PROPOSED RULES
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 06-09-067.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 296-46B WAC, Electrical safety standards, administration, and installation.
Hearing Location(s): Department of Labor and Industries, 7273 Linderson Way S.W., Room S117, Tumwater, WA, on October 12, 2006, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: November 21, 2006.
Submit Written Comments to: Sally Elliott, P.O. Box 44400, Olympia, WA 98504-4400, e-mail yous235@lni.wa.gov, fax (360) 902-5292, by October 12, 2006.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Sally Elliott by October 1, 2006, at yous235@lni.wa.gov or (360) 902-6411.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The department reviewed the electrical rule for additions and revisions. The electrical rules are reviewed on an annual basis to ensure the rules are consistent with the national consensus standards, industry practice, to clarify the rules, and for fee changes.
The rule making will:
• Incorporate SHB 1841, which requires electrical trainees to show sixteen hours of trainee continuing education prior to being allowed to renew their training certificate (two-year renewal).
• Incorporate SSB 6225, which requires the plumbing program to create specialties for domestic water and farm irrigation systems plumbers.
• Incorporate the language from the emergency rule filed on May 31 regarding coordinated systems for new and existing buildings or structures.
• Reduce the cost of electrical permits and licenses by 5% due to a positive fund balance. The permit reduction will be reduced for one year, the reduction for contractors, trainees, and telecom administrator licenses will be reduced for two years, and reduction for electricians will be reduced for three years.
• Reformat and relocate certain technical sections to allow easier adoption by city jurisdictions.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: See Purpose above.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: 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.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 19.28 RCW.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of labor and industries, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Ron Fuller, Tumwater, Washington, (360) 902-5249; Implementation and Enforcement: Patrick Woods, Tumwater, Washington, (360) 902-6348.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This rule is specifically exempt from the small business economic impact statement requirement because since the proposed changes are updating the rule based upon Washington state statutes (see RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(iii)) and the amendments will clarify rule language without changing its effect (see RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(iv)).
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. This rule is specifically exempt from the cost-benefit analysis requirement because the proposed changes are exempted by law since the proposed changes are updating the rule based upon Washington state statutes (see RCW 34.05.310 (4)(c)) and the amendments will clarify rule language without changing its effect (see RCW 34.05.310 (4)(d)).
September 5, 2006
Gary Weeks
Director
OTS-9189.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-05-028, filed 2/7/06,
effective 5/1/06)
WAC 296-46B-010
General.
Adopted standards - inspectors - city inspection - variance.
(((1))) The 2005 edition of the National Electrical Code
(NFPA 70 - 2005) including Annex A, B, and C; the 2003 edition
of standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire
Protection (NFPA 20 - 2003); the 2002 edition of standard for
Emergency and Standby Power Systems (NFPA 110 - 2002);
Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard
(ANSI/TIA/EIA 568-B.1-May 2001 including Annex 1 through 5);
Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathway
and Spaces (ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A-7 December 2001 including Annex
1 through 4); Commercial Building Grounding and Bonding
Requirements for Telecommunications (ANSI/TIA/EIA 607 - A - 2002); Residential Telecommunications Cable Standard
(ANSI/TIA/EIA 570-A-December 2001); American Railroad
Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association - 2005
Communications and Signal Manual; and the National Electrical
Safety Code (NESC C2-2002 excluding Appendixes A and B) are
hereby adopted by reference as part of this chapter. Other
codes, manuals, and reference works referred to in this
chapter are available for inspection and review in the Olympia
office of the electrical section of the department during
business hours.
The requirements of this chapter will be observed where there is any conflict between this chapter and the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Centrifugal Fire Pumps (NFPA 20), the Emergency and Standby Power Systems (NFPA 110), ANSI/TIA/EIA 568-B, ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A, ANSI/TIA/EIA 607, ANSI/TIA/EIA 570, or the NESC C2-2002.
The National Electrical Code will be followed where there is any conflict between standard for Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection (NFPA 20), standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems (NFPA 110), ANSI/TIA/EIA 568-B, ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A, ANSI/TIA/EIA 607, ANSI/TIA/EIA 570, or the NESC C2-2002 and the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70).
(((2) Electrical inspectors will give information as to
the interpretation or application of the standards in this
chapter, but will not lay out work or act as consultants for
contractors, owners, or users.
(3) The department may enforce city electrical ordinances where those governmental agencies do not make electrical inspections under an established program.
(4) A variance from the electrical installation requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW or this chapter may be granted by the department when it is assured that equivalent objectives can be achieved by establishing and maintaining effective safety.
(a) Any electrical permit holder may request a variance.
(b) The permit holder must make the request in writing, using a form provided by the department, to the chief electrical inspector. The request must include:
(i) A description of the installation as installed or proposed;
(ii) A detailed list of the applicable code violations;
(iii) A detailed list of safety violations;
(iv) A description of the proposal for meeting equivalent objectives for code and/or safety violations; and
(v) Appropriate variance application fee as listed in WAC 296-46B-905.
Inspection.
(5) Electrical wiring or equipment subject to this chapter must be sufficiently accessible, at the time of inspection, to allow the inspector to visually inspect the installation to verify conformance with the NEC and any other electrical requirements of this chapter.
(6) Cables or raceways, fished according to the NEC, do not require visual inspection.
(7) All required equipment grounding conductors installed in concealed cable or flexible conduit systems must be completely installed and made up at the time of the rough-in cover inspection.
(8) The installation of all structural elements and mechanical systems (e.g., framing, plumbing, ducting, etc.) must be complete in the area(s) where electrical inspection is requested. Prior to completion of an exterior wall cover inspection, either:
(a) The exterior shear panel/sheathing nail inspection must be completed by the building code inspector; or
(b) All wiring and device boxes must be a minimum of 63 mm (2 1/2") from the exterior surface of the framing member; or
(c) All wiring and device boxes must be protected by a steel plate a minimum of 1.6 mm (1/16") thick and of appropriate width and height installed to cover the area of the wiring or box.
(9) In order to meet the minimum electrical safety standards for installations, all materials, devices, appliances, and equipment, not exempted in chapter 19.28 RCW, must conform to applicable standards recognized by the department, be listed, or field evaluated. Other than as allowed in WAC 296-46B-030(3), equipment must not be energized until such standards are met unless specific permission has been granted by the chief electrical inspector.
(10) The department will recognize the state department of transportation as the inspection authority for telecommunications systems installation within the rights of way of state highways provided the department of transportation maintains and enforces an equal, higher or better standard of construction and of materials, devices, appliances and equipment than is required for telecommunications systems installations by chapter 19.28 RCW and this chapter.
Inspection - move on buildings and structures.
(11) All buildings or structures relocated into or within the state:
(a) Other than residential, wired inside the United States (U.S.) must be inspected to ensure compliance with current requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW and the rules developed by the department.
(b) Wired outside the U.S. or Canada must be inspected to ensure compliance with all current requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW and the rules developed by the department.
