GFCI/AFCI Outlets in Washington State

NEC 210.8 At dwellings, ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection shall be provided for the kitchen dishwasher branch circuit and for all receptacle outlets in bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, kitchen countertops, laundry areas, boathouses, outdoors and within 6 feet of sinks, bathtubs, and shower stalls. All GFCIs shall be readily accessible.

NEC 680.71 A hydromassage bathtub, (defined as a permanently installed bathtub with a re-circulating piping system, designed to discharge water upon each use, and its associated components] shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection. All 125 volt receptacles not exceeding 30 amperes installed within 6 feet of the inside walls of the hydromassage bathtub shall be GFCI protected. All equipment associated with a hydromassage bathtub shall be accessible without damaging the building structure or finish.

WAC 296-46B-210

Wiring and Protection—Branch circuits.

008(A) Dwelling units GFCI requirements.

(1) In a garage or unfinished basement, a red receptacle, with a red cover plate, supplying a fire alarm system is not required to have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection. The receptacle must be identified for use only with the fire alarm system by an identification plate or engraved cover with letters at least 1/4 inch high.

(2) All fixed electrical equipment with exposed grounded metal parts within an enclosed shower area or within 5 feet of the top inside edge of a bathtub must have ground fault circuit interrupter protection.

008(B) Other than dwelling units - GFCI requirements.

(3) GFCI requirements. GFCI protection for personnel will not be required for:

(a) Three-phase receptacles unless specifically required elsewhere in the NEC; or

(b) Receptacles used for recreational vehicle supply equipment or for attachment of a mobile home supply cord other than 125-volt, single phase, 15- or 20-ampere receptacles.

For the purposes of NEC 210.8(B), kitchen means any area where utensils, dishes, etc., are cleaned or where food or beverages are prepared or cooked.

011 Branch circuits.

(4) A raceway system or one dedicated 15-ampere minimum, 120 volt circuit must be taken to all unfinished space areas adaptable to future dwelling unit living areas that are not readily accessible to the service or branch circuit panelboard. One circuit or raceway is required for each 480 square feet or less of unfinished space area. If the total adjacent unfinished space area is less than 480 square feet, the circuit can be an extension of an existing circuit. The circuits must terminate in a suitable box(es). The box must contain an identification of the intended purpose of the circuit(s). The branch circuit panelboard must have adequate space and capacity for the intended load(s).

013 Ground fault protection of equipment.

(5) Equipment ground fault protection systems required by the NEC must be tested prior to being placed into service to verify proper installation and operation of the system as determined by the manufacturer's published instructions. A firm having qualified personnel and proper equipment must perform the tests required. A copy of the manufacturer's performance testing instructions and a written performance acceptance test record signed by the person performing the test must be available at the time of inspection. The performance acceptance test record must include test details including, but not limited to, all trip settings and measurements taken during the test.

025 Common area branch circuits.

(6) For the purpose of NEC 210.25, loads for septic or water well systems that are shared by no more than two dwelling units may be supplied from either of the two dwelling units if approved by the local building official and local health department.

052 (A)(2) Dwelling unit receptacle outlets.

(7) For the purpose of NEC 210.52 (A)(2)(1), "similar openings" include the following configurations that are a permanent part of the dwelling configuration or finish:

(a) Window seating; and

(b) Bookcases or cabinets that extend from the floor to a level at least 5 feet 6 inches above the floor.

Any outlets eliminated by such window seating, bookcases, or cabinets must be installed elsewhere within the room.

052(C) Countertops.

(8) A receptacle in a wall countertop space shall be permitted to serve as the receptacle for a peninsular countertop space where the spaces are contiguous and the receptacle is located within 8 feet of the outside edge of the peninsular countertop.

(f) Report the location of any inoperative or missing GFCI and/or AFCI devices when they are recommended by industry standards.

What is an AFCI Circuit Breaker? 

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) are required by the National Electrical Code for certain electrical circuits in the home.

