LOCATION

Rule 68-304(2) -The control switch must be at least 1 m. (39.4 in.) away from the rub. This is a horizontal measurement from
the outside wall of the tub, (the rule says "from the wall of the hydro massage rub") to the control switch. There is an exception
- where the control switch is an integral part of a properly certified factory built hydro massage bathtub it may be closer than 1
m from the tub. In fact, in that case, the control switch may be easily accessible to anyone in the tub. Do these factory people
know something the rest of us do not know or do they just use better switches? Maybe they use better bonding methods or
maybe they just use better arguments. Just kidding, that control system is safe.

23. ELECTRIC BASEBOARD HEATING

HEAT LOSS CALCULATION

Check if your Building Code or local electric power utility requires a heat loss calculation. This is a special method of
calculating heat loss based on the type of construction, the quality of building insulation and the geographical location of
the house. This is a fairly accurate method of determining the size of heating elements needed in each room. If a heat loss
calculation is required the organization requiring it will normally advise you on the calculation methods they want you to use
and will provide you with the necessary forms.

RouGH fLooR MAP REQUIRED

The Electrical Inspector will want a rough sketch of the floor plan of your house showing:
• The location of heaters
• The rating of each heater
• What circuit it is on
• Size of supply conductors used
• The rating of breakers
Be sure your sketch is accurate and clear- easy to follow. Your Inspector will want it for that first rough inspection. Seep. 64
for details on drawing a floor plan and how to identify each circuit.

BRANCH CIRCUITS
Rule 62-110- Branch circuits which supply electric heaters may not be used to supply any other load.
2-Wire Cables- Electric heaters are usually connected for 240 volts- no connection to the neutral. Rule 4-030(1) permits a
2-wire loomex cable with one black and one white wire to be used for these loads. Fact is, that white wire is operating under
false pretenses, it is not a neutral in such cases and it needs to be properly introduced as an energized, hot conductor. A little
black, or red tape, on the exposed sections of this white conductor will solve this problem.

BREAKERS
Tie-bars- Rule 14-302(b)(i) -Two single breakers require a tie-bar when used to supply 240 volt appliances such as heaters.
The tie-bar is used to mechanically connect the operating handles of the two breakers so that they operate as one.

CIRCUIT LOADING
Rule 62-114(7) & (8) -The rules regarding electric heating were changed in the 1990 Code. Since then we have been allowed
to use the full rated ampacity of the cables supplying electric baseboard heating. For example, a #14 copper conductor may
carry 15 amps at 240 volts and therefore is allowed to supply 3600 watts of heating load. To make this possible Rule 62-114(7)
was changed so that for electric heating branch circuits only, the supply breaker for a #14 copper cable could be 20 amp, and a
25 amp breaker could be used to supply a #12 copper branch circuit heating cable as shown in the illustrations.
This change in the rules was based on two very important factors. First, the circuit breaker in this heating circuit is not needed
to limit the load on these conductors, it is there to automatically open the circuit in the case of a short circuit and, of course,
for circuit maintenance purposes. Please note that unsafe and illegal additional heaters are easily connected to these circuits
but that is true for every circuit in the house. Second, the fact that fixed heating loads are just that, they are fixed, they do not
vary, they are either on or off. This is in contrast to other branch circuits in the house which supply plug outlets or lighting
outlets where the total load is constantly changing and is somewhat unpredictable. The following two illustrations show circuit
loadings permissible under the changed rules.

126 I PS Knight Co Ltd

 20 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER, #14 COPPER CABLE, MAXIMUM LOAD PERMITTED IS 3,600 WATTS
The actual wattage rating and the number of heaters used need not be as shown provided the sum of the rating of all the fixed
heaters on the circuit does not exceed the maximum permitted for that circuit.
See also "Notes for the Student- Overcurrent Protection," p. 129 for Electrical Code verification.

These boxes contain 6- # 14 conductors, 3 insulated caps, and a thermostat.

• •
Min. box size required is 3x2x3 in. deep. Most thermostats use the same (or
0 This box contains 4- # 14 conductors, 2 insulated
• •• less} box space as an ordinary switch. Where this is the case, use the table on
•
= = caps, and a thermostat. Min. box size required is
=
= = page p. 114.
=
= = 3x2x2.5 in. deep.
= ==
~
= =
=
=
= =
"-'
=
= .&;:

\
2 - 20 amp single-pole
0
2- #14 NMD 90 copper cable.
0

circuit breakers with ..,._____,/ -

tie-bar.

1000 Watts 1000 Watts 1000 Watts

....._Both heaters must be in the same

500 watts
room if they are controlled by the same
thermostat.

