EMERGENCY RULES
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
Date of Adoption: June 29, 2001.
Purpose: The purpose of these emergency rules is to streamline the inspection process and decrease the costs associated with installing electric load control devices as part of the energy conservation program sponsored by an electrical utility. These rules are part of the energy conservation effort to help mitigate the electricity shortage.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 296-46A-900 and 296-46A-910.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 19.28 RCW.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: The immediate adoption of these rules is necessary to address a situation that threatens to disrupt or diminish the supply of energy to the extent that it jeopardizes public health, safety, and the general welfare to the citizens of the state. These rules create the necessary level of flexibility to assist in addressing the jeopardy to public health, safety, and the general welfare associated with the energy supply shortage.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making:
New 0,
Amended 0,
Repealed 0;
Pilot Rule Making:
New 0,
Amended 0,
Repealed 0;
or Other Alternative Rule Making:
New 0,
Amended 2,
Repealed 0.
Effective Date of Rule:
Immediately.
June 29, 2001
Gary Moore
Director
(a) A valid electrical work permit is completely and legibly filled out and readily available;
(b) The classification or type of facility to be inspected and the exact scope and location of the electrical work to be performed are clearly shown on the electrical work permit;
(c) The address where the inspection is to be made is clearly identifiable from the street, road or highway that serves the premises; and
(d) Driving directions and/or a legible map must be provided for the inspectors' use.
(2) Final inspection approval will not be made until all inspection fees are paid in full.
(3) An electrical work permit is valid for only one specific site address.
(4) A valid electrical work permit must be posted on the job site at a readily accessible and conspicuous location prior to beginning electrical work and at all times until the electrical inspection process is completed.
(5) Except for emergency repairs to existing electrical systems, electrical work permits must be obtained and posted at the job site prior to beginning the installation or alteration. An electrical work permit for emergency repairs to existing electrical systems must be obtained and posted at the job site no later than the next business day after the work is begun.
(6) Electrical work permits will expire one year after the date of purchase unless electrical work is actively and consistently in progress and inspections requested. Refunds are not available for expired electrical work permits or for electrical work permits where the electrical installation has begun, or an electrical inspection or electrical inspection request has been made.
(7) Fees must be paid in accordance with the inspection fee schedule, WAC 296-46A-910.
(8) Each person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity must furnish a valid electrical work permit for the installation, alteration, or other electrical work performed or to be performed by that entity. Each electrical work permit application must be signed by the electrical contractor's administrator (or designee) or the person, or authorized representative of the firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity that is performing the electrical installation or alteration. Permits purchased electronically do not require a handwritten signature. An entity designated to sign electrical permits must provide written authorization of the purchaser's designation when requested by the department.
(9) When allowed by the chief electrical inspector, annual permits for the inspection of telecommunications installations may be purchased by a building owner or licensed electrical/telecommunications contractor. Telecommunications work may be done under this annual permit by the building owner, the owner's regular employees, or a licensed electrical/telecommunications contractor. The permit holder is responsible for correcting all installation deficiencies. The permit holder must make available to the electrical inspector records of all the telecommunications work performed and the valid electrical or telecommunications contractor license numbers for all contractors working under the permit.
(10) Permits to be obtained by customers. Whenever a serving electrical utility performs work for a customer under one of the exemptions in WAC 296-46A-935 and the work is subject to inspection, the customer is responsible for obtaining all required permits.
(11) As required by chapter 19.28 RCW or this chapter, an electrical work permit is required for the installation, alteration, or maintenance of electrical systems except for: Plug-in appliances, travel trailers, or like-in-kind replacement of a: Circuit breaker, fuse, lamp, snap switch, receptacle outlet, heating element, lighting fixture ballast with an exact same ballast, contactor, relay, timer, starter, similar control component, or motor.
(12) An electrical work permit is required for all installations of telecommunications systems on the customer side of the network demarcation point for projects greater than ten telecommunications outlets. All backbone installations regardless of size and all telecommunications cable or equipment installations involving penetrations of fire barriers or passing through hazardous locations require permits and inspections. For the purposes of determining the inspection threshold for telecommunications projects greater than ten outlets, the following will apply:
(a) An outlet is the combination of jacks and mounting hardware for those jacks, along with the associated cable and telecommunications closet terminations, that serves one workstation. In counting outlets to determine the inspection threshold, one outlet must not be associated with more than six standard four-pair cables or more than one twenty-five-pair cable. Therefore, installations of greater than sixty four-pair cables or ten twenty-five-pair cables require permits and inspections. (It is not the intent of the statute to allow large masses of cables to be run to workstations or spaces serving telecommunications equipment without inspection. Proper cable support and proper loading of building structural elements are safety concerns. When considering total associated cables, the telecommunications availability at one workstation may count as more than one outlet.)
