Does anyone know if there is a location online to view the electrical requirements for new construction here? If not where can I get it?
Does anyone know if there is a location online to view the electrical requirements for new construction here? If not where can I get it?
Assuming this is a personal dwelling I think if you wire it according to North American or European standards you'll be very far ahead of the game. Retain a local electrician to do the work as they know how to do it...but get good references first!
When I arrived here eight years ago I was amazed to discover that electricians, plumbers and even builders are not licensed trades. I asked someone how to qualify these people since the government didn't do it.
He answered that if someone takes two wires, twists them together and the light comes on...they are an electrician. Baffled, I asked what happened if the light didn't come on. "Oh," he said, "then they are a plumber". Straight faced.
Just make sure you get very good references. Keep an eye on the work so no short cuts are taken and you'll be happy.
Maybe EdeNorte/EdeSur? Aren't they supposed to check a new home's wiring before they agree to sell their service to it? :bunny:
... J-D.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has seen some unbelievable home wiring jobs in the DR. I mean, staggering...
I was recently asked by a friend to design,supervise,install and test wiring in a rebuilt house to North American Standards( NEC code) including dual kitchen circuit, surge protection (on power, cable and telephone) and grounding. Final testing was also included.
As I am a retired electrical engineer this was an interesting diversion but the installation was hard work. The outcome was very satisfactory and I would agree with Castlemonte that if you do it to North American Standards you will have little trouble with the electrics.
JD - there are in fact a variety of European Standards depending which country you are in but the IET Wiring regulations 17th Edition BS7671 are the UK standards. Personally I would not recommend using UK/European Standards here. The predominance of 120VAC and higher amp loads are not well suited to the UK type house wiring.
As to the standards used here I have seen and reviewed engineers electrical designs and they were quite good and in general to NEC. In some respects an overkill. But as one poster said getting that installed per the design is difficult unless you use the more expensive Electrical Engineering companies here.
HTH
Olly
-The European system is very different to the US system. It's not just limited to the higher voltage. But boxes, breakers and generally available parts are quite different. The US system, properly installed also puts quite some emphasis on how outlets are connected to the "hot" and the "neutral" which the European system does not so much, as EU countries are much more centered on grounding. Likewise, it is code in most US states to have ALL outlets in "water" rooms (like kitchens, washing rooms and bath rooms) equipped with their own GFI. Not so in Europe as they have a different approach on the overall wiring.-
Our current house had non-grounded outlets 2" above the kitchen sink....aranoid:
HAD.