QOD for 07/30/06 Electrical

[Jae Williams]

Originally Posted by Mike Parks

IMHO making recommendations could come back to bite you.

Are you not looking for defects? Or are you saying "I know what is safe or required now"??????

Where do you stop when making recommendations? Once you make one recommendation are your clients going to assume that you will make "all" the recommendations that this home needs?

Does this make you think?

Not exactly. I am reporting as much as I can for the client as an education for them. They are pleased too learn everything they need to know before commiting to a large expenditure.

The client is under no obligation to act upon my recommendations or findings, but I feel I am giving they a disservice if I don't tell them, especially about safety issues. It the CLIENT's call if the issue needs to be addressed--not mine, not the RE agent's--only the ClIENT can make the decision about what I report in the house.

[Jae Williams]

[quote=Mike Parks]

Where do you stop when making recommendations? Once you make one recommendation are your clients going to assume that you will make "all" the recommendations that this home needs?quote]

Yes, and well they should--that's exactly why they hired me. They want to know what I find--good or bad--and what do I recommend. They decide if they want to act on my recommendations. And it's not a order--it is only my recommendation.

[Mike Parks]

Jae

It is good that you will stick your neck out because you are knowledgable.

I just do not not want the newbees to do so. OK?

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Don't Agree......not even 1%.......on the GFCI recommendation....in NO way would recommending a GFCI to enhance the safety on a counter space that DOES not have a GFCI....harm anything.......you can have opinions...but personally MINE is IF I see enhancements ( not defects in regards to GFCI ) I am going to call them out.....lawsuit...nahh....I worry about the judge saying I should have suggested a GFCI when the WIFE is electrocuted at the sink...

[Mike Parks]

Paul

I agree.

My small posts do not always reflect what I am thinking.

My point was/is when you suggest something and forget to suggest something else, what is your liability?

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Mike,

I don't think liability can "PICK" it's course. In fact the HI is liable the moment they walk into the door of the dwelling...in the eyes of some.

Suggestions are based on experience and understanding and in the regards to GFCI's.....they are clearly in the eyes of ME anyway as a safety enhancement that I want HI's to suggest in all cases even if "previous" code articles did not require it......everything evolves.....safety suggestions should also...

[Brian E. Kelly]

Although not required when originally built, all of the countertop outlets should be upgraded to have ground fault protection, which is mandated by current standards and is an important safety feature.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Although not required when originally built, all of the countertop outlets should be upgraded to have ground fault protection, which is mandated by current standards and is an important safety feature.

Brian, will you be recommending upgrading of ALL circuits to AFCI protection when the 2008 NEC gets adopted?

[Brian E. Kelly]

Although not required when originally built the system does not include arc-fault circuit interrupters, which effective January 1st, 2002, are mandated by the national electrical code to protect 15 and 20 amp branch circuits serving bedrooms.
You may wish to add Arc Fault protectors as a safety upgrade.

Ask me after 2008 when and if, the standard gets accepted in my area.