Wash. Admin. Code § 296-46B-925 - Electrical/telecommunications contractor's license
General.
(1) The department will issue an
electrical/telecommunications contractor's license that will expire 24 months
following the date of issue to a person, firm, partnership, corporation or
other entity that complies with requirements for such license in chapter 19.28
RCW. An electrical/telecommunications contractor's license will not be issued
to or renewed for a person, firm, or partnership unless the Social Security
number, date of birth, and legal address of each member(s) (see WAC
296-46B-100 definition for
member), are submitted with the application. The department may issue an
electrical/telecommunications contractor's license for a period greater or less
than 24 months for the purpose of equalizing the number of electrical
contractor's licenses that expire each month. The department may prorate the
electrical/telecommunications contractor's license fee according to the license
period.
The applicant, upon application and renewal, must provide the department with the Social Security number, date of birth, and legal address of each member(s).
(2)
Combination specialty contractor's license. The department may issue a
combination specialty contractor's license to a firm that qualifies for more
than one specialty electrical contractor's license. The assigned administrator
must be certified in all specialties applicable to the combination specialty
contractor's license. The license will plainly indicate the specialty licenses'
codes included in the combination license. An administrator assigned to a
telecommunications contractor must be certified as a telecommunications
administrator. A combination license will not be issued for telecommunications
(09).
(3) See
RCW
19.28.041(7) for a
contractor doing domestic pumping work as defined in
RCW
18.106.010
(14)(c).
(4) The department may deny application,
renewal, change of assignment of administrator/master electrician,
reinstatement, or issuance of an electrical/telecommunications contractor's
license if a firm, an owner, partner, member, or corporate officer owes money
as a result of an outstanding final judgment(s) under chapter 19.28
RCW.
Electrical/telecommunications contractor bond, cash or securities deposit.
(5) Bond,
cash, or securities deposit.
(a) The
electrical/telecommunications contractor may furnish the department with a cash
or security deposit to meet the bond requirements in lieu of posting a bond. A
cash or security deposit assigned to the department for bond requirements will
be held in place for one year after the contractor's license is expired,
revoked, or the owner notifies the department in writing that the company is no
longer doing business in the state of Washington as an
electrical/telecommunications contractor. Upon written request, the cash or
security deposit will then be released by the department providing there is no
pending legal action against the contractor under chapter 19.28 RCW of which
the department has been notified.
(b) See
RCW
19.28.041(7) for a
contractor doing domestic pumping work as defined in
RCW
18.106.010
(14)(c).
Telecommunications contractor insurance.
(6) To obtain a telecommunications
contractor's license, the applicant must provide the department with an
original certificate of insurance naming the department of labor and
industries, electrical section as the certificate holder. Insurance coverage
must be no less than $20,000 for injury or damages to property, $50,000 for
injury or damage including death to any one person, and $100,000 for injury or
damage including death to more than one person. The insurance will be
considered a continuing obligation unless canceled by the insurance company.
The insurance company must notify the department in writing 10 days prior to
the effective date of said cancellation or failure to renew.
(7) The telecommunications contractor may
furnish the department with an assigned account to meet the insurance
requirements in lieu of a certificate of insurance. An account assigned to the
department for insurance requirements will be held in place for three years
after the contractor's license is expired, revoked, or the owner notifies the
department in writing that the company is no longer doing business in the state
of Washington as a telecommunications contractor. Upon written request, the
account then will be released by the department providing there is no pending
legal action against the contractor under chapter 19.28 RCW of which the
department has been notified.
Electrical/telecommunications contractor exemptions.
(8) The following
types of systems and circuits are considered exempt from the requirements for
licensing and permitting described in chapter 19.28 RCW. The electrical failure
of these systems does not inherently or functionally compromise safety to life
or property.
Low-voltage thermocouple derived circuits and low-voltage circuits for:
(a) Residential: Garage
doors and built-in vacuum systems; and
(b) Underground: Landscape sprinkler systems,
landscape lighting, and antennas for wireless animal containment fences.
For these types of systems and circuits to be considered exempt, the following conditions must be met:
(c) The power supplying the installation must
be derived from a listed Class 2 power supply;
(d) The installation and termination of line
voltage equipment and conductors supplying these systems is performed by
appropriately licensed and certified electrical contractors and
electricians;
(e) The conductors of
these systems do not pass through fire-rated walls, fire-rated ceilings or
fire-rated floors in other than residential units; and
(f) Conductors or luminaires are not
installed in installations covered by the scope of Article 680 NEC (swimming
pools, fountains, and similar installations).
