W.A.C.

Chapter 296-46B WAC

ELECTRICAL SAFETY STANDARDS, ADMINISTRATION, AND INSTALLATION

Last Update: 5/28/04

WAC SECTIONS

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WAC 296-46B-005   Chapter 19.28 RCW rule references.  RCW 19.28.161(5) and 19.28.191(1) refer to specific sections in chapter 296-46A WAC. Chapter 296-46A WAC has been replaced by this chapter. The following cross-reference identifies the appropriate sections in this chapter:

[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-005, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-010   General.  Adopted standards - inspectors - city inspection - variance.

(1) The 2002 edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70 - 2002) including Annex A, B, and C, but excluding Article 80; the 1999 edition of Centrifugal Fire Pumps (NFPA 20 - 1999); the 2002 edition of Emergency and Standby Power Systems (NFPA 110 - 2002); Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard (ANSI/TIA/EIA 568-B.1-May 2001 including Annex 1 through 5); Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathway and Spaces (ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A-December 2001 including Annex 1 through 4); Commercial Building Grounding and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications (ANSI/TIA/EIA 607 - 1994); Residential Telecommunications Cable Standard (ANSI/TIA/EIA 570-A-1999); and the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC C2-2002 excluding Appendixes A and B) are hereby adopted by reference as part of this chapter. Other codes, manuals, and reference works referred to in this chapter are available for inspection and review in the Olympia office of the electrical section of the department during business hours.

The requirements of this chapter will be observed where there is any conflict between this chapter and the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Centrifugal Fire Pumps (NFPA 20), the Emergency and Standby Power Systems (NFPA 110), ANSI/TIA/EIA 568-A, ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A, ANSI/TIA/EIA 607, ANSI/TIA/EIA 570, or the NESC C2-2002.

The National Electrical Code will be followed where there is any conflict between Centrifugal Fire Pumps (NFPA 20), Emergency and Standby Power Systems (NFPA 110), ANSI/TIA/EIA 568-A, ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A, ANSI/TIA/EIA 607, ANSI/TIA/EIA 570, or the NESC C2-2002 and the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70).

(2) Electrical inspectors will give information as to the interpretation or application of the standards in this chapter, but will not lay out work or act as consultants for contractors, owners, or users.

(3) The department may enforce city electrical ordinances where those governmental agencies do not make electrical inspections under an established program.

(4) A variance from the electrical installation requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW or this chapter may be granted by the department when it is assured that equivalent objectives can be achieved by establishing and maintaining effective safety.

(a) Any electrical permit holder may request a variance.

(b) The permit holder must make the request in writing, using a form provided by the department, to the chief electrical inspector. The request must include:

(i) A description of the installation as installed or proposed;

(ii) A detailed list of the applicable code violations;

(iii) A detailed list of safety violations;

(iv) A description of the proposal for meeting equivalent objectives for code and/or safety violations; and

(v) Appropriate variance application fee as listed in WAC 296-46B-905.

Inspection.

(5) Electrical wiring or equipment subject to this chapter must be sufficiently accessible, at the time of inspection, to permit the inspector to visually inspect the installation to verify conformance with the NEC and any other electrical requirements of this chapter.

(6) Cables or raceways, fished according to the NEC, do not require visual inspection.

(7) Wires pulled into conduit systems are not considered concealed. All required equipment grounding conductors installed in concealed raceway, cable, or flexible conduit systems must be completely installed and made up at the time of the rough-in cover inspection.

(8) The installation of all structural elements and mechanical systems (e.g., framing, plumbing, ducting, etc.) must be complete in the area(s) where electrical inspection is requested. Prior to completion of an exterior wall cover inspection, either:

(a) The exterior shear panel/sheathing nail inspection must be completed by the building code inspector; or

(b) All wiring and device boxes must be a minimum of 63 mm (2 1/2") from the exterior surface of the framing member; or

(c) All wiring and device boxes must be protected by a steel plate a minimum of 1.6 mm (1/16") thick and of appropriate width and height installed to cover the area of the wiring or box.