(12) Residential buildings or structures wired in the U.S., to NEC requirements, and moved into or within a county, city, or town must be inspected to ensure compliance with the NEC requirements in effect at the time and place the original wiring was made. The building or structure must be inspected to ensure compliance with all current requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW and the rules developed by the department if:
(a) The original occupancy classification of the building or structure is changed as a result of the move; or
(b) The building or structure has been substantially remodeled or rehabilitated as a result of the move.
(13) Residential buildings or structures wired in Canada to Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) standards and moved into or within a county, city, or town, must be inspected to ensure compliance with the following minimum safety requirements:
(a) Service, service grounding, and service bonding must comply with the current chapter 19.28 RCW and rules adopted by the department.
(b) Canadian Standards Association (CSA) listed Type NMD cable is allowed with the following qualifications:
(i) CSA listed Type NMD cable, American Wire Gauge #10 and smaller installed after 1964 utilizing an equipment grounding conductor smaller than the phase conductors, must be:
(A) Replaced with a cable utilizing a full-size equipment grounding conductor; or
(B) Protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter protection device.
(ii) CSA listed Type NMD cable, #8 AWG and larger, must:
(A) Utilize an equipment grounding conductor sized according to the requirements of the NEC in effect at the time of the installation;
(B) Be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter protection device; or
(C) Be replaced.
(c) Other types of wiring and cable must be:
(i) Replaced with wiring listed or field evaluated in accordance with U.S. standards by a laboratory approved by the department; or
(ii) Protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter protection device and arc fault circuit protection device.
(d) Equipment, other than wiring or panelboards, manufactured and installed prior to 1997 must be listed and identified by laboratory labels approved by the department or CSA labels.
(e) All panelboards must be listed and identified by testing laboratory labels approved by the department with the following qualifications:
(i) CSA listed panelboards labeled "Suitable for Use as Service Equipment" will be considered to be approved as "Suitable for Use only as Service Equipment."
(ii) CSA listed panelboards must be limited to a maximum of 42 circuits.
(iii) CSA listed panelboards used as lighting and appliance panelboards as described in the NEC, must meet all current requirements of the NEC and this chapter.
(f) Any wiring or panelboards replaced or changed as a result of the move must meet current requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW and this chapter.
(g) The location, type, and ground fault circuit interrupter protection of receptacles and equipment in a bathroom, kitchen, basement, garage, or outdoor area must meet the Washington requirements in effect at the time the wiring was installed.
(h) 4, 15-ampere, kitchen small appliance circuits will be accepted in lieu of 2, 20-ampere, kitchen small appliance circuits. Receptacles will not be required to be added on kitchen peninsular or island counters.
(i) Spacing requirements for all other receptacles must meet the Washington requirements in effect at the time the wiring was installed.
(j) Receptacles installed above baseboard or fixed wall space heaters must be removed and the outlet box covered with a blank cover. The receptacle is required to be relocated as closely as possible to the existing location.
(k) Lighting outlet and switch locations must meet the Washington requirements in effect at the time the wiring was installed.
(l) Dedicated 20-ampere small appliance circuits are not required in dining rooms.
(m) Electric water heater branch circuits must be adequate for the load.
(n) The location, type, and circuit protection of feeders must meet the Washington requirements in effect at the time the wiring was installed.
Classification or definition of occupancies.
(14) Occupancies are classified and defined as follows:
(a) Educational facility refers to a building or portion of a building used primarily for educational purposes by six or more persons at one time for twelve hours per week or four hours in any one day. Educational occupancy includes: Schools (preschool through grade twelve), colleges, academies, universities, and trade schools.
(b) Institutional facility refers to a building or portion of a building used primarily for detention and correctional occupancies where some degree of restraint or security is required for a time period of twenty-four or more hours. Such occupancies include, but are not restricted to: Penal institutions, reformatories, jails, detention centers, correctional centers, and residential-restrained care.
(c) Health or personal care facility. Health or personal care facility refers to buildings or parts of buildings that contain, but are not limited to, facilities that are required to be licensed by the department of social and health services or the department of health (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes, private alcoholism hospitals, private psychiatric hospitals, boarding homes, alcoholism treatment facilities, maternity homes, birth centers or childbirth centers, residential treatment facilities for psychiatrically impaired children and youths, and renal hemodialysis clinics) and medical, dental or chiropractic offices or clinics, outpatient or ambulatory surgical clinics, and such other health care occupancies where patients who may be unable to provide for their own needs and safety without the assistance of another person are treated.
(i) "Hospital" means any institution, place, building, or agency providing accommodations, facilities and services over a continuous period of twenty-four hours or more, for observation, diagnosis, or care of two or more individuals not related to the operator who are suffering from illness, injury, deformity, or abnormality, or from any other condition for which obstetrical, medical, or surgical services would be appropriate for care or diagnosis.
(ii) "Nursing home," "nursing home unit" or "long-term care unit" means a group of beds for the accommodation of patients who, because of chronic illness or physical infirmities, require skilled nursing care and related medical services but are not acutely ill and not in need of the highly technical or specialized services ordinarily a part of hospital care.
(iii) "Boarding home" means any home or other institution, however named, which is advertised, announced, or maintained for the express or implied purpose of providing board and domiciliary care to seven or more aged persons not related by blood or marriage to the operator. It must not include any home, institution, or section thereof which is otherwise licensed and regulated under the provisions of state law providing specifically for the licensing and regulation of such home, institution, or section thereof.
(iv) "Private alcoholism hospital" means an institution, facility, building, or equivalent designed, organized, maintained, and operated to provide diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals demonstrating signs or symptoms of alcoholism, including the complications of associated substance use and other medical diseases that can be appropriately treated and cared for in the facility and providing accommodations, medical services, and other necessary services over a continuous period of twenty-four hours or more for two or more individuals unrelated to the operator, provided that this chapter will not apply to any facility, agency, or other entity which is owned and operated by a public or governmental body.
(v) "Alcoholism treatment facility" means a private place or establishment, other than a licensed hospital, operated primarily for the treatment of alcoholism.
(vi) "Private psychiatric hospital" means a privately owned and operated establishment or institution which: Provides accommodations and services over a continuous period of twenty-four hours or more, and is expressly and exclusively for observing, diagnosing, or caring for two or more individuals with signs or symptoms of mental illness, who are not related to the licensee.
(vii) "Maternity home" means any home, place, hospital, or institution in which facilities are maintained for the care of four or more women, not related by blood or marriage to the operator, during pregnancy or during or within ten days after delivery: Provided, however, that this definition will not apply to any hospital approved by the American College of Surgeons, American Osteopathic Association or its successor.
(viii) "Birth center" or "childbirth center" means a type of maternity home which is a house, building, or equivalent organized to provide facilities and staff to support a birth service, provided that the birth service is limited to low-risk maternal clients during the intrapartum period.
(ix) "Ambulatory surgical facility" means a facility, not a part of a hospital, providing surgical treatment to patients not requiring inpatient care in a hospital. This term does not include a facility in the offices of private physicians or dentists, whether for individual or group practice, if the privilege of using such facility is not extended to physicians or dentists outside the individual or group practice. (NEC; Ambulatory Health Care Center.)
