential means it is here to stay. It is faster, safer, more efficient, and cost-effective. Electricians can wrap up faster with quicker inspections and approvals so the project can move along.

However, remote inspections still only support in-person inspections because of limited experience, lack of specialized tools, and comprehensive guidelines. But, with advancements in regulations and technology, remote electrical inspections will undoubtedly become the norm in building safety management.

Poorly insulated cables are among the leading causes of electric shock and other related issues in most homes and businesses today. But if an average electrician installs the electric cords in good condition, what tampers with their insulation, exposing their conductive wires?

Read on to understand how electrical insulation works, its importance, and the need for regular inspection to prevent any electrical issues.

The Basics of Electrical Insulation

Electrical insulation involves using high-resistance, non-conductive materials to prevent unintended electrical contact and other potential hazards.

Although safety assurance in line with electrical shocks and fires is the primary reason for electrical insulation, proper use of electrical insulators extends far beyond immediate safety concerns. Correct insulation also comes with an assurance of guaranteed efficiency and sustainability of homes and businesses. This makes it a critical need for responsible property ownership and management.

The idea around electrical insulators is that they do not transfer electrical current to the surroundings. Even then, standard insulators’ ideal nature varies depending on their properties’ intensity. Some common electric insulating materials you can encounter are Teflon, rubber, paper, mica, plastic, glass, etc. The choice of either of these materials depends on the application requirements, operating conditions of the electric cords, and environmental considerations. The primary properties of insulating materials that you must know are:

• Resistivity: This is measured by the ability of an insulating material to oppose the flow of electric current. Typically, a good insulating material should have a higher resistivity.
• Dielectric strength is the ability of electrically insulating materials to withstand electric stress without subduing or breaking down.

How to Identify the Signs of Electric Insulation Wear

Electrical faults can be unpredictable in the sense that they may occur unexpectedly. However, most electric issues are preventable and can be controlled by regular maintenance. For example, in this case, prompt repairs and immediate replacement of damaged insulation can avoid electric issues that arise from exposed conductive wires due to damaged insulation.

Here is how you can tell that your electric insulation is compromised, whether at home or around your business premises:

Inspect the Cables for Fractures and Discoloration

You must visually inspect the insulation surface of your electric cables for visible cracks or fractures. If any are present, this indicates aging or physically stressed cables. Similarly, discoloration around electric cords may be a sign of overheating of the cable or overexposure to extreme environmental factors.

You may have also noticed that the insulation crumbles upon touch, which is a clear sign of the insulation’s structural integrity. This is especially common in rubber and plastic insulation materials.

Recognize the Smell of Burning Material Around Electrical Equipment

Electric cables have an unusual burning smell of the insulation material, indicating a possible overheating issue or short circuits within the electrical system. This demands immediate attention to prevent further damage and risk of fire.

Note the Reducing Insulation Resistance after Electrical Tests

As a home or business owner, conducting the insulation resistance test on your own can be challenging. Instead, look for a local Arvada electrician qualified in electrical matters to do the testing and then analyze the results from the megohmmeter (insulation resistance tester). The acceptable range from these results depends on the electrical applications in the system.

Note that high-voltage systems need higher insulation resistance, so a decrease in the insulation means potential damage to the insulation. The drop in the readings could result from aged wiring, among many other factors.

There are many other ways to look for damages in electrical insulation, but they are electrician-oriented duties. While the above issues are what you would observe when going around with other duties, you must schedule regular electrical inspections to inspect the wiring for any insulation wear.

Common Causes of Electrical Insulation Deterioration & Failure

Regular inspection, timely repair, and replacement of damaged insulation help avoid potential risks. But you must also know some of the leading causes of electrical insulation damage and learn how to manage them in advance.

Some of these include:

Aging

Like any other item, electric cables experience natural aging due to different environmental factors and temperature fluctuations. These factors combined lead to a reduced effectiveness of any cable insulation. To counter this effect, the best you can do is to set regular inspections with a proactive maintenance plan where aged cables get replaced before their insulation becomes a problem.