(9) Firms who clean and/or replace lamps in
luminaires are not included in the requirements for licensing in chapter 19.28
RCW. This exemption does not apply to electric signs as defined in the
NEC.
(10) Firms who install listed
plug and cord connected utilization equipment are not included in the
requirements for licensing in chapter 19.28 RCW. The plug and cord must be a
single listed unit consisting of a molded plug and cord and not exceeding 250
volt 60 ampere single phase. The plug and cord can be field installed per the
manufacturer's instructions and the product listing requirements. The
utilization equipment must be a single manufactured unit, including the plug
and cord, that does not require any electrical field assembly except for the
installation of the plug and cord and is allowed to be plug and cord connected
by the NEC. Firms who perform field electrical servicing, maintaining, or
repairing of plug and cord connected utilization equipment other than household
appliances are not included in this exemption.
(11) Firms regulated by the Federal
Communications Commission or the utilities and transportation commission,
supplying telecommunications service to an end-user's property, are not
required to be licensed as a telecommunications contractor under chapter 19.28
RCW for telecommunications installations made ahead of the telecommunications
network demarcation point.
(12)
Unregulated firms, supplying telecommunications service to an end-user's
property, are not required to be licensed as a telecommunications contractor
under chapter 19.28 RCW for telecommunications installations made ahead of the
telecommunications network demarcation point.
(13) Leaseholders. For electrical
installations, maintenance, or alterations to existing buildings only, any
person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity holding a valid, signed
lease from the property owner authorizing the leaseholder to perform electrical
work, on the property the leaseholder occupies, will be allowed to purchase an
electrical permit(s) and do electrical work on or within the property described
in the lease. The lessee and/or his or her regularly employed employees must
perform the electrical installation, maintenance and alteration.
The lessee who performs the electrical maintenance or installation work must be the sole occupant of the property or space. Property owners or leaseholders cannot perform electrical work on new buildings for rent, sale, or lease, without the proper electrical licensing and certification. For the purposes of this section, electrical work associated with setting a manufactured, mobile, or modular building is considered electrical work on a new building. Refer to RCW 19.28.261 for exemptions from licensing and certification.
(14)
Assisting a householder. A friend, neighbor, relative, or other person
(including a certified electrician) may assist a householder, at his/her
residence in the performance of electrical work on the condition that the
householder is present when the work is performed and the person assisting the
householder does not accept money or other forms of compensation for the
volunteer work. For the purposes of this subsection, a residence is a
single-family residence.
(15)
Volunteering to do electrical work. There are no exceptions from the electrical
contractor's license or electrician certification requirements to allow persons
to perform volunteer electrical work for anyone other than a householder or a
nonprofit organization as allowed by
RCW
19.28.091(7). For the
purpose of this section, volunteer means that there is no remuneration or
receiving of goods or services in return for electrical installations
performed.
(16) Farms or place of
business. See
RCW
19.28.261 for licensing/ certification
exemptions allowed for the owner(s) of a farm or other place of business and
for the employees of the owner.
(17) The licensing and certification
requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW do not apply to persons or firms who remove
electrical wiring and/or equipment for the purpose of disposal when all
conductors, raceways, and equipment to be disposed of have been physically
separated from the source of power by a properly certified electrician employed
by a licensed electrical contractor, or person(s) meeting the exemptions listed
in RCW
19.28.261. Removal of a component or only a
portion of an equipment unit is considered electrical maintenance and does not
qualify for this exemption.
Exemptions - Electrical utility and electrical utility's contractor.
(18)
Electrical utility exemptions.
(a) Utility
system exemption -
RCW
19.28.010(1) and
19.28.091(1).
(i) Neither a serving electrical utility nor
a contractor or subcontractor employed by the serving electrical utility is
required to have an electrical contractor's license for work on the "utility
system" or on service connections or on meters or other apparatus used to
measure the consumption of electricity.
(ii) Exemption from inspection. The work of a
serving electrical utility and its contractor(s) on the work exempted by NEC
90.2 (b)(5), 1981 edition, is not subject to inspection.
