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N.C. will require electronic breakers in new houses

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Comments (6)

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

(Updated 11:19 am)

By
Associated Press

RALEIGH (AP) — North Carolina regulators will require that all new homes be built with an electronic switch designed to prevent electrical fires.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Wednesday the Building Code Council had been moving toward dropping a requirement that arc fault circuit interrupters be installed in all living areas of new homes. The breakers already were required for bedrooms.

Some builders said the devices weren't worth the extra expense.

Gov. Bev Perdue wrote to council members last week expressing her support for keeping the requirement.

The council voted Tuesday to do so.

Albemarle builder Mack Nixon, a member of the council, said he doesn't think the extra cost is worth it but decided to go along with the governor's request.

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TerryT

September 16, 2009 - 8:10 am EDT

I guess the makers of the breaker has the Gov. in their pocket. What would the gov. possibly know about an arc fault breaker. Just what she is told so stay out of it and let the experts decide. Seems like Nixon can be bought very cheap or has no guts.

Interested

September 16, 2009 - 8:28 am EDT

Are you one of said experts? Perhaps the gov looked at statistics concerning the use, or lack thereof, of these switches. The fact that these switches were already required in bedrooms suggests that they are a useful tool. Besides, Mr. Nixon is a grown man free to make his own decision, as are the other "expert" members of this council. If he felt that strongly about the issue he could have voted the other way.

Beachwalk

September 16, 2009 - 10:15 am EDT

Why not build houses without any electricity?
That would prevent all electrical fires.

Doug Johnson

September 16, 2009 - 8:43 am EDT

You gotta love Mack Nixion, its a waste of money, but I will go along with it.

jbcarper

September 16, 2009 - 1:08 pm EDT

According to the Hanford Fire website (URL: http://www.hanford.gov/fire/safety/hm_firefacts.htm ) the leading cause of home fires is cooking equipment, then heating equipment, arson, then electrical distribution. While it's not the top cause, there is a significant threat from electrially related fires. It seems we read about fires starting from over loaded extension cords every winter. If these breakers can prevent this type of fire, it's probably worth it.

Don Stowe

September 16, 2009 - 11:10 pm EDT

The arc detection equipment has little or no effect on overloaded circuits or extension cords. This is the job of fuses or circuit breakers. Ground faults are located and shut off by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter devices which are required by code for wet locations or where a person could come into contact with the ground and electricity at the same time.

Arc detection pertains to a loose connection in the house circuits which could possibly cause a spark. Until the cost of arc detection equipment is brought down to the cost of GFCI devises, arc detection is an useless expense added to the cost of a new home.

The cost of housing has been greatly increased by the wishes of politicians who want to control every aspect of our lives.