Want to know if your Tampa- or St. Petersburg-area home is meeting Florida electrical standards as well as National Electrical Code guidelines? You’re not alone. The electrical system in your Florida home is essential to your home’s functionality, and, let’s face it, without a reliable electrical system, how much of your daily activities would you actually accomplish? From illuminating your home to cooking, doing laundry, and watching TV, all are made possible because of its electrical wiring.
Below, we’ve provided a brief overview of Florida’s residential electrical code and some of the most important facts you need to know about NFPA 70A.
What Is NFPA 70A?
The state of Florida adapts NFPA 70A: National Electrical Code® Requirements for One- and Two-Family Dwellings as the official regulatory document determining Florida’s residential electrical standards for electric conductors and equipment installed in a one- or two-family home. This includes houses, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and yards.
So, what does this mean to you, a Florida homeowner? NFPA 70A, also known as the NEC, covers all state regulations for wiring and protecting your home, including:
- Wiring materials
- Wiring installation methods
- Lighting fixtures (recessed lighting, security lighting, outdoor lighting, etc.)
- Electrical appliances (ranges, washers, and dryers, etc.)
- Space-heating equipment (electric furnaces, heat pumps, etc.)
- Generators
- Swimming pools and hot tubs
- Solar panels
- Optional standby systems (fire alarms, remote-control systems, communication systems, etc.)
- And more
Have questions about the National Electric Code? Hoffman Electrical & A/C has the answers!
What Florida Residents Need To Know About NFPA 70A
- NEC 210.23 (Permissible Loads) – The total rating of utilization equipment fastened in place, other than luminaires, should not exceed 50% of the branch-circuit ampere rating where lighting fixtures and/or cord-and-plug-connected utilization equipment are not fastened in place, or both are supplied. In a nutshell, NEC 210.23 states that the electrical load wherever you plug something in (e.g., a lamp or vacuum cleaner) should not be greater than 50% of the branch-circuit ampere rating. This helps prevent circuit overload. If you have questions about the ampere rating of a branch circuit in your home, call Hoffman Electrical & A/C for help.
- NEC 210.24 (Branch-Circuit Requirements) – The branch-circuit requirements outline the minimum conductor sizes required for each circuit. This depends on how much electrical load you plan on running through each circuit and may vary. For help determining each circuit’s electrical capacity, contact us online.
- NEC 210.52 (Dwelling Unit Receptacle Outlets) – Are you tired of looking for outlets? According to the NFPA, no point along your home’s walls should be located more than 6 feet from an outlet.
- NEC 210.8 (GFCI Protection) – A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet protects your home from dangerous electrical surges. GFCI outlets prevent electrical current from flowing where it is not intended (e.g., through water or a person). GFCI outlets are required in all bathrooms, kitchens (within 6 feet of the outside of a sink), garages, outdoors (outdoor receptacles), crawl spaces, unfinished basements, and boathouses.
Talk to a Certified Electrician at Hoffman Electrical & A/C
If you live in the Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, or Sarasota areas and have questions about the National Electrical Code and how it applies to your home, contact Hoffman Electrical & A/C to speak with one of our expert electricians!
We’ve been servicing homes in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties since 1986. Our electricians can answer all of your questions about NFPA 70A and how it applies to your home. Give us a call at 866-238-3243!