Mechanical Stress

Extreme bending of electric cords during installation damages the insulation, affecting its effectiveness. To avoid this, you need to hire professional electricians from renowned electrical companies near Denver for all your installation work. A well-trained and certified electrician will use appropriate cable support and employ conduits to minimize stress on the cables.

Electrical Overloading

Whenever you exceed an electrical circuit capacity in your living room, kitchen, office, or work, you overload the whole circuit, causing heat generation that degrades the insulating material over time. Additionally, depending on the material used for the insulation, the generated heat softens up the insulation, making it more susceptible to mechanical damage. This may lead to cracks and fractures if the cable is bent or twisted and hardens after heat generation.

To prevent electrical overloading, your house needs the correct installation of circuit breakers and fuses that will help prevent the drawing of excessive current. You must also ensure different electrical circuits in the building are designed to handle all the expected loads.

Poor Quality Cables

Another common cause of electrical insulation damage is wiring your house or building premises with poor-quality cables. These often have manufacturing defects that do not meet the expected electrical standards regarding safety. As a result, the insulation on such cables is bound to get damaged at the slightest provocation, compromising the safety of the connected appliances and the building’s occupants.

The best way to avoid this is to source your wiring cables and other components from reputable manufacturers that stick to the industry standards. Your electrician must also conduct quality assurance tests on all cables before their installation to ensure you have quality insulation.

Rodent Activity

It’s not the first time a rat has chewed up electric cords, exposing your conductors and risking different issues surrounding the exposed connections. If not managed in good time, the exposed wiring can come into contact with the surrounding materials, risking sparking and arcing. You can best keep the rats away by implementing rodent and pest control measures. You may also want to invest in protective coverings in rats-infested areas to shield the cables from damage.

Potential Consequences of Inadequate Electrical Insulation

You need to prioritize proper electrical insulation because of the rising potential hazards when the integrity of insulation is compromised. When the insulation fails to oppose current flow between live wires and its surrounding elements, here are probable electric hazards that may occur:

• Risk of electrical fires that could result from overheated wiring and their insulation, leading to sparks that may ignite surrounding materials.
•  Electric equipment damage from the risk of electric circuits that result from electricity taking unintended paths due to the damaged insulation.
•  High fault currents and explosions when conductors short circuit with grounded surfaces in a high voltage system.
• Fatal accidents and personal injury from the risk of electric shock.

Regular inspection and maintenance of your electrical insulation will safeguard your electrical systems and promote a safer environment free from these risks.

Tips for Home and Business Owners

Unless you are subscribed to green energy, you can’t avoid the interaction with electrical systems daily. Here are some proactive steps we believe will help ensure your safety and that of your equipment regarding electrical insulation, whether at home or on your business premises.

Hire Qualified Professionals

Improper electrical insulation can have dire consequences if not handled with the seriousness it deserves. You need to hire only qualified electricians to handle all your installation and complex electrical work. This is because professional electricians with expertise in insulation can provide valuable insights, ensuring all insulation work is satisfactory.

Schedule Professional Inspections and Assessments

Go for certified electricians near you who can help conduct regular inspections around the building and look for signs of damaged or deteriorating insulations. They will then recommend the needed repairs or upgrades.

Prioritize Repairs

You need to act with speed on all identified insulation matters. Whether it is repairing damaged insulation or replacing outdated materials, you must prioritize them to avoid any potential hazards for the safety of your home or business.

Invest in Quality

During your installation, choose quality materials, including electric cables with standard insulation properties. Remember, having quality insulation is good for the building’s safety and its occupants and efficiency in the overall electrical system.

Educate Building Occupants

Ensure everyone at home and in the office is well-educated on the importance of electrical safety. You must also encourage them to report unusual observations around electrical systems to help counter any issues promptly.

Establish Reliable Emergency Preparedness Strategies

You must always have an operation emergency plan in case of any electrical issues. This may mean educating your family members and employees on the location of circuit breakers, electric panels, and emergency switches for emergency procedures.

Stay Informed and Plan for Upgrades

While it is important to stay informed about the lifespan of different materials, you must also have an upgrade plan in your long-term maintenance strategy. This is due to the evolving technology that may come with newer, more efficient insulation materials that offer improved safety and performance.