(x) "Hospice care center" means any building, facility, place, or equivalent, organized, maintained, and operated specifically to provide beds, accommodations, facilities, and services over a continuous period of twenty-four hours or more for palliative care of two or more individuals, not related to the operator, who are diagnosed as being in the latter stages of an advanced disease which is expected to lead to death.
(xi) "Renal hemodialysis clinic" means a facility in a building or part of a building which is approved to furnish the full spectrum of diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services required for the care of renal dialysis patients (including inpatient dialysis furnished directly or under arrangement). (NEC; Ambulatory Health Care Center.)
(xii) "Medical, dental, and chiropractic clinic" means any clinic or physicians' office where patients are not regularly kept as bed patients for twenty-four hours or more. Electrical plan review not required.
(xiii) "Residential treatment facility for psychiatrically impaired children and youth" means a residence, place, or facility designed and organized to provide twenty-four-hour residential care and long-term individualized, active treatment for clients who have been diagnosed or evaluated as psychiatrically impaired.
(xiv) "Adult residential rehabilitation center" means a residence, place, or facility designed and organized primarily to provide twenty-four-hour residential care, crisis and short-term care and/or long-term individualized active treatment and rehabilitation for clients diagnosed or evaluated as psychiatrically impaired or chronically mentally ill as defined herein or in chapter 71.24 RCW.
(xv) "Group care facility" means a facility other than a foster-family home maintained and operated for the care of a group of children on a twenty-four-hour basis.
(d) Licensed day care centers.
(i) "Child day care center" means a facility providing regularly scheduled care for a group of children one month of age through twelve years of age for periods less than twenty-four hours; except, a program meeting the definition of a family child care home will not be licensed as a day care center without meeting the requirements of WAC 388-150-020(5).
(ii) "School-age child care center" means a program operating in a facility other than a private residence accountable for school-age children when school is not in session. The facility must meet department of licensing requirements and provide adult supervised care and a variety of developmentally appropriate activities.
(iii) "Family child day care home" means the same as "family child care home" and "a child day care facility" licensed by the state, located in the family abode of the person or persons under whose direct care and supervision the child is placed, for the care of twelve or fewer children, including children who reside at the home. Electrical plan review not required.
Plan review for educational, institutional or health care facilities and other buildings.
(15) Plan review is a part of the electrical inspection process; its primary purpose is to determine:
(a) That service/feeder conductors are calculated and sized according to the proper NEC or WAC article or section;
(b) The classification of hazardous locations; and
(c) The proper design of emergency and standby systems.
(16) Electrical plan review.
(a) Electrical plan review is not required for:
(i) Lighting specific projects that result in an electrical load reduction on each feeder involved in the project;
(ii) Low voltage systems;
(iii) Modifications to existing electrical installations where all of the following conditions are met:
• Service or distribution equipment involved is rated not more than 400 amperes and does not exceed 250 volts;
• Does not involve emergency systems other than listed unit equipment per NEC 700.12(F);
• Does not involve branch circuits or feeders of an essential electrical system as defined in NEC 517.2; and
• Service and feeder load calculations are increased by 5% or less.
(iv) Stand-alone utility fed services that do not exceed 250 volts, 400 amperes where the project's distribution system does not include:
• Emergency systems other than listed unit equipment per NEC 700.12(F);
• Critical branch circuits or feeders as defined in NEC 517.2; or
• A required fire pump system.
(b) Electrical plan review is required for all other new or altered electrical projects in educational, institutional, or health care occupancies classified or defined in this chapter.
(c) If a review is required, the electrical plan must be submitted for review and approval before the electrical work is begun.
(d) Electrical plans.
(i) The plan must be submitted for plan review prior to beginning any electrical inspection. If a plan is rejected during the plan review process, no electrical inspection(s) may proceed until the plan is resubmitted and a conditional acceptance is granted.
(ii) The submitted plan will receive a preliminary review within seven business days after receipt by the department.
(iii) If the submitted plan:
Is rejected at the preliminary review, no inspection(s) will be made on the project.
Receives conditional acceptance, the permit holder may request a preliminary inspection(s) in writing to the department. The request must note that the preliminary inspection(s) is conditional and subject to any alterations required from the final plan review process.
(iv) Once the submitted plan has plan review approval, the approved plan must be available on the job site for use by the electrical inspector.
(v) The approved plan must be available on the job site, for use by the electrical inspector, prior to the final electrical inspection.
(vi) If the approved plan requires changes from the conditionally accepted plan, alterations to the project may be required to make the project comply with the approved plan.
(e) All electrical plans for educational facilities, hospitals and nursing homes must be prepared by, or under the direction of, a consulting engineer registered under chapter 18.43 RCW, and chapters 246-320, 180-29, and 388-97 WAC and stamped with the engineer's mark and signature.
(f) Refer plans for department review to the Electrical Section, Department of Labor and Industries, P.O. Box 44460, Olympia, Washington 98504-4460.
(g) Plans for projects within cities that perform electrical inspections within their jurisdiction, and provide an electrical plan review program that equals or exceeds the department's program in plans examiner minimum qualifications per chapter 19.28 RCW, must be submitted to that city for review, unless the agency regulating the installation specifically requires review by the department.
(h) Plans to be reviewed by the department must be legible, identify the name and classification of the facility, clearly indicate the scope and nature of the installation and the person or firm responsible for the electrical plans. The plans must clearly show the electrical installation or alteration in floor plan view, include switchboard and/or panelboard schedules and when a service or feeder is to be installed or altered, must include a riser diagram, load calculation, fault current calculation and interrupting rating of equipment. Where existing electrical systems are to supply additional loads, the plans must include documentation that proves adequate capacity and ratings. The plans must be submitted with a plan review submittal form available from the department. Plan review fees are not required to be paid until the review is completed. Plans will not be returned until all fees are paid. Fees will be calculated based on the date the plans are received by the department.
(i) The department may perform the plan review for new or altered electrical installations of other types of construction when the owner or electrical contractor makes a voluntary request for review.
(j) For existing structures where additions or alterations to feeders and services are proposed, Article 220.35(1) NEC may be used. If Article 220.35(1) NEC is used, the following is required:
(i) The date of the measurements.
(ii) A statement attesting to the validity of the demand data, signed by a professional electrical engineer or the electrical administrator of the electrical contractor performing the work.
(iii) A diagram of the electrical system identifying the point(s) of measurement.
(iv) Building demand measured continuously on the highest-loaded phase of the feeder or service over a thirty-day period, with demand peak clearly identified. (Demand peak is defined as the maximum average demand over a fifteen-minute interval.)
Wiring methods for designated building occupancies.
(17) Wiring methods, equipment and devices for health or personal care, educational and institutional facilities as defined or classified in this chapter and for places of assembly for one hundred or more persons must comply with Tables 010-1 and 010-2 of this chapter and the notes thereto. The local building authority will determine the occupant load of places of assembly.