(9) In order to meet the minimum electrical safety standards for installations, all materials, devices, appliances, and equipment, not exempted in chapter 19.28 RCW, must conform to applicable standards recognized by the department, be listed, or field evaluated. Other than as allowed in WAC 296-46B-030(3), equipment must not be energized until such standards are met unless specific permission has been granted by the chief electrical inspector.

(10) The department will recognize the state department of transportation as the inspection authority for telecommunications systems installation within the rights of way of state highways provided the department of transportation maintains and enforces an equal, higher or better standard of construction and of materials, devices, appliances and equipment than is required for telecommunications systems installations by chapter 19.28 RCW and this chapter.

Inspection - move on buildings and structures.

(11) All buildings or structures relocated into or within the state:

(a) Other than residential, wired inside the United States (U.S.) must be inspected to ensure compliance with current requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW and the rules developed by the department.

(b) Wired outside the U.S. or Canada must be inspected to ensure compliance with all current requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW and the rules developed by the department.

(12) Residential buildings or structures wired in the U.S., to NEC requirements, and moved into or within a county, city, or town must be inspected to ensure compliance with the NEC requirements in effect at the time and place the original wiring was made. The building or structure must be inspected to ensure compliance with all current requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW and the rules developed by the department if:

(a) The original occupancy classification of the building or structure is changed as a result of the move; or

(b) The building or structure has been substantially remodeled or rehabilitated as a result of the move.

(13) Residential buildings or structures wired in Canada to Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) standards and moved into or within a county, city, or town, must be inspected to ensure compliance with the following minimum safety requirements:

(a) Service, service grounding, and service bonding must comply with the current chapter 19.28 RCW and rules adopted by the department.

(b) Canadian Standards Association (CSA) listed Type NMD cable is allowed with the following qualifications:

(i) CSA listed Type NMD cable, American Wire Gauge #10 and smaller installed after 1964 utilizing an equipment grounding conductor smaller than the phase conductors, must be:

(A) Replaced with a cable utilizing a full-size equipment grounding conductor; or

(B) Protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter protection device.

(ii) CSA listed Type NMD cable, #8 AWG and larger, must:

(A) Utilize an equipment grounding conductor sized according to the requirements of the NEC in effect at the time of the installation;

(B) Be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter protection device; or

(C) Be replaced.

(c) Other types of wiring and cable must be:

(i) Replaced with wiring listed or field evaluated in accordance with U.S. standards by a laboratory approved by the department; or

(ii) Protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter protection device and arc fault circuit protection device.

(d) Equipment, other than wiring or panelboards, manufactured and installed prior to 1997 must be listed and identified by laboratory labels approved by the department or CSA labels.

(e) All panelboards must be listed and identified by testing laboratory labels approved by the department with the following qualifications:

(i) CSA listed panelboards labeled "Suitable for Use as Service Equipment" will be considered to be approved as "Suitable for Use only as Service Equipment."

(ii) CSA listed panelboards must be limited to a maximum of 42 circuits.

(iii) CSA listed panelboards used as lighting and appliance panelboards as described in the NEC, must meet all current requirements of the NEC and this chapter.

(f) Any wiring or panelboards replaced or changed as a result of the move must meet current requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW and this chapter.

(g) The location, type, and ground fault circuit interrupter protection of receptacles and equipment in a bathroom, kitchen, basement, garage, or outdoor area must meet the Washington requirements in effect at the time the wiring was installed.

(h) 4, 15-ampere, kitchen small appliance circuits will be accepted in lieu of 2, 20-ampere, kitchen small appliance circuits. Receptacles will not be required to be added on kitchen peninsular or island counters.

(i) Spacing requirements for all other receptacles must meet the Washington requirements in effect at the time the wiring was installed.

(j) Receptacles installed above baseboard or fixed wall space heaters must be removed and the outlet box covered with a blank cover. The receptacle is required to be relocated as closely as possible to the existing location.

(k) Lighting outlet and switch locations must meet the Washington requirements in effect at the time the wiring was installed.

(l) Dedicated 20-ampere small appliance circuits are not required in dining rooms.

(m) Electric water heater branch circuits must be adequate for the load.