Conclusion

Understanding the relevance of proper electrical insulation is important for the safety and efficiency of all electrical-related activities. For homeowners and business owners alike, you must learn to identify the signs of damaged or deteriorating insulation to help make the necessary repairs quickly. Most importantly, the common causes of insulation failure range from mechanical stress and electrical overloading to rodent activity on the cables. To counter each of these, regular inspection is a key factor that you have to prioritize to safeguard your electrical systems and keep everyone in the building safe.

The American Community Survey estimates that the median age of homes in the US is 40 years, with New York having the oldest median age at 62 years.

Colorado’s homes feature slightly below the national median at 36 years old. Of Colorado’s 2.45 million homes, 56.6% were built before 1989, with a whopping 31% built in the housing boom decades of the 1970s and 80s. Therefore, the likelihood of living in an old house is much higher, although such homes are attractive investment prospects as they are cheaper and sometimes offer a charm that modern houses do not.

Though homes generally last up to 70 years on average, their electrical installations typically require inspection and possibly improvement at 25-30 years. After that, they pose significant risks to life and property, diminish the property’s value, and make it costly to maintain and insure.

This article offers a guide to discovering common electrical hazards in older homes and how to mitigate them.

Common Electrical Hazards in Older Homes

Typically, older homes’ electrical systems are hidden from view – behind walls and under floors and are hard to appraise without an inspection. However, you can tell the wiring poses an electrical hazard from its operations. But you must not wait until there are faults in your wiring. Many electrical companies will gladly inspect your home if you live near Denver. Search for “Arvada electricians near me” and you’ll have a list of professional companies you can choose from.

Here are the electrical hazards common in older homes:

1.      Old and damaged wiring

The wiring system will be considered old and outdated if the house is older than 40 years. Factors like age, quality of installation, weather, rodent infestation, damages to the walls, and incorrect usage may age the wiring sooner than usual. Visually, you can tell your wiring is old and damaged when the insulation appears torn, cracked, pinched, pierced, or chewed by rodents. Old and damaged wiring also tends to become loose at the switches and outlets.

When in use, you may smell burning, the sockets feel hot, the lights flicker, or there may be tingling sensations when you touch the outlet, switches, or connected appliances. You must never ignore old and damaged wiring as it causes over 30,000 home fires yearly.

2.      Outdated electrical systems

The risk posed by most outdated wiring systems poses as much danger as old and damaged wiring, especially if there has been some DIY tinkering in the past. Here are some sure signs the wiring in your house is outdated:

• Knob and tube wiring can be identified by their ceramic knob insulators and the double wiring – one light and the other dark. This wiring system has not been in use since the 1940s.
•  Aluminum wiring, especially in houses built in the 1960s and 70s. Aluminum is soft and so prone to crimping and pinching that it may cause fire hazards and electric shocks. The current standard wiring is copper.
•  Two prong outlets indicate a lack of grounding throughout the house.
• Lack of GFCI grounding in wet areas.

Besides the apparent risk of fires and electrical shocks, outdated wiring will likely fall below code, making insuring your home costly.

3.      Inadequate Amps

Over half the homes in the US were built before the invention of nearly all the home electrical appliances that are mainstays of the modern home. Most were fitted with electrical systems that support energy needs of 60-100 amps, which is inadequate for modern requirements. This amperage is rarely upgraded unless expansion is planned or there is a need to add a large electronic appliance. In contrast, modern homes automatically come with 200 ampere electrical systems.

You can tell the amperage is inadequate if the circuit breaker is frequently tripping or if there is a hiss in the panel box. If the amperage is insufficient, electronic appliances may not run or may be damaged beyond repair. However, it is important to note that this shouldn’t be a big issue since you can get the best Arvada electrician to inspect the appliance and advise you if your amperage is adequate.

4.      Insufficient Outlets

Pro tip: One way to tell if an old home’s electrical system has had a recent update is to count the number of outlets in each room. Fewer outlets mean you should take a closer look at the system.

Older homes had fewer appliances to power and needed fewer outlets that could not serve the sheer number of electrical gadgets in a typical modern home. A common way around this is to supplement the outlets with extension cords, which have an untidy look and increase the possibility of overloading the system, which risks both the system and the appliance.