(18) Listed tamper-resistant receptacles or listed tamper-resistant receptacle cover plates are required in all licensed day care centers, all licensed children group care facilities and psychiatric patient care facilities where accessible to children five years of age and under. Listed tamper-resistant receptacles are required in psychiatric patient care facilities where accessible to psychiatric patients over five years of age.
Notes to Tables 010-1 and 010-2.
1. Wiring methods in accordance with the NEC unless otherwise noted.
2. Metallic or nonmetallic raceways, MI, MC, or AC cable, except that in places of assembly located within educational or institutional facilities, wiring methods must conform to NEC 518.4(a). Places of assembly located within educational or institutional facilities may not be wired according to NEC 518.4 (b) or (c).
3. Limited energy system may use wiring methods in accordance with the NEC.
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[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. 06-05-028, § 296-46B-010, filed 2/7/06, effective 5/1/06; 05-10-024, § 296-46B-010, filed 4/26/05, effective 6/30/05. 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-010, 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-010, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]
(2) "Accreditation" is a determination by the department that a laboratory meets the requirements of this chapter and is therefore authorized to evaluate electrical products that are for sale in the state of Washington.
(3) "Administrative law judge" means an administrative law judge (ALJ) appointed pursuant to chapter 34.12 RCW and serving in board proceedings pursuant to chapter 19.28 RCW and this chapter.
(4) "ANSI" means American National Standards Institute. Copies of ANSI standards are available from the National Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards, Inc.
(5) "Appeal" is a request for review of a department action by the board as authorized by chapter 19.28 RCW.
(6) "Appellant" means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity that has filed an appeal or request for board review.
(7) "Appliance" means household appliance.
(8) "ASTM" means the American Society for Testing and Materials. Copies of ASTM documents are available from ASTM International.
(9) "AWG" means American Wire Gauge.
(10) "Basement" means that portion of a building that is partly or completely below grade plane. A basement shall be considered as a story above grade plane and not a basement where the finished surface of the floor above the basement is:
(a) More that 1829 mm (six feet) above grade plane;
(b) More than 1829 mm (six feet) above the finished ground level for more than 50% of the total building perimeter; or
(c) More than 3658 mm (twelve feet) above the finished ground level at any point. Also see "mezzanine" and "story."
(11) "Board" means the electrical board established and authorized under chapter 19.28 RCW.
(12) "Chapter" means chapter 296-46B WAC unless expressly used for separate reference.
(13) "Category list" is a list of nonspecific product types determined by the department.
(14) A "certified electrical product" is an electrical product to which a laboratory, accredited by the state of Washington, has the laboratory's certification mark attached.
(15) A "certification mark" is a specified laboratory label, symbol, or other identifying mark that indicates the manufacturer produced the product in compliance with appropriate standards or that the product has been tested for specific end uses.
(16) "Certificate of competency" includes the certificates of competency for master journeyman electrician, master specialty electrician, journeyman, and specialty electrician.
(17) A laboratory "certification program" is a specified set of testing, inspection, and quality assurance procedures, including appropriate implementing authority, regulating the evaluation of electrical products for certification marking by an electrical products certification laboratory.
(18) A "complete application" includes the submission of all appropriate fees, documentation, and forms.
(19) "Construction," for the purposes of chapter 19.28 RCW, means electrical construction.
(20) "Coordination (selective)" as defined in NEC 100 shall be determined and documented by a professional engineer registered under chapter 18.43 RCW.
(21) "Department" means the department of labor and industries of the state of Washington.
(22) "Director" means the director of the department, or the director's designee.
(23) "Electrical equipment" includes electrical conductors, conduit, raceway, apparatus, materials, components, and other electrical equipment not exempted by RCW 19.28.006(9). Any conduit/raceway of a type listed for electrical use is considered to be electrical equipment even if no wiring is installed in the conduit/raceway at the time of the conduit/raceway installation.
(24) An "electrical products certification laboratory" is a laboratory or firm accredited by the state of Washington to perform certification of electrical products.
(25) An "electrical products evaluation laboratory" is a laboratory or firm accredited by the state of Washington to perform on-site field evaluation of electrical products for safety.
(26) "Exit, and unobstructed (as applied to NEC 110.26 (C)(2)(a))" means an exit path that allows a worker to travel to the exit from any other area in the room containing the equipment described in NEC 110.26 (C)(2) without having to pass through that equipment's required working space.
(27) "Field evaluated" means an electrical product to which a field evaluation mark is attached. Field evaluation must include job site inspection unless waived by the department, and may include component sampling and/or laboratory testing.
(28) "Field evaluation mark" is a specified laboratory label, symbol, or other identifying mark indicating the manufacturer produced the product in essential compliance with appropriate standards or that the product has been evaluated for specific end uses.
(29) A "field evaluation program" is a specified set of testing, inspection, and quality assurance procedures, including appropriate implementing authority regulating the testing and evaluation of electrical products for field evaluation marking.
(30) The "filing" is the date the document is actually received in the office of the chief electrical inspector.
(31) "Final judgment" means any money that is owed to the department under this chapter, including fees and penalties, or any money that is owed to the department as a result of an individual's or contractor's unsuccessful appeal of a citation.
(32) "Fished wiring" is when cable or conduit is installed within the finished surfaces of an existing building or building structure (e.g., wall, floor or ceiling cavity).
(33) "Household appliance" means utilization equipment installed in a dwelling unit that is built in standardized sizes or types and is installed or connected as a unit to perform one or more functions such as cooking and other equipment installed in a kitchen, clothes drying, clothes washing, portable room air conditioning units and portable heaters, etc. Fixed electric space-heating equipment covered in NEC 424 (furnaces, baseboard and wall heaters, electric heat cable, etc.) and fixed air-conditioning/heat pump equipment (NEC 440) are not household appliances. Household appliance does not mean any utilization equipment that:
(a) Supplies electrical power, other than Class 2, to other utilization equipment; or
(b) Receives electrical power, other than Class 2, through other utilization equipment.
(34) HVAC/refrigeration specific definitions:
(a) "HVAC/refrigeration" means heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration.
(b) "HVAC/refrigeration component" means electrical power and limited energy components within the "HVAC/refrigeration system," including, but not limited to: Pumps, compressors, motors, heating coils, controls, switches, thermostats, humidistats, low-voltage damper controls, outdoor sensing controls, outside air dampers, stand-alone duct smoke detectors, air monitoring devices, zone control valves and equipment for monitoring of HVAC/refrigeration control panels and low-voltage connections. This definition excludes equipment and components of non-"HVAC/refrigeration control systems."
(c) "HVAC/refrigeration control panel" means an enclosed, manufactured assembly of electrical components designed specifically for the control of a HVAC/refrigeration system. Line voltage equipment that has low voltage, NEC Class 2 control or monitoring components incidental to the designed purpose of the equipment is not an HVAC/refrigeration control panel (e.g., combination starters).
