Title 26: Chapter 15: Electricians and Electrical
Installations.
§ Definitions.
§ Exceptions.
(4) The construction,
repairs or maintenance of buildings used exclusively for agricultural purposes
on owner-occupied farms.
§ Rules Adopted by Board.
The electricians' licensing board created under section
901
of this title may adopt, amend, revise and repeal rules providing reasonable
standards and requirements applicable to any electrical installation as defined
in section 881 of this title, except as provided in sections 882 and 892 of
this title. The board, if it finds it practicable to do so, may adopt the
provisions of a nationally recognized electrical code under authority of this
section.
§ Work in Progress.
Rules adopted under section 891 of this title are not
applicable to the construction, repair or replacement of any electrical
installation if the work is commenced within 30 days following their adoption,
or to electrical installations in any structure standing or in the process of
construction at the time of their adoption.
§ Commencement of Work; Fees; Work Notice; Inspection of
Work; Certificate of Completion.
(a)
Electrical work in a complex structure shall not commence until a work notice
accompanied by the required fee is submitted to the department and the work
notice is validated by the department. There shall be a base fee of $ 40.00 for
each work notice, except for electrical work done in one and two family
residential dwellings. In addition to the base fee, the following fees shall be
charged:
(1) Services
(A) Temporary-$ 30.00.
(B) Permanent-1 phase and 3 phase through 400
amp-$ 35.00.
(C) Permanent-401 to
800 amp-$ 50.00.
(D) Permanent-801
amp and larger-$ 100.00.
(2) Transformers
(A) 1 to 25 KVA-$ 10.00 each.
(B) 26 to 75 KVA-$ 15.00 each.
(C) 76 to 200 KVA-$ 25.00 each.
(D) Over 200 KVA-$ 35.00 each.
(3) Motors and Generators
(A) Up to 5 hp, KW, KVA-$ 10.00
each.
(B) 5 to 25 hp, KW, KVA-$
10.00 each.
(C) 25 to 100 hp, KW,
KVA-$ 15.00 each.
(D) Over 100 hp,
KW, KVA-$ 25.00 each.
(4) Other electrical work
(A) Each panel and feeder after the main
disconnect-$ 35.00.
(B) Outlets for
receptacles, switches, fixtures, electric baseboard (per 50 units or portion
thereof)-$ 20.00.
(C) Yard lights
signs-$ 5.00 each.
(D) Fuel oil,
kerosene, LP, natural gas, and gasoline pumps-$ 15.00 each.
(E) Boilers, furnaces and other stationary
appliances-$ 10.00 each.
(F)
Elevators-$ 75.00 each.
(G)
Platform lifts-$ 40.00 each.
(H)
Fire alarm initiating, signaling, and associated devices (per 50 units or
portions thereof)-$ 30.00.
(I) Fire
alarm main panel and annunciator panels-$ 50.00 each.
(J) Fire pumps-$ 50.00.
(5) Reinspection fee. For each reinspection
for code violations, there will be a fee of $ 125.00.
(b) The commissioner may establish inspection
priorities for electrical inspections. Priorities shall be based on the
relative risks to persons and property, the type and size of the complex
structure and the type and number of electrical installations to be installed.
Electrical installations regulated by the board shall be inspected by the
commissioner or an electrical inspector in accordance with the procedures and
priorities established by the commissioner.
(c) An electrical installation in any part of
a complex structure shall not be covered unless it is inspected by an
electrical inspector. The provisions of this subsection may be specifically
waived by an electrical inspector in writing. Upon completion of a new
electrical installation, the applicant shall request a final inspection by an
electrical inspector in writing. Within five working days of receipt of the
application, the commissioner, or inspector, shall conduct an inspection,
establish a reasonable date for inspection or issue a waiver of
inspection.
(d) A certificate of
completion shall be issued if the commissioner or electrical inspector
determines after inspection that the installation is in compliance with the
standards and requirements adopted by the board.
(e) No part of a complex structure, in which
part a new electrical installation has been made, shall be sold or conveyed for
use or occupancy without first securing a certificate of completion for the new
electrical installation.
