[2024 CODE UPDATE] Ask me anything about home electrical requirements, electrical code, wiring, devices
Saw few post asking about the Canadian Electrical Code, it seems people like to give complicated and confusing answers. I'm an electrical engineer and I do this for a living, feel free to ask me about code related issues, wiring types, installation, devices, etc. I'm specialized in commercial and institutional design but I do residential occasionally.
Canadian Electrical Code 2024 effective date unconfirmed
Alberta April 1, 2025
Saskatchewan 2025
Winnipeg January 1, 2025
Manitoba 2026
Ontario May 2025
Canadian Electrical Code 2021 effective date
Alberta 2021
Saskatchewan 2021
Winnipeg July 1, 2022
Canadian Electrical Code 2018 effective date
Manitoba
National Building Code 2020 effective date
British Columbia (BCBC 2024) Mar 8, 2024
Alberta (NBC AE 23) May 1, 2024
Saskatchewan January 1, 2024
Manitoba (MBC 2024) January 1, 2024
National Building Code 2015 effective date
Quebec (CCQ) July 1, 2023
Nova Scotia (NSBC) October 1, 2022
PEI July 29, 2023
Newfoundland & Labrador 2018
Yukon unknown date
North West Territories Oct 1, 2017
Nunavut September 6, 2018
National Building Code 2010 effective date
Ontario (OBC 2012) unknown date
New Brunswick (BCAA) March 17, 2020
Manitoba Electrical Code 2018 Effective in Manitoba except for Winnipeg
NECB 2020
LEED v4.1
Ontario Electrical Code 2015
Ontario Building Code 2015
Toronto Green Standards
Lighting Design & Simulation
Power Distribution 120/208/277/347/600/13.8kV single and 3 phase
Fire Alarm
Security
Communication/Data, Cat6/A, Fiber single/multi-mode OS1/OS2/OM4, 802.11AC, 802.11AX, PoE++, PoH
Ashrae 90.1-2020
Solar & EV
Manitoba (sans Winnipeg) is using CEC 2018, Winnipeg is using CEC 2021, here is a list of stuff relevant to residential homes.
4-022 neutral wire required for all light switches.
6-200 Multi position meter socket up to maximum of 4 meters
8-104 maximum circuit loading, label requirement from 2-100(4) only needed when using table 13.
8-200 calculated load for single dwelling has been changed to wattage instead of the previous amperage, this is due to the fact some dwelling uses 240V (residential) and some uses 208V (commercial), which means if using 208V then higher amperage is required to achieve the same wattage rating, thus by changing over to wattage in the code, it will reflect the proper capacity of the service that is required.
Section 10 grounding and bonding, this section has been rearranged to separate out grounding and bonding as they are actually different.
10-210 replaced. Service grounding connection shall be accessible, therefore it is not allowed to be located inside the meter socket as that is locked by hydro
12-610 Termination of armored cable. Caution ACWU90 is not a TECK cable and require the use of anti-short, whereas TECK90 do not require anti-short. This is because TECK90 cable have another layer of insulation that wraps the individual conductors. A lot of contractor treat ACWU90 as aluminum TECK, but it is not TECK.
10-612 devices that comes with bonding terminal shall have bonding be provided. Like light switches that do not come with a bond screw do not need a bond wire, but some light switches do (mostly sensors), so those switches needs bond wire, even if you have a non-metallic box (pvc).
10-614 Use overcurrent device rating unless it is for service entry, which shall use conductor rating.
16-300 PoE limited power conductor
26-652 separate dedicated circuit for refrigerator receptacle shall only be required in a kitchen. A kitchen is defined as including stove, countertop and cabinet. Therefore other fridge like bar fridge or under counter fridge do not require dedicated circuit and can be circuited to any other circuit.
26-656 arc fault protection. Hydro’s interpretation for renovation with existing receptacles on non-arc fault circuit is that they will allow it to remain and the receptacle can be connected to the same circuit using 2 methods.
Method #1: Provide armored cable or EMT conduit from the existing plug that the circuit will be extended from, then connect to a AFCI receptacle. Any more receptacle after the AFCI receptacle can be wired normally with standard tamper plugs.
