1. PO Box 1366
Mansfield, Ohio 44901
Toll Free 855-887-8463
Phone 419-522-3030
Fax 419-522-3033
Web Site: www.surgelabamerica.com
E-mail Sales@surgelabamerica.com
Page 1 of 5
Home Electrical Inspections
When buying, selling, or even performing a routine inspection on your home it is wise to choose the right inspector for the
job, especially when it comes to electrical inspections. It is important to understand that all electrical inspections are not
equal. Several different nationally recognized home inspection agencies exist: AHI (American Home Inspectors), ASHI
(American Society of Home Inspectors), IHINA (Independent Home Inspectors of North America), InterNACHI
(International Association of Certified Home Inspectors), ISHI (International Society of Home Inspectors), NACHI (National
Association of Certified Home Inspectors), NAHI (National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.), and NSHI (National
Society of Home Inspectors). Typically inspectors get certified by these agencies by completing online training and online
certification. Most of these inspectors are not licensed electricians, and thus might not be as well versed in the code as a
licensed electrician. Most agencies only ask their inspectors to inspect a limited list of components in the electrical
system. When only the minimum requirements are assessed, the home may still have problems and code violations that
would go unnoticed during this type of inspection. These underlying electrical issues can easily put the home at risk for a
fire as well as potentially lethal shock hazards.
What Most Homeowners DO NOT Know and ARE NOT Told
Most homeowners are not aware that the state building codes and the national and local fire and electrical codes are just
the minimum safety requirements. Other national accepted standards are available to bring your home up to a greater
level of safety and protection. In the United States, codes are requirements that are met by law, but on the other hand,
standards are accepted practices that meet and exceed existing codes.
When most homes are built, they are built only to the minimum required safety codes. Competitive builders will never add
cost to increase safety and protection above the minimum safety standards unless the bidding package has that
requirement. They never usually add this measure because the added safety and electrical protection adds cost to the
builder’s bid and if only one builder on the bid list adds the increased cost to their bid, they will surely lose the bid. The
builder not wanting to increase the cost never seems to give the homeowners the option for maximum safety and
electrical protection for homes and other buildings on the property; however, unlike insurance, taxes, and mortgage
payments for a home; increased safety and electrical protection are a one-time only cost worth a lifetime of protection.
Typical Installation Protocol for Contractors
Typical contractors either have their own electrical license or they use another contractor that has an electrical license to
wire the premises. On many projects some type of unlicensed laborer actually performs the physical wiring under the
licensed electrical contractor’s direct or indirect supervision. In many cases, this contractor could be an electrical
apprentice; however, in some cases this is just a generic laborer who was given limited verbal instructions on wiring, but
in both cases it is the responsibility of the licensed electrical contractor to inspect the workmanship.
Almost never would an electrical contractor bring in a third party inspection service company to inspect the electrical
wiring. Many times some type of electrical problem will arise just after the homeowner either moves into the home or into
the newly remodeled area within the home or out-building. Some samples of problems are receptacles not working, circuit
breakers overloaded, and in rare cases area or whole house fires.
Very rarely would an electrical contractor inspect the connection at the premises’ grounding electrode system (ground rod)
for proper tightness, corrosion, as well as making sure a proper installation procedure was used. The ground rod at the
home, where practical, should always be embedded below permanent moisture level. At the majority of homes, the
ground rod is visible above ground and has a green color from corrosion at the connector and in some cases is even
loose or not connected at all.
Telephone companies as well as cable television and satellite television companies make grounding connections into the
grounding electrode system for the home as required by the National Electrical Code; however, no one ever inspects or
verifies if the installer’s wiring methods are correct or even meet the minimum safety requirements of the National
Electrical Code. In some cases, the required grounding connections are made improperly or not at all.
The Importance of the Proper Grounding
Lightning is one of nature’s most beautiful and powerful phenomena, and occasionally a destructive one. Lightning strikes
to a power transmission line or even a nearby electrical substation can disrupt the power to your home. A nearby or direct
lightning strike to your home often results in a more serious situation. A strike as far away as nine miles can cause whole

