(1) General electrical (01): A general electrical license and/or certificate encompasses all phases and all types of electrical and telecommunications installations and minor plumbing under RCW 18.106.150. For the purposes of RCW 18.106.150, the like-in-kind replacement includes the appliance or any component part of the appliance (e.g., such as, but not limited to, the thermostat in a water heater).

Specialties.

(2) All specialties listed in this subsection may perform the electrical work described within their specific specialty as allowed by the occupancy and location described within the specialty's scope of work. Except for residential (02), the scope of work for these specialties does not include plumbing work regulated under chapter 18.106 RCW. See RCW 18.106.150 for plumbing exceptions for the residential (02) specialty. For the purposes of RCW 18.106.150, the like-in-kind replacement includes the appliance or any component part of the appliance (e.g., such as, but not limited to, the thermostat in a water heater). Specialty (limited) electrical licenses and/or certificates are as follows:

(a) Residential (02): Limited to the telecommunications, low voltage, and line voltage wiring of one- and two-family dwellings, or multifamily dwellings of types III, IV or V construction when there are not more than six stories of multifamily dwellings of types III, IV or V construction above grade or above types I or II construction. All line voltage wiring for receptacle outlets and lighting outlets required by the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) adopted under WAC 296-46B-010 is limited to nonmetallic sheathed cable, except for: Wiring subject to physical damage, wiring embedded in masonry or concrete, wiring buried below grade or located in a wet location, wiring to unfinished space areas adaptable to future dwelling unit living areas, or wiring where nonmetallic sheathed cable is not allowed by installation standards adopted under this chapter.

(i) This specialty also includes the wiring for ancillary structures located on the same property and under the same ownership as the dwelling structure(s) such as, but not limited to: Appliances, equipment, swimming pools, septic pumping systems, domestic water systems, limited energy systems (e.g., doorbells, intercoms, fire alarm, burglar alarm, energy control, HVAC/refrigeration, etc.), multifamily complex offices/garages, site lighting when supplied from the residence or ancillary structure, and other structures directly associated with the functionality of the residential units.

(ii) This specialty does not include wiring of:

(A) Any portion of any occupancy of types I or II construction; or

(B) Occupancies defined in WAC 296-46B-900(1), or commercial occupancies such as: Motels, hotels, offices, assisted living facilities, or stores; or

(C) Services, generators, HVAC/refrigeration equipment, fire pumps or other equipment that serve other than one- and two-family dwellings, or multifamily dwellings of types III, IV, or V construction or ancillary structures, or facilities or equipment used primarily for commercial purposes except those directly associated with the functionality of multifamily complex residential units; or

(D) Interconnected electric power production sources not connected to equipment that supplies one- and two-family dwellings, or multifamily dwellings of types III, IV or V construction, or ancillary structures; or

(E) Any portion of wiring for conveyances regulated under chapter 70.87 RCW serving more than one residential dwelling unit.

(iii) For the purposes of this section, classification of types of construction are as determined by the local building official.

(iv) See RCW 18.106.150 for plumbing exceptions for the residential (02) specialty.

(b) Pump and irrigation (03): Limited to the electrical connection of circuits, feeders, controls, low voltage, related telecommunications, and services to supply: Domestic water systems and public water systems include but are not limited to pumps, pressurization, filtration, treatment, or other equipment and controls, and irrigation water pumps, circular irrigating system's pumps and pump houses.

This specialty may also perform the work defined in (c) of this subsection.

Also see RCW 18.106.010 (14)(c).

(c) Domestic pump (03A): Limited to the extension of a branch circuit, which is supplied and installed by others, to signaling circuits, motor control circuits, motor control devices, and pumps which do not exceed 7 1/2 horsepower at 250 volts AC single phase input power, regardless of motor controller output or motor voltage/phase, used in residential potable water or residential sewage disposal systems. Domestic water systems and public water systems include but are not limited to pumps, pressurization, filtration, treatment, or other equipment and controls.

Also see RCW 18.106.010 (14)(c).

(d) Signs (04): Limited to placement and connection of signs and outline lighting, the electrical supply, related telecommunications, controls and associated circuit extensions thereto; and the installation of a maximum 60 ampere, 120/240 volt single phase service to supply power to a remote sign only. This specialty may service, maintain, repair, or install retrofit kits within housings of existing exterior luminaires that are mounted on a pole or other structure with like-in-kind or retrofit kit components.

(i) Electrical licensing/certification is not required to:

(A) Clean the nonelectrical parts of an electric sign;

(B) Form or pour a concrete pole base used to support a sign;

(D) Assemble the structural parts of a billboard.

