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Chapter 19.28 Revised Code of Washington

 

        

 

What you will learn in Lesson 5

• Scope of work for equipment repair specialty

• Definition of utilization equipment

• Scope of work for servicing, maintaining, repairing, or replacing utilization equipment

• Work that is required to be inspected

• How disputes over nonconforming work are handled

• The value of penalties

• The appeal process

 

RCW 19.28.095
Equipment repair specialty -- Scope of work.

(1) The scope of work for the equipment repair specialty involves servicing, maintaining, repairing, or replacing utilization equipment.

     (2) "Utilization equipment" means equipment that is:

(a) Self-contained on a single skid or frame

(b) Factory built to standardized sizes or types

(c) Listed or field evaluated by a laboratory or approved by the department under WAC 296-46B-030; and

(d) Connected as a single unit to a single source of electrical power limited to a maximum of six hundred volts. The equipment may also be connected to a separate single source of electrical control power limited to a maximum of two hundred fifty volts.

Utilization equipment does not include devices used for occupant space heating by industrial, commercial, hospital, educational, public, and private commercial buildings, and other end users.

     (3) "Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or replacing utilization equipment" includes: 

(a) The like-in-kind replacement of the equipment if the same unmodified electrical circuit is used to supply the equipment being replaced;

(b) The like-in-kind replacement or repair of remote control components that are integral to the operation of the equipment;

 (c) The like-in-kind replacement or repair of electrical components within the equipment; and

 (d) The disconnection, replacement, and reconnection of low-voltage control and line voltage supply whips not over six feet in length provided there are no modifications to the characteristics of the branch circuit.

    

(4) "Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or replacing utilization equipment" does not include:

(a) The installation, repair, or modification of wiring that interconnects equipment and/or remote components, branch circuit conductors, services, feeders, panelboards, disconnect switches, motor control centers, remote magnetic starters/contactors, or raceway/conductor systems interconnecting multiple equipment or other electrical components;

(b) Any work providing electrical feeds into the power distribution unit or installation of conduits and raceways; or

(c) Any electrical work governed under article(s) 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 510, 511, 513, 514, 515, or 516 NEC (i.e., classified locations), except for electrical work in sewage pumping stations.

RCW 19.28.101
Inspections -- Notice to repair and change -- Disconnection -- Entry -- Concealment -- Accessibility -- Connection to utility -- Permits, fees -- Limitation.

(1) The director shall cause an inspector to inspect all wiring, appliances, devices, and equipment to which this chapter applies except for basic electrical work as defined in this chapter. The department may not require an electrical work permit for class A basic electrical work unless deficiencies in the installation or repair require inspection. The department may inspect class B basic electrical work on a random basis as specified by the department in rule. Nothing contained in this chapter may be construed as providing any authority for any subdivision of government to adopt by ordinance any provisions contained or provided for in this chapter except those pertaining to cities and towns pursuant to RCW 19.28.010(3).

     (2) Upon request, electrical inspections will be made by the department within forty-eight hours, excluding holidays, Saturdays, and Sundays. If, upon written request, the electrical inspector fails to make an electrical inspection within twenty-four hours, the serving utility may immediately connect electrical power to the installation if the necessary electrical work permit is displayed: PROVIDED, That if the request is for an electrical inspection that relates to a mobile home installation, the applicant shall provide proof of a current building permit issued by the local government agency authorized to issue such permits as a prerequisite for inspection approval or connection of electrical power to the mobile home.

     (3) Whenever the installation of any wiring, device, appliance, or equipment is not in accordance with this chapter, or is in such a condition as to be dangerous to life or property, the person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity owning, using, or operating it shall be notified by the department and shall within fifteen days, or such further reasonable time as may upon request be granted, make such repairs and changes as are required to remove the danger to life or property and to make it conform to this chapter.

The director, through the inspector, is hereby empowered to disconnect or order the discontinuance of electrical service to conductors or equipment that are found to be in a dangerous or unsafe condition and not in accordance with this chapter. Upon making a disconnection the inspector shall attach a notice stating that the conductors have been found dangerous to life or property and are not in accordance with this chapter. It is unlawful for any person to reconnect such defective conductors or equipment without the approval of the department, and until the conductors and equipment have been placed in a safe and secure condition, and in a condition that complies with this chapter.

