Do I need to bring the whole house electrical up to current code?

[Anonymous]

I am renovating a house in Fairfax. The works include changing the layout of the kitchen, adding a new guest bathroom on upper floor, finishing the basement, adding recessed lights throughout the house, and moving washer/dryer to 1st floor. Do I need to re wire the whole house and bring the whole house electrical up to current code? Or just the new work need to meet the current code?

[Anonymous]

Probably no, but you may need to do things like hardwire smoke detectors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably no, but you may need to do things like hardwire smoke detectors.

Understand I will need hardwire smoke detector for the new basement bedroom. How about the existing bedrooms upper stair?

[Anonymous]

When we renovated, our architect said if we did any “renovation” in a given room, then Fairfax County would require that one room be brought up to code. “Renovation”, according to her, is different from merely replacing the bathroom cabinets, countertops, and faucets — while keeping everything in the same location and not moving any walls. As an example, layout change in kitchen likely requires new kitchen be brought up to current code.

Fairfax County now requires even unfinished basements to have a 2nd way to leave the building (other than the stairs to the ground floor). This might be trivial if one has a walkout basement. Otherwise, a sufficiently large basement window plus window well likely will be needed. We were told this code change was made because so many basements have non-official bedrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably no, but you may need to do things like hardwire smoke detectors.

Understand I will need hardwire smoke detector for the new basement bedroom. How about the existing bedrooms upper stair?

The smoke detectors (code now says one smoke detector in each bedroom, plus one extra smoke detector for each floor) likely will all need to be replaced and the new ones wired/connected together so that if one triggers then all will sound the alarm. If one has a gas furnace, then likely a CO detector also will need to be installed near the furnace — and probably also connected with the smoke detectors.

[Anonymous]

Just did something similar. Expect that the inspector will take a look at all rooms where work is being done and therefore, those rooms need to be brought up to code. Not a big cost to add a smoke detector to each room (and probably a good idea).

We didn't need to switch the outlets so they were upside down (new code) but the contractors did add smoke detectors, etc.

[Anonymous]

I was told it depends on what percentage of walls your opening. If more than 50% the whole room needs to be updated. If you need to update the service panel it’s the whole house.

[Anonymous]

I had to have hardwire smoke detectors in all bedrooms when bathroom was relocated and other bathroom remodeled and involved electrical. Did not have to replace knob and tube wiring in part of second floor and partially finished attic level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had to have hardwire smoke detectors in all bedrooms when bathroom was relocated and other bathroom remodeled and involved electrical. Did not have to replace knob and tube wiring in part of second floor and partially finished attic level.

re: hardwire smoke detectors:
once a guest's kid left an incense stick smoldering and it triggered the smoke detector in the bathroom. Just got home and all the alarms going off. It was crazy running around the house to figure out where the smoke was, no sign of smoke and bathroom door was closed.

[Anonymous]

Re smoke detectors: We are in Fairfax and the inspector allowed us to use the kidde 10yr lithium battery smoke and co2 detectors that are wireless but synced throughout the house.

Fireblocking was also a paramount concern and I will not attempt to explain it as the requirements were somewhat confusing/subjective to interpretation but they walked us thru it so we were compliant.