2. PO Box 1366
Mansfield, Ohio 44901
Toll Free 855-887-8463
Phone 419-522-3030
Fax 419-522-3033
Web Site: www.surgelabamerica.com
E-mail Sales@surgelabamerica.com
Page 2 of 5
or partial equipment failures in, telephone systems, electronic controls, computers, server networks, printers, gate
controllers, fire alarms and other voltage susceptible equipment. These disturbances and failures can be expensive in
replacement /repairs, lost data, and other interruptions. Lightning can also cause: power outages, power fluctuations,
brown outs, surges and power sags leading a host of other problems including structural damage, fire, and in some cases
even death.
Lightning exposes ineffective building bonding, grounding and equipment protection systems quickly; however normal
power fluctuations will continue to damage electronic and digital equipment if not properly protected. This is why
grounding conductors and the grounding electrode system are important for the safety of the home and the equipment in it
because they help to dissipate the effects of lightning as well as other static discharges that may occur in the home.
Why is it Important to have your Home Inspected?
The National Electrical Code (NEC) is updated every three years with new additions to the code. Most receptacles that
were allowed by NEC are no longer permitted as replacements. Now it is important to have tamper-proof receptacles
installed everywhere, along with additional requirements that call for the installation of AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter),
and GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) receptacles or circuit breakers installed strategically in homes to prevent
shock hazards. In our experience, even existing receptacles that may be NEC approved have problems 40-60% of the
time. These problems can be from improper wiring, voltage drop problems (related to conductor length and size), and
more.
Every year homes get damaged or destroyed by electrical fires. Most of these fires are caused by problems that are easily
preventable when someone knows what to look for. Fires can be caused by faulty electrical outlets, outdated appliances,
frayed appliance cords, cords with the grounding plug removed, and outdated wiring. Outdated wiring is especially a
concern when the home is over twenty years old. When the wiring is outdated it might not be able to handle the demand
of modern appliances.
Common electrical problems exist in most homes such as: ungrounded receptacles, reversed polarity receptacles, open
splices, unprotected electrical cables, improper use of an extension cord, wrong wire size, double tapped circuit breakers,
missing panel box hardware, over packed panels, improper replacement of non-grounded receptacles (two-prong),
improper grounding of a satellite dish, improper grounding of telephone equipment, improper grounding of cable television
equipment, GFCI receptacles not being installed where needed, improper connecting of neutral to ground, improper
grounding of electric ranges, improper grounding of electric dryers, improper grounding of submersible well pumps, failure
to properly use grounding wires, failure to install a second ground rod where required, failure to attach metallic water pipe
to ground, loose wire connections, and loose wire connections in panels. Fixing these problems will not only bring the
house up to code, but also improve the safety and the reliability of all electronics within the home.
The Purpose of the NEC
It is important to know that according to the NEC, little, if any consideration is given to equipment reliability, electrical
expansion, or if the equipment will actually work in the building. The following is from section 90-1 from the NEC:
NEC CODE 90-1 Purpose:
(a) Practical safeguarding. The purpose of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from
the hazards of electricity.
(b) Adequacy. This Code contains provisions considered necessary for safety. Compliance therewith and proper
maintenance will result in an installation essentially free from hazard, but not necessarily efficient, convenient, or
adequate for good service or for future expansion of electrical use.
(c) Intention. This Code is not intended as a design specification or an instruction manual for untrained persons.
What this basically states is that the NEC is the minimum accepted safety code for electricity and even by following the
set forth requirements it says it might not be efficient, convenient, or adequate for good service or for future expansion.
Following and adhering to the NEC provides only the minimal acceptable safeguards for personnel and property.
Typical Inspection Requirements

