With some exceptions, a person doing installation, alteration, or maintenance of any electrical system or equipment must first purchase an electrical work permit. When the work is complete, the person must request an electrical inspection within three business days after completing the work or within one business day after any part of the installation has been energized. A person may be subject to civil penalties for failing to obtain required permits or inspections.
The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) administers the electrical requirements. Several cities issue their own permits and conduct their own inspections within their local city limits. L&I issues permits and conducts inspections throughout the state, except for within the cities that have their own inspection programs.
Electrical inspectors must meet certain minimum training and experience requirements. An electrical inspector must have:
The provision allowing electrical inspectors to have two years of electrical training in a college of electrical engineering and four years of practical electrical experience in installation work, or four years of electrical training in a college and two years of practical experience, is removed.
The term journeyperson electrician is changed to journey level electrician.
PRO: The bill removes two methods of becoming an electrical inspector that are seldom used and may not meet the standards of what we want for electrical inspectors. The bill only applies to electrical inspectors. Electrical inspectors need a broad range of experience and necessary education to ensure public safety.