(f) The
commissioner or an inspector designated by the commissioner shall have
authority to enter any premises in which an electrical installation subject to
the rules of the board is being or has been installed, replaced or repaired for
the purpose of making such inspection as is necessary to carry out his
responsibilities under this subchapter. If the owner or occupant of the
premises refuses to permit entry by the commissioner, or an electrical
inspector, any superior court, on application of the commissioner, shall have
jurisdiction to issue an order enforcing such right of entry.
§ Energizing Installations.
(a) A new electrical installation in or on a
complex structure or an electrical installation used for the testing or
construction of a complex structure shall not be connected or caused to be
connected, to a source of electrical energy unless prior to such connection,
either a temporary or a permanent energizing permit is issued for that
installation by the commissioner or an electrical inspector.
(b) This section shall not be construed to
limit or interfere with a contractor's right to receive payment for electrical
work for which a certificate of completion has been granted.§ I ssuance of
Order by Commissioner.
If the commissioner finds a violation of the rules adopted
under section 891 of this title or that the structure is not in substantial
compliance with the safety requirements of the department for that structure,
the commissioner may issue an order directing the owner of the premises in
which the violation is found, or the owner's agent and the person doing the
work, to correct or remove the violation, withdraw validation of the work
notice or order the owner, any public utility or any private party furnishing
electricity to such installation to not connect or disconnect electrical energy
from all or any portion of the electrical system until the cited violation is
removed or corrected. The commissioner may order any one or a combination of
these options in order to effect compliance.
§ Request for Reconsideration; Appeals.
A person aggrieved by a refusal to grant a certificate of
completion under section 893 of this title or by an order under section 895 of
this title may request that the commissioner reconsider such refusal or order.
A request for reconsideration shall be made in writing and shall be filed with
the commissioner within 15 days after receipt of written notice of such refusal
or order. The commissioner shall review the refusal or order within 30 days of
the date the request for reconsideration is received. The commissioner shall
issue an order amending, modifying or affirming the prior refusal or order as
circumstances require within 30 days of the date of the review. A person
aggrieved by the commissioner's decision under this section may appeal to the
superior court which shall hear the matter de novo.
§ Administrative Penalties; Enforcement; Liability.
(a) The commissioner may, after
notice and an opportunity for a hearing, assess an administrative penalty of
not more than $ 1,000.00 for each violation against a person who violates any
rule adopted under this subchapter, or any order lawfully issued under this
subchapter. Penalties assessed under this section shall be based on the
severity of the violation according to rules adopted by the
commissioner.
(b) The superior
court for the county in which occurs a violation of any rule adopted or any
order lawfully issued under this subchapter, on application by the commissioner
shall have jurisdiction to issue an order enjoining or restraining such
violation. However, an election by the commissioner to proceed under this
subsection shall not limit or restrict the commissioner's authority to assess
an administrative penalty under subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Violation of any rule adopted under this
subchapter shall be prima facie evidence of negligence in any civil action for
damage or injury which is the result of the violation.
§ Municipal Inspection.
(a) A legislative body may establish
inspection procedures and appoint trained and qualified municipal inspectors to
conduct electrical inspections. If the commissioner determines that the
inspection procedures and the training and qualifications of the municipal
inspectors are sufficient, the commissioner may assign the department's
responsibility for conducting inspections of electrical installations regulated
by the board within that municipality to the municipality. An assignment of
responsibility under this section shall not affect the authority of the
commissioner under this subchapter. If the commissioner assigns responsibility
for municipal inspections under this section, the commissioner may exempt all
electrical installations within the municipality from inspection by the state
under section 893 of this title. The legislative body may establish reasonable
fees for inspections for the purpose of defraying the cost of the same. Such
fees will be in lieu of fees established under subsection 893(a) of this
title.
(b) Work notices,
certificates of completion and energizing permits shall be issued by municipal
inspectors in the same manner and subject to the same conditions that they are
issued by the state electrical inspectors under sections 893 and 894 of this
title shall apply to municipal inspections under this section.
(c) A municipal inspector shall have
authority to enter any premises in which an electrical installation subject to
rules adopted under section 891 of this title is being installed, replaced or
repaired for the purpose of making such inspection as is necessary to cany out
his or her responsibilities under this subchapter.