Method #2: Replace the existing receptacle where the circuit will be extended from, then wire normally with standard tamper plugs after that.
Note there is no need to touch any other existing circuit or plugs as there is no requirement to bring everything up to code, only the modified device.
26-656 Dead front arc fault device is only permitted for use in the city of Winnipeg, hydro does not allow this. And it is only allowed for existing panels that have no space for new AFCI breaker.
26-656, 26-707, 26-722 AFCI is not required for out building receptacles, such as posts, garage, fence.
26-708 Weatherproof covers for receptacles, extra duty rating is only required for wet location, not for damp location. That means your plug recessed within the soffit is within damp location and do not require extra duty covers.
26-724 Kitchen wall receptacles no longer required separate circuit. The receptacle is still needed in the kitchen but you can place it on any other circuit. Maximum is still 12 plugs on 1 circuit but that is no concern for us as we should not be loading it up that high anyway.
32-200 Smoke and Smoke/CO Combo alarms. Permitted on AFCI and/or GFCI circuit provided there is integral battery backup. Otherwise it has to be on a non AFCI/GFCI circuit. Heat detector required to tie into Smoke/CO alarms are not allowed to be on AFCI/GFCI circuit as the heat detector does not comes with battery backup. Wireless Smoke/CO alarms are not permitted for code compliance. They can be used as additional optional alarms, but not as a substitute to hardwired alarms.
62-132 Heating devices, electric baseboard heaters within 1.8m off the ground and 1.5m to water source shall be GFCI protected. That means if you going to put one in the washroom, it needs GFCI.
64-218 Photovoltaic rapid shut down requirement is back in again. It is required at the utility meter and/or at the array
68-306 massage tub, the GFCI disconnect shall be visible from the tub.
For dwelling units that is more than 2 units. VDB permit is required for voice, data and video wiring. Cost is $20.25 per unit, or $360 fine. So this applies to fourplex and row house, not for single or duplex.
Building fee and charges updated for 2019.
CEC 2018 CODE UPDATE
1. CEC 2018 to be released on Jan 2, with 262 revisions/clarifications from 2015.
2. 8-104 continuous current rating to be labeled on all electrical distribution equipment. Panels, switchboard, MCC, CDP, meter stacks, etc.
3. 26-242 transformers bigger than 50 KVA shall have minimum horizontal working space of 1m on the side of conductor termination. This applies to one side if the transformer have both the primary and secondary feeder connected to one side, or both side in the normal case.
4. Table 39, if used, shall have the calculated continuous current rating labelled on electrical distribution equipment. This is mostly used in residential.
5. Temperature rating applied to feeder sizes to Tables D8A-D11B, D17A-D17N, D12E (1) (2)
6. Section 4 light switch shall have identified (neutral) conductor in junction box. Previously for the dimmers that doesn’t require neutral, the bond is used as reference as code allows for minor leakage through bond, hence that’s how it gets power, but no longer.
7. Table 11 & 12, EV table D1 new conductor/feeder types. There seems to be at least 4 different types of charger cable.
8. Section 6-112(2) overhead service feeder point of attachment.
9. 6-212(3) utility service line side feeder not to touch or cross load side feeder.
10. 8-104(5)-(7), continuous operation 80% or 100%.
11. 8-106(1) 5% rule deleted.
12. 8-106(11)-(12) EV energy management systems (EVEMS) to apply reduced demand factor.
13. 8-110 determination of areas above/below ground, generalized.
14. Section 10 rewritten, table 16A & 16B consolidated into table 16.
15. Armored cable can now be used under slab.
16. Section 12 new technology cable PCS, NMDH90. Combined power and data in a single hybrid feeder.
17. 12-102(1)-(2) low temperature conductor, refer to appendix B notes.
18. 12-1302 deleted.
19. New rule regarding running of extra low voltage feeder on suspended ceiling (ACT).
20. 12-1250 to 12-1268 high density polyethylene (HDPE) conductor in conduit types.