(ii) Electrical licensing/certification is required to: Install, modify, or maintain a sign, sign supporting pole, sign face, sign ballast, lamp socket, lamp holder, disconnect switch, or any other part of a listed electric sign.

(e) Limited energy system (06): Limited to the installation, repair, replacement, and maintenance of signaling and power limited circuits and related equipment. This specialty is restricted to low-voltage circuits. This specialty includes telecommunications, HVAC/refrigeration low-voltage wiring, fire protection signaling systems, intrusion alarms, energy management and control systems, industrial and automation control systems, lighting control systems, commercial and residential amplified sound, public address systems, and such similar low-energy circuits and equipment in all occupancies and locations.

(i) For the purposes of this section, when a line voltage connection is removed and reconnected to a replacement component located inside the control cabinet, the replacement must be like-in-kind or replaced using the equipment manufacturer's authorized replacement component. The line voltage circuit is limited to 120 volts 20 amps maximum and must have a means of disconnect.

(ii) The limited energy systems (06) specialty may repair or replace line voltage connections terminated inside the cabinet to power supplies internal to the low voltage equipment provided there are no modifications to the characteristics of the branch circuit/feeder load being supplied by the circuit.

(iii) The limited energy systems (06) specialty may not replace or modify the line voltage circuit or cabling or alter the means of connection of the line voltage circuit to the power supply or to the control cabinet.

Limited energy electrical contractors may perform all telecommunications work under their specialty (06) electrical license and administrator's certificate.

(f) HVAC/refrigeration system specialties:

(i) See WAC 296-46B-100 for specific HVAC/refrigeration definitions.

(ii) For the purposes of this section when a component is replaced, the replacement must be like-in-kind or made using the equipment manufacturer's authorized replacement component.

(iii) HVAC/refrigeration (06A):

(A) The (06A) specialty is not limited by voltage, phase, or amperage. No unsupervised electrical trainee can install, repair, replace, or maintain any part of a HVAC/refrigeration system that contains any circuit rated over 600 volts whether the circuit is energized or deenergized. This specialty may:

(I) Install, repair, replace, and maintain HVAC/refrigeration: Telecommunications, Class 2 low-voltage control circuit wiring/components in all residential occupancies;

(II) Install, repair, replace, and maintain line voltage components within HVAC/refrigeration equipment. Such line voltage components include product illumination luminaires installed within and powered from the HVAC/refrigeration system (e.g., reach-in beverage coolers, frozen food cases, produce cases, etc.) and new or replaced factory authorized accessories such as internally mounted outlets;

(III) Repair, replace, or maintain the internal components of the HVAC/refrigeration equipment disconnecting means or controller so long as the disconnecting means or controller is not located within a motor control center or panelboard;

(IV) Install, repair, replace, and maintain short sections of raceway to provide physical protection for low-voltage cables. For the purposes of this section a short section cannot mechanically interconnect two devices, junction boxes, or other equipment or components; and

(V) Repair, replace, or maintain line voltage flexible supply whips not over six feet in length, provided there are no modifications to the characteristics of the branch circuit/feeder load being supplied by the whip other than a reduction in the HVAC unit's rated maximum overcurrent protection size. There is no limitation on the whip raceway method (e.g., metallic replaced by nonmetallic).

(VI) Install, repair, replace, and maintain HVAC/refrigeration: Telecommunications, Class 2 low-voltage control circuit wiring/components in other than residential occupancies:

That have no more than three stories on/above grade; or

Regardless of the number of stories above grade if the installation:

• Is made in a previously occupied and wired space; and

• Is restricted to the HVAC/refrigeration system;

(VII) Repair, replace, and maintain HVAC/refrigeration: Telecommunications, Class 2 low-voltage control circuit wiring/components in all occupancies regardless of the number of stories on/above grade.

(VIII) Install a bonding conductor for metal gas piping to an existing accessible grounding electrode conductor or grounding electrode only when terminations can be made external to electrical panelboards, switchboards, or other distribution equipment.

(B) The (06A) HVAC/refrigeration specialty may not:

(I) Install line voltage controllers or disconnect switches external to HVAC/refrigeration equipment;

Exception:

If HVAC/R equipment is being replaced, this specialty may remove and replace a disconnecting means enclosure mounted on the surface of the HVAC/R equipment with a like-in-kind disconnecting means enclosure rated not more than 20 amperes and 120 volts using the existing wiring method. When performing this work, this specialty may install up to ten feet of raceway to provide physical protection for nonmetallic cables, but the raceway may not terminate in a panelboard.