(b) Street/area lighting exemption -
RCW
19.28.091 (2)(a).
(i) On:
(A)
Publicly owned streets, parks, athletic/play fields, beaches, and similar areas
where the public has general, clear, and unrestricted access; or
(B) Outside area lighting installed on a
utility owned pole(s) that is used to support the utility's electric
distribution wiring or equipment that supplies a private property owner's
property, the serving electrical utility is considered to be an owner and is
not required to have an electrical contractor's license or electrical permit to
install or work on wiring or equipment, owned by the utility and used in the
lighting of those streets/areas.
(ii) On other privately or publicly owned
property (e.g., private streets, parking lots, businesses, schools, etc.), the
serving utility is not required to have an electrical contractor's license or
electrical permit to install or work on outside street/area lighting where the
light(s) is supplied directly from the utility system and installed according
to the NESC or NEC.
This work is considered to be utility type work.
An electric utility is not allowed to install or work on street/ area lighting:
(A) When the
area is privately or publicly owned and the public does not have general,
clear, and otherwise unrestricted access such as: Industrial property,
residential property, or other property where the public's access is restricted
in any manner.
(B) Where the
lighting is supplied from a source of power derived from a customer-owned
electrical system.
(C) Where the
lighting or wiring is attached to a building or other customer-owned
structure.
(D) If the utility does
not directly perform the installation or work, it may only contract the work to
an appropriately licensed electrical contractor(s). See
RCW
19.28.091(3).
(c) Customer-owned
equipment exemption -
RCW
19.28.091 (2)(b). A serving
electrical utility is not required to have an electrical contractor's license
to work on electrical equipment owned by a commercial, industrial, or public
institution customer if:
(i) The utility has
not solicited such work; and
(ii)
Such equipment:
(A) Is located outside a
building or structure; and
(B) The
work performed is ahead of the secondary side of the customer's transformer(s)
which supplies power at the customer's utilization voltage.
If the utility does not directly perform the installation or work, it may only contract the work to an appropriately licensed electrical contractor(s). See RCW 19.28.091(3).
This work is considered to be utility type work.
The owner will provide the electrical work permit and be responsible for requesting inspections and for ensuring the work is installed per chapter 19.28 RCW and this chapter.
Exemptions - Electrical utility telecommunications transition equipment installations, maintenance and repair.
(19) No license, inspection or other permit
will be required by the department of any electric utility or, of any person,
firm, partnership or corporation or other entity employed or retained by an
electric utility or its contractor, because of work in connection with the
installation, maintenance, or repair of telecommunications transition equipment
located ahead of the utility's telecommunications network demarcation point on
the outside of a building or other structure when the work is performed by a
qualified person consistent with the requirements of the National Electric Code
(NEC) except as provided in (a) and (b) of this subsection:
(a) The following exceptions to the NEC will
be permitted:
(i) An additional service
disconnect supplying power to the transition equipment can be connected on the
supply side of the main service disconnect supplying general power to the
building;
(ii) Service entrance
disconnects may be separated when clearly labeled;
(iii) The service disconnect used for
supplying power to the transition equipment must be connected to the grounding
electrode system using:
(A) #8 AWG copper or
larger grounding electrode conductor if protected from physical damage;
or
(B) #6 AWG copper or larger
grounding electrode conductor if not protected from physical damage;
(iv) Use of equipment or materials
that have been listed/field evaluated by a recognized independent testing
laboratory or the department;
(v)
Low-voltage circuits do not require a separate disconnecting means and may be
grounded to the transition equipment grounding system;
(vi) Any other variance to the NEC must be
approved by the department.
(b) A variance recommended by a joint utility
standards group composed of representatives of both public and private
utilities or certified by a professional engineer will be approved by the
department unless the recommendation is inconsistent with meeting equivalent
objectives for public safety.
(c)
For the purposes of this section, a qualified worker is employed by a utility
or its contractor and is familiar with the construction or operation of such
lines and/or equipment that concerns his/her position and who is proficient
with respect to the safety hazards connected therewith, or, one who has passed
a journey status examination for the particular branch of the electrical trades
with which he/she may be connected or is in a recognized training or
apprenticeship course and is supervised by a journey level person.
(d) Although the utility is responsible for
inspection and approval of the installation, including the selection of
material and equipment, the department reserves the right to audit worker
qualifications and inspect such installations semiannually for conformance with
the requirements of (a), (b) and (c) of this subsection but will not collect a
permit fee for such inspection or audit.