(n) The location, type, and circuit protection of feeders must meet the Washington requirements in effect at the time the wiring was installed.

Classification or definition of occupancies.

(14) Occupancies are classified and defined as follows:

(a) Educational facility refers to a building or portion of a building used primarily for educational purposes by six or more persons at one time for twelve hours per week or four hours in any one day. Educational occupancy includes: Schools (preschool through grade twelve), colleges, academies, universities, and trade schools.

(b) Institutional facility refers to a building or portion of a building used primarily for detention and correctional occupancies where some degree of restraint or security is required. Such occupancies include, but are not restricted to: Penal institutions, reformatories, jails, detention centers, correctional centers, and residential-restrained care.

(c) Health or personal care facility. Health or personal care facility refers to buildings or parts of buildings that contain, but are not limited to, facilities that are required to be licensed by the department of social and health services or the department of health (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes, private alcoholism hospitals, private psychiatric hospitals, boarding homes, alcoholism treatment facilities, maternity homes, birth centers or childbirth centers, residential treatment facilities for psychiatrically impaired children and youths, and renal hemodialysis clinics) and medical, dental or chiropractic offices or clinics, outpatient or ambulatory surgical clinics, and such other health care occupancies where patients who may be unable to provide for their own needs and safety without the assistance of another person are treated.

(i) "Hospital" means any institution, place, building, or agency providing accommodations, facilities and services over a continuous period of twenty-four hours or more, for observation, diagnosis, or care of two or more individuals not related to the operator who are suffering from illness, injury, deformity, or abnormality, or from any other condition for which obstetrical, medical, or surgical services would be appropriate for care or diagnosis.

(ii) "Nursing home," "nursing home unit" or "long-term care unit" means a group of beds for the accommodation of patients who, because of chronic illness or physical infirmities, require skilled nursing care and related medical services but are not acutely ill and not in need of the highly technical or specialized services ordinarily a part of hospital care.

(iii) "Boarding home" means any home or other institution, however named, which is advertised, announced, or maintained for the express or implied purpose of providing board and domiciliary care to seven or more aged persons not related by blood or marriage to the operator. It must not include any home, institution, or section thereof which is otherwise licensed and regulated under the provisions of state law providing specifically for the licensing and regulation of such home, institution, or section thereof.

(iv) "Private alcoholism hospital" means an institution, facility, building, or equivalent designed, organized, maintained, and operated to provide diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals demonstrating signs or symptoms of alcoholism, including the complications of associated substance use and other medical diseases that can be appropriately treated and cared for in the facility and providing accommodations, medical services, and other necessary services over a continuous period of twenty-four hours or more for two or more individuals unrelated to the operator, provided that this chapter will not apply to any facility, agency, or other entity which is owned and operated by a public or governmental body.

(v) "Alcoholism treatment facility" means a private place or establishment, other than a licensed hospital, operated primarily for the treatment of alcoholism.

(vi) "Private psychiatric hospital" means a privately owned and operated establishment or institution which: Provides accommodations and services over a continuous period of twenty-four hours or more, and is expressly and exclusively for observing, diagnosing, or caring for two or more individuals with signs or symptoms of mental illness, who are not related to the licensee.

(vii) "Maternity home" means any home, place, hospital, or institution in which facilities are maintained for the care of four or more women, not related by blood or marriage to the operator, during pregnancy or during or within ten days after delivery: Provided, however, that this definition will not apply to any hospital approved by the American College of Surgeons, American Osteopathic Association or its successor.

(viii) "Birth center" or "childbirth center" means a type of maternity home which is a house, building, or equivalent organized to provide facilities and staff to support a birth service, provided that the birth service is limited to low-risk maternal clients during the intrapartum period.

(ix) "Ambulatory surgical facility" means a facility, not a part of a hospital, providing surgical treatment to patients not requiring inpatient care in a hospital. This term does not include a facility in the offices of private physicians or dentists, whether for individual or group practice, if the privilege of using such facility is not extended to physicians or dentists outside the individual or group practice. (NEC; Ambulatory Health Care Center.)