(II) Install, repair, replace, or maintain:

• Integrated building control systems, other than HVAC/refrigeration systems;

• Single stand-alone line voltage equipment or components (e.g., heat cable, wall heaters, radiant panel heaters, baseboard heaters, contactors, motor starters, and similar equipment) unless the equipment or component:

Is exclusively controlled by the HVAC/refrigeration system and requires the additional external connection to a mechanical system(s) (e.g., connection to water piping, gas piping, refrigerant system, ducting for the HVAC/refrigeration system, gas fireplace flume, ventilating systems, etc. (i.e., as in the ducting connection to a bathroom fan)). The external connection of the equipment/component to the mechanical system must be required as an integral component allowing the operation of the HVAC/refrigeration system; or

Contains a HVAC/refrigeration mechanical system(s) (e.g., water piping, gas piping, refrigerant system, etc.) within the equipment (e.g., "through-the-wall" air conditioning units, self-contained refrigeration equipment, etc.);

• Luminaires that serve as a building or structure lighting source, even if mechanically connected to a HVAC/refrigeration system (e.g., troffer luminaire used as a return air device, lighting within a walk-in cooler/freezer used for personnel illumination);

• Raceway/conduit systems;

• Line voltage: Service, feeder, or branch circuit conductors. However, if a structure's feeder/branch circuit supplies HVAC/refrigeration equipment containing a supplementary overcurrent protection device(s), this specialty may install the conductors from the supplementary overcurrent device(s) to the supplemental HVAC/refrigeration equipment if the supplementary overcurrent device and the HVAC/refrigeration equipment being supplied are located within sight of each other; or

• Panelboards, switchboards, or motor control centers external to HVAC/refrigeration system.

(III) Install, repair, replace, or maintain: Any electrical wiring governed under article(s) 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 510, 511, 513, 514, 515, or 516 NEC (i.e., classified locations) located outside the HVAC/refrigeration equipment.

(iv) HVAC/refrigeration - Restricted (06B):

(A) The (06B) HVAC/refrigeration specialty may not perform any electrical work where the primary electrical power connection to the HVAC/refrigeration system exceeds: 250 volts, single phase, or 120 amps or electrical work outlined in (f)(iv)(B) of this subsection. The (06B) HVAC/refrigeration specialty may:

(I) Install, repair, replace, and maintain HVAC/refrigeration: Telecommunications, Class 2 low-voltage control circuit wiring/components in all residential occupancies;

(II) Install, repair, replace, or maintain HVAC/refrigeration: Telecommunications, Class 2 low-voltage control circuit wiring/components in other than residential occupancies that have no more than three stories on/above grade;

(III) Install, repair, replace, and maintain line voltage components within HVAC/refrigeration equipment. Such line voltage components include product illumination luminaires installed within and powered from the HVAC/refrigeration system (e.g., reach-in beverage coolers, frozen food cases, produce cases, etc.) and new or replaced factory authorized accessories such as internally mounted outlets;

(IV) Repair, replace, or maintain the internal components of the HVAC/refrigeration equipment disconnecting means or controller so long as the disconnecting means or controller is not located within a motor control center or panelboard;

(V) Install, repair, replace, and maintain short sections of raceway to provide physical protection for low-voltage cables. For the purposes of this section a short section cannot mechanically interconnect two devices, junction boxes, or other equipment or components; and

(VI) Repair, replace, or maintain line voltage flexible supply whips not over six feet in length, provided there are no modifications to the characteristics of the branch circuit/feeder load being supplied by the whip other than a reduction in the HVAC unit's rated maximum overcurrent protection size. There is no limitation on the whip raceway method (e.g., metallic replaced by nonmetallic).

(B) The (06B) HVAC/refrigeration specialty may not:

(I) Install line voltage controllers or disconnect switches external to HVAC/refrigeration equipment;

Exception:

(II) Install, repair, replace, or maintain:

• Integrated building control systems, other than HVAC/refrigeration systems;

• Raceway/conduit systems;

• Panelboards, switchboards, or motor control centers external to HVAC/refrigeration system.

(III) Install, repair, replace, or maintain:

• The allowed telecommunications/low-voltage HVAC/refrigeration wiring in a conduit/raceway system; or

• 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).

(g) Nonresidential maintenance (07): Limited to maintenance, repair and replacement of like-in-kind existing electrical equipment and conductors. This specialty does not include maintenance activities in residential dwellings defined in (a) of this subsection for the purposes of accumulating training experience toward qualification for the residential (02) specialty electrician examination.

