Electrical Installation Inspection

Per CSA C22.1 Rule 26-400, the panelboard must be installed in a readily accessible location with working clearance of 1 m deep and 750 mm wide. All circuits must be identified per Rule 26-402. Service entrance capacity must meet calculated load per Section 8. The panel must be CSA-certified and have a directory listing all circuits.

1. Verify panel is securely mounted, level, and CSA-certified (look for CSA or cUL mark)

2. Check that all circuits are clearly identified in the panel directory per Rule 26-402

3. Measure working clearance — minimum 1 m deep x 750 mm wide per Rule 26-400

4. Verify service entrance capacity matches calculated demand per CSA C22.1 Section 8

5. Confirm all unused knockouts are closed and panel cover is intact

- Circuits mislabeled or not identified in the panel directory

- Insufficient working clearance (storage blocking access to panel)

- Double-tapped breakers (two conductors on a single breaker terminal)

- Service entrance undersized for actual calculated load

Per CSA C22.1 Rule 26-712, receptacles in habitable rooms must be placed so that no point along the floor line is more than 1.8 m from an outlet. Kitchen countertop receptacles per Rule 26-712(d) must be spaced so no point is more than 900 mm from an outlet. All 125V 15A and 20A receptacles must be tamper-resistant per Rule 26-700(11).

1. Verify the 1.8 m rule — measure from any point along wall to nearest outlet per Rule 26-712

2. Test each outlet with a 3-light tester for correct wiring (hot, neutral, ground)

3. Check that all receptacles are tamper-resistant type (TR marked on face)

4. Verify kitchen countertop outlets are spaced within 900 mm of any point

5. Confirm split receptacles are properly wired with tab removed on hot side only

- Missing outlets along wall sections violating the 1.8 m rule

- Reversed polarity (hot and neutral conductors swapped)

- Non-tamper-resistant receptacles in required locations

- Kitchen countertop outlet spacing violations

Per CSA C22.1 Rule 26-700(8), GFCI Class A (5 mA trip) protection is required for receptacles in bathrooms, washrooms, kitchens within 1.5 m of sink, outdoors, garages, and unfinished basements. Per Rule 26-656, AFCI protection is required for circuits supplying 125V 15A and 20A outlets in bedrooms per the 2021 CEC. Combination AFCI/GFCI devices satisfy both requirements.

1. Verify GFCI protection at all bathroom, kitchen (within 1.5 m of sink), outdoor, and garage receptacles

2. Test GFCI devices by pressing TEST button — device must trip and cut power

3. Confirm AFCI protection on all bedroom circuits per Rule 26-656

4. Verify GFCI protection in unfinished basements and within 1.5 m of laundry sink

5. Check that GFCI/AFCI devices are accessible for testing and resetting

- GFCI protection missing in required locations (especially garage and outdoor receptacles)

- GFCI devices fail to trip when tested (defective or miswired)

- AFCI protection not provided on bedroom circuits as required by current CEC

- GFCI installed on circuit but located in inaccessible location for testing

Per CSA C22.1 Rule 30-502, lighting outlets must be provided in all habitable rooms, hallways, stairways, and at all entrances. Stairway lighting must be controllable from both top and bottom per Rule 30-504. Recessed fixtures in insulated ceilings must be IC-rated per Rule 30-900. Outdoor lighting must be rated for wet or damp locations as appropriate.

1. Verify lighting outlets are provided in all habitable rooms, hallways, stairways, and entrances

2. Check that stairway lights have 3-way switches at top and bottom per Rule 30-504

3. Confirm recessed fixtures in insulated ceilings are IC-rated (insulation contact)

4. Verify outdoor fixtures are rated for wet location (fully exposed) or damp location (covered)

5. Check that all fixtures are securely mounted and properly grounded

- Stairway lighting not controllable from both levels

- Non-IC-rated recessed fixtures installed in insulated ceilings (fire hazard)

- Outdoor fixtures not rated for wet location when exposed to weather

- Missing lighting at exterior entrances or in hallways

Per NBC 9.10.18 and CSA C22.1 Rule 32-100, smoke alarms must be permanently connected (hardwired) with battery backup on every storey and within 5 m of bedrooms. All smoke alarms must be interconnected so all sound when one activates. CO alarms per NBC 9.10.12.5 are required on each storey containing a fuel-burning appliance or with an attached garage.

1. Verify hardwired smoke alarms are on every storey and within 5 m of each bedroom door

2. Test interconnection — activating one alarm must trigger all others in the dwelling

3. Confirm CO alarms are on each storey with fuel-burning appliance or attached garage

4. Verify all alarms have battery backup and are CSA-certified

5. Check alarm placement — not within 300 mm of corners, 600 mm of air registers per NBC

- Smoke alarms not interconnected between storeys as required

- CO alarms missing on storeys with fuel-burning appliances or attached garage

- Alarms placed too close to kitchens or bathrooms causing nuisance tripping

- Battery-only alarms installed instead of required hardwired units

Per CSA C22.1 Section 10, the electrical system must be grounded to a grounding electrode (typically two ground rods 3 m apart or connection to metal water pipe). Bonding per Section 10 must interconnect all metallic systems (water piping, gas piping, ductwork, structural steel) to the grounding system. Equipment grounding conductors must be continuous in all branch circuits.

1. Verify grounding electrode system — two ground rods minimum 3 m apart per Rule 10-700

2. Check bonding connections at water service entrance, gas piping, and ductwork per Section 10

3. Verify equipment grounding conductor is continuous in all branch circuits

4. Confirm metallic water piping is bonded within 1.5 m of entry per Rule 10-406

5. Check that all bonding connections are accessible and made with approved clamps

- Single ground rod instead of required two-rod system

- Missing bonding to metallic water piping or gas piping

- Grounding connections corroded or made with non-approved clamps

- Equipment grounding conductor missing or broken in branch circuits

Per CSA C22.1 Section 12, NMD90 (non-metallic sheathed cable) is the standard residential wiring method in Canada. Cable must be supported within 300 mm of each box and at intervals not exceeding 1.5 m per Rule 12-510. Cable must be protected where subject to physical damage per Rule 12-518. Wire gauge must match breaker size: 14 AWG for 15A, 12 AWG for 20A.

1. Verify cable type is CSA-certified NMD90 (or approved alternative) per Section 12

2. Check cable support — stapled within 300 mm of boxes and every 1.5 m per Rule 12-510

3. Confirm wire gauge matches breaker size (14 AWG/15A, 12 AWG/20A) per Table 2

4. Verify cables through holes in framing have minimum 32 mm clearance from face or use nail plates

5. Check that all junction boxes are accessible and not buried behind finishes

- Cable not properly supported or stapled at required intervals

- Wire gauge undersized for breaker rating (14 AWG on 20A breaker)

- Cables run through framing without adequate clearance from drywall screws

- Junction boxes buried behind drywall without accessible covers