(x) "Hospice care center" means any building, facility, place, or equivalent, organized, maintained, and operated specifically to provide beds, accommodations, facilities, and services over a continuous period of twenty-four hours or more for palliative care of two or more individuals, not related to the operator, who are diagnosed as being in the latter stages of an advanced disease which is expected to lead to death.

(xi) "Renal hemodialysis clinic" means a facility in a building or part of a building which is approved to furnish the full spectrum of diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services required for the care of renal dialysis patients (including inpatient dialysis furnished directly or under arrangement). (NEC; Ambulatory Health Care Center.)

(xii) "Medical, dental, and chiropractic clinic" means any clinic or physicians' office where patients are not regularly kept as bed patients for twenty-four hours or more. Electrical plan review not required.

(xiii) "Residential treatment facility for psychiatrically impaired children and youth" means a residence, place, or facility designed and organized to provide twenty-four-hour residential care and long-term individualized, active treatment for clients who have been diagnosed or evaluated as psychiatrically impaired.

(xiv) "Adult residential rehabilitation center" means a residence, place, or facility designed and organized primarily to provide twenty-four-hour residential care, crisis and short-term care and/or long-term individualized active treatment and rehabilitation for clients diagnosed or evaluated as psychiatrically impaired or chronically mentally ill as defined herein or in chapter 71.24 RCW.

(xv) "Group care facility" means a facility other than a foster-family home maintained and operated for the care of a group of children on a twenty-four-hour basis.

(d) Licensed day care centers.

(i) "Child day care center" means a facility providing regularly scheduled care for a group of children one month of age through twelve years of age for periods less than twenty-four hours; except, a program meeting the definition of a family child care home will not be licensed as a day care center without meeting the requirements of WAC 388-150-020(5).

(ii) "School-age child care center" means a program operating in a facility other than a private residence accountable for school-age children when school is not in session. The facility must meet department of licensing requirements and provide adult supervised care and a variety of developmentally appropriate activities.

(iii) "Family child day care home" means the same as "family child care home" and "a child day care facility" licensed by the state, located in the family abode of the person or persons under whose direct care and supervision the child is placed, for the care of twelve or fewer children, including children who reside at the home. Electrical plan review not required.

Plan review for educational, institutional or health care facilities and other buildings.

(15) Plan review is a part of the electrical inspection process; its primary purpose is to determine:

(a) That loads and service/feeder conductors are calculated and sized according to the proper NEC or WAC article or section;

(b) The classification of hazardous locations; and

(c) The proper design of emergency and standby systems.

(16) All electrical plans for new or altered electrical installations in educational, institutional, and health or personal care occupancies classified or defined in this chapter must be reviewed and approved before the electrical installation or alteration is started. Approved plans must be available on the job site for use during the electrical installation or alteration and for use by the electrical inspector. Plans are not required to be on the job site for a preliminary electrical inspection if:

(a) Completed electrical plans have been submitted and conditionally accepted by the department for review; and

(b) The permit holder has requested the inspection in writing to the department noting that the preliminary electrical inspection is conditional and subject to any changes required from the plan review process. No other inspections will be allowed until the department has approved all submitted plans and the approved plans are on the job site.

(17) All electrical plans for educational facilities, hospitals and nursing homes must be prepared by, or under the direction of, a consulting electrical engineer registered under chapter 18.43 RCW, and chapters246B-320, 180-29, and 388-97 WAC and stamped with the engineer's mark and signature.

(18) Plans for these electrical installations within cities that perform electrical inspections within their jurisdiction, and provide an electrical plan review program that equals or exceeds the department's program in plans examiner minimum qualifications per chapter 19.28 RCW, must be submitted to that city for review rather than to the department, unless the agency licensing or regulating the installation specifically requires review by the department.

(19) Refer plans for department review to the Electrical Section, Department of Labor and Industries, P.O. Box 44460, Olympia, Washington 98504-4460.

