Electrical fires and shocks are common and serious safety problems. Electrical safety is a basic housing need, requiring attention during home weatherization and repair.
Observe the following specifications for electrical safety in weatherizing existing homes.
✓ Whenever working around wiring, use a non-contact voltage tester to determine whether circuits are live. Turn circuits off at circuit breakers as appropriate.
✓ Inspect wiring, fuses, and circuit breakers to verify that wiring isn’t overloaded. If the auditor suspects that there are electrical issues that need attention, a licensed electrician should be contacted for further evaluation. Maximum capacity for 14-gauge wire is 15 amps and for 12-gauge wire is 20 amps.
✓ Confirm that all wire splices are enclosed in electrical junction boxes. If you plan to cover a junction box with insulation, attach a flag to mark its location.
✓ Don’t allow metal insulation shields to contact wiring.
✓ Verify that the electrical system is grounded to a ground rod with an uninterrupted electrical connection to the ground.
✓ If the house is not grounded, it should be grounded by a licensed electrician.
✓ Whenever you doubt the integrity of a home’s electrical system, use a generator to power insulation blowers and other large power tools.
When Knob and Tube (K&T) wiring is present in the home, it should be determined if the walls and attic have active K&T present. Testing for active K&T wiring must be done by a licensed RI electrician. Walls that have live K&T present anywhere in the scoped wall cannot be insulated.
RI WAP does not allow insulating over knob and tube wiring in attics. If the cost to remove sections of attic K&T and replacing the circuit is less than $1,000, removal is preferred. Ask an electrician and/or an electrical inspector to determine whether the attic wiring can be decommissioned and replaced with non-metallic sheathed electrical cable. Depending on the situation, the electrician may choose one of these two options.
1. Terminate the existing attic knob-and-tube wiring, and connect the new NM circuit directly to the main service box.
2. Install a flagged junction box in the attic to connect the knob-and-tube riser to new NM cable in the attic.
RI WAP does not allow electrical upgrades or repairs as part of weatherization services. If there is an electrical issue present in the home, the problem is brought to the attention of the client, education is provided, and the project is deferred.
1.8.2 Constructing Shielding for Knob-and-Tube Wiring
Attics with active K&T where removal and replacement exceeds $1,000, insulation may be installed just below the wire but must be dammed to the sides. Never cover knob-and-tube wiring with insulation that covers the wires.
✓ Construct structural dam to maintain a 3-inch clearance between attic insulation and knob-and-tube wiring. Do not cover the knob-and-tube wiring.
✓ Flag the shielding structure before insulating up to it to mark it for future access or removal.