(b) The installation of greater than ten outlets and the associated cables along any horizontal pathway from a telecommunications closet to work areas during any continuous ninety-day period requires a permit and inspection.
(c) All telecommunications installations within the residential dwelling units of single-family, duplex, and multifamily dwellings do not require permits or inspections. In residential multifamily dwellings, permits and inspections are required for all backbone installations, all fire barrier penetrations, and installations of greater than ten outlets in common areas.
(d) No permits or inspections are required for installation or replacement of cord and plug connected telecommunications equipment or for patch cord and jumper cross-connected equipment.
(e) Definitions of telecommunications technical terms will come from chapter 19.28 RCW or the currently adopted rules, EIA/TIA standards, and NEC.
(13) Requests for inspections must be made no later than three business days after completion of the electrical/telecommunications installation or one business day after any part of the installation has been energized, whichever occurs first. Inspections for annual electrical maintenance permits and annual telecommunications permits may be done on a regular schedule arranged by the permit holder with the department.
(14) Electrical load control devices installed as an altered circuit to control resistance heat appliances as part of an energy conservation program sponsored by an electrical utility will be inspected on a random basis when five or more installations are made and their electrical permits are purchased in a block at the same time. To qualify for random inspection, the electrical utility sponsor must utilize a single electrical contractor to perform the installations permitted under that block.
(a) One out of every five permits obtained under a block purchase must be inspected.
(i) A subsequent installation in the block must be inspected if the first or any subsequent inspection fails; and
(ii) If a re-inspection is required to verify corrections made to the installation of an electrical load control device or its circuit, a re-inspection fee will be charged.
(b) If permits are purchased in blocks of less than five, all installations must be inspected. If a re-inspection is required to verify corrections made to the installation of an electrical load control device or its circuit, a re-inspection fee will be charged.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.031, 19.28.551, 19.28.010, 19.28.101, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.251, 19.28.470, 19.28.490, 67.42.050, 2000 c 238, and chapter 19.28 RCW. 01-01-097, 296-46A-900, filed 12/15/00, effective 1/18/01.]
Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above was supplied by the code reviser's office.
AMENDATORY SECTION [(Amending WSR 01-12-035, filed 5/29/01)]WAC 296-46A-910
Inspection fees.
To calculate inspection
fees, the amperage is based on the conductor ampacity or the
overcurrent device rating. The total fee must not be less than
the number of progress inspection (one-half hour) units times the
progress inspection fee rate from subsection (8) PROGRESS INSPECTIONS
below.
| (1) | RESIDENTIAL. | |
| (a) | Single and two-family residential (new construction). | |
| Notes: | Square footage is the area included within the surrounding exterior walls of a building exclusive of any interior courts. (This includes any floor area in an attached garage, basement, or unfinished living space.) | |
| "Inspected with the service" means that a separate service inspection fee is included on the same electrical work permit and "inspected at the same time" means all wiring is to be ready for inspection during the initial inspection trip. | ||
| An "outbuilding" is a structure that serves a direct accessory function to the residence, such as a pump house or storage building. Outbuilding does not include buildings used for commercial type occupancies or additional dwelling occupancies. | ||
| (i) | First 1300 sq. ft. | $ 68.90 |
| Each additional 500 sq. ft. or portion of | $ 22.10 | |
| (ii) | Each outbuilding or detached garage inspected at the same time as a dwelling unit on the property | $ 28.80 |
| (iii) | Each outbuilding or detached garage inspected separately | $ 45.50 |
| (iv) | Each swimming pool - inspected with the service | $ 45.50 |
| (v) | Each swimming pool - inspected separately | $ 68.90 |
| (vi) | Each hot tub, spa, or sauna - inspected with the service | $ 28.80 |
