Electrical failures or malfunctions are the second leading cause of home fires in the U.S., resulting in hundreds of fatalities, more than a thousand injuries, and over a billion dollars in property damage each year. NFPA 73, Standard for Electrical Inspections for Existing Dwellings, provides inspection and testing procedures and practices for identifying electrical fire and shock risks in one- and two-family homes, multifamily dwellings with three or more units, mobile homes, and manufactured homes.
The standard covers areas requiring investigation, examination, or inspection, ranging from incorrect conductor insulation temperature for wiring of luminaries to the inappropriate use of conductors or cables. Inspectors, managers, and homeowners use NFPA 73 to verify the safety of electrical systems and determine compliance objectives prior to the sale of existing dwellings or during and after renovations.
The 2026 edition features several clarifications and updates throughout to reflect the latest NFPA 73, Standard for Electrical Inspections for Existing Dwellings, requirements.
2.1 General. 2.2 NFPA Publications. 2.3 Other Publications. 2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections.
Chapter 3 Definitions
3.1 General. 3.2 NFPA Official Definitions. 3.3 General Definitions.
Chapter 4 General Requirements
4.1 General Examination and Use of Installed Equipment. 4.2 Services, Outside Feeders, and Outside Branch Circuits. 4.3 Panelboards and Distribution Equipment. 4.4 Overcurrent Protective Devices. 4.5 Cables, Cable Assemblies, and Conductors. 4.6 Flexible Cords, Flexible Cables, and Relocatable Power Taps. 4.7 Raceways. 4.8 Permanently Connected Luminaires (Lighting Fixtures). 4.9 Boxes and Enclosures. 4.10 Receptacles, Switches, and Other Wired Control Devices.
Electrical failures or malfunctions are the second leading cause of home fires in the U.S., resulting in hundreds of fatalities, more than a thousand injuries, and over a billion dollars in property damage each year. NFPA 73, Standard for Electrical Inspections for Existing Dwellings, provides inspection and testing procedures and practices for identifying electrical fire and shock risks in one- and two-family homes, multifamily dwellings with three or more units, mobile homes, and manufactured homes.
The standard covers areas requiring investigation, examination, or inspection, ranging from incorrect conductor insulation temperature for wiring of luminaries to the inappropriate use of conductors or cables. Inspectors, managers, and homeowners use NFPA 73 to verify the safety of electrical systems and determine compliance objectives prior to the sale of existing dwellings or during and after renovations.
The 2026 edition features several clarifications and updates throughout to reflect the latest NFPA 73, Standard for Electrical Inspections for Existing Dwellings, requirements.
2.1 General. 2.2 NFPA Publications. 2.3 Other Publications. 2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections.
Chapter 3 Definitions
3.1 General. 3.2 NFPA Official Definitions. 3.3 General Definitions.
Chapter 4 General Requirements
4.1 General Examination and Use of Installed Equipment. 4.2 Services, Outside Feeders, and Outside Branch Circuits. 4.3 Panelboards and Distribution Equipment. 4.4 Overcurrent Protective Devices. 4.5 Cables, Cable Assemblies, and Conductors. 4.6 Flexible Cords, Flexible Cables, and Relocatable Power Taps. 4.7 Raceways. 4.8 Permanently Connected Luminaires (Lighting Fixtures). 4.9 Boxes and Enclosures. 4.10 Receptacles, Switches, and Other Wired Control Devices.
