Child proof covers?

[gbrasseur]

Hi Inspectors,

When you are doing inspections on receptacles, do you remove those plastic child proofing plug-ins to test them?(the receptacles)
Inspected a house today, and almost every receptacle had these in it. I just figured I was not permitted to remove them? Your thoughts?

Regards,

[David P. Valley]

There are times where I must inspect at least one receptacle per room and I find that every last one is either being utilized or contains a child proof cover. I then don't have a choice but to remove one or two, once in a while.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Same as David. Then I say in my report, "Many receptacles were equipped with child-proof covers. In most circumstances, these covers were not removed for testing."

[tneumann]

I pull them out....test the receptacle...put them back in....it is very difficult and painstaking, but I do it anyway for my client.

[tdietrich1]

I think the covers can be considered installed to prevent children from touching receptacles. So the inspector, with a client that has a copy of the SOP's would understand the requirement to remove the covers and replace. I would only make a note that you asked the home owner to verify all caps are secured, to second check your securing of the caps again.

Just a guess....

tom

[bsumpter]

I pull and replace every one I can reach.

[gbrasseur]

Originally Posted by tneumann

I pull them out....test the receptacle...put them back in....it is very difficult and painstaking, but I do it anyway for my client.

Tony,
My question was not involved with effort in mind, rather, leaving the things the way the home owner has them, or defacing property.
I have heard of inspectors removing these,(and replacing them), then the home owner saying they were not replaced back properly, and then guess who is at fault if something happens to little Joey if he sticks a bobby pin in it?! So effort was not in mind with this post, covering an inspectors behind was. I was interested in feedback involving this.

Regards

[Darrell B. Hadler]

Doesn't even come close to defacing property etc...No different than taking the electrical panel off for inspection or opening a cupboard door to check under the sink for leaks etc. Just remember to always put things back the way they were when you arrived. It's just a pain in the ***** to R/R them, but we do. The argument that it wasn't put back in correctly........................give me a break, I don't even know how to respond to something that asinine

I'll take my chances and keep removing/replacing them. How does any one know which ones were removed and which ones were not anyway? Usually most are just here and there from my past experiences.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

I remove them when I am testing....just have to be very aware to put them back....but again I would remove them as it is better safe than sorry.

I can just see a homeowner putting them in because they know they have some bootleg grounds or rev. polarity and you don't check them. It could get nasty.

Since you are only doing a sampling by the SOP if you are following it to the letter ( most do not and go a little beyond )...it would be well within your SOP to not test them but heck it only takes a second.

SO my opinion ( which is MY opinion and not an invitation to debate me )...is remove them as needed to check the receptacle on the minimum sampling...but for the record I test ALL receptacles...

[gbrasseur]

The argument that it wasn't put back in correctly........................give me a break, I don't even know how to respond to something that asinine

I completely agree. Didn't know if it was one of those horror stories that may be a little too common. Ya hear it all I guess.

[Greg Fretwell]

One problem I have seen with these is they tend to be thicker than a plug blade and they loosen up the socket

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Ahh...you mean decrease the GRAB of the plug itself.....excellent observation greg....I would have never figured that as I though they were about the same thickness.

Must be the ONES made in CHINA

[Jae Williams]

Originally Posted by dhadler

Doesn't even come close to defacing property etc...No different than taking the electrical panel off for inspection or opening a cupboard door to check under the sink for leaks etc. Just remember to always put things back the way they were when you arrived. It's just a pain in the ***** to R/R them, but we do. The argument that it wasn't put back in correctly........................give me a break, I don't even know how to respond to something that asinine

I'll take my chances and keep removing/replacing them. How does any one know which ones were removed and which ones were not anyway? Usually most are just here and there from my past experiences.

Totally agree - but then, who am I, really?

[Greg Fretwell]

When I moved in this house I had to replace every receptacle that had a child plug in it. They wouldn't hold a plug. I just ended up doing them all.
I like spec grade stuff anyway. This may just be a problem with the 39 cent devices that were here, even though they didn't look that old.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Originally Posted by jwilliams4

Totally agree - but then, who am I, really?

Hey...thats my line....