| (vii) | Each hot tub, spa, or sauna - inspected separately | $ 45.50 |
| (viii) | Each septic pumping system - inspected with the service | $ 28.80 |
| (ix) | Each septic pumping system - inspected separately | $ 45.50 |
| (b) | Multifamily residential and miscellaneous residential structures,
services and feeders (new construction). |
|
| (i) | Each service and/or feeder | |
| Ampacity | Service/Feeder | Additional Feeder |
||||
| 0 | to 200 | $ 74.30 | $ 22.10 | |||
| 201 | to 400 | $ 92.30 | $ 45.50 | |||
| 401 | to 600 | $ 126.70 | $ 63.20 | |||
| 601 | to 800 | $ 162.50 | $ 86.60 | |||
| 801 | and over | $ 231.70 | $ 173.80 | |||
| (c) | Single-family or multi-family altered services including circuits. |
| (i) | Each altered service and/or altered feeder |
Ampacity |
Service or Feeder |
|||||
| 0 to 200 | $ 63.20 | |||||
| 201 to 600 | $ 92.30 | |||||
| 601 and over | $ 139.10 | |||||
| (ii) | Maintenance or repair of meter or mast (no alterations to service or feeder) | $ 34.30 |
| (d) | Single or multi-family residential circuits only (no service inspection). | |
| Note: | Altered or added circuit fees are calculated per panelboard. Total cost of the alterations in an individual panel should not exceed the cost of a complete altered service or feeder of the same rating, as shown in subsection (1) RESIDENTIAL (c) (table) above. | |
| (i) | 1 to 4 circuits (see note) | $ 45.50 |
| Except: | Water heater load control devices installed in residences as part of an energy conservation program | $ 27.70 |
| Note: | The $ 27.70 permit fee for water heater load control devices will expire on December 31, 2001. | |
| (ii) | Each additional circuit (see note) | $ 5.10 |
| (e) | Mobile homes, modular homes, mobile home parks, and RV parks. | |
| (i) | Mobile home or modular home service or feeder only |
$ 45.50 |
| (ii) | Mobile home service and feeder | $ 74.30 |
| (f) | Mobile home park sites and RV park sites. | |
| Note: | For master service installations, see subsection (2). | |
| (i) | First site service or site feeder | $ 45.50 |
| (ii) | Each additional site service; or additional site feeder inspected at the same time as the first service or feeder | $ 28.80 |
| (2) | COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL. | |
| (a) | New service or feeder and additional new feeders inspected at the same time (includes circuits). | |
| Note: | For large COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL projects that include multiple feeders, "inspected at the same time" can be interpreted to include additional inspection trips for a single project. The additional inspections must be for electrical work specified on the permit at the time of purchase. The permit fee for such projects must be calculated from (2) (a) (i) (table) above. However, the total fee must not be less than the number of progress inspection (one-half hour) units times the progress inspection fee rate from subsection (8) PROGRESS INSPECTIONS below. | |
| Ampacity | Service/Feeder | Additional Feeder | |||||
| 0 to 100 | $ 74.30 | $ 45.50 | |||||
| 101 to 200 | $ 92.30 | $ 57.80 | |||||
| 201 to 400 | $ 173.80 | $ 68.90 | |||||
| 401 to 600 | $ 202.60 | $ 81.00 | |||||
| 601 to 800 | $ 261.80 | $ 110.30 | |||||
| 801 to 1000 | $ 319.60 | $ 133.40 | |||||
| 1000 and over | $ 348.70 | $ 186.10 | |||||
| (b) | Altered services or feeders (no circuits). |
| (i) | Service/feeders |
| Ampacity | Service or Feeder |
||
| 0 to 200 | $ 74.30 | ||
| 201 to 600 | $ 173.80 | ||
| 601 to 1000 | $ 261.80 | ||
| 1000 and over | $ 290.80 |
| (ii) | Maintenance or repair of meter or mast (no alteration to the service or feeder) | $ 63.20 |
| (c) | Circuits only. | |
| Note: | Altered/added circuit fees are calculated per panelboard. Total cost of the alterations in a panel (or panels) should not exceed the cost of a new feeder (or feeders) of the same rating, as shown in subsection (2) COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL (a)(i)(table) above. | |
| (i) | First five circuits per branch circuit panel | $ 57.80 |
| (ii) | Each additional circuit per branch circuit panel | $ 5.10 |
| (d) | Over 600 volts surcharge per permit. | $ 57.80 |
| (3) | TEMPORARY SERVICE(S). | |
| Notes: | Temporary electrical power and lighting installations must be used during the period of construction, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition of buildings, structures, equipment, or similar activities. | |