5.      Non-Child-friendly Installations

The Electric Safety Foundation estimates that 2400 children suffer severe electrical shocks and burns every year, with 6-12 fatalities.

Children have less of a knowledge and are more vulnerable to the dangers of a poorly maintained electrical system than adults. Electrical installations in old houses were never designed with children in mind — for example, the National Electrical Code did not mandate tamper-resistant receptacles until 2008. Of particular concern are two prong ungrounded outlets that are easily accessible to kids, lack of GFCI in wet areas, and extension cords over which children can trip.

How to Mitigate the Electrical Hazards in Older Homes

A hazardous electrical system does not necessarily mean catastrophe for your home. Upgrading the electrical system will make your home safer, more pleasant, and save you money in energy costs and insurance while boosting your home’s value on the real estate market.

Here are the measures you can take to mitigate the electrical hazards in an old home:

1.      Inspection

Have an expert from Arvada Electricall inspect for you. Searching for the best electrician or a local residential electrician will help you get someone you can trust. A professional inspection will reveal all the electrical problems you need to solve for safety, efficiency, and code compliance, and generally involves the following:

• Checking the electrical box outside to assess the condition of the wires and the quality of connection from the house to the power lines.
• Checking the electric panel to assess the components’ integrity to recommend how much power your home needs. If the panel is fuse-based, any qualified electrician will note the need for an upgrade.
•  Checking the grounding wire to see if it is sufficient for the expected needs.
•  Checking and evaluating the wiring system in the building and taking note of the quality of the latest upgrades, if any.
•  Checking the electrical fixtures and outlets throughout the home.

2.      Upgrade Wiring

A wiring upgrade in an old house typically targets the wiring system and the wires themselves. If the wiring system in your home is knob-and-tube wiring, then this must be replaced and upgraded, as few insurance companies will be willing to insure it.

An upgrade from the knob-and-tube system is also mandatory to ensure the electrical installation is up to code, especially if you intend to do renovations requiring you to pull the wall down.

Strip and upgrade the wiring to copper standards, especially if insulation has been added to the house in the past. Replace cloth insulated wiring and all damaged wires, being particularly cautious that connections are not loose.

Pick a qualified electrician in Arvada, CO, to install the wiring for you.

3.      Upgrade and Increase Outlets

Two-prong outlets are often incompatible with most modern electrical appliances and are always ungrounded. Replace these with three-prong outlets. DO NOT merely replace the outlets without grounding, and replace the outlet if the plug feels loose inside it, as this indicates wear.

Since 2008, the National Electrical Code requires that you install a tamper-resistant receptacle (TRR). TRRs are child-proof outlets that help prevent accidental electrocution when children attempt to push metallic objects into the outlet.

Increase the number of outlets if they are inadequate so that you minimize the use of extension cords that pose a tripping and electrocution hazard for children. Tuck the extension cord out of the way if you must use it.

4.      Replace the Electrical Circuit Breaker Panel

Hire a qualified Arvada electrician to replace the electrical circuit breaker. An electrical circuit breaker panel replacement helps prevent fires and steadies the flow of electricity, especially with additional appliances and outlets. Replace the electrical circuit breaker panel if it is original to the house and the house is older than 30 years. Most of these are fuse-based and less effective. A replacement is also due if the circuit breaker trips too often.

A burning smell, a hot panel, and outlets that produce sparks when plugged in are dangerous signs for which you must call an electrician immediately.

5.      Install GFCI in Wet Areas

A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) helps prevent electric shock when it detects electric current flowing through the body into the ground. The risk of accidentally acting as a conductor is higher in the wet areas of older homes without grounding. For old homes undergoing significant renovations, the NEC requires that GFCI be installed in all the wet areas indoors and outdoors, including bathrooms, kitchens, basements, in proximity of laundry machines and sinks, garages, and around the swimming pool.

Conclusion

Houses can last for years, but their electrical installations may not last that long. Such wiring systems have the potential of becoming worn and damaged or just obsolete. When that happens, they are dangerous to life and property, making the home costly.

However, any electrical hazards in your old home can be mitigated by engaging electrical companies in the Denver area to inspect and upgrade the electrical system.