What a joke… perfect example of overregulation.
Believe it or not, when licensing was first proposed in florida, a certain group was trying to do the exact same thing. Luckily a few people behind the scenes made sure that didn’t happen…
So was a certain somebody in Ohio, he actually went in front of the licensing board to try to stop HIs from opening panels. He lost that fight.
I hope he doesn’t see this post. Inspecting Electrical Panels - Local Inspection Issues / Ohio Home Inspectors - InterNACHI®️ Forum
If you are a central Ohio home inspector and you want to add an electrical panel inspection to your services let me know. My current rate is $150.00 however I would offer a group rate to NACHI members
I’ll fight to make sure that you can never remove a dead front in Ohio
I’m surprised it was Rhode island. I thought the goofballs in California would be the first to do this. Now that one state has done it, it’s only a matter of time before the others do…
LOL, The good old days. 
I hope not.
Here in Ohio it’s written into the SOP, which is state law.
Fair enough. As I’m getting old and I need light, I’m just going to carry a lamp around that has this bad connection…tends to have these ground faults if you shake it just like this…
If I remember correctly this was due to a lobbing effort by the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrcial Workers) labor union. They had a similar initiative here in NJ where they got a law passed that states that only people who graduate from a 4 year apprenticeship program can take the state electrical licensing exam. Im guessing that they may try to get this passed here as well.
THIS^^^^^^^^^^
I use to open dead fronts but stopped due to individuals at the inspection exhibiting unsafe practices.
Now I fully agree with the policy, but there is room for amendments. IE: When a home owner agrees to the dead-front being removed, and no other person is in the room.
A complaint was levied to the OACIQ about how I preformed electrical as well as home inspections.
Complaints. #1: I took to long. #2: I opening dead fronts and used circuit analysers.
The following week I was setup, completely unknowingly, by the provincial regulating body that oversees real estate transactions and realtors. Attended. 1 provincial master electrician and leading AHJ for the RBQ or Quebec’s provincial building authority. 2: A large building developer and leading provincial RBQ AHJ. Both attended the inspection I conducted.
I kicked everyone out of the room where the electrical equipment was until the dead front was removed. I had 2 yellow fold out danger sign 6’ feet in front of the open panel. I had on safety glasses and gloves. I pointed to defects with a laser pointer while explaining the defect.
At the end of the 4 hour inspection I went through the defects and deficiencies with the prospective purchaser. Everyone stayed while I went there way.
My report was delivered to the OACIQ and to the RBQ. The complaint was quashed.
I feel there is no need to open a electric panel unless you are a licensed electrician or licensed technician that has been trained to work with 120/240 volt systems. It may put individuals attending the inspection as well as the home owner in pearl. Accidents happen.
Just another reason why th US needs to get rid of all the toxic, corrupt unions.
yeah, so the toxic corrupt companies can screw us over without the hint of a possibility of fighting it. what the hell were we thinking, trying to prevent the complete exploitation of people? profits over everything!
/s just in case someone thinks it was serious.
Maryland has the same SOP. Both have wording copied from ASHI SOP.
§09.36.07.08
A. A home inspector shall visually inspect an electrical system, including:
(1) The service drop;
(2) Service entrance conductors, cables, and raceways;
(3) Service equipment and main disconnects;
(4) Service grounding;
(5) Interior components of service panels and subpanels;
I feel for you, Rhode Island.
Does anyone know if there is a plan to fight this new law? I know that Nick had a thread about a year or two ago saying that they had lobbied to kill it.
It would be interesting to know what was the reasoning for this law. Laws must have a desired outcome, and they must benefit someone. In this case the law has a detrimental outcome to the consumer who now needs two entirely separate inspections to purchase a home. This definitely drives up business for the electricians but has no provision against fraudulent “extra” sales.
As is the case so often with government, one is inclined to ask, “What were they thinking?” or its corollary, “Were they capable of thought?”
This is right out of the IBEW playbook. They come up and idea that is basically nonsense with the outcome benefiting only them. So now homeowners will have to pay for an additional electrical inspection or skip the inspection altogether. Given the depth of a inspection performed on the electrical system by a home inspector there is no reason why you need to hire a licensed electrician to plug in tester into a receptacle.
And there’s your ‘clue’ as to who’s behind this crap!
You wanna’ see it squashed and disappear? Write a clause into the law that any Real Estate Sales Person, or anyone associated with a RE Sales Person, causes said RE Sales Person to lose their license for no less than one year. Multiple infractions causes a permanent loss of license and a $10,000 fine per infraction!