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2015 Ontario Electrical Safety Code now available; in effect May 2016

December 1, 2015 | By Renée Francoeur


December 1, 2015 – The 2015 edition of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code has been finalized and is now available for purchase, says the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). The Code comes into effect as regulation on May 5, 2016.

The 2015 edition includes the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, plus several Ontario-specific amendments. ESA explains this edition expands requirements for the use of arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) in homes to help reduce wiring-related fires, and includes changes for renewable energy installations, including specific changes for solar.

It also features: new guidelines for the safe clearances needed between light fixtures—such as pot lights—and combustible material to help minimize potential fire hazards; details on wiring at non-commercial docks (such as cottages); new requirements for the installation of LEDs in residential buildings; and specifics on the location of electrical hook-ups for recreational vehicle (RV) parking (to harmonize with the United States’ National Electrical Code).

Additionally, the code book and all ESA bulletins will now be sold together for one price and at a “significantly reduced rate from prior years”, ESA says. It will be available in print for $219 or a searchable, digital format for $195—accessible on smart phones, tablets and desktops and compatible with Windows and iOS.

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“Revisions to the code are made through a broad consultative process at both the provincial and national level, and through the collaboration of ESA and its safety partners based on insights from technical reviews, incident data, and feedback from stakeholders,” says Nansy Hanna with ESA. “To help ensure safe electrical installation in Ontario, it is essential for licensed electrical contractors—and anyone doing electrical work falling within the scope of the code—to understand the requirements of the 2015 edition before it comes into effect.”

The 2015 edition of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code is distributed by CSA Group. Print and digital copies are currently available for pre-order (scheduled to arrive in January 2016) and the PDF version is available now. To purchase the Code, visit www.csagroup.org/oesc or call 800-463-6727.


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