(d) "HVAC/refrigeration control system" means a network system regulating and/or monitoring a HVAC/refrigeration system. Equipment of a HVAC/refrigeration control system includes, but is not limited to: Control panels, data centers, relays, contactors, sensors, and cables related to the monitoring and control of a HVAC/refrigeration system(s).
(e) "HVAC/refrigeration equipment" means the central unit primary to the function of the "HVAC/refrigeration system." HVAC/refrigeration includes, but is not limited to: Heat pumps, swamp coolers, furnaces, compressor packages, and boilers.
(f) "HVAC/refrigeration system" means a system of HVAC/refrigeration: Wiring, equipment, and components integrated to generate, deliver, or control heated, cooled, filtered, refrigerated, or conditioned air. This definition excludes non-HVAC/refrigeration control systems (e.g., fire alarm systems, intercom systems, building energy management systems, and similar non-HVAC/refrigeration systems) (see Figure 920-1 and Figure 920-2).
(35) "IBC" means the International Building Code. Copies of the IBC are available from the International Code Council.
(36) An "individual" or "party" or "person" means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, government subdivision or unit thereof, or other entity.
(37) An "installation" includes the act of installing, connecting, repairing, modifying, or otherwise performing work on an electrical system, component, equipment, or wire except as exempted by WAC 296-46B-925.
(38) An "identification plate" is a phenolic or metallic plate or other similar material engraved in block letters at least 1/4" (6 mm) high unless specifically required to be larger by this chapter, suitable for the environment and application. The letters and the background must be in contrasting colors. Screws, rivets, or methods specifically described in this chapter must be used to affix an identification plate to the equipment or enclosure.
(39) "License" means a license required under chapter 19.28 RCW.
(40) "Labeled" means an electrical product that bears a certification mark issued by a laboratory accredited by the state of Washington.
(41) A "laboratory" may be either an electrical product(s) certification laboratory or an electrical product(s) evaluation laboratory.
(42) A "laboratory operations control manual" is a document to establish laboratory operation procedures and may include a laboratory quality control manual.
(43) "Like-in-kind" means having similar characteristics such as voltage requirement, current draw, circuit overcurrent and short circuit characteristics, and function within the system and being in the same location. Like-in-kind also includes any equipment component authorized by the manufacturer as a suitable component replacement part.
(44) "Lineman" is a person employed by a serving electrical utility or employed by a licensed general electrical contractor who carries, on their person, evidence that they:
(a) Have graduated from a department-approved lineman's apprenticeship course; or
(b) Are currently registered in a department-approved lineman's apprenticeship course and are working under the direct one hundred percent supervision of a journeyman electrician or a graduate of a lineman's apprenticeship course approved by the department. The training received in the lineman's apprenticeship program must include training in applicable articles of the currently adopted National Electrical Code.
(45) "Listed" means equipment has been listed and identified by a laboratory approved by the state of Washington for the appropriate equipment standard per this chapter.
(46) "Low voltage" means:
(a) NEC, Class 1 power limited circuits at 30 volts maximum.
(b) NEC, Class 2 circuits powered by a Class 2 power supply as defined in NEC 725.41(A).
(c) NEC, Class 3 circuits powered by a Class 3 power supply as defined in NEC 725.41(A).
(d) Circuits of telecommunications systems as defined in chapter 19.28 RCW.
(47) "Mezzanine" is the intermediate level or levels between the floor and ceiling of any story with an aggregate floor area of not more than one-third of the area of the room or space in which the level or levels are located. Also see "basement" and "story."
(48) "NEC" means National Electrical Code. Copies of the NEC are available from the National Fire Protection Association.
(49) "NEMA" means National Electrical Manufacturer's Association. Copies of NEMA standards are available from the National Electrical Manufacturer's Association.
(50) "NESC" means National Electrical Safety Code. Copies of the NESC are available from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
(51) "NETA" means International Electrical Testing Association, Inc. Copies of the NETA standards and information are available from the International Electrical Testing Association, Inc.
(52) "NFPA" means the National Fire Protection Association. Copies of NFPA documents are available from the National Fire Protection Association.
(53) "NRTL" means Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory accredited by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after meeting the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7.
(54) "Point of contact" for utility work, means the point at which a customer's electrical system connects to the serving utility system.
(55) "Proceeding" means any matter regarding an appeal before the board including hearings before an administrative law judge.
(56) "Public area or square" is an area where the public has general, clear, and unrestricted access.
(57) A "quality control manual" is a document to maintain the quality control of the laboratory's method of operation. It consists of specified procedures and information for each test method responding to the requirements of the product standard. Specific information must be provided for portions of individual test methods when needed to comply with the standard's criteria or otherwise support the laboratory's operation.
(58) "RCW" means the Revised Code of Washington. Copies of electrical RCWs are available from the department and the office of the code reviser.
(59) A "stand-alone amplified sound or public address system" is a system that has distinct wiring and equipment for audio signal generation, recording, processing, amplification, and reproduction. This definition does not apply to telecommunications installations.
(60) "Service" or "served" means that as defined in RCW 34.05.010(19) when used in relation to department actions or proceedings.
(61) "Story" is that portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above. Next above means vertically and not necessarily directly above. Also see "basement" and "mezzanine."
(62) "Structure," for the purposes of this chapter and in addition to the definition in the NEC, means something constructed either in the field or factory that is used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy as defined by the IBC.
(63) A "telecommunications local service provider" is a regulated or unregulated (e.g., by the Federal Communications Commission or the utilities and transportation commission as a telephone or telecommunications provider) firm providing telecommunications service ahead of the telecommunications network demarcation point to an end-user's facilities.
(64) "TIA/EIA" means the Telecommunications Industries Association/Electronic Industries Association which publishes the TIA/EIA Telecommunications Building Wiring Standards. Standards and publications are adopted by TIA/EIA in accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) patent policy.
(65) A "training school" is a public community or technical college or not-for-profit nationally accredited technical or trade school licensed by the work force training and education coordinating board under chapter 28C.10 RCW.
(66) "Under the control of a utility" for the purposes of RCW 19.28.091 and 19.28.101 is when electrical equipment is not owned by a utility and:
(a) Is located in a vault, room, closet, or similar enclosure that is secured by a lock or seal so that access is restricted to the utility's personnel; or
(b) The utility is obligated by contract to maintain the equipment and the contract provides that access to the equipment is restricted to the utility's personnel or other qualified personnel.
(67) "UL" means Underwriters Laboratory.
(68) "Utility" means an electrical utility.
(69) "Utility system" means electrical equipment owned by or under the control of a serving utility that is used for the transmission or distribution of electricity from the source of supply to the point of contact.
(70) "Utilization voltage" means the voltage level employed by the utility's customer for connection to lighting fixtures, motors, heaters, or other electrically operated equipment other than power transformers.
(71) "Variance" is a modification of the electrical requirements as adopted in chapter 19.28 RCW or any other requirements of this chapter that may be approved by the chief electrical inspector if assured that equivalent objectives can be achieved by establishing and maintaining effective safety.
(72) "WAC" means the Washington Administrative Code. Copies of this chapter of the WACs are available from the department and the office of the code reviser.
