Tamper Proof plugs required in my shop? CEC question

[Blk88GT]

I've got my final inspection next week for my 40x50 shop that is detached from my home and this issue has been brought up.

The only thing I can find in the CEC says tamper resistant receptacles are required for dwelling units. There is nothing about outbuildings or accessory buildings.

The Canadian Electrical Code defines dwelling unit as “one or more rooms for the use of one or more persons as a housekeeping unit with cooking, eating, living, and sleeping facilities”.

The outdoor receptacles on the shop are in weatherproof in-use boxes and are all GFCI and tamper resistant. However, my indoor plugs are standard issue 20amp Leviton units.

Do I need tamper proof plugs inside the building to adhere to code?

Thank you in advance.

 

[tyndall]

According to any electrician I've talked to, no. If you are really worried, call Hydro, they're the ones doing the inspection. Otherwise you are just getting someone's personal interpretation of the code.

The more important thing is to adhere to the goofy requirements for outlet location and circuits. Such as a separate circuit for each parking space that can only be shared with a light or opener. Sounds simple but doesn't always work with how you intend to use the outlets.

 

[Blk88GT]

Thanks, I just called Hydro and was informed that their "policy" is that anything on a residential site has to be TR. I said I couldn't find that anywhere in the code as it pertains to outbuildings, but I'm smart enough to read between the lines. He just repeated that it's "policy".

Sounds like it's one of those things you may or may not get away with. I guess I'm changing plugs.

 

[sands35]

I had this same conversation with my local inspector. He basically said that all outlets in a detached garage on a residential lot need to be TR. the requirement is to protect kids, who can reasonably be expected to be in a detached garage. He would allow non TR outlets in the attic or the ceiling as kids won't play with those. But there was no code exception for that.

 

[kd3pc]

No code cites, but in most of Northern VA counties and here in Middle TN...

tamper proof is expected, even in a garage. The sad part is that about 15% of the better grade ones, fail out of box. The new house I bought last year, with TR throughout has at least that failure rate in the first year, and I am really easy on them.

Perhaps as they become the standard, quality and reliability may improve.

 

[dirttracker18]

FYI

In Ontario it is not code. You do not need TR in a detached garage.

Interesting that Hyrdo does your inspections. In Ontario we have the ESA or Electircal Safety Authority. They are a stand alone group that provides permits and inspections.

I find it very odd that Hydro can then do work and then what, inspect themselves?

 

[Mustang51js]

It's good to have them but if your garage is not a dwelling unit, so it's up to you if you want to change them because you can fight it if they fail you for that.

 

[Blk88GT]

It's good to have them but if your garage is not a dwelling unit, so it's up to you if you want to change them because you can fight it if they fail you for that.

Maybe so, but it's not worth the hassle over $100 in plugs. At least I'll have plenty of spares to swap out the tamper resistant ones when they fail

 

[Mustang51js]

All I put in now are tr receipts and barely have issue. Usually the first one or two times is hardest to plug in then like normal

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The shutters on a TR plug make the front so thick that the plug just barely reaches the contacts inside. End result is they cannot get a good grip on the plug and that portion of the contact wears and the plugs fall out.

We have them for some odd reason, in the breakroom at work. They only thing they get used for is plugging in a vac or floor buffer a couple of times a week and phone chargers and laptop power supplies of people who use the break room. The cord for my laptop just falls out of them. I have to be real careful to make sure they are actually making contact. They are junk as far as I'm concerned.

Me, I'd put them in for show, and then swap them back out to the good receptacles.

Charles

 

[Blk88GT]

Well I can't believe how ****** these TR deals are. I can't plug in any of my extension cords with Hubbell HBL5965VYCN male ends unless I put them in sideways at an awkward angle to get the shutters to open. Even regular wall warts and other cheap extension cord ends go in with a terrible crunch

I have Leviton T5820s from my wholesaler. Is this how they all are?

These are totally unusable.

 

[jomobco]

I had to redo my separate structure here in Colorado with TR plugs - which were located at the same height as all of my non TR 220v plugs. It makes no sense to me.

 

[madosta]

I used to stick keys in the outlets when I was a kid. I'm still alive.

There comes a point in life when we should decide whether raising our kids safely is ok or counting on insurance companies and product manufacturers to protect us 100% of the time is what we humans really need.

Someone is making X more money than Y lives being saved.

Whatever, I think Canada is a buncha sissys eh!?

