Combined Electrical Issues for All Inspectable Areas | Deficiency Notes |
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Be sure to scroll down past
Lighting to see examples of
Electrical Hazards
Includes other Exposed Wires issues and Water Leaks on Electrical Equipment |
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There is so much stuff stored
in front of these breaker panels that it is quite a chore to move it all
so you can access them. It would also be too much to move in an emergency situation when we would want to get to them quickly. Building Systems; Electrical System; Blocked Access/Improper Storage; Level 3 |
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We have more than one
deficiency in this photo, but for now, let's focus on the rust. Building Systems; Electrical System; Evidence of Leak and Corrosion; Level 3 |
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REAC inspectors are instructed
to ONLY test the GFI using the built-in test button - the inspector is
NOT to utilize a plug-in testing device. By our UPCS standards, if the buttons are inoperable, the GFI is inoperable, simple as that. Inoperable GFIs are very high scoring defects. Compare to: a missing window screen at 0.03 points a bad refrigerator gasket at 0.2 points a missing front door (yes, the entire front door of the apartment is missing) at about half a point An inoperable GFI in a Unit is worth a FULL POINT - twice as much as a missing front door, five times as much as a refrigerator gasket, and about THIRTY SIX times as much a bad window screen. |
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Remember to test the GFCIs in
your breaker panels as well as the GFCI receptacles. REAC also instructs inspectors to test AFCIs if present, and to cite them under GFI Inoperable if defective. GFIs outdoors: If an inoperable outdoor GFI belongs to a Unit that is being inspected, it goes under that Unit's defects. If an inoperable outdoor GFI does not belong to a Unit that is in the sample (is not being inspected today) then it is cited as Bldg Exterior; Hazards; Other; Level 3 (Hazards Other is non-scoring) |
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The breaker is missing, leaving
an opening and a shock hazard. The proper way to close this hole is to install the blank or spacer made by the same company that made the panel box. Don't buy generic one-size-fits-all blanks, buy the ones that actually fit properly! If they are lose enough to pop out without using a tool, then there is still a defect. These need to fit very snugly and securely. Or - alternative method - install a spare breaker in the space. If you can't get either of these methods to work, then it is time to call in a qualified electrician instead of trying to fake it. This is too important to jury-rig and risk injury, death, fire, and lawsuit. |
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Yes, that's a rat in the panel.
Look very closely where the wiring comes into the panel at the lower
left side. Notice that there is no cable clamp (stress relief) on
the wire. The rat came in through that opening and got cooked on
the bus bar. That's another reason we write up openings in electrical boxes, even when they are inside of secured maintenance areas - it's not just that we think anybody is dumb enough to put their finger in there. The cover is missing on this box, so we call it Missing Covers. If we were only writing up the missing knock-out, we would call it Exposed Wires/Open Panels. |
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There is NO defect in this photo since the inner cover is intact |
Missing Covers does not only
apply to the outermost cover or "lid" of an electrical enclosure,
it also applies to internal covers like the translucent plastic cover
inside this timer box. It is EXTREMELY common to find the inner cover missing from timer boxes. That would be another Missing Covers citation. By the way: IF this timer was secured - which means it requires a tool to open it - the REAC inspector would not look inside. We are not obligated to unlock or open secured electrical boxes other than circuit breaker panels. We must, however, provide access to breaker panels or else they get cited for Blocked Access. |
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Note that there is a defect for
a missing switch or receptacle, separate from the defect for a missing
outlet or switch cover. The Missing/Damaged Cover Plate defect is considered Life Threatening at Level 3. The Missing Outlet/Switch defect is NOT considered Life Threatening, the inspector must also cite Exposed Wires separately, to far great scoring impact. |
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No doubt... Level 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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There are many deficiencies
that overlap into more than one Inspectable Area, for example, Door