[]
OTS-9190.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-05-028, filed 2/7/06,
effective 5/1/06)
WAC 296-46B-110
General -- Requirements for electrical
installations.
012 Mechanical execution of work.
(1) Unused openings. Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, cutout boxes, meter socket enclosures, equipment cases, or housings shall be effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment. Where metallic plugs or plates are used with nonmetallic enclosures, they shall be recessed at least 6 mm (1/4") from the outer surface of the enclosure. Unused openings do not include weep holes, unused mounting holes, or any other opening with less than .15 square inches of open area.
016 Flash protection.
(2) The flash protection marking required by NEC 110.16 must be an identification plate or label approved by the electrical inspector and may be installed either in the field or in the factory. The plate or label may be mounted using adhesive.
022 Identification of disconnecting means.
(3) For the purposes of legibly marking a disconnecting means, as required in NEC 110.22, an identification plate is required unless the disconnect is a circuit breaker/fused switch installed within a panelboard and the circuit breaker/fused switch is identified by a panelboard schedule. In other than dwelling units, the identification plate must include the identification designation of the circuit source panelboard that supplies the disconnect.
(4) Where electrical equipment is installed to obtain a series combination rating, the identification as required by NEC 110.22, must be in the form of an identification plate that is substantially yellow in color. The words "CAUTION - SERIES COMBINATION RATED SYSTEM" must be on the label in letters at least 13 mm (1/2") high.
030 Over 600 volts - general.
(5) Each cable operating at over 600 volts and installed on customer-owned systems must be legibly marked in a permanent manner at each termination point and at each point the cable is accessible. The required marking must use phase designation, operating voltage, and circuit number if applicable.
((Class B basic electrical inspection.
(6) Only licensed electrical/telecommunication contractors can use the Class B basic electrical inspection - random inspection process. Health care, large commercial, or industrial facilities using an employee who is a certified electrician(s) can use the Class B basic electrical inspection - random inspection process after permission from the chief electrical inspector.
(7) If the Class B basic electrical inspection - random inspection process is used, the following requirements must be met:
(a) The certified electrician/telecommunications worker performing the installation must affix a Class B installation label on the cover of the panelboard or overcurrent device supplying power to the circuit or equipment prior to beginning the work.
(b) The job site portion of the label must include the following:
(i) Date of the work;
(ii) Electrical/telecommunication contractor's name;
(iii) Electrical/telecommunication contractor's license number;
(iv) Installing electrician's certificate number, except for telecommunication work; and
(v) Short description of the work.
(c) The contractor portion of the label must include the following:
(i) Date of the work;
(ii) Electrical/telecommunication contractor's license number;
(iii) Installing electrician's certificate number, except for telecommunication work;
(iv) Job site address;
(v) Contact telephone number for the job site (to be used to arrange inspection); and
(vi) Short description of the work.
(d) The label must be filled in using sunlight and weather resistant ink.
(e) The electrical/telecommunication contractor must return the contractor's portion of the label to the Department of Labor & Industries, Electrical Section, Chief Electrical Inspector, P.O. 4460, Olympia, WA 98506-4460 within fifteen working days after the job site portion of the Class B installation label is affixed.
(8) Class B basic installation labels will be sold in blocks. Installations where a Class B basic installation label is used will be inspected on a random basis as determined by the department.
(a) If any such random inspection fails, a subsequent label in the block must be inspected.
(b) If any such subsequent installation fails inspection, another label in the block must be inspected until a label is approved without a correction(s).
(c) A fee is required for any inspection required when a correction(s) is issued as a result of the inspection of any Class B label or if an inspection is required because of (a) or (b) of this subsection. See WAC 296-46B-905(15) for fees.
(9) Any electrical/telecommunication contractor or other entity using the Class B basic electrical inspection - random inspection process may be audited for compliance with the provisions for purchasing, inspection, reporting of installations, and any other requirement of usage.
(10) Class B basic electrical work means work other than Class A basic electrical work. See WAC 296-46B-900(8) for Class A definition.
(a) Class B basic electrical work includes the following:
(i) Extension of not more than one branch electrical circuit limited to one hundred twenty volts and twenty amps each where:
(A) No cover inspection is necessary. For the purposes of this section, cover inspection does not include work covered by any surface that may be removed for inspection without damaging the surface; and
(B) The extension does not supply more than two devices or outlets as defined by the NEC. A device allowed in an extended circuit includes: General use snap switches/receptacles, luminaires, thermostats, speakers, etc., but does not include wiring/cabling systems, isolating switches, magnetic contactors, motor controllers, etc.
(ii) Like-in-kind replacement of:
(A) A single luminaire not exceeding two hundred seventy-seven volts and twenty amps; or
(B) A motor larger than ten horsepower; or
(C) The internal wiring of a furnace, air conditioner, refrigeration unit or household appliance; or
(D) An electric/gas/oil furnace not exceeding 240 volts and 100 amps when the furnace is connected to an existing branch circuit. For the purposes of this section, a boiler is not a furnace; or
(E) An individually controlled electric room heater (e.g., baseboard, wall, fan forced air, etc.), air conditioning unit or refrigeration unit not exceeding 240 volts, 30 minimum circuit amps when the unit is connected to an existing branch circuit; or
(F) Circuit modification required to install not more than five residential load control devices in a residence where installed as part of an energy conservation program sponsored by an electrical utility and where the circuit does not exceed 240 volts and 30 amps.
(iii) The following low voltage systems:
(A) Repair and replacement of devices not exceeding one hundred volt-amperes in Class 2, Class 3, or power limited low voltage systems in one- and two-family dwellings; or
(B) Repair and replacement of devices not exceeding one hundred volt-amperes in Class 2, Class 3, or power limited low voltage systems in other buildings, provided the equipment is not for fire alarm or nurse call systems and is not located in an area classified as hazardous by the NEC; or
(C) The installation of device(s) or wiring for Class 2 or 3 thermostat, audio, security, burglar alarm, intercom, amplified sound, public address, or access control systems. This does not include fire alarm, nurse call, lighting control, industrial automation/control or energy management systems; or
(D) Telecommunications cabling and equipment requiring inspection in RCW 19.28.470;
(iv) The replacement of not more than ten standard receptacles with GFCI receptacles;
(v) The conversion of not more than ten snap switches to dimmers for the use of controlling a luminaire(s) conversion.
(b) Class B basic electrical work does not include any work in:
(i) Areas classified as Class (I), Class (II), Class (III), or Zone locations per NEC 500; or
(ii) Areas regulated by NEC 517 or 680; or
(iii) Any work where electrical plan review is required; or
(iv) Fire alarm, nurse call, lighting control, industrial automation/control or energy management systems.))
[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. 06-05-028, § 296-46B-110, filed 2/7/06, effective 5/1/06; 05-22-025, § 296-46B-110, filed 10/25/05, effective 11/25/05; 05-10-024, § 296-46B-110, filed 4/26/05, effective 6/30/05. 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-110, 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-110, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]
OTS-8992.3
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-05-028, filed 2/7/06,
effective 5/1/06)
WAC 296-46B-210
Wiring and protection -- Branch circuits.
