Underwriters' Laboratories adopts new requirements for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters.Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) those handy devices that help protect from electric shock, are getting new voluntary safety requirements, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Underwriters' Laboratories (UL.) The new requirements become effective Jan. 1, 2003. These requirements include enhanced requirements for immunity immunity, ability of an organism to resist disease by identifying and destroying foreign substances or organisms. Although all animals have some immune capabilities, little is known about nonmammalian immunity. to voltage surges, resistance to moisture and corrosion, reverse line-load miswiring, and resistance to environmental noise. (8) UL recommends that consumers look for the UL listing on GFCIs when purchasing or installing new ones in the home. There are several types. One is the wall receptacle GFCI See residual current device. most commonly found in kitchens, bath and laundry rooms A laundry room (also called a utility room) is a room where clothes are washed. In a modern home, a laundry room would be equipped with an automatic washing machine and clothes dryer,and often a large basin, called a laundry tub, for hand-washing delicate articles of clothing such . Another is the circuit breaker circuit breaker, electric device that, like a fuse, interrupts an electric current in a circuit when the current becomes too high. The advantage of a circuit breaker is that it can be reset after it has been tripped; a fuse must be replaced after it has been used GFCI, which is installed in a panel box to protect selected circuits. A portable GFCI can be plugged into an outlet or may be a GFCI on an extension cord. UL strongly recommends testing GFCIs at least once a month, since like all products, GFCIs can be damaged by lightning or electrical surges. (8) Product Safety Tips: GFCIs--A Small Investment, a Big Lifesaver: UL Recommends Regular Testing of GFCIs. (from UL's web site, www.ul.com, Dec. 20, 2002). |
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