Preface:

This is the first edition of CSA C22.6 No. 1, Electrical inspection code for existing residential occupancies.

Compliance with the requirements of this Standard will in some instances necessitate upgrading of portions of electrical installations. To facilitate adoption of the upgrading provisions of this Standard as regulations by the authority having jurisdiction, they have been placed in Annex E and referenced from Clause 4.5. A model guide for application and compliance is included as Annex D. Annex C contains a chronological description of major revisions to the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, applicable to residential occupancies. This Standard is not intended as an instruction manual for untrained or unqualified persons.

CSA acknowledges that the development of this Standard was made possible, in part, by the financial support of the Ontario Electrical Safety Authority.

This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group.

Scope

1.1
This Standard specifies requirements for the evaluation of existing electrical installations and equipment with respect to electrical fire and shock hazards due to overheating, abuse, deterioration, or quality of work in residential occupancies and factory-built relocatable and non-relocatable structures used as dwelling units (see Clause A.1.1).
Notes:
(1)Annex B provides a model checklist to assist with evaluation and inspection.
(2)Although the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, is continuously evolving (see Annex C), this Standard is not intended to require that existing electrical installations and equipment installed under an earlier edition of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, conform to a later edition.
(3)Annex D provides a model guide for application and compliance.
(4)Annex E includes additional provisions for upgrades to specific portions of existing electrical installations to protect against electrical fire and shock hazards.

1.2
This Standard does not specify requirements for the evaluation of new electrical installations.
Note: Requirements for new electrical installations are specified in the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I.

1.3
This Standard does not apply to the maintenance of electrical equipment.
Note: Requirements for maintenance of electrical equipment are specified in the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I.

1.4
This Standard does not specify requirements for the evaluation of cord-connected or portable electrical equipment (see Clause A.1.4).

1.5
This Standard is also intended to be used for the evaluation of existing electrical installations associated with outbuildings such as garages and sheds associated with single dwellings.

1.6
In CSA standards, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (nonmandatory) to define their application.