Maximum Length - Maximum length of supply cable to the first heater in the circuit should not exceed 82 ft. (Approx. 25 m) .
After this first heater the load is smaller and length of run is not usually a problem.
The maximum load permitted with #14 copper cable must not exceed 15 amp. The 20 amp breaker shown protecting this
cable is permitted because this is a fixed load. Maximum circuit load, (in watts) must not exceed conductor ampaciry multiplied
by the circuit voltage. For example, a 15 amp conductor operating at 240 volts could supply 3600 watts of electric baseboard
heating.
Do not bundle these cables, maintain separation as described on p. 57.
Under the old rules we would not have been permitted to use a 20 amp breaker; 15 amp was the max rated breaker allowed for
a #14 copper cable. With that old arrangement the maximum load permitted was only 2880 watts.

25 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER, #12 COPPER CABLE, MAXIMUM LOAD PERMITTED IS 4,800 WATTS
See also "Notes for the Student- Overcurrent Protection," p. 129 for Electrical Code verification .

• •
Cl Thermostat outlet boxes. Each ofthese boxes contains six # 12 conductors, three
!- .
•
= = insulated connector caps, and a thermostat. Use a 16 cubic in. box.
=
= =
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
......,
=
=
J
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
~
~~,.
,( \1!,----------------------,,
• •
r
0 \ 0 0
Two 25 amp single-pole circuit Two #12 NMD 90 copper cables.
·breakers with a tie bar, or a
2-pole circuit breaker.
Use 2 conductor # 12 copper ., 1500 Watts .... 1500 Watts 1000 Watts
cable for all runs.

-------1~ 0
In this box are four# 12 conductors, two insulated connector caps, and a thermostat.
Minimum box size is 3x2x2.5 in. deep.

~.., 750 Watts

Maximum Length- Maximum length of supply cable to the first heater in this circuit should not exceed 100 ft.(Approx. 30m)
After the first heater the load is smaller and length of run is not usually a problem.
The maximum load permitted with #12 copper cable must not exceed 20 amp. The 25 amp breakers shown protecting this
cable are permitted because it is a fixed load. Given the above configuration, one could also use a preferred 2-pole circuit
breaker. Maximum circuit load must not exceed conductor ampaciry multiplied by the circuit voltage. In this case it is 20 amps
x 240 volts = 4800 watts.

127 I PS Knight Co Ltd

 LOCATION
Rule 68-304(2) -The control switch must be at least 1 m. (39.4 in.) away from the rub. This is a horizontal measurement from
the outside wall of the tub, (the rule says "from the wall of the hydro massage rub") to the control switch. There is an exception
- where the control switch is an integral part of a properly certified factory built hydro massage bathtub it may be closer than 1
m from the tub. In fact, in that case, the control switch may be easily accessible to anyone in the tub. Do these factory people
know something the rest of us do not know or do they just use better switches? Maybe they use better bonding methods or
maybe they just use better arguments. Just kidding, that control system is safe.

23. ELECTRIC BASEBOARD HEATING

HEAT LOSS CALCULATION

Check if your Building Code or local electric power utility requires a heat loss calculation. This is a special method of
calculating heat loss based on the type of construction, the quality of building insulation and the geographical location of
the house. This is a fairly accurate method of determining the size of heating elements needed in each room. If a heat loss
calculation is required the organization requiring it will normally advise you on the calculation methods they want you to use
and will provide you with the necessary forms.

RouGH fLooR MAP REQUIRED

The Electrical Inspector will want a rough sketch of the floor plan of your house showing:
• The location of heaters
• The rating of each heater
• What circuit it is on
• Size of supply conductors used
• The rating of breakers
Be sure your sketch is accurate and clear- easy to follow. Your Inspector will want it for that first rough inspection. Seep. 64
for details on drawing a floor plan and how to identify each circuit.

BRANCH CIRCUITS
Rule 62-110- Branch circuits which supply electric heaters may not be used to supply any other load.
2-Wire Cables- Electric heaters are usually connected for 240 volts- no connection to the neutral. Rule 4-030(1) permits a
2-wire loomex cable with one black and one white wire to be used for these loads. Fact is, that white wire is operating under
false pretenses, it is not a neutral in such cases and it needs to be properly introduced as an energized, hot conductor. A little
black, or red tape, on the exposed sections of this white conductor will solve this problem.

BREAKERS
Tie-bars- Rule 14-302(b)(i) -Two single breakers require a tie-bar when used to supply 240 volt appliances such as heaters.
The tie-bar is used to mechanically connect the operating handles of the two breakers so that they operate as one.