(d)
(1) If,
after inspection of the electrical installation, a violation of the rules of
the board is found, a municipal inspector may:
(A) issue an order directing the electrician
of record or the owner of the premises in which the violation is found, to
correct or remove the violation;
(B) withdraw validation of the work notice;
or
(C) order the owner, any public
utility or any private party furnishing electricity to such installation to
disconnect electrical energy from all or any portion of the electrical system
until the violation is removed or corrected.
(2) A municipal inspector may order any one
or combination of these options set forth in subdivision (1) of this
subsection, as necessary to effect compliance with the board's rules.
(e) Acceptance of an assignment of
responsibility under this section shall not preclude a municipality from
conducting its own electrical inspection program.
(f) A person aggrieved by a refusal of a
municipal inspector to issue a certificate of completion or by any other action
of a municipal inspector or the municipality relating to this section may
appeal to the commissioner by filing a written application for a hearing with
the commissioner within 15 calendar days after written notice of such refusal
or action. A person filing an application in accordance with this subsection,
shall be entitled to notice and an opportunity for a hearing before the
commissioner within 45 calendar days. Within 30 calendar days after the
hearing, the commissioner shall issue an order amending, modifying or affirming
the action by the municipal inspector or municipality.
(g) The results of all inspections conducted
by municipal inspectors under this section shall be reported monthly to the
commissioner. Reports shall include the date of inspections, locations of the
work inspected, the name and license number of the contractor performing the
work, violations found, orders issued and the date of any completion
certificates or energizing permits issued.
(h) Municipal inspectors shall participate in
training provided by the department of public safety. The department shall also
provide continuing consultation, review, and assistance as may be necessary to
municipal inspectors.
(i) The
commissioner may revoke an assignment of responsibility to a municipality
granted under this section if the commissioner determines that the training or
qualifications of the municipal inspectors or the inspection procedures adopted
by the legislative body are insufficient.
§ Private Inspections.
(a) Upon a determination that the resources
of the state and the municipality are insufficient to provide the approval or
inspection services required by this chapter, the commissioner may assign
responsibility for inspecting electrical installations on its own premises to a
private corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship that has an ongoing
need for services. Applications to conduct private inspections under this
section shall be in the manner prescribed by the commissioner.
(b) The commissioner may grant an application
under this section if he or she determines that the applicant has the ability
to carry out inspections. The commission shall consider at least the following
factors:
(1) the size of the
facility;
(2) self-insurance or
other indication of incentive and motivation for safety;
(3) whether the applicant's training program
for inspectors and inspection procedures are at least equivalent to the state's
program and procedures.
(c) A person authorized to perform private
inspections under this section shall:
(1)
participate in state-sponsored training programs:
(2) file monthly reports with the
commissioner containing the number and type of inspections, electrical
installations, violations for that month and the license numbers of the
electrical contractors performing work;
(3) permit electrical inspectors to perform
random inspections of the applicant's facility;
(4) pay the department an annual flat fee.
The amount of the fee shall be negotiated by the department and the applicant
and shall take into consideration the cost to the applicant of conducting
private inspections. The fee shall not exceed the fee established under section
893 of this title.
(d)
The commissioner may revoke an approval to conduct private inspections whenever
the commissioner determines that the training program is insufficient or that
the business has failed to comply with the provisions of subdivisions
(c)(1)-(3) of this section.
§ Electricians' Licensing Board.
(a) A board for the licensing of electricians
is created, to be known as the "electricians' licensing board."
(b) The board consists of the commissioner of
public safety or a member of that department designated by the commissioner and
four persons appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the
senate. The four appointed members shall serve for terms of three years,
beginning July 1 in the year of appointment, and they shall include one
licensed master electrician, one licensed journeyman electrician, one person
associated with the public electrical utility industry who is knowledgeable in
technical as well as operational issues of the electrical utility industry, and
one person associated with the fire insurance industry. No more than two
appointed members' terms shall expire in the same year.
(c) The governor shall appoint one of the
members of the board to serve as its chairman.
§ Master Electricians.
