Many people believe that utilizing power strips is sufficient enough to protect their electronics. However, the increased amount of connected devices with entertainment centers, home offices, and appliances mean homes are more vulnerable.
How do you protect your refrigerator, washer, and dryer, or even your air conditioning unit? These expensive appliances are all susceptible to damage. Single protective strips are not enough anymore.
With the use of surge protective devices (SPDs), you can protect your valuable equipment from surges that enter the home due to external events such as lightning or internal events such as switching appliances on/off.
SPDs help limit transient voltages by shunting high voltage surges. They’re a cost-effective solution to prevent downtime, improve system reliability, and eliminate equipment damage due to transients and surges for both power and signal lines. Typical applications within residential spaces are plug-in SPDs as seen in power strips that can protect home offices and entertainment equipment.
A new trend in the residential space, especially in areas of significant storms, is hard-wired devices that are installed at the electrical panel that protects the electrical systems of the whole house.
The 2020 National Electrical Code® (NEC) will include a new section in Article 230 titled “Surge Protection” which requires all services supplying dwelling units to be provided with a Type 1 or Type 2 SPD. This new addition will help increase the protection of residential structures by protecting safety devices like smoke detectors, appliances, and other electronics. Furthermore, the new edition of the NEC includes Article 242 which recognizes SPDs and surge arresters as more than an “add-on” purchase and validates them as electrical system protectors.
NEMA SPD Manufacturers are ready to assist in determining the best protection solution for residential buildings.
Don’t wait for damage to happen. Browse the NEMA Surge Protection Institute for all the information you need for whole home protection.