Nice outlet and switch location...Not!

Robert, what does the “HHS” Licensed Electrical Inspector, stand for? :thinking:

Highrise-Hazardous Specialist. It’s the 3rd level (above RCS and ICS) of electrical inspector license issued by the State of NJ. From their licensing documents:

The HHS level of the technical licenses listed above indicates that the
licensee is a (HHS) Highrise-Hazardous Specialist authorized to review
plans and to carry out field inspection activities for structures in
Classes I, II and III.* ** The HHS level of licensure is used for
inspector designations within all five subcode areas, namely, Building,
Fire Protection, Electrical, Plumbing and Elevator.

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Thank you, Robert. :smiley:

Which code? How do you know which code would have applied? The original post didn’t mention the city or the installation date.

All the wannabe code inspectors need to focus on being home inspectors.

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Too many, even the home inspectors, cannot grasp that today’s home inspection is based on today’s safety & construction methods, aka code. They ok things that “today” are considered unsafe just because something is “old”, the grandfathered BS.

I think that it’s a fair question to ask where do you draw the line as far as grandfathering? For example if the house has NM cable with no EGC do you recommend that it be completely re-wired to bring it up to the present code? No AFCI protection, recommend all the CB’s be changed where currently required? How does a HI decide where safety begins and grandfathering ends?

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Very good point, Robert.

I keep it very simple.Grandfathering does not apply when it comes to safety, period – no need to draw any lines. I report & let the client decide if they want to rewire or accept the risk/nuisance or even buy a different house. Example: the electrical system was not equipped with AFCI protection. AFCI is designed to decrease fire hazard…If this is a concern, contact an electrician to have the system upgraded. Same goes for lack of EGC and everything else. Some people take fire risk very seriously, many don’t. I report, the client gets to decide.

That’s pretty much how I did it when I was inspecting, Simon… Safety First!

And, let the client decide. Many agents didn’t care for it but, oh well. :thinking:

If it hurts you in a house built in 2019 it will hurt you in a house built in 1819. Some things can’t reasonably be changed such as steep stairs and small windows but the majority of our issues are electrical and can and should be changed.

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But what about the argument that you’re not buying a new house? Certainly a 60 year old house is going to have 60 year old wiring, wouldn’t the buyer expect that the seller is not going to upgrade the wiring in entire house?

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Home inspection is not meant to force the seller to do anything, it’s to inform the client. Most clients, especially new homebuyers, won’t know about old wiring or the lack of new safety components unless they’re told. Hence they hire a home inspector to do the “discovery” & consult them on safety, deficiency, and other potential issues. Just because a house is 60 years old does not mean it has to have an outdated electrical system. Many have been gutted and updated, even to include AFCI. This is what the client wants you to tell them… is it old, is it outdated, is something missing, etc…

I agree…

We all know what the agents care about. It is what it is. On the bright side, this is partly why home inspectors are hired :slight_smile:

I feel fortunate. I believe I worked with more caring agents than selfish agents.

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Worth memorializing

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Same here !

That is absurd. Name one home inspection SOP anywhere in North America that is based on current building codes.

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In other words, a home inspection is not based on today’s safety & construction methods. Okay :slight_smile: