1、NEMA Standards PublicationNational Electrical Manufacturers AssociationNEMA FRP 1-2015The Importance of Licensing, Permitting, and Inspection to NEMA Member CompaniesA NEMA Field Representative Program Document NEMA FRP 1-2015 The Importance of Licensing, Permitting, and Inspection to NEMA Member Co
2、mpanies Published by: National Electrical Manufacturers Association 1300 North 17th Street, Suite 900 Rosslyn, Virginia 22209 www.nema.org 2015 National Electrical Manufacturers Association. All rights, including translation into other languages, reserved under the Universal Copyright Convention, th
3、e Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, and the International and Pan American copyright conventions. 2015 National Electrical Manufacturers Association NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER The information in this publication was considered technically sound by the consensus of person
4、s engaged in the development and approval of the document at the time it was developed. Consensus does not necessarily mean that there is unanimous agreement among every person participating in the development of this document. NEMA standards and guideline publications, of which the document contain
5、ed herein is one, are developed through a voluntary consensus standards development process. This process brings together volunteers and/or seeks out the views of persons who have an interest in the topic covered by this publication. While NEMA administers the process and establishes rules to promot
6、e fairness in the development of consensus, it does not write the document and it does not independently test, evaluate, or verify the accuracy or completeness of any information or the soundness of any judgments contained in its standards and guideline publications. NEMA disclaims liability for any
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8、lied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein, and disclaims and makes no warranty that the information in this document will fulfill any of your particular purposes or needs. NEMA does not undertake to guarantee the performance of any individual manufacturer or seller
9、s products or services by virtue of this standard or guide. In publishing and making this document available, NEMA is not undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity, nor is NEMA undertaking to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to someone
10、 else. Anyone using this document should rely on his or her own independent judgment or, as appropriate, seek the advice of a competent professional in determining the exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances. Information and other standards on the topic covered by this publication may
11、 be available from other sources, which the user may wish to consult for additional views or information not covered by this publication. NEMA has no power, nor does it undertake to police or enforce compliance with the contents of this document. NEMA does not certify, test, or inspect products, des
12、igns, or installations for safety or health purposes. Any certification or other statement of compliance with any health- or safety-related information in this document shall not be attributable to NEMA and is solely the responsibility of the certifier or maker of the statement. NEMA FRP 1-2015 Page
13、 1 2015 National Electrical Manufacturers Association Electrical and alarm contractor licensing, construction permitting, and job-site inspection is a fundamental regulatory activity in nearly every state and in most U.S. cities. Policies and rules associated with these activities can vary widely fr
14、om state to state and even in counties or municipalities. However, the importance of effective licensing, permitting, and inspection practices is common to all in society and cannot be understated. The protection of life and property in the built environment relies heavily on these activities. Ineff
15、ective or improper regulation of construction can have devastating consequences. This white paper will explore each of these regulatory activities and describe how each process has an impact on NEMA member companies. Licensing Electrical and alarm contractor licensing is an activity typically regula
16、ted by the state. Many states also have local licensing requirements, which are enforced by the county or incorporated municipality. The licensing process usually consists of an initial application, which is reviewed by a licensing board, followed by an examination, and concludes with license issuan
17、ce. Most states also have continuing education requirements in order to maintain active licenses. The typical license application will identify the applicants qualifications to practice, such as previous experience, work history, education, and related training. Applications are reviewed by a board
18、or committee made up of individuals with diverse backgrounds and professional interests. In most states, the board is an assembly of volunteers; in others, the board is composed of appointed or elected officials. In addition to processing license applications, many contractor licensing boards also r
19、eview contractor complaint cases and administer disciplinary action to contractors found guilty of misconduct. The licensing exam is commonly administered through a third-party provider. The typical licensing exam includes questions from installation standards, such as the National Electrical Code (
20、NEC), other NFPA standards, and from the states statutes and laws. Most states charge a nominal license application fee, which might or might not cover the cost of taking the certification exam. The type of license and scope of work granted under the license also varies from state to state. This can
21、 include journeyman-level licensing, occupancy-specific licensing (residential commercial, industrial), or work-type licensing (e.g., limited-energy/low-voltage, lighting only, sign specialty, alarm systems). Some states allow an unlimited number of employees to work under a license holder, while ot
22、hers mandate licensing for every employee that will be performing technical duties. Electrical and alarm contractor licensing limits the amount of electrical and alarm work that can be performed by unqualified individuals. Unlicensed and unqualified individuals are more likely to install electrical
23、and alarm products in violation of their listing, instructions, or the requirements of the NEC and other NFPA standards. These individuals also avoid pulling permits or obtaining inspections prior to energizing electrical equipment or placing electrical systems into operation. Unlicensed individuals
24、 are not likely to have the required insurance coverage in the event of an accident or injury. In short, the potential for risks and hazards associated with work performed by unlicensed individuals is great. The activities of unlicensed and unqualified individuals damage the reputations of the elect
25、rical and alarm industries and the companies that manufacture electrical and alarm products. Statistics on fires or deaths resulting from an electrical fault or failure typically do not identify whether that work was done by unlicensed individuals in violation of the product or installation standard
26、s. The national media has a tendency to sensationalize fires and deaths as a result of an electrical or alarm system failure. Rarely do the reports include installation specifics or installer qualifications. The licensing of electrical and alarm contractors can help to prevent these events from occu
27、rring in the first place. Permitting Construction permitting is an activity typically regulated by the local jurisdiction. Permit applications, required submittal documents, and associated fees vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Many jurisdictions provide submittal checklists or other g
28、uidance documents to assist the applicant through the process. Permits for minor or routine electrical and alarm work can be issued over-the-counter, while more extensive or complicated electrical and alarm work might require several weeks to process before a NEMA FRP 1-2015 Page 2 2015 National Ele
29、ctrical Manufacturers Association permit is issued. In most states, proceeding with work prior to the issuance of the permit is considered a violation of the law. The permitting process might also include a plan review. This is the point in the process where the construction drawings, product specif
30、ications, and electrical calculations are examined by building department staff to ensure that proposed electrical work is in compliance with adopted construction codes. Electrical and fire plans examiners frequently check online directories and manufacturers websites to ensure that the electrical a
31、nd alarm equipment specified in the construction documents has the required National Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) listings and meets the requirements of applicable product standards. In most jurisdictions, permit applications can be submitted only by licensed electrical and alarm contractors
32、 or an authorized agent of the licensee. Many jurisdictions require construction documents to be prepared by a professional electrical engineer. The typical electrical and alarm permit is valid for 180 days and includes a list of required inspections. Performing work outside the scope of the permit
33、or not in conformance with the approved construction plans prior to building department approval is typically a code violation and can result in permit suspension or even revocation. The permitting process assures all involved or affected parties that the electrical or alarm work being performed is
34、being done by a licensed and insured electrical and alarm contractor, that the electrical plans have been properly prepared and include all necessary information for the installer and inspector, and that required inspections will be conducted prior to the energizing or use of the newly installed ele
35、ctrical equipment or alarm system. Most insurance companies require electrical and alarm permits, as well as inspections for any electrical and alarm work performed on insured property. Insurance claims for injuries or damage to property as result of shock or fire from an electrical fault or failure
36、 might not be covered if the work was completed without required permits and inspections. Permitting also provides a near-permanent record of the work that was completed. Many states have record retention laws that include permit documents. Record retention requirements for electrical and alarm perm
37、its can range from a minimum of 10 years to the life of the building or structure and, in some cases, forever. Many jurisdictions have begun to store records electronically, which allows for permanent and ready access to requested documents. Inspection Electrical and alarm inspection is typically re
38、gulated by the local jurisdiction. The number, type, process for scheduling, and cost of required inspections can vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Many jurisdictions will list required inspections on the issued permit card. Inspection requests usually can be made in person, over the p
39、hone, or through an online inspection program managed by the building department. The number and type of required inspections are directly tied to the scope of work under the issued permit. There are three basic electrical inspection types: Service Inspection: A service inspection might be necessary
40、 to obtain power on temporary service equipment to be used during construction, to inspect the permanent service equipment for temporary power, or to inspect the permanent service equipment for permanent power. Most utility companies will not set meters or energize services without record of an appr
41、oved service inspection. Rough Inspection: Rough inspections on new construction typically occur after installation of all wiring methods, outlet boxes, and switch boxes, and before installation of insulation, drywall, or any other materials that would cover or conceal the electrical work. Rough ins
42、pections might occur in phases or for a particular area of a building. An example would be in-wall electrical rough inspections followed by above-ceiling electrical rough inspections at a later date. Rough inspections might also include underground installations or in-slab or -deck installations pri
43、or to backfill or concrete installation. Final Inspection: Final inspections typically occur after all devices, permanently connected appliances, and permanently connected equipment have been installed, tested, and energized. NEMA FRP 1-2015 Page 3 2015 National Electrical Manufacturers Association
44、The final inspection is the last step in the construction process prior to occupancy and use of the building or structure. Alarm system inspections typically include a rough and a final inspection. The final inspection usually includes a test of the system(s) in place to ensure that they operate as
45、designed and intended. The electrical and alarm inspection is the point in the construction process where counterfeit electrical and alarm products are most likely to be discovered. It can also identify listed and labeled products installed in violation of their installation instructions or those th
46、at have been modified and now require field evaluation. The electrical and alarm inspection also ensures that only the work included under the permit and detailed on the construction documents has been performed. Installations in violation of adopted codes will be rejected, corrected, and reinspecte
47、d prior to the equipment or system being energized or placed into use. Many jurisdictions require inspectors to cite specific code references on inspection reports and rejection cards. Like permit documents, inspection records are generally available to the public and are required to be retained for
48、 an extensive time period. Electrical or alarm work performed without required inspections is more likely to include violations of adopted codes or might not be in compliance with the electrical or alarm products installation instructions. This can result in a hazard or failure in the electrical or
49、alarm system where shock or fire might occur. Electrical and alarm contractor licensing, construction permitting, and job-site inspection do not provide a 100% guarantee that no illegal activity or non-compliant electrical or alarm installations will occur in the state or jurisdiction that regulate these activities. However, they do serve as a major deterrent to unlicensed activity, unpermitted activity, and work completed without inspections when there is rigorous enforcement by the jurisdiction or state combined with severe penalties for those charged with comm
