W. Va. Code R. § 103-5-2 - Definitions

2.1. "Master Electrician" - means a person with at least 2 years of electrical work experience, including experience in all phases of electrical wiring and installation, who holds a master electrician's license issued by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal who is competent to instruct and supervise the electrical work of Journeyman and Assistant/Helper Electricians. A master electrician shall have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the National Electrical Code, and the ability to read electrical plans, drawings, and designs to calculate demand loads in compliance with the National Electrical Code.

2.2. "Journeyman Electrician" - means a person qualified by at least 1 year of electrical work experience to do any work installing wires, conduits, apparatus, equipment, fixtures, and other appliances subject to supervision by a master electrician, and who holds a journeyman electrician's license issued by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal. A journeyman electrician shall have a knowledge and understanding of the National Electric Code as it pertains to the installation of wires, conduits, apparatus, equipment, fixtures, and other appliances. A journeyman electrician shall not design any part of an electrical system.

2.3. "Electrician's Assistant/Helper" - means a person who is directly assisting a Journeyman or Master Electrician in performing supervised electrical work. Electrician Assistants/Helpers are not permitted to perform any electrical work unsupervised or in hazardous areas as defined in the National Electric Code (NFPA 70).

2.3.1. "Assisting or Helping" - is defined as a person who is working with, is in direct contact with, and is under the direct supervision of a Licensed Electrician.

2.4. "Specialty Electrician License" - means a person qualified to perform electrical work in a limited or specialized area. The following specialty electrician licenses may be issued by the State Fire Marshal.

2.4.1. A specialty plumbing, heating, and air conditioning electrician license (SP-PH) authorizes the licensee to install, maintain, or repair electric wiring or devices only as an incident to the licensee's plumbing, heating, and air conditioning business. Furthermore, the license authorizes the licensee to install, maintain, or repair only wiring that is directly related to plumbing, heating, and air conditioning equipment and that:

2.4.1.a. is restricted to circuits or parts of circuits that operate at voltages not exceeding 600 volts, phase-to-phase;

2.4.1.b. is electrically isolated from the building wiring system by an overcurrent protective isolating device, such as a fused switch or circuit breaker, that:

2.4.1.b.1. has been installed, complete with line-side connections, by a master or journeyman electrician;

2.4.1.b.2. is permanently and legibly marked to identify the equipment served by the device; and

2.4.1.b.3. is located within an enclosure intended solely for, and limited to, serving the specific plumbing, heating, and air conditioning equipment involved, or is located within a panel-board that serves the building wiring system and is likewise permanently and legibly marked to identify the equipment served by the device, provided the wiring is installed by a master or journeyman electrician from the load-side terminals of the device to a junction box, auxiliary gutter, or similar disconnecting means located outside the panelboard, but in sight of and within 50 feet of, the plumbing, heating, or air conditioning equipment served;

2.4.1.c. originates at the load-side terminals of the protective isolating device;

2.4.1.d. except for control wiring, is physically adjacent to the plumbing, heating, and air conditioning equipment involved and is in sight of and not more than 50 feet from the equipment. Control wiring that receives its control power from the plumbing, heating, and air conditioning equipment involved may extend beyond these limits if the control voltage does not exceed 120 volts to ground and the wiring is protected from overcurrent; and

2.4.1.e. is not installed in a location considered as hazardous under the National Electrical Code.

2.4.2. A specialty electric sign electrician license (SP-ES) authorizes the licensee to install, maintain, or repair electric wiring or devices only as an incident to the licensee's electric sign business. Furthermore, the license authorizes the licensee to install, maintain, or repair only wiring that is directly related to electric signs and is electrically isolated from the building wiring system. Wiring that is directly related differs depending on the type of sign involved.

2.4.2.a. Except for electric signs described in subdivisions B, C, and D of this Section, related wiring is the portion of the electric sign wiring that originates at the load-side terminals of a disconnecting means located immediately adjacent to the electric sign involved, or originates within a junction box so located. Related wiring does not include the installation of the disconnecting means, complete with line-side connections, or the installation of the junction box, complete with free-length circuit conductors to accommodate the connection of the related wiring in the box.

2.4.2.b. For electric sign installations having sign transformers installed physically apart from the sign, related wiring is the portion of the electric sign wiring that originates at the load-side terminals of a disconnecting means located immediately adjacent to the sign transformer supplying the electric sign involved, or originates within a junction box located immediately adjacent to the electric sign involved. Related wiring does not include the installation of the disconnecting means, complete with line-side connections, or the installation of the junction box, complete with free-length circuit conductors to accommodate the connection of the related wiring in the box.

2.4.2.c. for permanent free-standing electric sign installations supplied through underground circuit conductors, related wiring is the portion of the electric sign wiring that originates at a wiring termination point located at, within, or immediately above the permanent base for the sign structure.

2.4.2.d. Related wiring does not include the installation of:

2.4.2.d.1. a junction box, located at, within, or immediately above the permanent base for the sign, complete with free-length circuit conductors to accommodate the connection of the related wiring; or

2.4.2.d.2. if the base of the sign structure is suitable for use as a raceway, the installation of bushing, complete with free-length circuit conductors extending through to accommodate the connection of the related wiring within the sign structure raceway.

2.4.2.e. For electric signs specifically designed to be connected directly to the building wiring raceway or cable supply, related wiring is the portion of the electric sign wiring that originates at the point where the free-length circuit conductors extend through the building wiring raceway or cable at the specifically designed supply location for the electric sign involved. Related wiring does not include the installation of the building wiring raceway or cable system to the specifically designated point of supply for the electric sign involved, complete with free-length circuit conductors extending through the building wiring raceway or cable to accommodate the connection of the related wiring.