| Temporary electrical power and lighting installations are allowed during emergencies and for tests, experiments, and developmental work. Temporary electrical power and lighting installations are allowed for a period not to exceed 90 days for Christmas decorative lighting and similar purposes. Temporary wiring shall be removed immediately upon completion of construction or purpose for which the wiring was installed. | ||
| Temporary stage or concert inspections requested outside of normal business hours will be subject to the portal-to-portal hourly fees in subsection (11) OTHER INSPECTIONS. The fee for such after hours inspections shall be the greater of the fee from (3) TEMPORARY SERVICES (a) or the portal-to-portal fee. | ||
| (a) | Temporary services, temporary stage or concert productions. | |
| Ampacity | Service/Feeder | Additional Feeder |
| 0 to 60 | $ 39.80 | $ 20.50 |
| 0 to 100 | $ 45.50 | $ 22.10 |
| 101 to 200 | $ 57.80 | $ 28.80 |
| 201 to 400 | $ 68.90 | $ 34.40 |
| 401 to 600 | $ 92.30 | $ 45.50 |
| 601 and over | $ 104.60 | $ 52.20 |
| (4) | IRRIGATION MACHINES, PUMPS AND EQUIPMENT. | |
| (a) | Irrigation machines. | |
| (i) | Each tower when inspected at the same time as a service and feeder from (2) COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL | $ 5.10 |
| (ii) | Towers - when not inspected at the same time as a service and feeders - one to six towers | $ 68.90 |
| (iii) | Each additional tower | $ 5.10 |
| (5) | MISCELLANEOUS - commercial/industrial and residential. | |
| (a) | Low-voltage thermostats. | |
| (i) | First thermostat | $ 34.40 |
| (ii) | Each additional thermostat inspected at the same time as the first | $ 10.80 |
| (b) | Low-voltage systems and telecommunications systems. Includes all telecommunications installations, fire alarm and burglar alarm nurse call, intercom, security systems, energy management control systems, HVAC/refrigeration control systems (other than thermostats above), industrial and automation control systems, lighting control systems, stand-alone sound systems, public address, and similar low-energy circuits and equipment. | |
| (i) | First 2500 sq. ft. or less | $ 39.80 |
| (ii) | Each additional 2500 sq. ft. or portion of | $ 10.80 |
| (c) | Signs and outline lighting. | |
| (i) | First sign (no service included) | $ 34.40 |
| (ii) | Each additional sign inspected at the same time on the same building or structure | $ 16.40 |
| (d) | Berth at a marina or dock. | |
| Note: | Five berths or more shall be permitted to have the inspection fees based on appropriate service and feeder fees from section (2) COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL (a)(i) above. | |
| (i) | Berth at a marina or dock | $ 45.50 |
| (ii) | Each additional berth inspected at the same time | $ 28.80 |
| (e) | Yard pole, pedestal, or other meter loops only. | |
| (i) | Yard pole, pedestal, or other meter loops only | $ 45.50 |
| (ii) | Meters installed remote from service equipment: Inspected at same time as service, temporary service or other installations | $ 10.80 |
| (f) | Emergency inspections requested outside normal work hours. Regular fee plus surcharge of: | $ 86.60 |
| (g) | Generators. | |
| (i) | Portable generators: Permanently installed transfer equipment for portable generators | $ 63.20 |
| (ii) | Permanently installed generators: Refer to appropriate residential or commercial new service or feeder section | |
| (h) | Annual permit fee for plant location employing regular electrical maintenance staff - each inspection two-hour maximum. | |
| Inspections | Fee | |
| 1 to 3 plant electricians | 12 | $ 1,664.40 |
| 4 to 6 plant electricians | 24 | $ 3,330.40 |
| 7 to 12 plant electricians | 36 | $ 4,995.30 |
| 13 to 25 plant electricians | 52 | $ 6,661.30 |
| more than 25 plant electricians | 52 | $ 8,327.30 |
| (i) | Telecommunications annual permit fee. | |
| (i) | For commercial/industrial location employing full-time telecommunications maintenance staff or having a yearly maintenance contract with a licensed electrical/telecommunications contractor. | |
| Annual inspection time required may be estimated by the purchaser at the rate for "Other inspections" in this section, charged portal-to-portal per hour - two-hour minimum. | $ 137.80 | |
| Each additional hour, or portion thereof, of portal-to-portal inspection time | $ 68.90 | |
| (j) | 1st two resistance heat appliance's load control devices when installed as an altered circuit as part of an electrical utility sponsored energy conservation program. Each installation when purchased as a block of five or more. | $ 17.50 |
| (i) | Each additional device | $ 5.00 |