(i) This specialty includes the installation and connections of temporary conductors and equipment for the purpose of load testing, not to exceed 600 volts.

(ii) For the purposes of replacement of electrical equipment, where the new equipment has a lower ampere rating than the equipment being replaced and there are no modifications to the ampacity rating of the existing conductors, this specialty may replace a device(s) that provides overcurrent or overload protection for the new equipment with a device(s) having a lower ampere rating in accordance with the nameplate rating of the new equipment.

(iii) This specialty may perform the work defined in (h), (i), (j), (k), and (l) of this subsection.

(h) Nonresidential lighting maintenance and lighting retrofit (07A): Limited to working within the housing of existing nonresidential luminaires for work related to repair, service, maintenance of luminaires and installation of energy efficiency lighting retrofit upgrades. This specialty includes replacement of ballasts, sockets, and the installation of listed lighting retrofit reflectors and kits. All work is limited to the luminaire body, except remote located ballasts may be replaced or retrofitted with approved products. This specialty does not include installing new luminaires or branch circuits; moving or relocating existing luminaires; or altering existing branch circuits.

(i) Residential maintenance (07B): This specialty is limited to residential dwellings as defined in WAC 296-46B-920 (2)(a), multistory dwelling structures with no commercial facilities, and the interior of dwelling units in multistory structures with commercial facilities. This specialty may maintain, repair, or replace (like-in-kind) existing electrical utilization equipment, and all permit exempted work as defined in WAC 296-46B-901.

This specialty is limited to equipment and circuits to a maximum of 250 volts, 60 amperes, and single phase maximum.

For the purpose of this specialty, "electrical equipment" does not include electrical conductors, raceway or conduit systems external to the equipment or whip. This specialty cannot perform any plumbing work regulated under chapter 18.106 RCW.

(j) Restricted nonresidential maintenance (07C): This specialty may maintain, repair, or replace (like-in-kind) existing electrical utilization equipment, and all permit exempted work as defined in WAC 296-46B-901 except for the replacement or repair of circuit breakers.

This specialty is limited to equipment and circuits to a maximum of 277 volts and 20 amperes for lighting branch circuits only and/or maximum 250 volts and 60 amperes for other circuits.

The replacement of luminaires is limited to in-place replacement required by failure of the luminaire to operate. Luminaires installed in suspended lay-in tile ceilings may be relocated providing: The original field installed luminaire supply whip is not extended or relocated to a new supply point; or if a manufactured wiring assembly supplies luminaire power, a luminaire may be relocated no more than eight feet providing the manufactured wiring assembly circuiting is not changed.

This specialty may disconnect and reconnect 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. For the purpose of this specialty, "electrical equipment" does not include electrical conductors, raceway or conduit systems external to the equipment or whip.

This specialty may perform the work defined in (h) and (i) of this subsection.

This specialty cannot perform any work governed under Article(s) 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 510, 511, 513, 514, 515, or 516 NEC (i.e., classified locations). This specialty cannot perform any plumbing work regulated under chapter 18.106 RCW.

(k) Appliance repair (07D): Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or replacing household appliances, small commercial/industrial appliances, and other small electrical utilization equipment.

(i) For the purposes of this subsection:

(A) The appliance or electrical utilization equipment must be self-contained and built to standardized sizes or types. The appliance/equipment must be connected as a single unit to a single source of electrical power limited to a maximum of 250 volts, 60 amperes, single phase.

(B) Appliances and electrical utilization equipment include, but are not limited to: Ovens, office equipment, vehicle repair equipment, commercial kitchen equipment, self-contained hot tubs and spas, grinders, and scales.

(C) Appliances and utilization equipment do not include systems and equipment such as: Alarm/energy management/similar systems, luminaires, furnaces/heaters/air conditioners/heat pumps, sewage disposal equipment, door/gate/similar equipment, or individual components installed so as to create a system (e.g., pumps, switches, controllers, etc.).

(ii) This specialty includes:

(A) The in-place like-in-kind replacement of the appliance or equipment if the same unmodified electrical circuit is used to supply the equipment being replaced. This specialty also includes the like-in-kind replacement of electrical components within the appliance or equipment;

(B) The disconnection 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; and

(C) The installation of an outlet box and outlet at an existing appliance or equipment location when converting the appliance from a permanent electrical connection to a plug and cord connection. Other than the installation of the outlet box and outlet, there can be no modification to the existing branch circuit supplying the appliance or equipment.

(iii) This specialty does not include:

(A) The installation, repair, or modification of branch circuits conductors, services, feeders, panelboards, disconnect switches, or raceway/conductor systems interconnecting multiple appliances, equipment, or other electrical components.