(20) Plans to be reviewed by the department must be legible, identify the name and classification of the facility, clearly indicate the scope and nature of the installation and the person or firm responsible for the electrical plans. The plans must clearly show the electrical installation or alteration in floor plan view, include switchboard and/or panelboard schedules and when a service or feeder is to be installed or altered, must include a riser diagram, load calculation, fault current calculation and interrupting rating of equipment. Where existing electrical systems are to supply additional loads, the plans must include documentation that proves adequate capacity and ratings. The plans must be submitted with a plan review submittal form available from the department. Plan review fees are not required to be paid until the review is completed. Plans will not be returned until all fees are paid.

(21) Plan review for new or altered electrical installations of other types of construction may be voluntarily requested by the owner or electrical contractor.

(22) For existing structures where additions or alterations to feeders and services are proposed, Article 220.35(1) NEC may be used. If Article 220.35(1) NEC is used, the following is required:

(a) The date of the measurements.

(b) A statement attesting to the validity of the demand data, signed by a professional electrical engineer or the electrical administrator of the electrical contractor performing the work.

(c) A diagram of the electrical system identifying the point(s) of measurement.

(d) Building demand measured continuously on the highest-loaded phase of the feeder or service over a thirty-day period, with demand peak clearly identified. (Demand peak is defined as the maximum average demand over a fifteen-minute interval.)

(23) Due to their minimal load requirements, plan review of the following limited energy systems will not be required: Fire alarm, nurse call, intrusion or security alarm, intercom, public address, music, energy management, programmed clock, or telecommunications.

(24) When the service or feeder load calculation is affected five percent or less by the addition or alteration of five or less branch circuits, plan review for the branch circuits may be requested from the department's local inspection office. Permission for such small project plan review may be granted at the discretion of the electrical inspection field supervisor, the plans examiner supervisor, or the chief electrical inspector.

Wiring methods for designated building occupancies.

(25) Wiring methods, equipment and devices for health or personal care, educational and institutional facilities as defined or classified in this chapter and for places of assembly for one hundred or more persons must comply with Tables 010-1 and 010-2 of this chapter and the notes thereto. The local building authority will determine the occupant load of places of assembly.

(26) Listed tamper-resistant receptacles or listed tamper-resistant receptacle cover plates are required in all licensed day care centers, all licensed children group care facilities and psychiatric patient care facilities where accessible to children five years of age and under. Listed tamper-resistant receptacles are required in psychiatric patient care facilities where accessible to psychiatric patients over five years of age.

Notes to Tables 010-1 and 010-2.

1. Wiring methods in accordance with the NEC unless otherwise noted.

2. Metallic or nonmetallic raceways, MI, MC, or AC cable, except that metallic raceway or cable is required in places of assembly.

3. Limited energy system may use wiring methods in accordance with the NEC.

WAC 296-46B-020   General definitions.
(1) All definitions listed in the National Electrical Code and chapter 19.28 RCW are recognized in this chapter unless other specific definitions are given in this chapter.

(2) "Accreditation" is a determination by the department that a laboratory meets the requirements of this chapter and is therefore authorized to evaluate electrical products that are for sale in the state of Washington.

(3) "Administrative law judge" means an administrative law judge (ALJ) appointed pursuant to chapter 34.12 RCW and serving in board proceedings pursuant to chapter 19.28 RCW and this chapter.

(4) "ANSI" means American National Standards Institute. Copies of ANSI standards are available from the National Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards, Inc.

(5) "Appeal" is a request for review of a department action by the board as authorized by chapter 19.28 RCW.

(6) "Appellant" means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity that has filed an appeal or request for board review.

(7) "ASTM" means the American Society for Testing and Materials. Copies of ASTM documents are available from ASTM International.

(8) "AWG" means American Wire Gauge.

(9) "Board" means the electrical board established and authorized under chapter 19.28 RCW.

(10) "Chapter" means chapter 296-46B WAC unless expressly used for separate reference.

(11) "Category list" is a list of nonspecific product types determined by the department.

(12) A "certified electrical product" is an electrical product to which a laboratory, accredited by the state of Washington, has the laboratory's certification mark attached.

(13) A "certification mark" is a specified laboratory label, symbol, or other identifying mark that indicates the manufacturer produced the product in compliance with appropriate standards or that the product has been tested for specific end uses.

