The 2008-NEC (National Electrical Code) mandates the installation of Tamper Resistant Receptacles in all new construction and renovations----for improved child safety. The Consumer Products Safety Commission, in a 10 year study, documented that over 24,000 children under the age of 10 were treated in emergency rooms for incidents related to electrical receptacles (shocks and burns). I have fooled around with these devices a bit (it is not hard for me to act like a 10 year old) and I found it VERY difficult to shock myself. I am not going to give the details of what it did take to shock myself because I wouldn’t want anyone out there to duplicate my follies----especially all those 10 year olds that might be reading my blog. Recreational defibrillation is for “mature” adults ONLY. As an inspector, I welcome these Tamper Resistant devices for reasons other than their obvious safety advantages. When I want to test receptacles during an inspection, it takes a LOT of time to remove those little push in plastic caps that people install to make the receptacles safer (and sometimes I think to reduce the likelihood of inspection). The picture at the left is one of my favorite pictures of these push in type caps. As you can see, with a missing cover plate, the “hot” components of the receptacle are infinitely more available to a kid’s curiosity than a receptacle with no caps and a proper cover plate would be. If you have little kids around----your current receptacles can be changed to the new type “relatively” cheaply (especially if you only do the ones that are readily accessible to children----like in their bedrooms) . I would stress that these receptacles should only be changed by a qualified person. People sometimes think that changing a receptacle is always as simple as it looks. While it is simple for someone that knows what they are doing, there are factors in homes that can make it more problematic, like: receptacles on switches, split wired receptacles, crumbly older wiring, aluminum wiring, reversed polarity, no ground wires etc. This next picture shows what a couple of Leviton’s new Tamper Resistant receptacles look like. Note that they have the letters TR stamped on them as required for identification. So, don’t go and act like you are under 10 now. Charles Buell P.S. Public Announcement On June 31, 2009 the Seattle Recreational Defibrillation Club will be holding its monthly meeting at my house in Shoreline, Wa. If you are over 60---stop on by! Don’t forget your teeth guard. 
It should be noted that these devices are not “tamper proof,” and a kid would have to know a lot about how the insides of these things work (or be INCREDIBLY unlucky) to bypass the built-in safety feature.
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Charles, I don't believe that we've heard about this yet, here in Chicago. At least I haven't heard it from any of my local inspectors. I'd welcome these Leviton fixtures, too.
At a recent inspection, it took several of us to figure out how to remove the childproof safety caps (the owners weren't home) so the inspector could test the outlets. It tooks a bit of finagling (a technical term) and some time to learn how to remove them, and even once we figure it out, it wasn't a simple process. It required two hands and two steps... (press the button in... push inward... twist... then pull out... all the while depressing the button... Yikes!)
Charles, I try to remind grandparents about this phenomena. Most Parents are aware now but Grandma's house can be a hazard...
Not only are the older ones child proof, they are older adult proof as well.
Alan, they are very nice---easy to use for us inspectors:)
Make a good safety upgrade when little kids are around
Norma----that is for sure.
Charles, great info as always. But would you happen know if these receptacle's are going to replace the AFCI's or will they be in conjunction with each other.
~ Just wondering
Charlie,
Those kid proof caps can really slow down an inspection, people have no clue how disruputive they can be because some of them are hard to remove.
Roy, not relationship to AFCI's at all
Steve, they sure do
I would not put anything past my kids! One of our reasons for not wanting a home with a pool is that my kids do not see boundaries. They see challenges.
Gene, fortunately kids like that are usually pretty smart:)
Matt, you're getting there:)
TR outlets have been a topic around here for a few months. I was at a meeting Tuesday and a group of us were discussing the Leviton plugs. Now if they only had these when I was a kid.
Shocking revelation you've posted here my friend!
"Recreational defibrillation is for “mature” adults ONLY." That line had me laughing out loud!
James, so have they been required there for awhile? 2008 NEC goes into effect around here June 6th
Craig, so glad I could give you a good laugh----sounds like you have experience?
Charlie - What a waste. Why even bother with those plastic covers. What's the point if the rest of the outlet is exposed? Some people are just plain dumb.
Carol---I hear you there.
James---interesting, gives Connecticut an extra three years to see how the changes fare in other places:)
Charles - Excellent information. Is Leviton the only manufacturer or have all the others developed TR receptacles as well?
Steve I am sure all the others will do the same---since the requirement is code driven
Here is a link to Pass & Seymour
Charles - these outlets are the greatest. I have a 1 1/2 year old, and I changed out all of the readily accessible outlets in my house as soon as heard about them.
Reuben---they are cool. By the way, I bought a Fenix TK40---it is awesome!
Sometimes at the end of the day my fingers are ruined by all the plastic caps.
Soon the nannies that be will condemn home construction altogether as creating something too dangerous for, well, for everybody!
Bummer I can't make the defib club meeting. I'm not over 60 though - are "young" bucks welcome?
Jay, every other month we have intro meetings for the "younger set"