21. Section 16 rule for power over Ethernet, refer to table 16.
22. 16-212(5) requirements for equipment class 2 output.
23. Section 18 intrinsically safe non-incentive circuits for zone 2, refer to appendix F and appendix J. updated for user friendly wording.
24. New table 70, equipment types permitted in different zones.
25. Heavy duty (HD) liquid tight flexible metal conduit now allowed for use in hazardous locations, zone 2.
26. 18-052 appendix B temperature outside ambient range.
27. Section 29 new table 69, hazardous locations within bulk storage space.
28. Section 24, C22.2 No. 204 line isolation monitoring alert trigger level increased. Can now use metallic conduit in zone.
29. 24-102 clarified.
30. Section 26 unit substation.
31. 26-258(4) primary and secondary conductor of high voltage and low voltage transformer.
32. 26-722(a) more than one refrigerator receptacle allowed per circuit.
33. 26-724 AFCI exemptions reduced or removed.
34. 26-724(e) no need for dedicated circuit in kitchen area.
35. 26-700(12) tamper receptacles required in hotel guest room, daycare, schools.
36. 30-200 combustible materials may be in proximity to light fixtures.
37. Section 30 disconnect to LED light fixture exceeding 150VAC to ground.
38. Section 32-200, 32-206.
39. 32-119 smoke/co alarm with battery backup are allowed to be on AFCI/GFCI circuit.
40. Section 62 electric heating in area with sink, shower or tub require GFCI protection.
41. Section 64 renewable energy systems, disconnect means, rapid shutdown system, define recombiner.
42. 64-202 feeder voltage exemption raised from 1000VDC to 1500VDC.
43. Section 78 GFCI expanded to floating piers and docking facilities.
March 2018 update, all new houses shall have minimum of 200A service. This is part of the EV charging requirement update but most only applies to commercial installations. This is the only part that affects home owners.
2019 Public Service Announcement
It appears there are 3 types of smoke alarms sold in stores, those are ionization, photoelectric and combination alarm types, ensure you will only install photoelectric type and NOT ionization and combination type. Ionization type are best to detect flash fires, as those tends to throw ionization particles in the air due to the extreme heat, however most home fires are of the smoldering type, which is better suited for photoelectric type detection. The combination type uses 2 different gate logic, with the OR logic, it combines the useful photoelectric with the annoying ionization which are prone to nuisance detection and causes many people to disable the alarm, and with the AND logic, it requires both detection to activate in order for the alarm to sound, which is too late.
NEW CEC 2021 CODE UPDATE
Here is a list that may concern most of the members.
Power over ethernet requires permit.
2-022 Renovations where walls are open, electrical installation is required to be brought up to code, such as replace any existing knob and tube wiring.
8-106(3) Electric heat or air conditioning loads are only either/or if they are interlocked so only one or the other can be used.
8-108 Panelboards installed in dwelling units must have spare spaces for future loads.
22-108(1) Category 1 and 2 locations receptacles shall be of weather resistant type and marked WR, even if the receptacle is GFI.
26-704 all receptacles of 5-15R or 5-20R configuration installed outdoors within 2.5m of the finished grade, shall be GFI protected.
26-956 submersible pumps installed in or on bodies of water shall be provided with GFI protection set at not greater than 10mA for an operating time of 2.7s regardless of the location of the motor.
64-002 DC disconnect may be integral to the combiner and inverter.
They made Table 6 much more complicated. No longer a simple look up table, but rather have to manually calculate based on cross sectional area of all cables.
Known issues that affect residential dwelling as of 2023:
Whirlpool Microwave Intermittently Tripping AFCI 15 Amp Breaker
The microwave draws 1400W and the fan draws about 100W which causes the breaker to trip when both are on at the same time. The issue is with the microwave unit, the manufacturer should have required 20A receptacle if it can't operate both the microwave and fan at the same time. Or at least auto power limit when both are on at the same time. You need to ensure your build with 20A circuit, but if that is too late, then here are your options in the order of the cheapest to most expensive:
1. Power limit to 90% via microwave setting.
2. Don't use the microwave and rangehood fan at the same time. This is kind of a hassle to remember.
3. Change out the microwave unit with a lesser power hungry model.
4. Change out the circuit to 20A.
Microwave rangehood receptacle requires AFCI, back in the day before the widespread use of AFCI and GFCI breaker, it was simple thermomagnetic breaker which is not as sensitive and the tripping curves are a lot more "forgiving" if you want to look at it that way. Once they started introducing more electronics into overcurrent protection to shape the curve it get a lot more tighter and precise.
