WSR 99-02-069

INTERPRETIVE AND POLICY STATEMENT

DEPARTMENT OF

LABOR AND INDUSTRIES

[Filed January 6, 1999, 11:03 a.m.]

In accordance with RCW 34.05.230(12), the following policies and interpretive statements were recently issued by the department:

Plumber Certification Policy 98-11, "Medical Gas Piping Installer Endorsements," provides consistent interpretation of RCW 18.106.010 (5), (6), and (7) as revised by the legislature in 1997. These RCWs define medical gas piping, medical gas piping installer, and the activities involved in the craft of plumbing. Additionally, this policy clearly identifies specific work activity and installations relating to medical gas, hospitals, and clinics, and health care facilities that do not fall within the scope of "plumbing."

FAS (Factory Assembled Structures) Policy 98-02, provides clarification of RCW 43.22.450 through 43.22.490 regarding closed construction units, open construction units that arrive and are closed on site, and open construction units that remain open.

Electrical Inspection Policy 98-13, "Electrical Work Performed by Leaseholders," provides that for electrical installations or alterations to existing buildings, in accordance with RCW 19.28.610, any person or entity holding a valid, signed, lease from the property owner shall be allowed to do electrical work on or within the building or structure described in the lease: PROVIDED, that the lease is for a minimum term of twenty-four months, and, PROVIDED FURTHER, that the lessor has granted the lessee the right to do electrical maintenance and installation as a condition of the lease. The lessee and/or his/her full-time, nonproject employees shall make the electrical maintenance and installation. Lease-options shall not quality [qualify] as part of the term of the lease. The lessee must be the primary occupant of the building or structure for a period of not less than twenty-four months and shall not rent, lease, or sublease any portion of the building or structure to others. The conditions for wiring new buildings that are for rent, sale or lease are defined in RCW 19.28.610.

Electrical Policy 98-14, "Performing Volunteer Electrical Work," provides that when assisting a householder, RCW 19.28.610(2) allows a friend, neighbor, relative, or other person to assist a householder, at his/her residence, in the performance of electrical work, on the condition that the person assisting the householder does not accept money or other forms of compensation for the volunteer work. When assisting other property owners, there are no exceptions from the electrical contractor license or electrician certification requirements to allow persons to perform volunteer electrical work for nonprofit organizations, i.e., churches, Habitat for Humanity, senior centers, etc.

For the purpose of RCW 19.28.610, if it can be demonstrated that the local nonprofit organization owns the building or structure, then the organization may engage an (01) electrical contractor, licensed in the state of Washington, to oversee the electrical installation, and the organizations' members or volunteers that have proper certification as electricians or trainees may perform the electrical work. The electrical contractor shall provide on-site supervision by an EL01 journeyman electrician certified by the department and ensure the proper ratio of certified volunteer electricians and trainees is maintained at all times. The supervising journeyman electrician must be on the site at all times that the electrical work is being performed by the properly certified volunteers.

The electrical contractor shall purchase the electrical work permit. It is the responsibility of the electrical contractor and the electrical administrator to ensure that the electrical installation is in compliance with the requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW, chapters 296-46 and 296-401A WAC, and the currently adopted edition of the National Electrical Code.

If you have any questions [and/or] need additional information, please call 902-4216.

Donna Copeland

Legislative and Governmental

Affairs Office

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office