(14) "Certificate of competency" includes the certificates of competency for master journeyman electrician, master specialty electrician, journeyman, and specialty electrician.

(15) A laboratory "certification program" is a specified set of testing, inspection, and quality assurance procedures, including appropriate implementing authority, regulating the evaluation of electrical products for certification marking by an electrical products certification laboratory.

(16) A "complete application" includes the submission of all appropriate fees, documentation, and forms.

(17) "Department" means the department of labor and industries of the state of Washington.

(18) "Director" means the director of the department, or the director's designee.

(19) "Electrical equipment" includes electrical conductors, conduit, raceway, apparatus, materials, components, and other electrical equipment not exempted by RCW 19.28.006(9). Any conduit/raceway of a type listed for electrical use is considered to be electrical equipment even if no wiring is installed in the conduit/raceway at the time of the conduit/raceway installation.

(20) An "electrical products certification laboratory" is a laboratory or firm accredited by the state of Washington to perform certification of electrical products.

(21) An "electrical products evaluation laboratory" is a laboratory or firm accredited by the state of Washington to perform on-site field evaluation of electrical products for safety.

(22) "Field evaluated" means an electrical product to which a field evaluation mark is attached. Field evaluation must include job site inspection unless waived by the department, and may include component sampling and/or laboratory testing.

(23) "Field evaluation mark" is a specified laboratory label, symbol, or other identifying mark indicating the manufacturer produced the product in essential compliance with appropriate standards or that the product has been evaluated for specific end uses.

(24) A "field evaluation program" is a specified set of testing, inspection, and quality assurance procedures, including appropriate implementing authority regulating the testing and evaluation of electrical products for field evaluation marking.

(25) The "filing" is the date the document is actually received in the office of the chief electrical inspector.

(26) "Final judgment" means any money that is owed to the department under this chapter, including fees and penalties, or any money that is owed to the department as a result of an individual's or contractor's unsuccessful appeal of a citation.

(27) "Fished wiring" is when cable or conduit is installed within the finished surfaces of an existing building or building structure (e.g., wall, floor or ceiling cavity).

(28) HVAC/refrigeration specific definitions:

(a) "HVAC/refrigeration" means heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration.

(b) "HVAC/refrigeration component" means electrical power and limited energy components within the "HVAC/refrigeration system," including, but not limited to: Pumps, compressors, motors, heating coils, controls, switches, thermostats, humidistats, low-voltage damper controls, outdoor sensing controls, outside air dampers, stand-alone duct smoke detectors, air monitoring devices, zone control valves and equipment for monitoring of HVAC/refrigeration control panels and low-voltage connections. This definition excludes equipment and components of non-"HVAC/refrigeration control systems."

(c) "HVAC/refrigeration control panel" means an enclosed, manufactured assembly of electrical components designed specifically for the control of a HVAC/refrigeration system. Line voltage equipment that has low voltage, NEC Class 2 control or monitoring components incidental to the designed purpose of the equipment is not an HVAC/refrigeration control panel (e.g., combination starters).

(d) "HVAC/refrigeration control system" means a network system regulating and/or monitoring a HVAC/refrigeration system. Equipment of a HVAC/refrigeration control system includes, but is not limited to: Control panels, data centers, relays, contactors, sensors, and cables related to the monitoring and control of a HVAC/refrigeration system(s).

(e) "HVAC/refrigeration equipment" means the central unit primary to the function of the "HVAC/refrigeration system." HVAC/refrigeration includes, but is not limited to: Heat pumps, swamp coolers, furnaces, compressor packages, and boilers.

(f) "HVAC/refrigeration system" means a system of HVAC/refrigeration: Wiring, equipment, and components integrated to generate, deliver, or control heated, cooled, filtered, refrigerated, or conditioned air. This definition excludes non-HVAC/refrigeration control systems (e.g., fire alarm systems, intercom systems, building energy management systems, and similar non-HVAC/refrigeration systems) (see Figure 920-1 and Figure 920-2).

(29) An "individual" or "party" or "person" means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, government subdivision or unit thereof, or other entity.