(B) Any work governed under Article(s) 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 510, 511, 513, 514, 515, or 516 NEC (i.e., classified locations).

(l) Equipment repair (07E): Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or replacing utilization equipment.

See RCW 19.28.095 for the equipment repair scope of work and definitions. This specialty cannot perform any plumbing work regulated under chapter 18.106 RCW.

(m) Telecommunications (09): Limited to the installation, maintenance, and testing of telecommunications systems, equipment, and associated hardware, pathway systems, and cable management systems.

(i) This specialty includes:

(A) Installation of open wiring systems of telecommunications cables.

(B) Surface nonmetallic raceways designated and used exclusively for telecommunications.

(D) Underground raceways designated and used exclusively for telecommunications and installed for additions or extensions to existing telecommunications systems not to exceed 50 feet inside the building.

(E) Incidental short sections of circular or surface metal raceway, not to exceed 10 feet, for access or protection of telecommunications cabling and installation of cable trays and ladder racks in telecommunications service entrance rooms, spaces, or closets.

(F) Audio or paging systems where the amplification is integrated into the telephone system equipment.

(G) Audio or paging systems where the amplification is provided by equipment listed as an accessory to the telephone system equipment and requires the telephone system for the audio or paging system to function.

(H) Closed circuit video monitoring systems if there is no integration of line or low-voltage controls for cameras and equipment. Remote controlled cameras and equipment are considered (intrusion) security systems and must be installed by appropriately licensed electrical contractors and certified electricians.

(I) Customer satellite and conventional antenna systems receiving a telecommunications service provider's signal. All receiving equipment is on the customer side of the telecommunications network demarcation point.

(ii) This specialty does not include horizontal cabling used for fire protection signaling systems, intrusion alarms, access control systems, patient monitoring systems, energy management control systems, industrial and automation control systems, HVAC/refrigeration control systems, lighting control systems, and stand-alone amplified sound or public address systems. Telecommunications systems may interface with other building signal systems including security, alarms, and energy management at cross-connection junctions within telecommunications closets or at extended points of demarcation. Telecommunications systems do not include the installation or termination of premises line voltage service, feeder, or branch circuit conductors or equipment. Horizontal cabling for a telecommunications outlet, necessary to interface with any of these systems outside of a telecommunications closet, is the work of the telecommunications contractor.

(n) Door, gate, and similar systems (10): This specialty may install, service, maintain, repair, or replace door/gate/similar systems electrical operator wiring and equipment.

(i) For the purposes of this subsection, door/gate/similar systems electrical operator systems include electric gates, doors, windows, awnings, movable partitions, curtains and similar systems. These systems include, but are not limited to: Electric gate/door/similar systems operators, control push buttons, key switches, key pads, pull cords, air and electric treadle, air and electric sensing edges, coil cords, take-up reels, clocks, photo electric cells, loop detectors, motion detectors, remote radio and receivers, antenna, timers, lock-out switches, stand-alone release device with smoke detection, strobe light, annunciator, control panels, wiring and termination of conductors.

(ii) This specialty includes:

(A) Low-voltage, NEC Class 2, door/gate/similar systems electrical operator systems where the door/gate/similar systems electrical operator system is not connected to other systems.

(B) Branch circuits originating in a listed door/gate/similar systems electric operator control panel that supplies only door/gate/similar systems system components providing: The branch circuit does not exceed 600 volts, 20 amperes and the component is within sight of the listed door/gate/similar systems electric operator control panel.

(C) Reconnection of line voltage power to a listed door/gate/similar systems electric operator control panel is permitted provided:

• There are no modifications to the characteristics of the branch circuit/feeder;

• The circuit/feeder does not exceed 600 volts, 20 amperes; and

• The conductor or conduit extending from the branch circuit/feeder disconnecting means or junction box does not exceed six feet in length.

(iii) This specialty does not include any work governed under Article(s) 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 510, 511, 513, 514, 515, or 516 NEC (i.e., classified locations). This specialty may not install, repair, or replace branch circuit (line voltage) conductors, services, feeders, panelboards, or disconnect switches supplying the door/gate/similar systems electric operator control panel.

(3) A specialty electrical contractor, other than the (06) limited energy specialty electrical contractor, may only perform telecommunications work within the equipment or occupancy limitations of their specialty electrical contractor's license. Any other telecommunications work requires a telecommunications contractor's license.

PDFWAC 296-46B-920

Electrical/telecommunications license/certificate types and scope of work.