Wash. Admin. Code § 296-46B-908

Current through Register Vol. 24-23, December 1, 2024

Section 296-46B-908 - Class B permits

Class B electrical work permit - Use.

(1) The Class B basic electrical random inspection process (Class B process) may only be used by:

(a) Licensed electrical/telecommunication contractors; or

(b) Health care, commercial, or industrial facilities using an employee(s) who is an appropriately certified electrician(s) after requesting, in writing, and receiving permission from the chief electrical inspector.

Each entity doing work must use a separate label.

(2) The Class B random inspection process is only available if the label is validated and the label or label number is posted before beginning the work.

(a) For Class B labels obtained after February 28, 2013:

(i) Prior to, or immediately upon posting the Class B label/ number, the purchaser must use the department's online Class B system to enter the job site information for an unused Class B label obtained by the purchaser. If the posting occurs on a weekend or a federal/ state holiday, the purchaser must use the online system to enter the information no later than the first business day after posting the label/number;

(ii) The person identified as the installer on the Class B label must post the Class B label or label number, in a conspicuous permanent manner, at the:

(A) Main service/feeder location supplying the structure or system; or

(B) Purchaser's equipment, or on the equipment conductors if the equipment is not in place.

(iii) The Class B label is valid immediately upon the purchaser completing the job site information in the department's online Class B system, and posting of the Class B label or label number per (a)(ii) of this subsection.

(b) For Class B labels obtained before March 1, 2013:

(i) The purchaser must fully enter the job site information on the job site and contractor portions of the Class B label.

(ii) The person identified as the installer on the Class B label must post the completed job site copy, in a conspicuous permanent manner, at the:

(A) Main service/feeder location supplying the structure or system;

(B) Purchaser's equipment, or on the conductors if the equipment is not available.

(iii) The purchaser must return the contractor copy to the Department of Labor and Industries, Electrical Section, Chief Electrical Inspector, P.O. Box 44460, Olympia, WA 98504-4460 within 15 working days after the job site portion of the Class B installation label is affixed.

(iv) The Class B label is valid immediately upon posting on the job site.

(3) Class B labels will be sold in blocks and are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

(4) Class B label installations will be inspected on a random basis as determined by the department.

(5) A progress inspection fee is required for any inspection required when a correction(s) is issued as a result of the inspection of a Class B label.

(6) Any entity using the Class B process may be audited for compliance with the provisions for purchasing, inspection, reporting of installations, and any other requirement of usage.

(7) A separate label is required for each line item listed below in subsection (10) of this section. For example, if the work includes an item under subsection (10)(a) and (b)(i) of this section, two labels are required.

(8) An entity using a Class B basic inspection label is restricted to using no more than two labels per week per job site.

(9) All Class B work must be completed within 15 days after the label is validated. If the work is not completed, another Class B may be posted.

Except that, in a one- or two-family residential structure, a label is valid for 120 days after the label is validated, so long as all work described on the label is performed by the purchaser.

(10) Class B work includes the following:

(a) Extension of not more than one branch electrical circuit limited to 120 volts and 20 amps each where:

(i) No cover inspection is necessary. For the purposes of this section, cover inspection does not include work covered by any surface that may be removed for inspection without damaging the surface; and

(ii) The extension does not supply more than two outlets as defined by the NEC.

(b) Single like-in-kind replacement of:

(i) A motor larger than 10 horsepower; or

(ii) The internal wiring of a furnace, air conditioner, refrigeration unit or household appliance; or

(iii) An electric/gas/oil furnace not exceeding 240 volts and 100 amps and associated Class 2 low voltage wiring (i.e., altered and/or new low-voltage control wiring from the furnace to an existing and/or new thermostat, heat pump, air conditioner, condenser, etc.), when the furnace is connected to an existing branch circuit. For the purposes of this section, a boiler is not a furnace; or

(iv) An individually controlled electric room heater (e.g., baseboard, wall, fan forced air, etc.), air conditioning unit, heat pump unit, or refrigeration unit not exceeding 240 volts, 40 minimum circuit amps and associated Class 2 low voltage wiring when the unit is connected to an existing branch circuit; or

(v) Circuit modification required to install not more than five residential load control devices in a residence where installed as part of an energy conservation program sponsored by an electrical utility and where the circuit does not exceed 240 volts and 40 amps; or

(vi) A single, line-voltage flexible supply whip associated with (b)(i), (iii), or (iv) of this subsection, not over six feet in length, provided there are no modifications to the branch circuit/ feeder load being supplied by the whip. May be done on the same Class B label with the replacement unit if done at the same time.

(c) The following low voltage systems:

(i) Repair and replacement of devices not exceeding 100 volt-amperes in Class 2, Class 3, or power limited low voltage systems in one- and two-family dwellings; or

(ii) Repair and replacement of devices not exceeding 100 volt-amperes in Class 2, Class 3, or power limited low voltage systems in other buildings, provided the equipment is not for fire alarm or nurse call systems and is not located in an area classified as hazardous by the NEC; or

(iii) The installation of Class 2 or 3 device(s) or wiring for thermostat, audio, security, burglar alarm, intercom, amplified sound, public address, or access control systems where the installation does not exceed 20 devices or 5,000 square feet. This does not include fire alarm, nurse call, lighting control, industrial automation/control or energy management systems; or

(iv) Telecommunications cabling and equipment requiring inspection in RCW 19.28.470 where the installation does not exceed 20 devices or 5,000 square feet;

(d) The replacement of not more than 10 standard receptacles with GFCI, AFCI, or dual function AFCI/GFCI receptacles;

(e) The conversion of not more than 10 snap switches to dimmers or occupancy sensors for the use of controlling a luminaire(s) conversion;

(f) The like-in-kind replacement of a maximum of 20: Paddle fans, luminaires not exceeding 277 volts and 20 amperes; snap switches, dimmers, receptacle outlets, line voltage thermostats, heating elements, luminaire ballasts, or drivers/power supplies for single LED luminaires;

(g) The replacement of not more than two luminaires with paddle fans if a listed fan box has been previously installed to support the luminaires;

(h) The replacement of not more than four batteries rated not larger than 150 amp hours each that supply power to a single unit of equipment (e.g., uninterruptable power supply, photovoltaic storage system, control panel, etc.);

(i) The installation or repair of equipment powered by a standalone solar photovoltaic source where the:

(i) Electrical equipment requires no field assembly except for the attachment and electrical connection of the solar photovoltaic source to the equipment, the installation and attachment to a grounding electrode, and the placement of the equipment on a pad, pole, or other structure;

(ii) Solar photovoltaic source and the equipment operates at less than 15 volts DC;

(iii) Solar photovoltaic source is the only source of external power; and

(iv) Equipment and the solar photovoltaic source are appropriately labeled as a single unit. The label must be by an approved electrical testing laboratory or for equipment used for traffic control labeled according to WAC 296-46B-010 (20).

(j) The installation or replacement of a single electric sign on an existing single 120-volt, 20-amp maximum branch circuit;

(k) The like-in-kind replacement of output cables consisting of a length of flexible EV cable and an electric vehicle connector when connected to fixed in place electric vehicle supply equipment.

(11) Class B basic electrical work does not include any work in:

(a) Areas classified as Class I, Class II, Class III, or Zone locations per NEC 500; or

(b) Areas regulated by NEC 517 or 680; or

(c) Any work where electrical plan review is required; or

(d) Fire alarm, nurse call, lighting control, industrial automation/control or energy management systems.

Wash. Admin. Code § 296-46B-908

Amended by WSR 14-11-075, filed 5/20/14, effective 7/1/2014

Amended by WSR 17-12-021, Filed 5/30/2017, effective 7/1/2017

Amended by WSR 19-15-117, Filed 7/23/2019, effective 8/23/2019

Amended by WSR 20-11-053, Filed 5/19/2020, effective 7/1/2020

Amended by WSR 20-14-083, Filed 6/30/2020, effective 10/29/2020

Amended by WSR 24-05-085, Filed 2/21/2024, effective 4/1/2024

Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.28 RCW. 13-03-128, § 296-46B-908, filed 1/22/13, effective 3/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.281, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551. 09-20-032, § 296-46B-908, filed 9/29/09, effective 10/31/09; 08-24-048, § 296-46B-908, filed 11/25/08, effective 12/31/08.