Most people are familiar with the term arcing. Arcing may be intended, such as with an arc welder or unintended, such as when a tree falls on a power line during a storm creating a current discharge between conductors or to the ground.

An arc fault is an unintended arc created by current flowing through an unplanned path. Arcing creates high-intensity heating at the point of the arc resulting in burning particles that may easily ignite surrounding material, such as wood framing or insulation. The temperatures of these arcs can exceed 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

There is a major difference between the functioning of an AFCI as compared to a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter). The function of the GFCI is to protect people from the deadly effects of electric shock that could occur if parts of an electrical appliance or tool become energized due to a ground fault. The function of the AFCI is to protect the branch circuit wiring from dangerous arcing faults that could initiate an electrical fire.

AFCI and GFCI technologies can co-exist with each other and are a great complement for the most complete protection that can be provided on a circuit.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements for arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) have become more stringent with each passing Code cycle, stirring up much discussion and debate among builders, electrical contractors, and other professionals involved in home construction. While these devices were previously only required to protect the bedroom, the 2008 NEC now requires the technology to be installed in additional areas of the home, including dining rooms, living rooms, and other habitable areas.

Dirty Electricity is a problem, not nearly enough people are aware of. In fact, in many homes dirty electricity is one of the highest sources of EMF radiation. Fortunately, there are dirty electricity filters that can completely, and measurably, reduce or remove this source of radiation.

We can help test your home before and after installation. In some cases, the filter can create EMF issues and testing is advised.

So What Exactly Is Dirty Electricity?

Dirty electricity, or sometimes called DE, dirty power, electrical pollution, or a few other names, is a description of essentially unusable power that gets stuck in your electrical wiring. The wiring in your home and most buildings are designed to use 60 hertz AC electricity. This worked well when originally designed since nearly all electronics were designed to consistently draw on this exact type and amount of power.

The issue began when modern electronics began demanding, more, or less, or varying amounts of power. This is sometimes referred to as high-frequency voltage transients, and the inconsistent use of power causes erratic surges of power that are unusable. This unusable dirty electricity sits in your wiring, spreading around and radiating EMF radiation.

Two-prong outlets with no ground wires were common throughout Seattle until 1963. From that time on, grounded three-prong outlets have been the standard. Two-prong outlets are rather inconvenient, and can possibly pose a safety hazard. The third prong on a plug is designed to give a fault path in the event the hot wire, or device that is connected to should short out. The absence of a ground path can lead to an electrical shock. For example, a metal light fixture could become energized on its exterior, and the lack of grounding will not allow the breaker to trip. The problem is that you can't necessarily just replace them with a three-prong plug. If the wiring system is not bonded to the ground, then that would be an illegal fix.  In some cases, the wiring is grounded and they just didn't put three-prong plugs, because back when three-prong outlets were introduced they were more expensive. In many cases, there is no wire or other grounding path. Older two-wire clothe wiring is not uncommon in houses 60 years old or so. It is likely that your old two-prong plug is so loose that cords fall right out of it, or it is brittle and cracking. Either way, it should be replaced. At this point, you have two choices that are legal. Replace it with a new two-prong receptacle is one. The other is to replace it with a three-prong plug, but only after verifying that you have a ground path.

However, to provide accurate disclosure to buyers, you should have the system checked by a licensed electrician. Working on any electricity in the State of Washington requires a permit. Regardless of whether the outlets are grounded or are wired in conduit, you are not required as a seller to upgrade the wiring. Your essential obligation is to accurately disclose your knowledge of the electrical system to buyers. And this leads to your question about whether the outlets “will be a problem when buyers hire a home inspector.” Problems you already know about should not be left for some home inspector to discover, while you hold your breath in suspense. If you disclose the problem up front, it can become an as-is part of the sale. If the home inspector reveals it to the buyers, it can become an expensive subject of negotiation. Worse still, the buyers could hire an incompetent home inspector who says nothing about the problem. If the buyers were then to learn about it after the close of escrow, you could have a sticky liability issue on your hands. The best approach when selling a home is to disclose everything you know. Don’t wait to see what the buyer's home inspector discloses. This is the best way to have a clean, smooth transaction, without repercussions after the sale is completed. If you have the outlets and wiring evaluated by a qualified electrician, you may find that the outlets can be grounded at a nominal expense. Then there will be no outlet problem to disclose and no need to sweat the home inspection.

