Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Outlets in NC vs DC or reflections on regulation

When we were at the Outer Banks, I noticed that the electrical outlets in the bathrooms and the kitchen were regular outlets rather than GFCI outlets which are required here in metro DC/Montgomery County, MD.

Thoughts vis a vis the building code in Montgomery County:
  1. Is this an example of unnecessary/excessive regulation?
  2. Do the costs of compliance (homeowner or repair costs, etc.) exceed its benefits (e.g. lives saved)?
  3. Do we need to be protected from our own stupidity or accidental electrocution? Or should we have a say in whether to be protected or not?

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