Submitted by alumni_audit t3_z5dysv in washingtondc
Hi there, I live in a rental house in DC, older house. In the kitchen, there are really old two prong outlets. Last week my roommate said she got shocked by an appliance in the kitchen, and that the outlet was bright blue when she unplugged it. Sent an email to the landlord, he came by and told another roommate that it was fine. What, if anything, should we do?
Some stuff is grandfathered. Worth checking, but older stuff sometimes gets a pass.
I don’t think this applies to safety. GFCI are required when near water source. Sounds like your landlord did not get a BBL nor an inspection. You can ask for the BBL number and if he can’t provide it let them know you’ll talk to OTA.
DC only requires that bathrooms and laundry rooms have a grounded/GFCI outlet. If the outlet is otherwise in good working order, then it wouldn't fail a housing inspection.
Anywhere there is a water source. Kitchen counts
Not saying you're wrong, but do you have a source for that? Mine is the DC Housing Code Standards.
Obviously what you're describing has been required by electrical code since the 70s/80s, but I imagine OP's house is older than that.
You can get a bbl with a very very old coa. But op should still check with the city.
Thanks! Do you have any links or sourcing?
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LOL! Ok
I'm guessing no:
Inspection Report Form https://dcra.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcra/publication/attachments/BBL_post_licensure_BBL_checklist_v1.8.pdf
Are electrical outlets, switches and fixtures in good repair and working properly? (2006 IPMC §605.1)
Are the required number of electrical receptacles and light fixtures present? (2006 IPMC §605.2; §605.3)
DC follows the National Electric Code for all buildings.
GFCI is required within six feet of any sink or water source.
This is incorrect.
Some versions of the National Electrical Code require GFCI, and some versions do not. Which one applies to a particular building in DC depends on the date of construction, date of most recent renovation, how many units the building has, and a few other factors. DC does not apply NEC updates retroactively by default.
Source?
The 2017 DC Construction Codes consist of the 2015 International Code Council (ICC) family of model codes, the 2014 National Electrical Code... https://dob.dc.gov/page/dc-construction-codes
Section 210.8(A) of NEC https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=70
MVP!!!!!!!
Here's the catch though. That's for new construction. Whenever renovations are done, new code applies, but you do have tons of buildings like yours where it's not up to current code and that old stuff gets grandfathered in. If it met code when it was made then it can stay.
I'm curious if the fact that it already shocked someone makes a difference, though? That implies its actively unsafe, not just potentially so.
I think its still worth it for the OP to reach out to the OTA for advice.
It's still worth asking yes. But no, that doesn't change anything. For reference I'm an electrical engineer in building design, I've designed many of the residential mixed use high rises in DC. There might be some route I'm not aware of. The owner can't be compelled to change it just by the fact that it doesn't meet current code, but the owner should definitely hear about it. They can also just give that branch a GFCI breaker without replacing the outlets.
DCRA did a routine inspection of my apartment last year after I moved in and made my landlord replace the outlets in the kitchen with GFCI outlets. You might be able to file a report or something with DCRA to get them to do an inspection and make your landlord replace them?
GFCI in bathrooms and kitchens are building code regardless of rental status.
For new construction, that's true. But DC generally does not apply building code updates retroactively to existing buildings (with a few exceptions). So to determine the code applicable to an older building is more complicated. It depends on when it was built, when it last had a major renovation, etc.
Can you cite this please?
It's grandfathered in IF it is occupied only by the owner. Otherwise, it is bound by current NEC codes.
Fellow fireman here and hoping my experience with code enforcement helps. As many awesome people have explained here unless occupied directly by the owner it falls under public housing code / multi unit property code. More than likely what happened was the house was given it’s certification of occupancy prior to the person renting it out; so as some have mentioned here it got “grandfathered in.”
Here’s a couple of things you can do. If you don’t feel safe completely unplug the items from the outlet in question and document EVERYTHING (I’ve personally been in situations where I practically had to slap the landlord with proof it was failing before they did anything). This also helps with OTA proof too.
Secondly the fireman in me says call the NON EMERGENCY fire department line for code enforcement. Have them come check it out and they will explain everything to as to what has to be corrected and or fixed.
Plain and simple to me; and to the rest of you reading my comment. Don’t ever play games with electrical. What typically happens is it gets ignored and begins to catch fire behind the walls and through your attic and or basements (wherever the primary electrical box is CHECK THAT TOO for blown breakers) as the issue has now developed PAST the electrical receptacle. A couple of days later of ignorance and your house burns down due to our negligence. Yes I’ve seen it myself multiple times and have heard the stories from the home owners themselves (thinking it wasn’t anything major, till they had smoke pouring out the socket itself).
Anyways yes get it checked out, yes your correct in your original thought, and if anything don’t wait to have it checked out. Worse case scenario you annoy the firemen and women for coming to check out a electrical outlet, and your mind gets put at ease.
I believe it should be GFCI if it is three feet from a water source regardless of the room. I recently had to do the inspection and that was the guidance I was given.
GFCI outlets are really easy to install. I got a 2 pack for $15 and wired it myself.
Source?
I have a rental property and had to go through the bbl inspection a few months ago. The inspector failed the unit in the bathroom for not having GFCI and the Kitchen. I replaced the outlets with GFCI and then no problem in the second inspection . I might be wrong about the distance but not having one by a water source will likely fail you in the inspection. These guys aren’t walking around with rulers, my inspections were all virtual.
If you go to dc property search you can lookup if the property owner has a BBL. They should be a lot nicer to you if they don’t have one. They can’t even evict you without one among other things.
Sorry I don’t have a documented source but if you just call 311 they can direct you to the right office in DC. They live for that stuff, for real.
bbl?
Basic Business License
You look it up here. https://scout.dcra.dc.gov/login
Put there address in and you can see a lot of historical information. Status of their BBL should be there if they have one
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AxillaRocks t1_ixvkjqz wrote
Absolutely required. All rentals must be registered and pass an inspection. Contact OTA Monday.