Knob and Tube Wiring - The EMF issue 

The most important issue to many of our inspection clients, who are concerned with magnetic fields is the fact that Knob and Tube wiring emits high and far-reaching low-frequency AC (Alternating Current) magnetic fields. The separation of the “hot” and “neutral” conductors by as much as 12-15 inches causes a significant increase in the magnetic field around the wiring. Although the health effects of high AC magnetic fields are in dispute, many people are concerned about them and prefer to create a low magnetic field environment in their homes and especially in their sleeping areas.

The knob and tube also do not shield against Electric Fields induced by the wiring.

So what to do about residential wiring errors?

If you have a home built before 1965 it is a good idea to have your wiring inspected. Has it been updated? With what type of wire? Was ALL the Knob and Tube removed, or was the modern wiring just spliced in?

Do you still have a fuse box? Or has your service been upgraded with circuit breakers? Upgrading to circuit breakers is safer and much more convenient especially when a circuit overloads and trips a breaker rather than blows a fuse.

PNWIG highly recommends that any and all Knob and Tube be removed and replaced with modern wiring. Many times modern wiring is installed but the legacy Knob and Tube is disconnected but left in place, to save a few bucks. It does take a little extra effort to remove the old Knob and Tube wiring. If the older wiring is not removed it can be confusing to a future electrician and some of it may still be active. During our inspections, we have found some of it to still be active and live a definite fire and electrocution hazard. Fortunately, always assume all wires are live and test any wire before working on ANY wiring.

Fully removing and replacing your old Knob and Tube can be difficult and expensive but is easier if you have an accessible attic and crawl space. We assure you the benefits are well worth it, and it should add to the value of your home, as well as add to your electrical safety and capacity.

Research on EMFs and LED lights

As with information about EMFs generally, information about EMFs and LEDs is very scant.

Creating Healthy Homes suggests that the only reason LEDs could produce EMFs is with the creation of ‘dirty electricity,’ which some LEDs allegedly produce depending on their configuration and wiring setup. They write that “If an LED bulb has a switched-mode power supply, it usually produces dirty electricity but not always. [The] problem with switched-mode power supplies is that they reduce voltage and convert from AC to DC by squaring off the sine wave of 60 Hz AC electricity, thereby producing harmonics of dirty electricity as a side effect. These harmonics then radiate off circuits in your walls running throughout the house and from AC power cords that you plug into outlets.”

Another site, from the Electromagnetic Fields by B. Blake Levitt that, “Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs are far cleaner [and] emit no EMFs.‘ But later on their page, they write that “LEDs are extremely low EMF; they do have a small transformer which reduces the voltage to the device, although electriCLEAR uses ‘line-voltage’ LEDs which have no transformer and are truly zero EMF.”

Another source I found about the LED-EMF connection was Natural News, which is not a site I use as a reference very often as they tend toward alarmist. They state that “LEDs […] do not create EMF dirty electricity–” which is the opposite of what these other sources claim.

With the exception of Natural News, most of the information about the EMF-LED connection is that the ‘research’ comes from sites that are offering services related to such topics.

LED EMF test results

MF from LED Lights Analysis

The dimmer appears to produce the strongest and largest magnetic field, starting at 2.0 mG and not receding to background levels until 24 inches away.

Compared to an incandescent lamp, which does not generate additional EM waves on its own but creates an alternate electromagnetic field with the same frequency of the AC voltage, an LED lamp has much more EM noise because of the frequency components introduced by the rectifier.

The effect of an LED lamp with a simple rectifying circuit is noticeable, the EMF is still of low frequency but can reach several hundred Hz or even few kHz.