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment aka Level 2 charging for existing single family dwelling. The typical electrical service has been 100A and this size generally will not support adding a 40A Level 2 charger. According to my calculations, the maximum you can do is to add a 30A dryer plug (or direct wired) Level 2 charger.
CEC 2024 CODE UPDATE (placeholder)
1. Table 6 has been difficult to use since 2021. For many years it has shown the number of conductors that fits in a conduit size, however the last edition has made it into a manual calculation. Will review how this is handled in the new code.
2. Table 29 Rating or setting of overcurrent devices for the protection of motor branch circuits. The type of motor starter has been missing VFD. Will review how this is handled in the new code.
3. Table 38 Electric vehicle supply equipment demand factors have near 100% demand. This has caused service sizing issues everywhere. Will review how this is handled in the new code.
All the circuits in a standard residential single family dwelling unit
PANELBOARD SCHEDULE
15A-1P LIGHTING & SMOKE/CO ALARMS
20A-1P KITCHEN COUNTERTOP 5-20R
20A-1P KITCHEN COUNTERTOP 5-20R
20A-1P KITCHEN ISLAND 5-20R
20A-1P KITCHEN PENINSULAR COUNTERTOP 5-20R
20A-2P KITCHEN ELECTRIC COOKTOP
40A-2P KITCHEN ELECTRIC RANGE/OVEN
15A-1P KITCHEN GAS RANGE/OVEN (AFCI)
15A-1P KITCHEN RANGEHOOD (AFCI)
20A-1P KITCHEN RANGEHOOD/MICROWAVE (AFCI)
15A-1P DINING AREA & HALLWAY & STORAGE REC (AFCI)
15A-1P BEDROOM REC (AFCI)
15A-1P BEDROOM REC (AFCI)
15A-1P BEDROOM REC (AFCI)
15A-1P FRIDGE
15A-1P FREEZER (AFCI)
15A-1P DISHWASHER (DIRECT) & GARBURATOR (5-15R)
15A-1P WASHROOM GFI
15A-1P WASHER (AFCI)
30A-2P DRYER 14-30R
15A-1P LAUNDRY ROOM REC (AFCI)
15A-1P SUMP PUMP
15A-1P UTILITY ROOM REC (AFCI)
15A-1P EXTERIOR GFI (AFCI)
15A-1P CENTRAL VACCUM REC (AFCI)
30A-2P ELECTRIC HEAT / HEATPUMP (DIRECT)
50A-2P EVSE LEVEL 2 14-50R
20A-1P ATTACHED GARAGE 5-20R (AFCI)
15A-1P ATTACHED GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR (AFCI)
20A-1P DETACHED GARAGE 5-20R
15A-1P DETACHED GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR
I been getting questions about the cost to hire people, that will mostly depending on your local market but the rates I generally see are the following:
Consultants:
Principle engineer $300/h
Senior engineer $200~270/h
Intermediate engineer $170~$200/h
Junior engineer $130~$170/h
Drafter $100~130/h
Admin $100~130/h
Trades:
Project manager $150~$170/h
Foreman $130~$150/h
Electrician journeyman $100~$130/h
Electrician apprentice $80~$110/h
Skill labor $80~$90/h
General labor $60~$80/h
Keep in mind projects are quoted at fixed price so you won't encounter hourly rate unless the scope of work is not defined so they can't give you a total project cost or due to changes.
Canada BEV rebate $5000.
Canada EVSE rebate for commercial installation, 50% up to $5000 per unit. Program approved to 2027.
