Whether it has to do with a simple home improvement or a more in-depth renovation, a permit for electrical work is required to obtain permission from the governing authority to go forward with the project. Permit pulling—requesting a permit from a governing authority, which could be State, County or City —can be challenging for homeowners who are not familiar with electrical plans. but the process of pulling permits for electrical work is fairly straightforward if you understand and meet all requirements for electrical contractors.

Each city, county and state can have varied building codes, so it is important to use a professional who is versed in navigating this process. Permit pulling requires first submitting an official application that includes a schematic of what electrical work is going to be done. There will be a permit fee involved to cover the application cost, the review and the inspection. Once a plan is approved, a permit will be issued, and work can begin. On-site inspections will be conducted to ensure that all of the work conforms to the permit as well as building codes and plans. Depending upon the size of the project, there may be more than one inspection, usually a rough and final or possibly partials of either. These inspections serve to protect homeowners from faulty or possibly hazardous work. A code official will come by at the project end in order to provide all required documentation. Final approval will only be given once full code compliance is met which could mean NEC, UBC or IBC regulations. If the homeowner is completing the electrical work as a do-it-yourself project, it may take multiple visits from the code official before a final approval is provided, depending upon the skill level of the homeowner.

1.  Add an accent lamp to your dining room console.  Find an accent lamp that is slender enough for your console table.  Locate outlets behind consoles to keep cords hidden from view.  A single lamp works well for a smaller service area.   Consider a pair of accent lamps for an extra long dining buffet/console table.

“Brittany” from Chelsea House

2.  Dress up a vacant corner and extend your room’s design with an accent lamp on a pedestal.  An accent lamp atop a tall pedestal should stand between 5-6 feet above the floor.

To find the correct height for an accent table lamp by a reading chair:  While you are seated, estimate the height from tabletop to your eye-level.  Choose an accent lamp with a light source at that height.

“Masterpiece” from Butler Specialty

3.  Decorate your patio with a few accent lamps.  Be sure lamps are UL-listed for damp locations when looking for patio accent lamps.

“Brent” from Kenroy Home, suitable for damp locations

For more information on accent lamp applications or to see the latest lighting designs, visit 1800lighting.com.

Electrical safety testing is an important part of any Electrician’s job. It should be done periodically—by a professional and to a very high standard.

An Electrician will undertake an inspection to ensure there are no deficiencies in an electrical installation. Over time, an electrical product will deteriorate. Age, wear and tear, environmental factors, poor maintenance, and improper use can all cause electrical products to malfunction and stop working. When this happens, it is the Electrician’s responsibility to ensure the product is repaired as soon as possible. If this is not possible, then the product should be not be used. Faulty electrical products are very dangerous and can cause injury or death if not handled with care.

Maintaining Safety at All Times

A periodic inspection of all portable electrical appliances will reduce the risk of them malfunctioning in the future. An inspection is an ideal opportunity to check for any signs of electrical equipment being overloaded, to locate any potential electrical shock risks, and to highlight any defective work. It should only ever be done by professionals who understand what they are doing.

Although portable appliance testing is not compulsory for companies within the United States, those that have periodic inspections find it brings them peace of mind. Appliance testing is done in many military and science installations in throughout the country.