Common Household / Office Items That Generate High EMFs

So we ran an EMF test in our office and found an unlikely source that was producing 70mg just plugged in and not in use. What was this device? A Staples pencil sharpener! When in use the pencil sharper gave out over 120mG !!!

So we are going back to the old crank sharpeners, hey they are more fun anyway!!

Electric Toothbrush

Yes, your electric toothbrush gives out 70-80mG when in use. It is short term and clean teeth may be worth the exposure:)

Cheap EMF meters? Do they Work?

We test with the best equipment on the market! Our 3D scanners correctly measure not only the fundamental (60 Hz in the U.S.) but also the common third harmonic (180 Hz) since many circuits in offices and in some residences give off high percentages of the third harmonic frequency. A gaussmeter that measures only 60 Hz may miss 50% of the power frequency magnetic field or more, and will completely fail when trying to measure ELF fields from some VDTs, whose frequencies range from 45 Hz to 90 Hz or higher. Gauss meters which respond to harmonics with a linear response to frequency may indicate a magnetic field 300% higher than what is actually there. Most of the cheaper gauss meters have this problem. It is also important to have a meter that meets the accuracy of ANSI Standard 644-1987.

Are You Exposed To EMFs?

Virtually everyone is exposed to EMFs. Even in the most far-flung corners of the planet, you can usually get a signal on your cell phone. The risks are higher if you live in a town if you use a cell phone, or WiFi significantly, or are exposed to these wireless technologies or you live in an area where there is a high level of electromagnetic pollution from cell phone towers, radar, digital TV or you live in proximity to power lines or an electrical substation.

A growing concern is smart meters. I’m referring to wireless meters that utility companies are increasingly installing on homes to measure your electric, gas, or water usage. For many, this is their first encounter with RF radiation.

The way smart meters are being forced on innocent homeowners is wrong. But when homeowners discover a smart meter has been installed in their home they often overlook the fact that many devices in their home are generating EMFs just as bad as their smart meter, sometimes worse. I’m talking about, Wi-Fi, cell phones, cordless phones, walkie-talkies, clock radios, 4G & 5G cell towers, and similar devices.

2/3 of homes have elevated magnetic fields and over 50% is due to wiring issues. —Walter McGinnis, master electrician, EMF Experts Solutions Club interview

Health Benefits Of Reducing EMF Exposure

Studies link EMF exposure to a growing list of biological effects and diseases. If you reduce your EMF exposure you can reasonably expect to protect yourself from the following conditions and diseases:

• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Premature aging
• Epilepsy
• Autism
• Leukemia
• Brain Tumors
• Sterility
• Infertility
• Insomnia
• Behavioral problems in children
• Tinnitus
• Nervous system diseases, and much more.

EMF Questionnaire

To determine your level of exposure and evaluate your risks here’s a short questionnaire (count your yeses as you are doing this and give yourself one point for each yes):

Your Exposure To Cell Phone Radiation

1. Do you press your cell phone against your head while talking?

2. Do you talk for 2 hours or more per day on your cell phone?

3. Do you carry your cell phone on your person when it’s switched on (i.e. in standby mode) for most of the day?

4. Do you talk on a cell phone in your car?

5. Do you keep your cell phone close to your bed at night?

6. Do you use Bluetooth wireless?

7. Do you use your cell phone when the signal strength indicator is low?

8. Do you use your cell phone for streaming for more than 2 hours per day?

Your Exposure To Computer Radiation

1. Do you use a computer for more than 4 hours per day?

2. Does your computer have the WiFi function enabled? (this is harmful even if you connect to the

internet on a cable)