008B Other than dwelling units - GFCI requirements.
(1) GFCI requirements.
All 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in wet locations must have Class A ground-fault circuit interrupter protections for personnel.
011 Branch circuits.
(2) Circuits must be taken to all unfinished spaces adaptable to future dwelling unit living areas that are not readily accessible to the service or branch circuit panelboard. The circuits must terminate in a suitable box(es). The box must contain an identification of the intended purpose of the circuit(s). The branch circuit panelboard must have adequate space and capacity for the intended load(s).
012 Arc-fault circuit-interrupter protection.
(3) For the purpose of NEC 210.12(B), Dwelling Unit Bedroom spaces that:
(a) Are accessed only through the bedroom;
(b) Are ancillary to the bedroom's function; and
(c) Contain branch circuits that supply 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere, outlets must be protected by an arc-fault circuit interrupter listed to provide protection per NEC 210.12.
For the purposes of this section, such spaces will include, but not be limited to, spaces such as closets and sitting areas, but will not include bathrooms.
025 Common area branch circuits.
(4) For the purpose of NEC 210.25, loads for septic or water well systems that are shared by no more than two dwelling units may be supplied from either of the two dwelling units if approved by the local building official and local health department.
051(B)(5) Receptacle outlet locations.
(((4))) (5) Receptacle outlets installed in appliance
garages may be counted as a required countertop outlet.
052(A)(2) Dwelling unit receptacle outlets.
(((5))) (6) For the purpose of NEC 210.52 (A)(2)(1),
"similar openings" include the following configurations that
are a permanent part of the dwelling configuration or finish:
(a) Window seating; and
(b) Bookcases or cabinets that extend from the floor to a level at least 1.7 meters (five (5) feet six (6) inches) above the floor.
Any outlets eliminated by such window seating, bookcases, or cabinets must be installed elsewhere within the room.
052(C) Countertops.
(((6))) (7) A receptacle(s) is not required to be
installed in the area directly behind a sink or range as shown
in NEC 210.52, Figure 210.52. Outlets must be installed
within 24" on either side of a sink or range as shown in
Figure 210.52.
(((7))) (8) If it is impracticable to install the
outlet(s) required in NEC 21.52 (C)(3), a receptacle is not
required on any peninsular counter surface as required by NEC
210.52 (C)(3) so long as the peninsular counter area extends
no farther than 6' from the face of the adjoining countertop.
Any outlet(s) eliminated using this subsection must be
installed in the wall space at the point where the peninsula
connects to the wall countertop in addition to the outlets
required by NEC 210.52 (C)(1).
[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. 06-05-028, § 296-46B-210, filed 2/7/06, effective 5/1/06; 05-10-024, § 296-46B-210, filed 4/26/05, effective 6/30/05. 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-210, 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-210, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]
001 General service requirements.
(1) The owner, the owner's agent, or the electrical contractor making the installation must consult the serving utility regarding the utility's service entrance requirements for equipment location and meter equipment requirements before installing the service and equipment. Provisions for a meter and related equipment, an attachment of a service drop, or an underground service lateral must be made at a location acceptable to the serving utility. The point of contact for a service drop must permit the clearances required by the NEC.
(2) A firewall must have a minimum two-hour rating as defined by the local building official to be considered a building separation in accordance with Article 100 NEC.
(3) The height of the center of the service meter must be as required by the serving utility. Secondary instrument transformer metering conductor(s) are not permitted in the service raceway.
028 Service or other masts.
(4) Conduit extended through the roof to provide means of attaching:
(a) All overhead drops for service, feeder, or branch circuits exceeding #1 AWG aluminum or #3 AWG copper must be rigid steel galvanized conduit no smaller than two inches.
(b) All overhead drops for service, feeder or branch circuits not exceeding #1 AWG aluminum or #3 AWG copper must be rigid steel galvanized conduit no smaller than one and one-quarter inch. The installation must comply with drawings E-101 and/or E-102, or must provide equivalent strength by other approved means. Masts for altered or relocated installations will be permitted to comply with drawing E-103.
(c) For the purposes of NEC 225.19 and 230.24, a residential patio cover, that is not over one story and not over twelve feet in height and is used only for recreation or outdoor living purposes and not as a carport, garage, storage room or habitable room as described in Appendix Chapter 1 in the IBC and Appendix Chapter H in the IRC, is not considered a roof. Overhead conductor spans must maintain a minimum 900 mm (36") clearance above these covers.
| STRICKEN GRAPHIC |
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| Notes to drawings E-101, E-102, and E-103 | |
| (1) An approved roof flashing must be installed on each mast where it passes through a roof. Plastic, nonhardening mastic must be placed between lead-type flashings and the conduit. Neoprene type flashings will also be permitted to be used. | |
| (2) Masts must be braced, secured, and supported in such a manner that no pressure from the attached conductors will be exerted on a roof flashing, meter base, or other enclosures. | |
| (3) Utilization of couplings for a mast are permitted only below the point the mast is braced, secured, or supported. | |
| (4) Except as otherwise required by the serving utility, service mast support guys must be installed if the service drop attaches to the mast more than twenty-four inches above the roof line or if the service drop is greater than one hundred feet in length from the pole or support. Masts for support of other than service drops must comply with this requirement as well. | |
| (5) Intermediate support masts must be installed in an approved manner with methods identical or equal to those required for service masts. | |
| (6) For altered services, where it is impractical to install U bolt mast supports due to interior walls remaining closed, it will be permissible to use other alternate mast support methods such as heavy gauge, galvanized, electrical channel material that is secured to two or more wooden studs with five-sixteenths inch diameter or larger galvanized lag bolts. | |
| (7) Conductors must extend at least eighteen inches from all mastheads to permit connection to the connecting overhead wiring. |
(5) Two-family and multiple-occupancy buildings. A second or additional service drop or lateral to a building having more than one occupancy will be permitted to be installed at a location separate from other service drops or laterals to the building provided that all the following conditions are complied with:
(a) Each service drop or lateral must be sized in accordance with the NEC for the calculated load to be served by the conductors;
(b) Each service drop or lateral must terminate in listed metering/service equipment;
(c) Each occupant must have access to the occupant's service disconnecting means;
(d) No more than six service disconnects may be supplied from a single transformer;
(e) All service drops or laterals supplying a building must originate at the same transformer or power supply;
(f) A permanent identification plate must be placed at each service disconnect location that identifies all other service disconnect locations in or on the building, the area or units served by each, the total number of service disconnecting means on the building/structure and the area or units served. If a structure consists of multiple buildings (i.e., by virtue of fire separation), all service disconnects in or on the entire structure must be labeled to identify all service disconnects in or on the structure; and
(g) A permanent identification plate must be placed at each feeder disconnecting means identifying the area or units served if the feeder disconnecting means is remote from the area or unit served.
