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Morb · Nov 19, 2008, 06:51 PM

Hi all,

My friend has a new attached garage he installed, and is doing the wiring. In New Hampshire, the homeowner can pull his own electrical permit. He went to the town office and filled out the permit, and he had the basics... outlets and lighting. The inspector looked it over and said he needed a heat detector. Not a problem, but when he told the inspector he didn't have electric smokes in the house, just battery powered ones, he got real testy and told him he had to install a full system, electrically installed and interlocked on each level and bedroom, tied into the new garage. He said he would not sign off without this additional work done. This seems wrong to me. Can an electrical inspector force you to install a new system? What about being grandfathered? I know about the rule in building renovations that if you remodel over 40% (?) of the dwelling, you have to bring up the rest of the building up to code, but this is a single car garage, nowhere near 20%, never mind over 40%. Please help, as he is very upset. This is not a cheap job, and he has already spent a lot of money. No wonder people avoid permitting work! He wants to upgrade down the road, but he just doesn't have the money. Any advice? Thanks in advance!

Dave

ballengerb1 · Nov 19, 2008, 07:54 PM

Lots of places reqwuire you to bring a building up to current code if you do sunstancial remodeling and/or additions. A 400 s/f gargae would be substantial enough to trigger that in my area. Tell your friend to call a few local electricians for bids and then he can size up the situation and see if he can do it. I advise noit getting into a wee wee match with the inspector, only one of them will get wet.

stanfortyman · Nov 20, 2008, 04:45 AM

Originally Posted by Morb

Can an electrical inspector force you to install a new system?

No, but a building inspector can, IF that is the required code in your area.
I have heard of this requirement so it is not that odd.

Fr_Chuck · Nov 20, 2008, 12:50 PM

No, he is doing a major update including the electric, At this point he can require the remainder of the buiding to be up to code on those issues.

Had it not be an atached garage, but a free standing building, then the home should not have been envovled.

The positive thing is that some of the monitoring companies may install them for a very low fee for the monitoring of the system.

Assured · Nov 21, 2008, 11:30 AM

[QUOTE=Morb;1383913]Hi all,

The inspector looked it over and said he needed a heat detector. Not a problem, but when he told the inspector he didn't have electric smokes in the house, just battery powered ones, he got real testy and told him he had to install a full system, electrically installed and interlocked on each level and bedroom, tied into the new garage. He said he would not sign off without this additional work done.
Dave,
The inspector is requiring the garage detector to be up to date since it is attached to the house. Code requires today (and for many years) that detectors be connected together so that when one goes off, it sets the others off as well for safety reasons. It is not that hard to add this to his house with the garage. A 14/3 cable looped through all locations and 3 detectors is all that is needed (plus labor of course). I do additions quite frequently to get homes up to date for this very safety reason.
It is always best to speak with the local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)before getting permits to be sure of the requirements as they have the final say in the matter.

stanfortyman · Nov 21, 2008, 05:36 PM

Electrical Inspector has authority over all electrical systems not the building inspector

Thanks for the red box there Assured but you are wrong.

Yes, smokes are wired with electric, and the wiring to then must meet electric codes, but they ARE NOT covered or mandated by the electric code. If you think they are I suggest you look in your NEC and find them for me.

stanfortyman · Nov 21, 2008, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by Assured

It is not that hard to add this to his house with the garage. A 14/3 cable looped through all locations and 3 detectors is all that is needed (plus labor of course).

Oh really? What if this is a two story colonial on a slab? Still think it will be easy to wire the smokes to the first floor?

Most BUILDING codes do have provisions that if installing the smokes will cause destruction of finished areas then battery operated units may be used.