3. PO Box 1366
Mansfield, Ohio 44901
Toll Free 855-887-8463
Phone 419-522-3030
Fax 419-522-3033
Web Site: www.surgelabamerica.com
E-mail Sales@surgelabamerica.com
Page 3 of 5
Local electrical inspectors are aware of new wiring, or a service change to a home only after the building permit for wiring
has been issued. Most building permits are required when the service to the home is changed (i.e. to change 100 Amp
service to 200 Amp service). It is then that the inspector has the responsibility to inspect the new wiring; however, this
inspection is restricted to making sure the wiring meets only the minimum safety requirements of the NEC. Should any
electrical wiring take place in the home without taking out a building permit, the local inspector would be unaware of the
new wiring and no electrical inspection would be required to take place. In many homes, no electrical inspections have
taken place for years and years.
Most third-party home electrical inspections only evaluate the following: verification of service entrance conductors,
service mast, service conduit, service raceway, service head, service gooseneck, drip loops, service bonding, service
grounding, service drop, overhead service conductors, overhead service conductor attachment point, panelboards, over-
current protection devices (circuit breakers and/or fuses), GFCI receptacles, GFCI circuit breakers, verification of main
service disconnect, electric meter, and a meter box (highlighted in orange on the chart on the accompanying page). Also
most inspectors check a representative number of the following: switches (off and on), receptacles, light fixtures, AFCI
receptacles, and AFCI circuit breakers (highlighted in yellow on the chart on the accompanying page).
As mentioned above, many common problems exist in homes. A large amount of these common problems will go
unnoticed by a normal home inspector because they are not required to check every single electrical component in the
home. Even while some unnoticed problems can be very small at first, they always have the chance to develop into much
larger problems. These larger problems not only can be expensive to fix, but also can cause irreparable damage to your
home, or even to your family by either causing a fire and even a shock hazard.
SPGS Surgelab America’s Electrical Inspection Services
SPGS Surgelab America’s offers a more in-depth way to complete a home electrical inspection. At our most basic level of
inspection service, the PowerBasic inspection, we go above and beyond what is required in a typical inspection of the
home electrical system entails. All of our inspections are performed by a knowledgeable licensed electrician. The
accompanying chart on the last page lists what components that we inspect at our levels of service.
Summary of Inspection and Solution Services:
Each level of SPGS Surgelab America’s services offers much more than the typical home inspection and is completed by
a licensed electrician. Our upper level of home electrical inspection services, the PowerComplete© inspection, offers one
of the most comprehensive inspection services in the industry, it allows for a complete understanding of the level of safety
for the home’s electrical system.
After each inspection is completed, the data collected is analyzed; a detailed report is compiled that lists all code
violations along with pictures of the actual violations. All code violations are referenced from the latest version of the
National Electrical Code (NEC), and at the end of the report is a list of solutions that will correct the code violations. This
report then is delivered to the home owner via a hard copy and a digital document.
It is important to know that all electrical power is not created equal. Power quality in almost all locations fluctuates during
any given 24-hour period. Even the distance that the home is located from a sub-station can make a big difference in
power quality. In most situations when a power outage occurs, there is a surge of power, which spikes voltage down the
line. If this surge reaches a home it can weaken the delicate circuitry that exists in modern appliances, which will then lead
to premature failure at unexpected times. The bottom line is that we are living in a digital world. More and more common
appliances and other electrical equipment in a home are equipped with microprocessors and extremely sensitive electrical
circuitry and the NEC was not developed to be responsible for the overall quality of the power. Usually when power
quality problems begin to occur in a home that is when the finger pointing starts. Builders and architects almost always
point to the NEC and state that they built to code, but this leaves the end users and the insurance companies left holding
the bag. Nobody claims responsibility for their actions or in most cases inaction. The sad news is that power quality and
other electrical safety and protection problems do not have to occur. That is why there are industry experts that have the
knowledge and the solutions to prevent these problems from occurring.
Our solutions were originally for use in data centers and telecommunications companies worldwide to protect sensitive
electronic equipment from failing. These solutions provided higher equipment reliability and allowed the sensitive
equipment to live out its intended lifecycle. More and more appliances are now considered sensitive electronics.