deficiencies apply to Exteriors, Common Areas, and Units. If you study the Door definitions, you will find that they are almost identical for defects in each of those three Inspectable Areas. Almost every type of defect that can be applied to more than one Inspectable Area has very similar or even identical definitions across those Areas. Lighting is very different, having different defect names and definitions for each of the three Inspectable Areas, Exterior, Common Areas, and Units. Lighting defects on the Exterior are called Broken Fixtures/Bulbs. Lighting defects in Common Areas are called Missing/Damaged/Inoperable Fixture. Lighting defects Units are called Missing/Inoperable. The differences do not stop with the defect names - the definitions are also very different. |
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Exterior Lighting Notice that the definition mentions damaged/missing fixtures and bulbs. A broken or missing fixture or globe is a defect. A broken or missing bulb is a defect. Imagine that the light picture is one of ten outside lights that are "house lighting" all controlled by a photocell - not switched by a unit. These would be Exterior lights. If 4 showed some form of damage, that would be 40%. The defect would be Level 2 UNLESS - this caused a hazardous condition! If there is a hazard it becomes Level 3 regardless of percentage. |
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Unit Lighting If the light is controlled by a switch inside the Unit - let's say this is the porch light for Unit 101 - the this is a Unit light. Unit lights are NOT cited for damaged fixtures or bulbs. In fact, if the bulb is burned out, it is not a defect if we can change the bulb and demonstrate that the fixture works. Unit lighting defects go strictly by light fixture function - damaged or missing globes do not count. Common Areas Minor damage does not count - the light must be inoperable to count as a defect. The Level then goes by percentage of lights in an area that are damaged. |
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If we have a missing cover or missing breaker, those conditions get cited under their own defect names - IF cited as a Systems, Common Areas, or Unit defect. Other types of shock hazard are cited as Exposed Wires/Open Panels. Site and Exterior do not have a Missing Covers or Missing Breakers defect. All shock hazards on Site and Exterior are cited as Exposed Wires/Open Panels. |
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Missing knock outs get cited
under Exposed Wires. Gaps or loose covers are cited under Exposed Wires. Missing switch or outlet covers have their own specific defect. (above) |
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For missing knockouts, buy the
properly sized snap-in plugs. They are not at all expensive or
difficult to find. |
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If every Unit was cited for Exposed Wires due to a gap or caulk in the breaker panel, the typical property would lose about 35 points ! ! |
Don't use tape or caulk or (please, please) expanding foam in or on
electrical boxes! A gap of 1/4 inch or more between breaker box cover and breakers is cited as Exposed Wires/Open Panels. Somewhere along the line, over the last 18 years, someone came up with the not-so-bright idea of caulking along the breakers to assure that there is no gap. REAC finally issued instructions to inspectors that they are to cite Exposed Wires if there is any caulk at all in the panel. Let's say you had a 1/8 inch gap in your panels, so you caulked them all "just to be safe." Under this new rule, every one of them will be cited for Exposed Wires. |
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This is an amazingly common
condition found on properties all over America. The junction box
cover at the bottom of a light pole is missing, exposing a bundle of
wires. This is cited as Site; H&S; Exposed Wires; Level 3 Prior to the scoring caps instituted in 2013, this would have been worth about 11 or 12 points! Today, with the caps, this is limited to 7.5 points still a big hit. |
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DON'T try to fake it or jury
rig this repair. The maintenance person on this property tried to create his/her own covers out of thin sheet metal, like ductwork material. This was very flimsy and easily bent. The property was still cited for Exposed Wires and lost that 7.5 points. THEN - as if it wasn't bad enough - the property was also cited for Sharp Edges and lost ANOTHER 5 points. The clumsy attempt to fake it cost the property another 5 points - 12.5 points for just this problem pictured. |
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Nobody expects to get cited for
this one, until they've seen it happen once, and then they always
remember what a shock it was - no pun intended. At the Systems level in a single building property, this is a ten point defect. If there is water on the floor under ANYTHING electrical - lights, HVAC equipment, breaker panels, vending machines, anything at all, remember that it might aggravate the potential for a shock hazard. This also applies to water dripping on top of an electrical device, or water inside of one - like a little water inside of an overhead light fixture. Very simple.... Water + Electricity = Very BAD |
