I agree Eric. Idk if I’d even attempt a home inspection after January 30th, 2025. Not without something in writing from the state of RI governing body for home inspectors that says otherwise.
Is this something that is some states or is this a Federal law to include all states??
HUGE difference… the HI finds a bad GFI and recommends it be replaced. When the sparky shows up and says the panel needs to be replaced the client will question what he is being sold.
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And that has happened when?
Added with edit: and what possible scenario could take place where this would happen? And in the unlikely event that it did, it would indicate that the home inspector had no idea what he was doing, and therefore maybe the potential buyers should have just hired an electrician in the first place.
To me/my company over the years more times than I can count. The call goes something like this - “You inspected my house and the electrician is here to fix the outlet you mentioned and he said I need a new panel.” Same with plumbing windows, siding, roofs… everything that can be sold to an unsuspecting homeowner with a checkbook.
Had a lady once call AFTER having all her copper plumbing replaced because the plumber said, “it looked bad.” Expected me to pay.
Had a guy call and want me to pay the bill for upgraded stove and dryer outlets because they weren’t 4-slot.
And honestly, we only have ourselves to blame for this with the endless code talk and implication that anything that doesn’t meet current code MUST be replaced.
I’m not reinventing the wheel or making things up here… EVERY set of SOPs I’ve ever seen prevents us from doing work for this exact reason.
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This is good information to know for someone like myself who is new to this.
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Keep in mind, this is pertaining to only one state law at this time. Depending on the state you’re in, still go by your state’s or the interNACHI SOP…
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They should also put into the law that any electrician that does an inspection cannot solicit his services to do any of the repairs. (Like radon testing, you are not allowed to offer mitigation services)
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Would be nice but not ever going to happen. The IBEW didn’t introduce this law to sell inspections. They want a foot in the door to sell upgrades and repairs.
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I feel that every panel should be opened to look for issues. I’ve found everything from solid aluminum wires, double and triple tapped breakers, incorrect splicing, and multiple circuits being run from a 2-pole breaker. Any one of the issues can result in a fire and loss of life.
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Use to feel the same way until to many watching attendees made grievous safety errors.
I control the safety of an inspection, to an extent. I use circuit analysers and Wiggles. No more dead-fronts dismantled after that.
Update from my friend today,
New law prohibiting home inspectors from conducting electrical inspections.
As of 01-30-2025 the new amendments to R.I. Title 5-6-2 passed into law which prohibits home inspectors from inspecting the electrical system in homes during the home inspection process. While home inspectors have been doing this work without incident for 40 years in every state in the USA, we must abide by the law. As of 01-30-2025 the home inspector may only conduct inspection of the electrical system with their eyes. No interior electric panel inspections or testing of receptacles or wiring is permitted. The home inspector can be fined $2.000.00 for each offense. As such, each client will be responsible for hiring an electrician of their choice and schedule that inspection at their convenience. Some home inspectors have made deals to partner with electricians. Some are referring a list of electricians names for the client to contract with.
(Company name) Home inspections will NOT be partnering with any electricians, nor will we subcontract with any electricians. The client or their representatives are free to make whatever arrangements they so choose, but those arrangements will be separate from (Company name) Home inspections LLC. or its representatives.
RI state law requires home inspectors to carry professional general liability and Errors and omissions insurance with a minimum $500K limit per inspection. Most electricians do not carry the Errors and Omissions insurance. Furthermore, the law was amended but no professional standards were created mandating what level of inspection the electrician must complete and what reporting requirements must be met. There is also currently no conflict clause preventing the electrician from reporting on defects and then offering to repair those same defects. This can allow some unscrupulous contractor to use this inspection process as a jobs leader.
(Company name) home inspections LLC has always strived to maintain the highest level of integrity and provide our clients with the best possible inspections that are unbiased and free from conflicts. We will not bring salespersons into the inspection process. We will also not be responsible for 3rd party contractors with no professional inspection standards or those without proper insurance for inspections. We also will not be responsible for the scheduling of 3rd party contractors, damages that may occur to the property, injuries, or items that may turn up missing.
Until the state of Rhode Island, addresses each of these concerns, and creates written and enforced standards of practice, insurance mandates, reporting requirements, etc., (Company name) Home inspections LLC will not be partnered with, nor contracting with any 3rd party contractor.
It would appear that one law is in conflict with another.
System: Electrical
1.The inspector shall observe and report on;
a.The exterior service entrance conductors,
b.The service equipment, including the main overcurrent device,
c.The grounding system device,
d.The service and distribution panels by removing the enclosure cover,
e.The branch circuit, overcurrent devices, and conductor capability; and
f.A representative number of interior and exterior receptacles.
2.The inspector shall identify:
a.The service as being overhead or underground,
b.The type of interior wiring,
c.The ampacity of the main service-disconnect,
d. The location of the service and distribution panels, and
e.The presence of aluminum wiring in branch circuits.
The inspector shall test:
a.The polarity and grounding of a representative number of receptacles; and
b.The operation of a comprehensible sample of all readily accessible ground fault circuit interrupters.
well, there goes one or the other…who has more money to throw at them? maybe the ri inspectors can pass the hat to nick.