(a) To be eligible for licensure as a master
electrician, an applicant shall:
(1) have
been licensed as a journeyman electrician under this chapter for at least two
years; or
(2) have had comparable
experience and training, within or without this state, acceptable to the board;
and
(3) pass an examination to the
satisfaction of the board.
(b) Upon successful completion of the
examination and payment of the required fee, the applicant shall receive a
master electrician's license in the form of a wallet-size card. This license
shall be carried by the master electrician at all times while performing his or
her trade and shall be displayed upon request. Upon the request by the licensee
and upon payment of the required fee, the board shall issue a license
certificate suitable for framing.
(c) A person licensed under this chapter as a
master electrician is entitled to design, install, repair, maintain and replace
electrical installations including lightning rods, fire alarms and fire
detection systems as his principal business or in the course of another
business conducted by him, and may employ other persons licensed under this
chapter or electrician's helpers to perform work in connection with electrical
installations under his direction.
§ Journeyman Electricians.
(a) To be eligible for licensure as a
journeyman electrician an applicant shall:
(1) provide verification by the Vermont
apprenticeship council of completion of an apprenticeship in electrical wiring
which included both instruction and practice in work processes; or
(2) have had equivalent training and
experience, within or without this state, acceptable to the board;
and
(3) pass an examination to the
satisfaction of the board.
(b) Upon successful completion of the
examination and payment of the required fee, the applicant shall receive a
journeyman electrician's license in the form of a wallet-size card. This
license shall be carried by the journeyman at all times while performing his or
her trade and shall be displayed upon request. Upon request by the licensee and
payment of the required fee, the board shall issue a license certificate
suitable for framing.
(c) A person
licensed under this chapter as a journeyman electrician is entitled to perform
electrical installations under the direction of a master electrician, and may
supervise an apprentice electrician or an electrician's helper employed by a
master electrician under the master electrician's direction.
§ Type-S Journeyman Electrician.
(a) To be eligible for licensure as a type-S
journeyman an applicant shall:
(1) complete
an accredited training and experience program recognized by the board;
or
(2) have had training and
experience, within or without this state, acceptable to the board;
and
(3) pass an examination to the
satisfaction of the board in one or more of the following fields:
(A) Automatic gas or oil heating;
(B) Outdoor advertising;
(C) Refrigeration or air
conditioning;
(D) Appliance and
motor repairs;
(E) Well
pumps;
(F) Farm
equipment;
(G) Any miscellaneous
specified area of specialized competence.
(b) Upon successful completion of the
examination and payment of the required fee for each field in which a license
is to be issued, the applicant shall receive a license in the form of a
wallet-size card which shall be carried at all times while performing his or
her trade and shall be displayed upon request. Upon request of the licensee and
upon payment of the required fee, the board shall issue a license certificate
suitable for framing.
§ Application; Examinations and Fees.
(a) Each applicant for a license shall submit
to the board, on forms furnished by it, a written application containing such
relevant information as the board may require, accompanied by the required
examination fee. The examination fee shall be established by the board but
shall be no greater than the cost associated with administering the
examination. Notwithstanding
32 V.S.A.
§
502(a), if the
examination is conducted by an outside testing service, the required
examination fee may be paid directly to the testing service.
(b) Examinations shall be conducted in
writing and shall include a practical skills examination. The examination shall
cover theoretical and practical aspects of electrical work, together with
pertinent laws and rules. In addition, the master electrician's examination
shall contain questions on the installation of lightning rods, fire alarms and
fire detection systems.
(c) An
applicant who fails the examination may, upon payment of the required fee,
retake the examination.
(d)
Three-year electrical license fees shall be:
For a masters license (initial and renewal) $ 150.00;
For a journeyman's license (initial and renewal) $
115.00;
For a type-S journeyman's license (initial and renewal) per
field $ 115.00;
The fee for a certificate for framing shall be: $
10.00.
(e) If a license is
allowed to lapse, it may be renewed within one year of its expiration date by
the payment of $ 25.00 in addition to the renewal fee.
(f) The fee for replacement of a lost or
damaged license shall be: $ 20.00.
§ Examinations Not Required.