CIRCUIT LOADING
Rule 62-114(7) & (8) -The rules regarding electric heating were changed in the 1990 Code. Since then we have been allowed
to use the full rated ampacity of the cables supplying electric baseboard heating. For example, a #14 copper conductor may
carry 15 amps at 240 volts and therefore is allowed to supply 3600 watts of heating load. To make this possible Rule 62-114(7)
was changed so that for electric heating branch circuits only, the supply breaker for a #14 copper cable could be 20 amp, and a
25 amp breaker could be used to supply a #12 copper branch circuit heating cable as shown in the illustrations.
This change in the rules was based on two very important factors. First, the circuit breaker in this heating circuit is not needed
to limit the load on these conductors, it is there to automatically open the circuit in the case of a short circuit and, of course,
for circuit maintenance purposes. Please note that unsafe and illegal additional heaters are easily connected to these circuits
but that is true for every circuit in the house. Second, the fact that fixed heating loads are just that, they are fixed, they do not
vary, they are either on or off. This is in contrast to other branch circuits in the house which supply plug outlets or lighting
outlets where the total load is constantly changing and is somewhat unpredictable. The following two illustrations show circuit
loadings permissible under the changed rules.

126 I PS Knight Co Ltd

 Note- In the above illustration Rule 62-114(4) will permit #14 copper cable to be used between the thermostat and the heater
provided that cable length is not more than 24.6 ft (7.5 m) . This distance is not measured as the crow flies, bur is actual cable
length. That maximum length of24.6 ft. worked just fine about 30 years ago when we built smaller houses, bur in today's
much larger houses the rooms are larger, and the 24.6 ft. maximum length is simply not enough in many cases. Any taps longer
than 7 .5 m must be made with #12 copper cable.
It is still permissible to use a 15 amp breaker and #14 copper cable to supply 2880 watts or a 20 amp breaker on #12 copper
cable supplying 3880 watts bur there is no need to do so now. It should be noted that the rules always did permit the cables to
carry their full rated current, the trouble was the restriction placed on the breaker supplying the cable. It could only be loaded
to 80% of its rating. That has not changed either. What has changed, to make this greater loading possible, is Rule 62-114(8)
which permits higher rated breakers for the #14 and #12 cables when they supply fixed heating loads.
Do not bundle these cables, maintain separation as described on p. 57.

THERMOSTATS
Location- Rule 62-202 requires a thermostat in each room where electric heating is -
installed. All the heaters in a room must be controlled by a thermostat located in that
room.
• •
-Y's:;Jl
d'T·
I
)

Location in Bathrooms -The rules do not specifically require the control for electric -- -- -. -
heaters in a bathroom to be at least 1 m (39.4 in.) horizontal distance from the tub or
.
shower stall, however, that is better. It should not be possible to operate the thermostat c::::: \
from any position in the rub. Watch this in the rough wiring stage - make provision for
/
the thermostat.
Rating- Rule 62-120(1)- Those thermostats which are connected directly into the line
and control the full load current must have a current rating at least equal to the sum of the current ratings of all the electric
heaters they control.
Type- A single pole thermostat which does not have a marked "off' position is acceptable on a normal240 volt heating circuit.
Background- Rule 62-120(2) accepts thermostats whether they are marked with an indicating "off position or not, it does
not matter. This sub-rule merely indicates that if a thermostat has a marked "off' position that it must then open, (in that case
only) both hot conductors of the controlled heating circuit. If the thermostat only indicates a high and a low position with
graduated markings between, it need not open all ungrounded conductors of the circuit. This means that the heating circuit is
always hot (energized) bur open until the thermostat calls for heat.

OuTLET Box Es
Rules 12-506, 12-3022(6) -Location- An outlet box may be installed behind the heater bur that is not the best way to make
the connection. This is perhaps the poorest method of connection to use because the box would need to be very accurately
located to ensure it will be behind the heater and that it will be properly covered when the heater is installed. Bonding is a
problem with this arrangement and finally, access to splices in the box is unsatisfactory. Avoid this method if possible. It is
better to run these cables into the thermostat outlet boxes as shown in the circuit illustrations above. Then, in that case, only
one cable need enter the heater and this should run directly into the heater terminal box.
The double cable connector in some heaters is an advantage when there are two or more heaters in the same room as shown in
the illustration on p. 127.

n -._--

CABLE PROTECTION - .
Rule 12-518 - Where part of the cable is run exposed
to mechanical injury, use a short length of EMT
conduit or flexible conduit to protect the cable. Be I
sure to terminate the metal conduit in an approved
manner so that it is grounded. Electric Space heater

BATHROOM HEAT LAMP

Rule 62-130 - Heat lamps in bathrooms are normally supplied from general use
lighting or plug outlet circuits. They may not be supplied from electric heating
circuits. The reason is that the heat lamp is not the only heating provided in a
bathroom, it is a supplementary heat source for a specific purpose. The control
switch for a heat lamp in a bathroom should be where possible be at least 1 m (39.4
in.) from the outside face of a tub or shower. This is illustrated on p. 71. The
switch may be as close as 500 mm if it is GFCI protected.

128 I PS Knight Co Ltd