North Carolina Adopts Fire Switch Requirement for Building Code

North Carolina regulators will require that all new homes be built with an electronic switch designed to prevent electrical fires.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported the Building Code Council had been moving toward dropping a requirement that arc fault circuit interrupters be installed in all living areas of new homes. The breakers already were required for bedrooms.

Some builders said the devices weren’t worth the extra expense.

Gov. Beverly Perdue last week wrote council members expressing her support for keeping the requirement.

The council voted Tuesday to do so.

Albemarle builder Mack Nixon is a member of the council who says he still doesn’t think the extra cost is worth it, but decided to go along with the governor’s request.