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Full definitions, derived from Federal Register | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Information below is superseded or augmented by THIS < click here | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Compilation Bulletin 4.0 v. 2, page 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ELECTRICAL A. Electrical (Applies to all inspectable areas.) 1. The inspector must record electrical deficiencies for electrical equipment that services more than one specific area of the building (e.g. main electrical panel) within Building Systems. Electrical deficiencies for electrical equipment that service a specific area of the building (e.g. community room, hallway, unit) must be recorded in their respective locations. 2. For the purposes of inspecting the property, all electrical components used to supply or control the supply of electricity to the building after the meter base are considered to belong to the property. 3. Do not inspect non-property owned utility boxes which include the meter base and supply service. Any observed Health and Safety defects are to be recorded, even if the utility box is non-property owned. Record them under [Health and Safety], [floor level (if applicable)], [Hazards], [Any Other - This does pose a risk of bodily injury] for that building or under [Site], [Health and Safety], [building or nearest building], [Hazards], [Any Other - This does pose a risk of bodily injury], as appropriate. If the Health and Safety defect is Life Threatening, it will not automatically appear on the EH&S report and will need to be manually tracked and recorded on the Notification of Exigent and Fire Safety Hazards Observed form at the end of that day’s inspection. 4. Any electrical panel/box that is designed to have an interior cover but the cover is missing, exposing bare wires/connections at the time of inspection, will be recorded as [Missing Covers, exposing electrical connections] in the appropriate Inspectable area. 5. Electrical panels (breaker/fuse boxes) that are secured at the time of inspection (except for disconnects and timer boxes) must be made accessible to the inspector for inspection. Any electrical panel (breaker/fuse box) that is not made accessible will be recorded as [Blocked access to electrical panel] in the appropriate Inspectable area. 6. Timer and disconnects (all electrical boxes other than breaker/fuse) that are not secured must be inspected, provided that doing so will not interrupt electrical service. Secured means that it requires the use of a tool. Tools can be items such as keys for locks, cutters, screwdrivers, or other similar instruments. 7. If an exterior disconnect or timer box that is not associated with any other specific inspectable area has no cover resulting in exposed bare wires or connections, the inspector is to record this as a deficiency at [Building Exterior], [Health and Safety], [Electrical Hazards], [Exposed bare wires], regardless of the design of the box. If the disconnect is associated with a specific sample unit, common area or system, the deficiency would be recorded in that area. 8. An opening or gap of more than ¼ inch between the breakers and the internal cover of an electrical panel is an electrical hazard. This deficiency is to be recorded under the applicable inspectable area as [Site, Building Exterior, Building Systems, Common Areas or Unit], [Health and Safety], [appropriate building, floor level or room location (if applicable)], [Electrical Hazards], [Openings in electrical panels], [The openings in the electrical panels are not properly covered]. 9. Exposed bare wires are defined as: Non-insulated, high voltage (110V/220V or higher) conductors, connectors, and terminals. Fully insulated and capped conductors in an open junction box are not a defect. If exposed bare wire, un-insulated connectors, or open terminal connections are visible in an open junction box the inspector will select the Decision: “The exposed bare wires ARE capped BUT NOT enclosed in a secured electrical box OR ARE NOT capped” resulting in an Exigent Health & Safety defect under [Health and Safety], [Electrical Hazards], [Exposed bare wires]. B. Electrical: Systems 1. A missing elevator control panel cover must be recorded as [Systems], [Electrical System], [appropriate floor level], [Missing cover, exposing electrical connections], [The electrical connections/wires are NOT abandoned and capped] if the control panel was designed to have a cover. If a cover was not part of the original design do not record a [Missing cover, exposing electrical connections] deficiency. However, if the condition results in a life threatening situation, it will need to be recorded under [Systems], [Health and Safety], [appropriate floor level], [Electrical Hazards], [Exposed bare wires], [The exposed bare wires ARE capped BUT NOT enclosed in a secured electrical box OR ARE NOT capped]. Refer to the “Elevator Inspection Policy” on page 25 prior to inspecting this equipment for deficiencies. C. Electrical: Unit 1. Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) - Inoperable is an automatic non-life threatening Health and Safety deficiency when recorded. Disregard the comment in the definition that says, “If this condition is a health and safety concern, you must record it as ‘Health and Safety: Electrical Hazards.” 2. GFI and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) circuit breakers in electrical panel boxes must be tested by pushing the test button to trip the breaker and resetting it. Deficiencies for inoperable AFCI circuit breakers are to be recorded under [Unit], [Electrical System], [appropriate room location], [GFI does not function when self-test button is pressed]. |
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UPCS GUIDANCE & PROTOCOL CLARIFICATIONS Effective date: May 23, 2016 |
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• Inspection of Zip Ties: Should we test the integrity of plastic zip ties used to secure electrical enclosures? If the inspector sees a reason why they should be tested (e.g. sun baked, color is worn and faded, etc.) and when tested it breaks off in their hands and exposes bare electrical wiring or connections to be exposed, it is a defect. Otherwise, if the zip ties breaks when tested, but no bare wiring or connections are exposed, it is not a defect. This does not imply that every zip tie on every property has to be tested. Professional common sense must be applied for this situation on a case-by-case basis. |
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Unit:
Electrical System- • Tripped Breakers: Is there a protocol to provide for the property to reset a tripped breaker for electrical devices or equipment? Disposals: If the garbage disposal is tripped the inspector will allow the POA to press the reset button; if it works there is no deficiency. However, if the POA has to use any tools to make repairs to the garbage disposal, it is a defect. GFIs: Must be tested and reset by the inspector per the CB. Tripped Breaker: The POA can reset a tripped breaker as long as the breaker does not affect a life safety item such as a call-for-aid or smoke detector and there will be no deficiency observed. Note: The inspector should never turn on any breaker that is found to be in the “off” or “tripped” position, since he/she is not sure what appliance or dangerous condition that it might create (e.g. turns on stove). The POA should be given the option to turn on any breakers that are off. The exception to this is the testing of the GFCI and AFCI protected breakers. • If a garbage disposal is missing the plate underneath it, is this recorded as exposed wires? If it exposes bare wires and/or bare connections it is an electrical defect. • Unplugged Appliances: Do we need to verify whether an unplugged appliance, such as a dryer, is in use or not? The Inspector must use their best judgement based for this situation. • Can caulk be used anywhere in the panel/fuse box? No. This is a defect. The introduction of a foreign material into this type of device is not an acceptable repair. It shall be recorded in the appropriate inspectable area as an “H&S – Electrical Hazard” under “Opening in the electrical panel are not properly covered”. |
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Material taken from the REAC
publication: Understanding HUD’s UPCS Protocol for Inspecting Electrical Devices Revised Oct. 2010 PIH-REAC is providing the following information to assist in properly identifying and mitigating electrical hazards that may exist on the property. This information presents common electrical hazards but does not represent a complete listing of electrical hazards that may exist on a property. There are multiple types of electrical devices that may be found on properties. The three most common are shown below. They are: The purpose of each device shown above: (A) Timer - An electrical device that is used to automatically turn lighting, lawn sprinklers or other equipment on/off at a predetermined time and/or date. (B) Disconnect – An electrical device designed to interrupt the flow of electricity to a specific piece of equipment or a specific area of a building and/or unit. While inspecting electrical equipment the inspector will not touch or move the “cut‐off” handle. (C) Panel - This electrical device contains either multiple breakers or fuses and is used to distribute power to multiple locations within a building and/or unit. The following photos show different scenarios for the device and the protocol, defect (if applicable), level (if applicable), and the definition/guidance supporting the finding. Full document is 10 pages Download this Document Directly or view the page for Inspector Notices and User Guides |
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