(e) If a utility fails to meet the
requirements of this section, the department may require the utility to develop
and submit a remedial action plan and schedule to attain compliance with this
section which may be enforced by the department.
(f) This exemption will be in addition to any
other exemption provided in chapter 19.28 RCW, this chapter or other applicable
law.
Exemptions - Independent electrical power production equipment exemption.
(20) An
independent electrical power production entity is not required to have an
electrical contractor's license to work on electrical equipment used to produce
or transmit electrical power if:
(a) The
entity is:
(i) The owner or operator of the
generating facility is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC);
(ii) A municipal utility,
or other form of governmental electric utility, or by an electrical cooperative
or mutual corporation; or
(iii) The
owner or operator of the generating facility is an independent electrical power
producer and the facility generates electrical power only for sale to one or
more:
(A) Electrical utilities regulated by
FERC, municipal utility, or other form of governmental utility, or to an
electric cooperative or mutual corporation; and
(B) The electrical power generated by the
facility is not used for self-generation or any other on- or off-site function
other than sale to one or more utilities regulated by FERC or by one or more
state public utilities commissions, or to a PUD, municipal utility, or other
form of governmental electric utility, or to an electric cooperative or mutual
corporation.
(b) The entity must supply the chief
electrical inspector a valid master business license issued by the department
of licensing, state of Washington so that the entity's status as a revenue
generating business can be confirmed.
(c) The entity has entered into an agreement
to sell electricity to a utility or to a third party; and
(d) The electrical equipment is used to
transmit electricity from the terminals of an electrical generating unit
located on premises to the point of interconnection with a utility
system.
(e) The electrical power
production facility's generation capacity exceeds 100 KVA.
(f) Notwithstanding that a generating
facility may be granted an exemption pursuant to this section, the facility
will be subject to all the requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW if the facility at
any time in the future ceases to comply with the requirements for exemption.
All site facilities not exclusively and directly required to generate and/or
distribute the electrical power generated on the site are subject to all the
licensing and inspection requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW. All facility
services, feeders, and circuits not exclusively and directly required to
generate and/or distribute the electrical power (e.g., lights, outlets, etc.)
must comply with all requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW for licensing and
inspection. Facility circuits supplied to equipment required for the function
of generation equipment (e.g., block heaters, power supplies, wind generator
tower circuits, etc.) must comply with all requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW
for licensing and inspection up to and including the equipment termination
point.
(g) The generation equipment
must not be mounted on or in any building or structure not required for
generation of power (e.g., schools, offices, residences, apartment buildings,
hospitals, etc.).
Exemptions - Telegraph and telephone utility and telegraph and telephone utility's contractor.
(21) Telegraph and telephone utility exempted
equipment and installations. No person, firm, partnership, corporation, or
other entity is required to have an electrical contractor's license for work on
electrical equipment and installations thereof that are exempted by
RCW
19.28.151. For the purposes of this
exemption, "building or buildings used exclusively for that purpose" may mean
any separate building or space of a building where the space is separated from
the remainder of the building by a two-hour fire wall. The telecommunications
or telegraph equipment within such a space must supply telephone or telegraph
service to other customer's buildings (i.e., telecommunications or telegraph
equipment cannot solely supply the building containing the telephone/telegraph
space).
Exemptions - Manufacturers of electrical/telecommunications products.
(22) Manufacturers of
electrical/telecommunications systems products will be allowed to utilize a
manufacturer's authorized factory-trained technician to perform initial
calibration, testing, adjustment, modification incidental to the startup and
checkout of the equipment, or replacement of components within the confines of
the specific product, without permit or required licensing:
(a) Provided the product:
(i) Has not been previously
energized;
(ii) Has been recalled
by the Consumer Product Safety Commission;
(iii) Is within the manufacturer's written
warranty period, a period not to exceed one year from date of original
installation of the new product; or
(iv) The manufacturer is working under the
written request and supervision of an appropriately licensed electrical
contractor.
(b) Except
for the replacement of individual components, as allowed above, this exemption
does not include the on-site assembly, installation, removal, or replacement of
the electrical product. Modifications to the equipment, as designated above,
must not include any changes to the original intended configuration nor changes
or contact with external or field-connected components or wiring.