Manitoba BEV rebate $4000 for new and $2500 for used. Official announcement pending.
BC BEV rebate $4000.
QC BEV rebate $7000.
Canadian Electrical Code 2024 effective date unconfirmed
Alberta April 1, 2025
Saskatchewan 2025
Winnipeg January 1, 2025
Manitoba 2026
Ontario May 2025
Canadian Electrical Code 2021 effective date
Alberta 2021
Saskatchewan 2021
Winnipeg July 1, 2022
Canadian Electrical Code 2018 effective date
Manitoba
National Building Code 2020 effective date
British Columbia (BCBC 2024) Mar 8, 2024
Alberta (NBC AE 23) May 1, 2024
Saskatchewan January 1, 2024
Manitoba (MBC 2024) January 1, 2024
National Building Code 2015 effective date
Quebec (CCQ) July 1, 2023
Nova Scotia (NSBC) October 1, 2022
PEI July 29, 2023
Newfoundland & Labrador 2018
Yukon unknown date
North West Territories Oct 1, 2017
Nunavut September 6, 2018
National Building Code 2010 effective date
Ontario (OBC 2012) unknown date
New Brunswick (BCAA) March 17, 2020
Manitoba Electrical Code 2018 Effective in Manitoba except for Winnipeg
NECB 2020
LEED v4.1
Ontario Electrical Code 2015
Ontario Building Code 2015
Toronto Green Standards
Lighting Design & Simulation
Power Distribution 120/208/277/347/600/13.8kV single and 3 phase
Fire Alarm
Security
Communication/Data, Cat6/A, Fiber single/multi-mode OS1/OS2/OM4, 802.11AC, 802.11AX, PoE++, PoH
Ashrae 90.1-2020
Solar & EV
Manitoba (sans Winnipeg) is using CEC 2018, Winnipeg is using CEC 2021, here is a list of stuff relevant to residential homes.
4-022 neutral wire required for all light switches.
6-200 Multi position meter socket up to maximum of 4 meters
8-104 maximum circuit loading, label requirement from 2-100(4) only needed when using table 13.
8-200 calculated load for single dwelling has been changed to wattage instead of the previous amperage, this is due to the fact some dwelling uses 240V (residential) and some uses 208V (commercial), which means if using 208V then higher amperage is required to achieve the same wattage rating, thus by changing over to wattage in the code, it will reflect the proper capacity of the service that is required.
Section 10 grounding and bonding, this section has been rearranged to separate out grounding and bonding as they are actually different.
10-210 replaced. Service grounding connection shall be accessible, therefore it is not allowed to be located inside the meter socket as that is locked by hydro
12-610 Termination of armored cable. Caution ACWU90 is not a TECK cable and require the use of anti-short, whereas TECK90 do not require anti-short. This is because TECK90 cable have another layer of insulation that wraps the individual conductors. A lot of contractor treat ACWU90 as aluminum TECK, but it is not TECK.
10-612 devices that comes with bonding terminal shall have bonding be provided. Like light switches that do not come with a bond screw do not need a bond wire, but some light switches do (mostly sensors), so those switches needs bond wire, even if you have a non-metallic box (pvc).
10-614 Use overcurrent device rating unless it is for service entry, which shall use conductor rating.
16-300 PoE limited power conductor
26-652 separate dedicated circuit for refrigerator receptacle shall only be required in a kitchen. A kitchen is defined as including stove, countertop and cabinet. Therefore other fridge like bar fridge or under counter fridge do not require dedicated circuit and can be circuited to any other circuit.
26-656 arc fault protection. Hydro’s interpretation for renovation with existing receptacles on non-arc fault circuit is that they will allow it to remain and the receptacle can be connected to the same circuit using 2 methods.
Method #1: Provide armored cable or EMT conduit from the existing plug that the circuit will be extended from, then connect to a AFCI receptacle. Any more receptacle after the AFCI receptacle can be wired normally with standard tamper plugs.
Method #2: Replace the existing receptacle where the circuit will be extended from, then wire normally with standard tamper plugs after that.