4. PO Box 1366
Mansfield, Ohio 44901
Toll Free 855-887-8463
Phone 419-522-3030
Fax 419-522-3033
Web Site: www.surgelabamerica.com
E-mail Sales@surgelabamerica.com
Page 4 of 5
Televisions, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, stoves, etc. all have circuit board controllers in them that are
sensitive to power disturbances and a small problem could end up costing a homeowner a hefty amount of money after
the problem has run its course.
Our home inspections can identify these problems and present solutions for corrective action. If chose to be implemented,
these corrective actions can maximize your family’s safety and protection against shock hazards, fire hazards, and other
power disturbances that may affect your home’s electrical system as well as extend the life cycle of your electrical
devices.
SPGS Surgelab America’s Capabilities
SPGS Surgelab America personnel are recognized subject matter experts in inside and outside bonding, grounding,
electrical system reliability, facility/home protection, appliance protection and power quality.
Our goal is to identify code violations and/or other electrical safety issues within your home. Once these issues are
identified we provide solutions that maximize the protection of the electrical system in your home which often exceed NEC
code requirements. Our solutions provide the best means to properly protect your home, the electronic equipment within
in, and increase the safety level to protect all people living within the home.
We as a company are committed to preventing and eliminating electrical equipment failures and shock hazards in your
home or any other type of setting. Our solutions have been implemented in various facilities throughout the world with
remarkable success and have withstood the test of time.
Call SPGS Surgelab America today for all of your electrical inspection, home safety, and home protection needs.

5. PO Box 1366
Mansfield, Ohio 44901
Toll Free 855-887-8463
Phone 419-522-3030
Fax 419-522-3033
Web Site: www.surgelabamerica.com
E-mail Sales@surgelabamerica.com
Page 5 of 5
SPGS Surgelab America’s Levels of Inspection Service
The following chart lists what components are inspected at each level of our offered inspection service:
Electrical Components Inspected:
SPGS Surgelab America
PowerBasic© Inspection:
SPGS Surgelab America
PowerPlus© Inspection:
SPGS Surgelab America
PowerComplete© Inspection:
Service-Entrance Conductors (Verify)   
Service Mast, Service Conduit and Raceway   
Service Head, Gooseneck and Drip Loops   
Verify Service Grounding and Proper Bonding   
Service Drop   
Overhead Service Conductors and Attachment Point   
Ground Electrode Resistance Test   
Smoke and Carbon-Monoxide Detectors operate and
verify
  
Panelboards and Over-Current Protection Devices
(Circuit Breakers and Fuses);
  
Main Service Disconnect (Verify)   
Electric Meter and Meter Box   
Switches (Off and On) Inspect and Test A Representative Number A Representative Number All
Receptacles Inspect and Test A Representative Number A Representative Number All
Light Fixtures Inspect and Test A Representative Number A Representative Number All
AFCI Circuit Breakers Inspect and Test with AFCI Tester All All All
AFCI Receptacles Inspect and Test with AFCI Tester All All All
GFCI Circuit Breakers Inspect and Test with GFCI Tester All All All
GFCI Receptacles Inspect and Test with GFCI Tester All All All
Amperage Measurements of All Circuit Conductors
Within Panels
 
Amperage Measurements of All Source Conductors
Within Panels
 
Ancillary Wiring 
Batteries/Electrical Storage 
Circuit Breaker Labeling Verification 
Conductor Wiring 
Electrical De-Icing Tapes 
Exterior Lightning 
Fire Alarm 
Generators  
Lightning Protection System, and Lightning arrestors or
Surge Protection
 
Low Voltage Systems 
Miscellaneous Service Entrance Bonding (Cable TV,
Satellite TV, Telephone, etc.)
 
Photovoltaic Solar Cells & Wind Turbines 
Swimming Pool Wiring 
Time-Controlled Devices 
Voltage Drop Calculations 
Voltage Measurements of Circuit & Source Conductors
Within Panels
 