2.4.3. A specialty single family residential dwelling electrician license (SP-SFD) which authorizes the licensee to install, maintain, or repair only electrical wiring and devices that are in or on a single family residential dwelling or an ancillary to a single family residential dwelling. Electrical work that is covered by another special restricted license can be performed by a SP-SFD licensee without obtaining the other special restricted license as long as it is in or on a single family residential dwelling or an ancillary to a single family residential dwelling.

2.4.3.a. A "single family residential dwelling" is a building or a manufactured home that is designed and used only for habitation by one family and is not physically attached to any other building or structure. Cabanas, porches, room additions, and similar structures are considered part of a single family dwelling if they are designed for and used only for residential purposes by the occupants of the dwelling.

2.4.3.b. An "ancillary" to a single family residential dwelling is an appurtenance or an outbuilding or similar structure associated with the single family dwelling such as a detached residential garage or carport, a farm or household equipment storage shed, a barn, a pump house, an electric fence, or yard lighting.

2.4.3.c. "Habitation" - means the occupancy of a dwelling primarily or exclusively for residential purposes.

2.4.4. A specialty low voltage electrician license (SP-LV) (Fire and Burglar Alarm Communication Systems) which authorizes the licensee to install, maintain, or repair only low voltage wiring, 80 volts or less, and directly related wiring. Wiring is directly related if it:

2.4.4.a. originates at the load-side terminals of a disconnecting means or junction box that:

2.4.4.a.1. has been installed, complete with line-side connections, by others for the specific purpose of supply the low voltage wiring system involved; and

2.4.4.a.2. is permanently and legibly marked to identify the low voltage wiring system supplied; and

2.4.4.b. is not installed in a location considered as hazardous under the National Electrical Code.

2.4.5. A specialty elevator electrician license (SP-EL) (Elevators, Dumbwaiter(s), Escalator(s), Moving Walk(s), and Personnel Hoist(s)) which authorizes the licensee to install, maintain, or repair electric wiring only as an incident to the licensee's elevator, dumbwaiter, escalator, moving walk, or personnel hoist business. Furthermore, the license authorizes the licensee to install, maintain, or repair only electrical wiring that:

2.4.5.a. is an integral part of an elevator, dumbwaiter escalator, moving walk, or personnel hoist;

2.4.5.b. is electrically isolated from the building wiring system by means of an overcurrent protective device, such as a safety switch or circuit breaker, that has been installed, complete with line-side connections, by others; and

2.4.5.c. originates at the load-side terminals of the protective isolating device, referred to as "beyond the disconnection means."

2.5. "Electrical Work" - means the installation of wires, conduits, apparatus, fixtures, other appliances, equipment, or systems for transmitting, carrying, controlling, or using electricity for light, heat, or power purposes. Controlling is not intended to mean low voltage thermostat temperature controls.

2.6. "License" - means a valid and current certificate of competency issued by the State Fire Marshal.

2.7. "Electrical Contractor" - means a person, firm or corporation who engages in the business of electrical work or employs master electricians, journeyman electricians, assistant/helper electricians for the construction, alteration or repair of any electrical wiring, equipment, or systems for the purpose of controlling or furnishing heat, light, or power.

2.8. "Supervise or Supervision" - means the drafting, coordinating, and directing of the design, layout, and load calculations of electrical systems. It is the intent of the word "supervise or supervision" that electrical design, layout, and calculations be done by a Master Electrician. Supervision does not require that a master electrician to be physically present with a journeyman electrician during the electrical work. Assistant/helper electricians shall be supervised by a Master or Journeyman electrician. A Master or Journeyman electrician may not supervise more than three assistant/helper electricians on the job site. Provided, That upon notice to the State Fire Marshal from an approved WV Department of Education electrical vocational program; an instructor who holds a master electrician's license shall supervise his or her students performing work under the licensed instructor's direct and constant supervision.

2.9. "Appliance" - means utilization equipment sold at retail, generally other than industrial, normally built in standardized sizes or types, which is installed or connected as a unit to perform one or more functions such as clothes washing, air conditioning, food mixing, deep frying, etc.

2.10. "Posting of the License" as required by W. Va. Code § 29-3B-2 - means placing a copy of the electrician license issued by the State Fire Marshal on each job site where electrical work is being performed.

2.11. "Offer to do Electrical Work" - means to agree to perform electrical work for compensation or hire.

2.12. "Design" - means to plan or layout electrical systems in sketches or drawings for use by licensed electricians. It includes, but is not limited to, determining the service components of electrical systems, the type and sizes of conductors, circuit breakers and other components of electrical systems necessary to accommodate the demand load.

2.13. "National Electrical Code" - The National Electrical Code for licensing of electricians is that Code promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association. Copies of the National Electrical Code may be obtained at the expense of the party making the request by writing: The National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169.

2.14. "State Fire Commission" - means the members of the West Virginia State Fire Commission appointed in accordance with W. Va. Code § 29-3-1 et seq.

2.15. "State Fire Marshal" - means the West Virginia State Fire Marshal and/or his designated representatives.

2.16. "Firm or Corporation" - means a lawful business entity which is qualified and authorized to do business in the State of West Virginia.

2.17. "Board" means a government agency, board, department, or other government entity that regulates a lawful occupation and issues an occupational license or other authorization to practice to an individual.

Notes

W. Va. Code R. § 103-5-2