Note there is no need to touch any other existing circuit or plugs as there is no requirement to bring everything up to code, only the modified device.
26-656 Dead front arc fault device is only permitted for use in the city of Winnipeg, hydro does not allow this. And it is only allowed for existing panels that have no space for new AFCI breaker.
26-656, 26-707, 26-722 AFCI is not required for out building receptacles, such as posts, garage, fence.
26-708 Weatherproof covers for receptacles, extra duty rating is only required for wet location, not for damp location. That means your plug recessed within the soffit is within damp location and do not require extra duty covers.
26-724 Kitchen wall receptacles no longer required separate circuit. The receptacle is still needed in the kitchen but you can place it on any other circuit. Maximum is still 12 plugs on 1 circuit but that is no concern for us as we should not be loading it up that high anyway.
32-200 Smoke and Smoke/CO Combo alarms. Permitted on AFCI and/or GFCI circuit provided there is integral battery backup. Otherwise it has to be on a non AFCI/GFCI circuit. Heat detector required to tie into Smoke/CO alarms are not allowed to be on AFCI/GFCI circuit as the heat detector does not comes with battery backup. Wireless Smoke/CO alarms are not permitted for code compliance. They can be used as additional optional alarms, but not as a substitute to hardwired alarms.
62-132 Heating devices, electric baseboard heaters within 1.8m off the ground and 1.5m to water source shall be GFCI protected. That means if you going to put one in the washroom, it needs GFCI.
64-218 Photovoltaic rapid shut down requirement is back in again. It is required at the utility meter and/or at the array
68-306 massage tub, the GFCI disconnect shall be visible from the tub.
For dwelling units that is more than 2 units. VDB permit is required for voice, data and video wiring. Cost is $20.25 per unit, or $360 fine. So this applies to fourplex and row house, not for single or duplex.
Building fee and charges updated for 2019.
CEC 2018 CODE UPDATE
1. CEC 2018 to be released on Jan 2, with 262 revisions/clarifications from 2015.
2. 8-104 continuous current rating to be labeled on all electrical distribution equipment. Panels, switchboard, MCC, CDP, meter stacks, etc.
3. 26-242 transformers bigger than 50 KVA shall have minimum horizontal working space of 1m on the side of conductor termination. This applies to one side if the transformer have both the primary and secondary feeder connected to one side, or both side in the normal case.
4. Table 39, if used, shall have the calculated continuous current rating labelled on electrical distribution equipment. This is mostly used in residential.
5. Temperature rating applied to feeder sizes to Tables D8A-D11B, D17A-D17N, D12E (1) (2)
6. Section 4 light switch shall have identified (neutral) conductor in junction box. Previously for the dimmers that doesn’t require neutral, the bond is used as reference as code allows for minor leakage through bond, hence that’s how it gets power, but no longer.
7. Table 11 & 12, EV table D1 new conductor/feeder types. There seems to be at least 4 different types of charger cable.
8. Section 6-112(2) overhead service feeder point of attachment.
9. 6-212(3) utility service line side feeder not to touch or cross load side feeder.
10. 8-104(5)-(7), continuous operation 80% or 100%.
11. 8-106(1) 5% rule deleted.
12. 8-106(11)-(12) EV energy management systems (EVEMS) to apply reduced demand factor.
13. 8-110 determination of areas above/below ground, generalized.
14. Section 10 rewritten, table 16A & 16B consolidated into table 16.
15. Armored cable can now be used under slab.
16. Section 12 new technology cable PCS, NMDH90. Combined power and data in a single hybrid feeder.
17. 12-102(1)-(2) low temperature conductor, refer to appendix B notes.
18. 12-1302 deleted.
19. New rule regarding running of extra low voltage feeder on suspended ceiling (ACT).
20. 12-1250 to 12-1268 high density polyethylene (HDPE) conductor in conduit types.
21. Section 16 rule for power over Ethernet, refer to table 16.
22. 16-212(5) requirements for equipment class 2 output.
23. Section 18 intrinsically safe non-incentive circuits for zone 2, refer to appendix F and appendix J. updated for user friendly wording.