3. In your place of work are you within 6 feet of other computers?

4. Do you use a laptop rather than a desktop model?

5. Do you use a laptop primarily on the mains power supply?

6. Do you use a laptop, tablet, or smartphone type device on your lap?

7. Do you use a wireless modem router?

8. Do you sit within 6 feet of your wireless router?

Your Exposure In The Home

1. Do you remain near your microwave oven when it’s on?

2. Have you had your microwave oven tested recently for leaks? (even new microwave ovens leak!)

3. Is your home protected by a wireless burglar alarm?

4. Do you have a DECT cordless phone in your house?

5. Do you have a cordless phone next to your bed?

6. Do you have WiFi installed in your home?

7. Do you or your children use wireless video gaming software like the Xbox360 or the PlayStation?

8. Do you have a wireless music system installed in your home?

Exposure In Your Environment

1. Is your home within 400m and direct line of a cell phone tower?

2. Is your home within 50m of a power line?

3. Are you surrounded by other homes with WiFi installed?

4. Is your home equipped with a smart meter to measure your electricity consumption?

5. Live in a Two-wire ( Knob n Tube) home?

6. Live near power lines?

7. Are your neighboring homes closer than 20 feet?

How Did You Score?

There are 30 questions in this questionnaire, you have kept your score, right? If there are questions that you are not sure how to answer, count these as zeros.

How did you score?

Did you score 6 points or more?

6 points might not sound a lot but EMF exposures are cumulative.

The different sources of EMFs that your body is being subjected to all add up, cell phone, WiFi, cordless phone, cell phone tower. It’s the cumulative exposures that count – the total EMF load.

If you scored 6 points or more your EMF exposure is potentially very high. Take action NOW to reduce your exposure.

Order our EMF Survey – so you can get started taking action call 425.608.9553 for all of the Seattle, WA area.

Clients, please log in to watch our EMF videos to Learn even more!!!

What are EMF Fields?

Electro Magnetic Fields (EMFs) are comprised of electric fields that are generated by charged particles or charged particles that are in motion, and radiated fields emitted from items such as televisions, radios, and microwaves. EMFs are strongest near the source of the emission but can affect particles even at great distances, as in how a radio tower can emit a radiated signal that is received by antennas up to varying distances, depending upon the strength of the transmission. While we have enjoyed the benefits of technology that utilizes EMFs for decades, there is still significant controversy surrounding the possible dangers of EMFs and their effects on the human body. Various studies have shown that EMFs may have a detrimental effect on the iron content in our bodies, as well as the cell membranes that comprise many parts of our body, including our skin, organs and nerves, and even our DNA. While there is an established safety limit for the emission of EMFs, many common household items do emit far more than the accepted limit of 2.5 mG. These products include items we may use nearly every day, such as vacuum cleaners and hair dryers. Some scientific studies claim that continued exposure to elevated levels of EMFs may result in significant health problems. For better detection and protection against EMFs in the home or in the workplace, an EMF inspection is recommended. EMF inspections will also help you to determine what an acceptable distance is to stand away from items that emit EMFs, such as microwaves or computers, and how to rearrange your furnishings so that you sit or sleep comfortably away from EMF-emitting devices. Our Meter combines all the features needed for fast, accurate measurements of electromagnetic fields, including mobile phone base station antenna radiation, RF power measurement for transmitters, wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) detection/installation, and wireless communication applications. Additionally, turning off electrical appliances that don’t currently need use, and using low power settings on items such as computer monitors that must remain on but are used constantly will also serve to reduce the amount of EMF emissions in the home or office.

What are safe EMF levels?

 The first thing we look to for guidance in this question is epidemiology. There have been a fair number of epidemiological studies in the area of childhood brain cancer and leukemia all of which indicate an association with EMFs - two to three times the number of cases - at magnetic field levels above 2-3 milliGauss (mG). This implies, of course, that EMF levels below that are safer than levels above that.

However, others have suggested guideline levels of 1 mG or even 0.65 mG. EMF Inspection Safe Levels Safe EMF The fact is none of the studies compared exposed subjects to unexposed subjects but only compared relative levels of exposure - because there are no unexposed people in our wired world. For all we know, all cases of childhood leukemia and brain cancer may be related to EMFs. We also do not know for certain whether long-term chronic exposure is a key factor - although it certainly appears to be.

"EMF radiation is more prevalent than the exposure to asbestos, lead, radon, pesticides, and all other material pollutants are taken together."