042 Service conductor - size and rating.
(6) If the service conductors have a lesser ampacity than the overcurrent protection or the equipment rating that they terminate in or on, an identification plate showing the ampacity of the conductors must be installed on the service equipment.
043 Wiring methods for 600 volts, nominal or less.
(7) The installation of service conductors not exceeding 600 volts, nominal, within a building or structure is limited to the following methods: Galvanized or aluminum rigid metal conduit; galvanized intermediate metal conduit; wireways; busways; auxiliary gutters; rigid nonmetallic conduit; cablebus; or mineral-insulated, metal-sheathed cable (type MI).
(8) Electrical metallic tubing must not be installed as the wiring method for service entrance conductors inside a building. Existing electrical metallic tubing, installed prior to October 1984, which is properly grounded and used for service entrance conductors may be permitted to remain if the conduit is installed in a nonaccessible location and is the proper size for the installed conductors.
(9) In addition to methods allowed in the NEC, the grounded service conductor is permitted to be identified with a yellow jacket or with one or more yellow stripes.
062 Service equipment - general.
(10) Service equipment, subpanels, and similar electrical equipment must be installed so that they are readily accessible and may not be installed in bathrooms, clothes closets, or shower rooms. All indoor service equipment and subpanel equipment must have adequate working space and be adequately illuminated.
(11) Temporary construction service equipment may only be used for construction purposes and must be disconnected when the permanent service is connected unless the department grants an extension of time.
070 Service disconnecting means.
(12) The service disconnecting means must be installed at a readily accessible location in accordance with (a) or (b) of this subsection.
(a) Outside location: Service disconnecting means will be permitted on the building or structure or within sight and within fifteen feet of the building or structure served. The building disconnecting means may supply only one building/structure. The service disconnecting means must have an identification plate with one-half-inch high letters identifying:
(i) The building/structure served; and
(ii) Its function as the building/structure main service disconnect(s).
(b) Inside location: When the service disconnecting means is installed inside the building or structure, it must be located so that the service raceway extends no more than fifteen feet inside the building/structure.
095 Ground-fault protection of equipment.
(13) Equipment ground-fault protection systems required by the NEC must be tested prior to being placed into service to verify proper installation and operation of the system as determined by the manufacturer's published instructions. This test or a subsequent test must include all service voltage feeders. A firm having qualified personnel and proper equipment must perform the tests required. A copy of the manufacturer's performance testing instructions and a written performance acceptance test record signed by the person performing the test must be provided for the inspector's records at the time of inspection. The performance acceptance test record must include test details including, but not limited to, all trip settings and measurements taken during the test.
200 Wiring methods exceeding 600 volts.
(14) The installation of service conductors exceeding 600 volts, nominal, within a building or structure must be limited to the following methods: Galvanized rigid metal conduit, galvanized intermediate metal conduit, schedule 80 rigid nonmetallic conduit, metal-clad cable that is exposed for its entire length, cablebus, or busways.
(15) In addition to methods allowed in the NEC, the grounded service conductor is permitted to be identified with a yellow jacket or with one or more yellow stripes.
[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, and 19.28.551. 05-10-024, § 296-46B-230, filed 4/26/05, effective 6/30/05. 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-230, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]
032 Two or more buildings or structures.
(1) Effective August 1, 2003, an equipment grounding conductor must be installed with the circuit conductors between buildings and/or structures. A grounded conductor (i.e., neutral) is not permitted to be used in place of a separate equipment grounding conductor between buildings and/or structures.
052 Grounding electrodes.
(2) If a ground resistance test is not performed to ensure a resistance to ground of twenty-five ohms or less, two or more electrodes as specified in NEC 250.52 must be installed a minimum of six feet apart. However, a temporary construction service is not required to have more than one made electrode.
(3) If a concrete encased electrode is installed, inspection may be accomplished by the following methods:
(a) At the time of inspection of other work on the project, providing the concrete encased electrode is accessible for a visual inspection;
(b) At the time of the service inspection providing the installer has provided a method so the inspector can verify the continuity of the electrode conductor along its entire length (e.g., attaching a length of copper wire to one end of the electrode that reaches the location of the grounding electrode conductor that will enable the inspector to measure the resistance with a standard resistance tester). The concrete encased electrode does not have to be accessible for a visual inspection; or
(c) Other method when prior approval, on a job site basis, is given by the inspector.
If a special inspection trip is required to inspect a grounding electrode conductor, a trip fee will be charged for that inspection in addition to the normal permit fee.
056 Resistance of rod, pipe, and plate electrodes.
(4) For services only, when multiple buildings or structures are located adjacent, but structurally separate from each other, any installed rod, pipe, or plate electrodes used for those services must be installed so that each building's or structure's electrodes are not less than 1.8 m (6 ft) apart from the adjacent building's or structure's electrodes.
090 Bonding.
(((3))) (5) Metallic stubs or valves used in nonmetallic
plumbing systems are not required to be bonded to the
electrical system unless required by an electrical equipment
manufacturer's instructions.
(((4))) (6) Hot and cold water plumbing lines are not
required to be bonded together if, at the time of inspection,
the inspector can determine the lines are mechanically and
electrically joined by one or more metallic mixing valves.
184 Solidly grounded neutral systems over 1 kV.
(((5))) (7) In addition to the requirements of NEC
250.184(A), the following applies for:
(a) Existing installations.
(i) The use of a concentric shield will be allowed for use as a neutral conductor for extension, replacement, or repair, if all of the following are complied with:
(A) The existing system uses the concentric shield as a neutral conductor;
(B) Each individual conductor contains a separate concentric shield sized to no less than thirty-three and one-half percent of the ampacity of the phase conductor for three-phase systems or one hundred percent of the ampacity of the phase conductor for single-phase systems;
(C) The new or replacement cable's concentric shield is enclosed inside an outer insulating jacket; and
(D) Existing cable (i.e., existing cable installed directly in the circuit between the work and the circuit's overcurrent device) successfully passes the following tests:
• A cable maintenance high potential dielectric test. The test must be performed in accordance with the cable manufacturer's instruction or the 2001 NETA maintenance test specifications; and
• A resistance test of the cable shield. Resistance must be based on the type, size, and length of the conductor used as the cable shield using the conductor properties described in NEC Table 8 Conductor Properties.
An electrical engineer must provide a specific certification to the electrical plan review supervisor in writing that the test results of the maintenance high potential dielectric test and the resistance test have been reviewed by the electrical engineer and that the cable shield is appropriate for the installation. The electrical engineer must stamp the certification document with the engineer's stamp and signature. The document may be in the form of a letter or electrical plans.
Testing results are valid for a period of seven years from the date of testing. Cable will not be required to be tested at a shorter interval.
(ii) A concentric shield used as a neutral conductor in a multigrounded system fulfills the requirements of an equipment grounding conductor.
(b) New installations.
(i) New installations do not include extensions of existing circuits.
(ii) The use of the concentric shield will not be allowed for use as a neutral conductor for new installations. A listed separate neutral conductor meeting the requirements of NEC 250.184(A) must be installed.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031,