24. New table 70, equipment types permitted in different zones.
25. Heavy duty (HD) liquid tight flexible metal conduit now allowed for use in hazardous locations, zone 2.
26. 18-052 appendix B temperature outside ambient range.
27. Section 29 new table 69, hazardous locations within bulk storage space.
28. Section 24, C22.2 No. 204 line isolation monitoring alert trigger level increased. Can now use metallic conduit in zone.
29. 24-102 clarified.
30. Section 26 unit substation.
31. 26-258(4) primary and secondary conductor of high voltage and low voltage transformer.
32. 26-722(a) more than one refrigerator receptacle allowed per circuit.
33. 26-724 AFCI exemptions reduced or removed.
34. 26-724(e) no need for dedicated circuit in kitchen area.
35. 26-700(12) tamper receptacles required in hotel guest room, daycare, schools.
36. 30-200 combustible materials may be in proximity to light fixtures.
37. Section 30 disconnect to LED light fixture exceeding 150VAC to ground.
38. Section 32-200, 32-206.
39. 32-119 smoke/co alarm with battery backup are allowed to be on AFCI/GFCI circuit.
40. Section 62 electric heating in area with sink, shower or tub require GFCI protection.
41. Section 64 renewable energy systems, disconnect means, rapid shutdown system, define recombiner.
42. 64-202 feeder voltage exemption raised from 1000VDC to 1500VDC.
43. Section 78 GFCI expanded to floating piers and docking facilities.
March 2018 update, all new houses shall have minimum of 200A service. This is part of the EV charging requirement update but most only applies to commercial installations. This is the only part that affects home owners.
2019 Public Service Announcement
It appears there are 3 types of smoke alarms sold in stores, those are ionization, photoelectric and combination alarm types, ensure you will only install photoelectric type and NOT ionization and combination type. Ionization type are best to detect flash fires, as those tends to throw ionization particles in the air due to the extreme heat, however most home fires are of the smoldering type, which is better suited for photoelectric type detection. The combination type uses 2 different gate logic, with the OR logic, it combines the useful photoelectric with the annoying ionization which are prone to nuisance detection and causes many people to disable the alarm, and with the AND logic, it requires both detection to activate in order for the alarm to sound, which is too late.
NEW CEC 2021 CODE UPDATE
Here is a list that may concern most of the members.
Power over ethernet requires permit.
2-022 Renovations where walls are open, electrical installation is required to be brought up to code, such as replace any existing knob and tube wiring.
8-106(3) Electric heat or air conditioning loads are only either/or if they are interlocked so only one or the other can be used.
8-108 Panelboards installed in dwelling units must have spare spaces for future loads.
22-108(1) Category 1 and 2 locations receptacles shall be of weather resistant type and marked WR, even if the receptacle is GFI.
26-704 all receptacles of 5-15R or 5-20R configuration installed outdoors within 2.5m of the finished grade, shall be GFI protected.
26-956 submersible pumps installed in or on bodies of water shall be provided with GFI protection set at not greater than 10mA for an operating time of 2.7s regardless of the location of the motor.
64-002 DC disconnect may be integral to the combiner and inverter.
They made Table 6 much more complicated. No longer a simple look up table, but rather have to manually calculate based on cross sectional area of all cables.
Known issues that affect residential dwelling as of 2023:
Whirlpool Microwave Intermittently Tripping AFCI 15 Amp Breaker
The microwave draws 1400W and the fan draws about 100W which causes the breaker to trip when both are on at the same time. The issue is with the microwave unit, the manufacturer should have required 20A receptacle if it can't operate both the microwave and fan at the same time. Or at least auto power limit when both are on at the same time. You need to ensure your build with 20A circuit, but if that is too late, then here are your options in the order of the cheapest to most expensive:
1. Power limit to 90% via microwave setting.
2. Don't use the microwave and rangehood fan at the same time. This is kind of a hassle to remember.
3. Change out the microwave unit with a lesser power hungry model.
4. Change out the circuit to 20A.
Microwave rangehood receptacle requires AFCI, back in the day before the widespread use of AFCI and GFCI breaker, it was simple thermomagnetic breaker which is not as sensitive and the tripping curves are a lot more "forgiving" if you want to look at it that way. Once they started introducing more electronics into overcurrent protection to shape the curve it get a lot more tighter and precise.