Licenses shall be issued without examination on payment of
the required fee. A master's or journeyman's license, as the case may be, shall
be issued to a person to whom a master electrician's license or a journeyman
electrician's license has been previously issued by another state, whose
standards are equivalent to those of this state, if under the laws or
regulations of the state issuing the license a similar privilege is granted to
electricians licensed under the laws of this state.
§ Recognition of Experience in or out of State.
The board, in determining the qualifications of an applicant
for a license, may in its discretion give recognition, in the case of an
application for a master's license, to the applicant's experience as a licensed
journeyman in another state, or in the case of an application for a
journeyman's license, to an apprenticeship served in another state, or may
otherwise give recognition to experience or prior qualifications.
§ Expiration and Renewal of Licenses; Continuing
Education.
(a) All licenses expire on
the last day of a month designated by the board. A license shall be valid for
three years. The board shall renew the license of a person holding a valid
license issued under this chapter on receipt of an application for renewal and
the required fee on or before the expiration date of his license, except as
provided in section 892 of this title.
(b) All journeyman and master electricians
shall, as a condition of license renewal, complete 15 hours of instruction,
approved by the board, on the national electrical code during the preceding
36-month period. All holders of a type-S journeyman license shall, as a
condition of renewal, complete eight hours of instruction, approved by the
board, on the subject of the license holder's specialty during the preceding 36
months, except that holders of multiple type-S licenses shall not be required
to complete more than 15 hours of instruction during the preceding 36 months.
§ Revocation, Suspension and Refusing of Renewal of
License.
The board, after notice to the licensee and opportunity for
hearing, may revoke or suspend a license issued under this chapter, or refuse
to renew the license of a person who has made application for renewal:
(1) If the license was wrongfully or
fraudulently obtained;
(2) If the
licensee has violated or failed to comply with any provision of this chapter,
or any rule, regulation or requirement adopted under this chapter;
(3) If the licensee is found by the board to
be unqualified to hold the license.
§ License Not Required.
A license shall not be required for the following types of
work:
(1) Any electrical work,
including construction, installation, operation, maintenance and repair of
electrical installations in, on or about equipment or premises, which are owned
or leased by the operator of any industrial or manufacturing plant, if the work
is done under the supervision of an electrical engineer or master electrician
in the employ of the operator;
(2)
Installation in laboratories of exposed electrical wiring for experimental
purposes only;
(3) Any electrical
work by an owner or his or her regular employees in the owner's freestanding
single unit residence, in outbuildings accessory to such freestanding single
unit residence or any structure on owner-occupied farms;
(4) Electrical installations performed as a
part of a training project of a vocational school or other educational
institution. However, the installation shall be inspected if the building in
which the installation is made, is to be used as a "complex
structure";
(5) Electrical work
performed by an electrician's helper under the direct supervision of a person
who holds an appropriate license issued under this chapter;
(6) Any electrical work in a building used
for dwelling or residential purposes which contains no more than two dwelling
units.
(7) Installation of solar
electric modules and racking on complex structures to the point of connection
to field-fabricated wiring and erection of net metered wind turbines.
§ Penalty.
Any person who installs, replaces or repairs any electrical
installation except as provided in sections 882 and
910
of this title, without first obtaining an appropriate license under this
subchapter, or employs a person to make any electrical installation for which
he is not properly licensed under this chapter, or procures any license
wrongfully or by fraud, shall be fined not more than $ 500.00 for each
offense.
§ License Fees and Licenses.
All licenses shall be issued by the chairman of the
board.
§ Members of Board; Per Diem and Expenses.
Each appointed member of the board is entitled to a per diem
and expenses as provided in
32 V.S.A. §
1010.
§ Employment of Inspectors; Appropriation.
The department of public safety is authorized to employ
inspectors as necessary for carrying out the responsibilities of the
commissioner under section 893 of this title.
Appendix II Section 7.8. Illumination of Means of Egress
(NFPA 101; Life Safety Code, 2012 Edition).