 

[Syberia]

Well I can't believe how ****** these TR deals are. I can't plug in any of my extension cords with Hubbell HBL5965VYCN male ends unless I put them in sideways at an awkward angle to get the shutters to open. Even regular wall warts and other cheap extension cord ends go in with a terrible crunch

I have Leviton T5820s from my wholesaler. Is this how they all are?

These are totally unusable.

I removed the few that were in my house shortly after I bought it last year. I didn't like that the act of plugging something in required actual thought and effort. If I ever sell the house I can put the TR plugs back in.

 

[tfi racing]

I used to stick keys in the outlets when I was a kid. I'm still alive.

There comes a point in life when we should decide whether raising our kids safely is ok or counting on insurance companies and product manufacturers to protect us 100% of the time is what we humans really need.

Someone is making X more money than Y lives being saved.

Whatever, I think Canada is a buncha sissys eh!?

I was with you until the last line,are they not a NEC requrement as well?

 

[Mustang51js]

I used to stick keys in the outlets when I was a kid. I'm still alive.

There comes a point in life when we should decide whether raising our kids safely is ok or counting on insurance companies and product manufacturers to protect us 100% of the time is what we humans really need.

Someone is making X more money than Y lives being saved.

Whatever, I think Canada is a buncha sissys eh!?

Although they are a pain sometimes I would rather save a kids life than worry about saving $20. If it wasn't a common thing then they wouldn't be around. I couldn't live with myself if my son died because I wanted to save a couple dollars. I agree some things are useless but maybe if they made the requirement for tr outlets to be required say under 40 inches.

 

[Highbeam]

I passed my electrical without TR outlets. It is a "Residential" structure which should require them but the inspector missed it.

 

[TheMarshall24]

I had to have them for my inspection in Nova Scotia in my garage last year.

 

[RVDan]

Sticking a knife in one side of an outlet rarely results in an electric shock, sticking something in both will always result in an electrical shock. A tamper resistant outlet requires sticking something in both sides at the same time

I've burned out a coupe TR outlets already. The contacts barely reach when you plug something in, sometimes making intermittent connections and arcing. Lots of smoke when the plastic starts melting, eventually the contacts short together and pops the circuit breaker. Usually when you're running a grinder is when it happens so you don't notice until the grinder stops.

I suppose if I had a GFCI at the beginning of each run as is required in new construction the GFCI would trip sooner.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I suppose if I had a GFCI at the beginning of each run as is required in new construction the GFCI would trip sooner.

It would never trip. GFCI looks for loss of current to ground. You are describing a short of the hot to neutral. An Arc Fault breaker might detect this and trip. GFCI never would.

Charles

 

[Blk88GT]

The arc fault breaker would probably pop when you try to run the tool, like the ones in my house that can't be used with my vacuum. LOL

I decided to put the TR plugs in and change out the Hubbell ends on my cords, for now. If they start failing, I'll replace them with the non TR stuff as I'll have plenty I've removed to adhere to "policy" and not "code". Bastards.

 

[ForceFed70]

Went through this in BC last year.

Outside plugs needed to be GFCI and tamper proof. Inside plugs didn't need either.

Course this is in BC not Manitoba, and was last year. I'd ask your inspector.

 

[Blk88GT]

Everything passed with flying colors, although the inspector was reluctant as he is the "residential guy" and all my electrical was done on surface. Apparently I should have a commercial inspection, but it's all over with for now.

Thanks guys.

 

[Majordisorder]

It would never trip. GFCI looks for loss of current to ground. You are describing a short of the hot to neutral. An Arc Fault breaker might detect this and trip. GFCI never would.

Charles

GFCI's monitor the flow of current in the hot and neutral conductors and if he flow doesn't match, the device trips. They don't actually check the ground current and be installed without a ground.

 

[socapots]

FYI

In Ontario it is not code. You do not need TR in a detached garage.

Interesting that Hyrdo does your inspections. In Ontario we have the ESA or Electircal Safety Authority. They are a stand alone group that provides permits and inspections.

I find it very odd that Hydro can then do work and then what, inspect themselves?

Hydro does not do the work.
only the inspections and permits to do the work.

 

[Milton Shaw]

At one time there were tamperproof covers that had the mechanism in the cover plate and the outlet was a regular one. I put a dozen on my daughters house years ago and they kept kids out of them. Use these covers and when the inspection is over change the one you use to regular covers.