We also do not know the role that such electrical events as power spikes and transients, etc., may play. We do know however that for power line fields most people that are exposed, even to relatively high levels, do not seem to be affected. It is not a simple cause-and-effect relationship. In fact, many, myself included, suspect that EMFs may not be a cause of cancer, but a promoter that acts when other factors such as exposure to other environmental pollutants, or a genetic disposition are present. These are all factors that need to be studied. If the scientific and political community would accept the obvious facts - that there is indeed< an association between EMFs and higher levels of cancer and other diseases and disabilities then we could get on with the important research in finding what the key factors are. So where does that leave us? Most of us cannot run off to a desert island with no electricity or radio transmission. What we can do is reduce our exposure as much as possible.

We can start with personal exposure. Most appliances have high levels of EMFs that drop off very quickly and we are not exposed to them for long periods of time. But there are some exceptions where we can take avoidance measures such as not using electric blankets or keeping electric clocks right beside our beds or placing our children's beds in the bedrooms with the lowest EMF levels. We can also check our homes for hot spots - in some cases improper grounding systems can cause high EMF levels that can easily be corrected. And we can be cautious when buying a home - including a satisfactory EMF inspection requirement in the offer to purchase and avoiding homes with levels above the 2-3 mG magnetic field level. I have not referred to electric field readings simply because most of the studies have looked at magnetic fields and most of the meters available to the general public at reasonable cost measure magnetic fields.

As well, since higher magnetic fields indicate higher relative electric fields, by measuring the magnetic field you are also getting an indication of the relative size of the electric field.] I have also not referred to radio frequency or cellular telephone fields because I am not as familiar with that area which is very complicated with research just being begun in that area. What EMF Level Is Safe? There's a heated debate as to what electromagnetic field (EMF) level is considered safe. Since the experts have not come to a consensus, you'll have to decide for yourself... Many government and utility documents report the usual ambient level of 60-Hz magnetic field to be 0.5 mG.

Thus, any reading higher than 0.5 mG is above the "usual" ambient exposure. Many experts and public officials, as well as the few governments that have made an effort to offer public protection, have adopted the 3 mG cutoff point. The EPA has proposed a safety standard of 1 mG. Sweden has set a maximum safety limit of 1 mG. Dr. Robert Becker, an MD who has been studying the effects of EMFs for 20 years, states a lmG safety limit in his book Cross Currents. When electricians try to solve a magnetic field problem they do their best to drop the level to 1 mG or below. Dr. Nancy Wertheimer, a Ph.D. epidemiologist who has been studying EMFs for 20 years, has been looking at the epidemiological data in a different way -- she is trying to associate EMF levels with health rather than a disease. The level she is coming up with is a cut-off of 1 mG. The BioElectric Body believes that there are several stages of health between "optimum wellness", "degenerative disease" and "Cancer". Thus, we maintain our own living and sleeping quarters at 0.5mG and below. There is disagreement as to what electromagnetic field (EMF) level is considered safe. Government and utility documents report the usual ambient level of a 60-Hz magnetic field to be 0.5 mG. A reading of more than 0.5 mG may be too much exposure. Some experts say that 3 mG is the cutoff point and the EPA proposes 1 mG. However, what is the level that sustains health vs. the level that causes disease? We don’t know. Some researchers claim that 1/1000ths of an mG should be the standard!

Smart Meters and EMF Risk

Beginning July 1, 2019, Puget Sound Energy will be providing optional Non-Communicating Meter (NCM) service to qualifying residential electric and natural gas customers in the areas where PSE has initiated or finished the Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) meter upgrade. 

Per Schedule 171, electric and natural gas customers choosing the NCM service will be responsible for the additional charges associated with a non-communicating meter. There will be a $15 Bi-Monthly Service Charge for each NCM and there may be a One-Time Charge for customers who already have AMI equipment installed ($90 per electric meter and $50 per gas meter).

Call us for a full lot EMF survey at 425.608.9553