Preventing Child Injuries in Canada

This code change has been implemented in order to help protect small children from electrical injuries in the home.  According to the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP), two thirds of all electrical injuries are sustained by children 5 years of age or younger in Canada.  Almost half of those injuries were caused by attempts to insert objects into receptacles.

The idea of tamper resistant receptacles is not new, although they have only become mandated by code in 2009.  Such receptacles have been in use in United States hospitals since 1981, when the National Electric Code mandated their use due to concerns that children might insert keys, pins, forks or other conductive metal objects into receptacles.  This code was later adopted for new and renovated dwellings in 2008. Now, in 2009, this code is mandated across Canada.

 The most common technology behind such receptacles – which must be marked as tamper resistant or “TR” – utilizes a spring loaded shutter system.  Both shutters must be simultaneously compressed (by a plug) in order to open and therefore do not allow an object such as a key or hairpin to be inserted.  Electrical Line magazine reported in January that tamper resistant receptacles cost approximately $0.50 more than its regular counterpart.  Estimating an average of 75 receptacles per home, this would mean an added cost of merely $37.50.  This seems like a nominal amount to ensure our children’s safety. Safety should always be a priority.  Now, in Canada, it’s the code, too.