     (4) The director, through the electrical inspector, has the right during reasonable hours to enter into and upon any building or premises in the discharge of his or her official duties for the purpose of making any inspection or test of the installation of new construction or altered electrical wiring, electrical devices, equipment, or material contained in or on the buildings or premises. No electrical wiring or equipment subject to this chapter may be concealed until it has been approved by the inspector making the inspection. At the time of the inspection, electrical wiring or equipment subject to this chapter must be sufficiently accessible to permit the inspector to employ any testing methods that will verify conformance with the national electrical code and any other requirements of this chapter.

     (5) Persons, firms, partnerships, corporations, or other entities making electrical installations shall obtain inspection and approval from an authorized representative of the department as required by this chapter before requesting the electric utility to connect to the installations. Electric utilities may connect to the installations if approval is clearly indicated by certification of the electrical work permit required to be affixed to each installation or by equivalent means, except that increased or relocated services may be reconnected immediately at the discretion of the utility before approval if an electrical work permit is displayed. The permits shall be furnished upon payment of the fee to the department.

     (6) The director, subject to the recommendations and approval of the board, shall set by rule a schedule of license and electrical work permit fees that will cover the costs of administration and enforcement of this chapter. The rules shall be adopted in accordance with the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. No fee may be charged for plug-in mobile homes, recreational vehicles, or portable appliances.

     (7) Nothing in this chapter shall authorize the inspection of any wiring, appliance, device, or equipment, or installations thereof, by any utility or by any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity employed by a utility in connection with the installation, repair, or maintenance of lines, wires, apparatus, or equipment owned by or under the control of the utility. All work covered by the national electric code not exempted by the 1981 edition of the national electric code 90-2(B)(5) shall be inspected by the department.

 

RCW 19.28.101 inapplicable in certain cities, towns, electricity supply agency service areas, and rights of way of state highways: RCW 19.28.141.
 

 

RCW 19.28.111
Nonconforming installations -- Disputes -- Reference to board.

It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity to install or maintain any electrical wiring, appliances, devices, or equipment not in accordance with this chapter. In cases where the interpretation and application of the installation or maintenance standards prescribed in this chapter is in dispute or in doubt, the board shall, upon application of any interested person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity, determine the methods of installation or maintenance or the materials, devices, appliances, or equipment to be used in the particular case submitted for its decision.

RCW 19.28.121
Board -- Request for ruling -- Fee -- Costs.

Any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity desiring a decision of the board pursuant to RCW 19.28.111 shall, in writing, notify the director of such desire and shall accompany the notice with a certified check payable to the department in the sum of two hundred dollars. The notice shall specify the ruling or interpretation desired and the contention of the person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity as to the proper interpretation or application on the question on which a decision is desired. If the board determines that the contention of the applicant for a decision was proper, the two hundred dollars shall be returned to the applicant; otherwise it shall be used in paying the expenses and per diem of the members of the board in connection with the matter. Any portion of the two hundred dollars not used in paying the per diem and expenses of the board in the case shall be paid into the electrical license fund.

 

RCW 19.28.131
Violations of RCW 19.28.010 through 19.28.141 and 19.28.311 through 19.28.361 -- Schedule of penalties -- Appeal.

Any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity violating any of the provisions of RCW 19.28.010 through 19.28.141 and 19.28.311 through 19.28.361 shall be assessed a penalty of not less than fifty dollars or more than ten thousand dollars.

The department shall set by rule a schedule of penalties for violating RCW 19.28.010 through 19.28.141 and 19.28.311 through 19.28.361. The department shall notify the person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity violating any of the provisions of RCW 19.28.010 through 19.28.141 and 19.28.311 through 19.28.361 of the amount of the penalty and of the specific violation by certified mail, return receipt requested, sent to the last known address of the assessed party.

Any penalty is subject to review by an appeal to the board. The filing of an appeal stays the effect of the penalty until the board makes its decision. The appeal shall be filed within twenty days after notice of the penalty is given to the assessed party by certified mail, return receipt requested, sent to the last known address of the assessed party and shall be made by filing a written notice of appeal with the department. The notice shall be accompanied by a certified check for two hundred dollars, which shall be returned to the assessed party if the decision of the department is not sustained by the board. If the board sustains the decision of the department, the two hundred dollars shall be applied by the department to the payment of the per diem and expenses of the members of the board incurred in the matter, and any balance remaining after payment of per diem and expenses shall be paid into the electrical license fund. The hearing and review procedures shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW. The board shall assign its hearings to an administrative law judge to conduct the hearing and issue a proposed decision and order. The board shall be allowed a minimum of twenty days to review a proposed decision and shall issue its decision no later than the next regularly scheduled board meeting.

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