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For your safety, insist on an electrical inspection

Electrical inspections are designed to help protect the people in your home or building from electrical hazards.

Today, inspections are handled by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). An Inspector from the ESA will check any electrical work to make sure it meets the requirements defined in the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, which sets provincial standards for safe electrical installations and electrical products.

Electrical inspections are the law

Electrical inspections are required in order to comply with requirements of the Electricity Act 1998 and the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (Ontario Regulation 10/02). It's the law. All electrical installations, renovations and alterations are required to have an electrical inspection. This includes:

1. Installation of outlets, switches, lighting fixtures, baseboard heaters, smoke detectors (excluding battery operated types), exhaust fans, etc.
2. Installation of new equipment such as heat pumps, water heaters, air conditioning, swimming pools, whirlpools, saunas, etc.
3. Electrical service upgrades or changes
4. New homes, additions or renovations

Whether you hire an electrical contractor or do the work yourself, all electrical installations or changes must be inspected to ensure they comply with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. This applies to private homes, offices, industrial buildings and income properties.

To contact an Electrical Safety Authority representative for information, or to apply for an inspection, call 1-877-ESA-SAFE.