Generator Use

The use of generators during a home inspection is prohibited by the Standards of Practice, unless the LHI is a licensed electrician (and even then, it would not be practical). Both, the National Electric Code (Article 700) and Entergy’s Customer Installation Standards (Section 12) require that, in order to hook a generator to the main electrical panel of a home, a transfer switch must be installed onto the panel to prevent the current from back-feeding through the neutral to the power lines. Such an event could electrocute a lineman working on a line, create a power surge on a neighbor’s home, start a fire and a host of other perils. A transfer switch cannot be installed on a home without first obtaining a permit from the local permitting authority. Unless the person installing the transfer, switch is a licensed electrician, he will not be granted a permit. Even if he were licensed, the installation of a transfer switch just to inspect a home would not be practical. The LSBHI has jurisdiction over this practice pursuant to section 309C(1) which states a home inspector “shall not offer to perform any act or service contrary to law”. Since the NEC is adopted by all jurisdictions in the state, to perform services in violation of the NEC would be “contrary to law”. Also, under our ethical standards, Section 501B(9), the LHI “shall perform services and express opinions based upon genuine conviction and only within his areas of education, training or experience.” The LHI who is not a licensed electrician does not have the education, training, or experience to act as a licensed contractor.