GFCI
Also called: GFI, Ground-fault circuit interrupter, RCD
Heard most in: Electrical
A device that cuts the power when it detects current leaking to ground, which is what protects a person rather than the wiring. Code requires it in wet and outdoor locations, but exactly which locations, and whether the protection has to be at the outlet or back at the breaker, depends on the edition of the electrical code your jurisdiction has adopted — and those editions differ. Check the one being enforced locally, not the newest one published.
This one depends on where you work
The rule behind gfci is set by the province or state the work is in, and the versions do not agree with one another. We have described the shape of it and deliberately not named a deadline, a cap or a percentage — check the rule where you work, or ask someone who practises there.
Related terms
- PanelThe box where the incoming electrical supply is split into circuits, each with its own breaker.
- Building codeThe rules setting out how work must be built for safety.
- InspectionA visit from the authority that issued the permit to confirm the work meets code before it is covered up or put into use.
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