Home Inspection State Practice Exam

What type of protection should electrical receptacles in bathrooms have?

1. Standard fuses

2. Arc fault protection

3. GFCI protection

4. Grounding wires

The correct answer is: GFCI protection

Electrical receptacles in bathrooms should have GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) protection. This type of protection is critical in areas where electricity and water are in close proximity, as it helps to prevent electrical shock. GFCI devices monitor the flow of electrical current and can quickly cut off power when they detect an imbalance, which could occur if a person were to come into contact with water and an electrical source simultaneously. In the context of a bathroom, where moisture levels are typically higher due to sinks, bathtubs, and showers, the risk of electrical shock is significantly increased. GFCI protection is mandated by electrical codes for receptacles located in potentially wet environments, making it a crucial safety feature for residential bathroom installations. While grounding wires and arc fault protection have their own importance in electrical safety, they do not specifically address the unique dangers posed by moisture in bathrooms as directly as GFCI does. Grounding wires help ensure that electrical systems are safe by providing a path for stray electricity, but they do not prevent shock in the same preventative way. Arc fault protection serves to reduce the risk of electrical fires by detecting improper electrical arcs, but again, it does not provide the immediate shock protection that GFCI offers in