| (ii) | Re-inspection to make required corrections | $ 33.50 |
| (k) | 1st two resistance heat appliance's load control devices when installed as an altered circuit. | $ 27.50 |
| (i) | Each additional device | $ 5.00 |
| (ii) | Re-inspection to make required corrections | $ 33.50 |
| (6) | CARNIVAL INSPECTIONS. | |
| (a) | First carnival field inspection each year. | |
| (i) | Each ride and generator truck | $ 16.40 |
| (ii) | Each remote distribution equipment, concession or gaming show | $ 5.10 |
| (iii) | If the calculated fee for first field inspection of (a) and (b) above is less, the minimum inspection fee shall be: | $ 86.60 |
| (b) | Subsequent carnival inspections. | |
| (i) | First 10 rides, concessions, generators, remote distribution equipment or gaming show | $ 86.60 |
| (ii) | Each additional ride, concession, generator, remote distribution equipment or gaming show | $ 5.10 |
| (c) | Concession(s) or ride(s) not part of a carnival. | |
| (i) | First field inspection each year of a single concession or ride, not part of a carnival | $ 68.90 |
| (ii) | Subsequent inspection of a single concession or ride, not part of a carnival | $ 45.50 |
| (7) | TRIP FEES. | |
| (a) | Requests by property owners to inspect existing installations. | $ 68.90 |
| (b) | Submitter notifies the department that work is ready for inspection when it is not ready. | $ 34.40 |
| (c) | Additional inspection required because submitter has provided the wrong address. | $ 34.40 |
| (d) | More than one additional inspection required to inspect corrections; or for repeated neglect, carelessness, or improperly installed electrical work. | $ 34.40 |
| (e) | Each trip necessary to remove a noncompliance notice. | $ 34.40 |
| (f) | Corrections have not been made in the prescribed time, unless an exception has been requested and granted. | $ 34.40 |
| (g) | Installations that are covered or concealed before inspection. | $ 34.40 |
| (8) | PROGRESS INSPECTIONS. | |
| Note: | The fees calculated in subsections (1) through (6) must apply to all electrical work. This section must be applied to a permit where the permit holder has requested additional inspections beyond the number supported by the permit fee calculated at the rate in (1) through (6). | |
| (a) | On partial or progress inspections, each one-half hour. | $ 34.40 |
| (9) | PLAN REVIEW FEE. | |
| (a) | Fee is thirty-five percent of the electrical work permit fee as determined by WAC 296-46A-910, plus a plan review submission fee of: | $ 57.80 |
| (b) | Supplemental submissions of plans per hour or fraction of an hour. | $ 68.90 |
| (c) | Plan review shipping and handling fee. | $ 16.40 |
| (10) | OUT-OF-STATE INSPECTIONS. | |
| (a) | Permit fees will be charged according to the fees listed in this section. | |
| (b) | Travel expenses: | |
| (i) | All travel expenses and per diem for out-of-state inspections are billed following completion of each inspection(s). These expenses can include, but are not limited to: Inspector's travel time, travel cost and per diem at the state rate. Travel time is hourly based on the rate in subsection (11) of this section | |
| (11) | OTHER INSPECTIONS. | |
| (a) | Inspections not covered by above inspection fees must be charged portal-to-portal per hour: | $ 68.90 |
| (12) | REFUND PROCESSING FEE. | |
| (a) | All requests for permit fee refunds will be assessed a processing fee. | $ 10.80 |
| (13) | VARIANCE REQUEST PROCESSING FEE. | |
| (a) | Variance request processing fee. This fee is nonrefundable once the transaction has been made. | $ 68.90 |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.22.350, 43.22.434, 43.22.480, 43.22.500, 18.27.070, 18.27.075, 70.87.030, 19.28.041, 19.28.051, 19.28.101, 19.28.121, 19.28.161, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.341, 2001 c 159 (SSB 5101), and chapters 43.22, 19.28, 18.27, and 70.87 RCW. 01-12-035, 296-46A-910, filed 5/29/01, effective 6/29/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.031, 19.28.551, 19.28.010, 19.28.101, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.251, 19.28.470, 19.28.490, 67.42.050, 2000 c 238, and chapter 19.28 RCW. 01-01-097, 296-46A-910, filed 12/15/00, effective 1/18/01.]
Reviser's note: RCW 34.05.395 requires the use of underlining and deletion marks to indicate amendments to existing rules. The rule published above varies from its predecessor in certain respects not indicated by the use of these markings.
Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above was supplied by the code reviser's office.