7.8 Illumination of Means of Egress.
7.8.1 General.
7.8.1.1 Illumination of means of egress shall
be provided in accordance with Section 7.8 for every building and structure
where required in Chapter 11 through Chapter 42. For the purposes of this
requirement, exit access shall include only designated stairs, aisles,
corridors, ramps, escalators, and passageways leading to an exit. For the
purposes of this requirement, exit discharge shall include only designated
stairs, aisles, corridors, ramps, escalators, walkways, and exit passageways
leading to a public way.
7.8.1.2
Illumination of means of egress shall be continuous during the time that the
conditions of occupancy require that the means of egress be available for use,
unless otherwise provided in 7.8.1.2.2.
7.8.1.2.1 Artificial lighting shall be
employed at such locations and for such periods of time as are necessary to
maintain the illumination to the minimum criteria values herein
specified.
7.8.1.2.2 Automatic,
motion sensor-type lighting switches shall be permitted within the means of
egress, provided that the switch controllers are equipped for fail-safe
operation, the illumination timers are set for a minimum 15-minute duration,
and the motion sensor is activated by any occupant movement in the area served
by the lighting units.
7.8.1.3 The floors and other walking surfaces
within an exit and within the portions of the exit access and exit discharge
designated in 7.8.1.1 shall be illuminated as follows:
(1) During conditions of stair use, the
minimum illumination for new stairs shall be at least 108 lux (10 ft-candle),
measured at the walking surfaces.
(2) The minimum illumination for floors and
walking surfaces, other than new stairs, shall be to values of at least 10.8
lux (1 ft-candle), measured at the floor.
(3) In assembly occupancies, the illumination
of the floors of exit access shall be at least 2.2 lux (0.2 ft-candle) during
periods of performances or projections involving directed light.
(4) * The minimum illumination requirements
shall not apply where operations or processes require low lighting
levels.
7.8.1.4 Required
illumination shall be arranged so that the failure of any single lighting unit
does not result in an illumination level of less than 2.2 lux (0.2 ft-candle)
in any designated area.
7.8.1.5 The
equipment or units installed to meet the requirements of Section 7.10 also
shall be permitted to serve the function of illumination of means of egress,
provided that all requirements of Section 7.8 for such illumination are
met.
7.8.2 Sources of
Illumination.
7.8.2.1 Illumination of means
of egress shall be from a source considered reliable by the authority having
jurisdiction.
7.8.2.2
Battery-operated electric lights and other types of portable lamps or lanterns
shall not be used for primary illumination of means of egress. Battery-operated
electric lights shall be permitted to be used as an emergency source to the
extent permitted under Section 7.9.
Appendix III
How to Obtain Standards and Reference Documents.
American Society for Testing and Materials
1311 U.S. Route 302
West Conshohocken PA 19428-2959
1311 U.S. Route 302
www.astm.org/
National Fire Protection Association
1311 U.S. Route 302
Quincy Mass 02269-9101
1311 U.S. Route 302
www.nfpa.org/
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
1311 U.S. Route 302
Northbrook IL 60062
1311 U.S. Route 302
www.ul.com/
IEEE Operations Center
1311 U.S. Route 302
Piscataway, N.J.08854-4141
Phone: (732) 981-0060
Appeendix IV
How to Contact the Division of Fire Safety.
The Division of Fire Safety has four regional offices:
Barre:
1311 U.S. Route 302
Suite 500
Barre, VT 05641
Main Phone: (802) 479-4434
Toll Free: (888) 870-7888
Fax: (802) 479-4446
Rutland:
56 Howe St.
Building A, Suite 200
Rutland, VT 05701
Main Phone: (802) 786-5867
Toll Free: (888) 370-4834
Fax: (802) 768-5872
Springfield:
100 Mineral St.
Suite 307
Springfield, VT 05156
Main Phone: (802) 585-8883
Toll Free: (866) 404-8883
Fax: (802) 885-8885
Williston:
372 Hurricane Lane
Suite 102
Williston, VT 05495
Main Phone: (802) 879-2300
Toll Free: (800) 366-8325
Fax: (802) 879-2312
The Division of Fire Safety Main Office is:
1311 U.S. Route 302 - Suite 600 Barre, VT 05641
Main Phone: (802) 479-4761 Toll Free: (800) 640-2106 Fax:
(802) 479-4762
www.firesafety.vermont.gov