(c) The manufacturer will be responsible for
obtaining any required reapproval/recertification from the original listing or
field evaluation laboratory.
(d)
The manufacturer must notify the department if any modifications have been made
or reapproval/recertification is required.
Premanufactured electric power generation equipment assemblies and control gear.
(23) Premanufactured electric power
generation equipment assemblies and control gear.
(a) Manufacturers of premanufactured electric
power generation equipment assemblies and control gear will be allowed to
utilize a manufacturer's authorized factory-trained technician to perform
initial calibration, testing, adjustment, modification incidental to the
startup and checkout of the equipment, or replacement of components within the
confines of the specific product, without permit or required licensing,
provided:
(i) For transfer equipment, the
product has not been previously energized or is within the manufacturer's
written warranty period;
(ii)
Modifications to the equipment, as designated above, must not include any
changes to the original intended configuration nor changes or contact with
external or field-connected components or wiring;
(iii) The manufacturer will be responsible
for obtaining any required reapproval/recertification from the original listing
or field evaluation laboratory; or
(iv) The manufacturer must notify the
department if any modifications have been made or reapproval/recertification is
required.
(b)
Premanufactured electric power generation equipment assemblies are made up of
reciprocating internal combustion engines and the associated control gear
equipment. Control gear equipment includes control logic, metering, and
annunciation for the operation and the quality of power being generated by the
reciprocating internal combustion engine and does not have the function of
distribution of power.
(c)
Modifications of a transfer switch must not include changes to the original
intended configuration or changes or contact with externally field-connected
components.
(d) For the purposes of
this subsection, the following work on premanufactured electric power
generation equipment assemblies is not exempt from the requirements of chapter
19.28 RCW:
(i) Installation or connection of
conduit or wiring between the power generation unit, transfer switch, control
gear;
(ii) Installation of the
transfer switch;
(iii) Connections
between the power generation unit, transfer switch, control gear, and utility's
transmission or distribution systems;
(iv) Connections between the power generation
unit, transfer switch, control gear, and any building or structure;
or
(v) Test connections with any
part of:
(A) The utility's transmission or
distribution system; or
(B) The
building or structure.
(24) The installation, maintenance, or repair
of a medical device deemed in compliance with chapter 19.28 RCW is exempt from
licensing requirements under
RCW
19.28.091, certification requirements under
RCW
19.28.161, and inspection and permitting
requirements under
RCW
19.28.101. This exemption does not include
work providing electrical feeds into the power distribution unit or
installation of conduits and raceways. This exemption covers only those factory
engineers or third-party service companies with equivalent training who are
qualified to perform such service.
(25) Coincidental electrical/plumbing work.
See RCW
19.28.091(8) for the plumber
exemption. For the purposes of
RCW
19.28.091(8), the
like-in-kind replacement includes the appliance or any component part of the
appliance such as, but not limited to, the thermostat in a water
heater.
(26) Nothing in this
section will alter or amend any other exemptions from or requirement for
licensure or inspection, chapter 19.28 RCW or this chapter.
Photovoltaic equipment.
(27) See WAC
296-46B-690 for specific
exemptions related to photovoltaic installations.
Submersible well pump installers.
(28) Firms that install submersible pumps and
associated wiring in well casings, (excluding connection of pump wiring at the
top of the wellhead) are not included in the requirements for licensing in
chapter 19.28 RCW.
|
EXCEPTION: |
For testing purposes of a new submersible pump, well drillers and submersible pump installers registered under chapter 18.27 RCW may temporarily connect a submersible well pump to a portable generator with cord and plug output. All temporary wiring and equipment must be removed immediately upon completion of testing. |
Notes
Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.28 RCW. 13-03-128, § 296-46B-925, filed 1/22/13, effective 3/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.281, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551. 08-24-048, § 296-46B-925, filed 11/25/08, effective 12/31/08; 06-24-041, § 296-46B-925, filed 11/30/06, effective 12/31/06; 06-05-028, § 296-46B-925, filed 2/7/06, effective 5/1/06; 05-10-024, § 296-46B-925, filed 4/26/05, effective 6/30/05. Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.28 RCW. 04-21-086, § 296-46B-925, filed 10/20/04, effective 11/22/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. 04-12-049, § 296-46B-925, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, § 296-46B-925, filed 4/22/03, effective 4/22/03.
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