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment aka Level 2 charging for existing single family dwelling. The typical electrical service has been 100A and this size generally will not support adding a 40A Level 2 charger. According to my calculations, the maximum you can do is to add a 30A dryer plug (or direct wired) Level 2 charger.
CEC 2024 CODE UPDATE (placeholder)
1. Table 6 has been difficult to use since 2021. For many years it has shown the number of conductors that fits in a conduit size, however the last edition has made it into a manual calculation. Will review how this is handled in the new code.
2. Table 29 Rating or setting of overcurrent devices for the protection of motor branch circuits. The type of motor starter has been missing VFD. Will review how this is handled in the new code.
3. Table 38 Electric vehicle supply equipment demand factors have near 100% demand. This has caused service sizing issues everywhere. Will review how this is handled in the new code.
All the circuits in a standard residential single family dwelling unit
PANELBOARD SCHEDULE
15A-1P LIGHTING & SMOKE/CO ALARMS
20A-1P KITCHEN COUNTERTOP 5-20R
20A-1P KITCHEN COUNTERTOP 5-20R
20A-1P KITCHEN ISLAND 5-20R
20A-1P KITCHEN PENINSULAR COUNTERTOP 5-20R
20A-2P KITCHEN ELECTRIC COOKTOP
40A-2P KITCHEN ELECTRIC RANGE/OVEN
15A-1P KITCHEN GAS RANGE/OVEN (AFCI)
15A-1P KITCHEN RANGEHOOD (AFCI)
20A-1P KITCHEN RANGEHOOD/MICROWAVE (AFCI)
15A-1P DINING AREA & HALLWAY & STORAGE REC (AFCI)
15A-1P BEDROOM REC (AFCI)
15A-1P BEDROOM REC (AFCI)
15A-1P BEDROOM REC (AFCI)
15A-1P FRIDGE
15A-1P FREEZER (AFCI)
15A-1P DISHWASHER (DIRECT) & GARBURATOR (5-15R)
15A-1P WASHROOM GFI
15A-1P WASHER (AFCI)
30A-2P DRYER 14-30R
15A-1P LAUNDRY ROOM REC (AFCI)
15A-1P SUMP PUMP
15A-1P UTILITY ROOM REC (AFCI)
15A-1P EXTERIOR GFI (AFCI)
15A-1P CENTRAL VACCUM REC (AFCI)
30A-2P ELECTRIC HEAT / HEATPUMP (DIRECT)
50A-2P EVSE LEVEL 2 14-50R
20A-1P ATTACHED GARAGE 5-20R (AFCI)
15A-1P ATTACHED GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR (AFCI)
20A-1P DETACHED GARAGE 5-20R
15A-1P DETACHED GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR
I been getting questions about the cost to hire people, that will mostly depending on your local market but the rates I generally see are the following:
Consultants:
Principle engineer $300/h
Senior engineer $200~270/h
Intermediate engineer $170~$200/h
Junior engineer $130~$170/h
Drafter $100~130/h
Admin $100~130/h
Trades:
Project manager $150~$170/h
Foreman $130~$150/h
Electrician journeyman $100~$130/h
Electrician apprentice $80~$110/h
Skill labor $80~$90/h
General labor $60~$80/h
Keep in mind projects are quoted at fixed price so you won't encounter hourly rate unless the scope of work is not defined so they can't give you a total project cost or due to changes.
Canada BEV rebate $5000.
Canada EVSE rebate for commercial installation, 50% up to $5000 per unit. Program approved to 2027.
Manitoba BEV rebate $4000 for new and $2500 for used. Official announcement pending.
BC BEV rebate $4000.
QC BEV rebate $7000.
Last edited by divx on Mar 15th, 2024 2:29 pm, edited 31 times in total.