Skip to main content
Home
Menu
  • It's all you
    • Activities for kids
    • Reliable electricity
    • For the good of all
    • Ownership
    • Cooperative principles
    • New members
    • Proud to sponsor kids' activities
    • Co-op month
  • Your money
    • Solar energy information
    • Penny power
    • Capital credits
    • Beneficial electrification
    • Save energy, save money
    • Solar 101
    • Member contests
  • Your safety
    • Indoor electrical safety
    • Outdoor electrical safety
    • Safety for kids
    • Outage safety
    • Power line hazards and cars
  • Your community
    • Local control
    • Personal service
    • Your community
    • Thank a lineworker
  • Balanced generation
    • Epic Failure a Cautionary Tale
    • Diverse energy mix
    • Reliable power
    • Balanced generation summary
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • About us

You are here

  1. Your safety
  2. Safety for kids
  3. How to childproof your home’s electrical outlets

Look. Don't touch!

How to childproof your home’s electrical outlets

Electricity can often appear much like magic to children. By flipping a switch or plugging an electrical cord into an outlet, appliances come alive and lights illuminate rooms. There are electrical hazards in your home or apartment that children need to be aware of—including electrical outlets. But you can help keep kids safe by child proofing your home with tamper-resistant outlets. 

Install tamper-resistant outlets

Installing tamper-resistant outlets is a great way to begin child proofing your home. This is a great way to reduce the chances that your child is injured when trying to insert something, whether it’s their fingers or a fork, into an electrical outlet. 

What is a tamper-resistant outlet?

Outlets that are considered “tamper-resistant” are electrical outlets designed to prevent foreign objects from being inserted into the receptacle.

How do “tamper-resistant” outlets work?

Tamper-resistant outlets or tamper-resistant receptacles (TROs or TRRs) have shutters that stay closed unless a plug with two prongs is inserted into the outlet. Both springs on the shutters must be compressed at the same time to allow an object to gain access. 

If someone attempts to stick an object in the outlet, the shutter prevents the object from entering and no contact with electricity is made. 

Where are tamper-resistant receptacles required?

Beginning in 2008, tamper-resistant outlets are required in all new homes that are built. According to the National Electric Code, these kinds of receptacles need to be installed in virtually every room of your home.

That being said, there are some exemptions to the NEC’s requirements. For example, if an outlet is more than 5 ½  feet above the ground, a TRO is not required. Additionally, if an outlet is a part of a luminaire or lighting fixture or behind an appliance that is not easily movable, these outlets are not required.  

Starting in 2017, tamper-resistant outlets are also required in the following new and renovated public places:

  • Childcare facilities

  • Hotel and motel guest rooms

  • Preschools and elementary education facilities

  • Gyms, auditoriums and “places of waiting” 

 

Can I use plastic outlet caps or plugs?

It might be surprising to you, but children have the ability to remove plastic outlet safety caps or covers with relative ease. In fact, a study from Temple University explained that, of all 2-4 year-old children, every single one of them could remove an outlet cap in 10 seconds. As a result, the only sure way to prevent your baby or young child from hurting themselves is to install receptacles that are considered “tamper resistant.”

 

Click the image below to expand it.

TamperResistantReceptaclesChildproofing_ESFI.png

Back to Top

Quick Links

  • Legal Info
  • Privacy Policy

Contact Info

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc.

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 754
Springfield, MO 65801-0754

Tel. 417-881-1204
Email. membersfirst@aeci.org

About Us

Even though your electric cooperative is locally owned and committed to your local community, we are part of something bigger too. We are a network of 51 distribution cooperatives in Missouri, southern Iowa and northeastern Oklahoma, serving 935,000 member homes, farms and businesses. We receive power generation through six regional Generation and Transmission (G&T) cooperatives and one collective G&T, Associated Electric Cooperative.

Follow Us Online

©2022 Members First. Cooperatives put members first every day.

  • It's all you
    • Activities for kids
    • Reliable electricity
    • For the good of all
    • Ownership
    • Cooperative principles
    • New members
    • Proud to sponsor kids' activities
    • Co-op month
  • Your money
    • Solar energy information
    • Penny power
    • Capital credits
    • Beneficial electrification
    • Save energy, save money
    • Solar 101
    • Member contests
  • Your safety
    • Indoor electrical safety
    • Outdoor electrical safety
    • Safety for kids
    • Outage safety
    • Power line hazards and cars
  • Your community
    • Local control
    • Personal service
    • Your community
    • Thank a lineworker
  • Balanced generation
    • Epic Failure a Cautionary Tale
    • Diverse energy mix
    • Reliable power
    • Balanced generation summary
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • About us