(30) An "installation" includes the act of installing, connecting, repairing, modifying, or otherwise performing work on an electrical system, component, equipment, or wire except as exempted by WAC 296-46B-925.

(31) An "identification plate" is a phenolic or metallic plate or other similar material engraved in block letters at least 1/4" (6 mm) high unless specifically required to be larger by this chapter, suitable for the environment and application. The letters and the background must be in contrasting colors. Screws, rivets, or methods specifically described in this chapter must be used to affix an identification plate to the equipment or enclosure.

(32) "License" means a license required under chapter 19.28 RCW.

(33) "Labeled" means an electrical product that bears a certification mark issued by a laboratory accredited by the state of Washington.

(34) A "laboratory" may be either an electrical product(s) certification laboratory or an electrical product(s) evaluation laboratory.

(35) A "laboratory operations control manual" is a document to establish laboratory operation procedures and may include a laboratory quality control manual.

(36) "Like-in-kind" means having similar characteristics such as voltage requirement, current draw, circuit overcurrent and short circuit characteristics, and function within the system and being in the same location. Like-in-kind also includes any equipment component authorized by the manufacturer as a suitable component replacement part.

(37) "Lineman" is a person employed by a serving electrical utility or employed by a licensed general electrical contractor who carries, on their person, evidence that they:

(a) Have graduated from a department-approved lineman's apprenticeship course; or

(b) Are currently registered in a department-approved lineman's apprenticeship course and are working under the direct one hundred percent supervision of a journeyman electrician or a graduate of a lineman's apprenticeship course approved by the department. The training received in the lineman's apprenticeship program must include training in applicable articles of the currently adopted National Electrical Code.

(38) "Listed" means equipment has been listed and identified by a laboratory approved by the state of Washington for the appropriate equipment standard per this chapter.

(39) "Low voltage" means:

(a) NEC, Class 1 power limited circuits at 30 volts maximum.

(b) NEC, Class 2 circuits powered by a Class 2 power supply as defined in NEC 725.41(A).

(c) NEC, Class 3 circuits powered by a Class 3 power supply as defined in NEC 725.41(A).

(d) Circuits of telecommunications systems as defined in chapter 19.28 RCW.

(40) "NEC" means National Electrical Code. Copies of the NEC are available from the National Fire Protection Association.

(41) "NEMA" means National Electrical Manufacturer's Association. Copies of NEMA standards are available from the National Electrical Manufacturer's Association.

(42) "NESC" means National Electrical Safety Code. Copies of the NESC are available from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

(43) "NETA" means International Electrical Testing Association, Inc. Copies of the NETA standards and information are available from the International Electrical Testing Association, Inc.

(44) "NFPA" means the National Fire Protection Association. Copies of NFPA documents are available from the National Fire Protection Association.

(45) "NRTL" means Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory accredited by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after meeting the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7.

(46) "Point of contact" for utility work, means the point at which a customer's electrical system connects to the serving utility system.

(47) "Proceeding" means any matter regarding an appeal before the board including hearings before an administrative law judge.

(48) "Public area or square" is an area where the public has general, clear, and unrestricted access.

(49) A "quality control manual" is a document to maintain the quality control of the laboratory's method of operation. It consists of specified procedures and information for each test method responding to the requirements of the product standard. Specific information must be provided for portions of individual test methods when needed to comply with the standard's criteria or otherwise support the laboratory's operation.

(50) "RCW" means the Revised Code of Washington. Copies of electrical RCWs are available from the department and the office of the code reviser.

(51) A "stand-alone amplified sound or public address system" is a system that has distinct wiring and equipment for audio signal generation, recording, processing, amplification, and reproduction. This definition does not apply to telecommunications installations.

(52) "Service" or "served" means that as defined in RCW 34.05.010(19) when used in relation to department actions or proceedings.

(53) A "telecommunications local service provider" is a regulated or unregulated (e.g., by the Federal Communications Commission or the utilities and transportation commission as a telephone or telecommunications provider) firm providing telecommunications service ahead of the telecommunications network demarcation point to an end-user's facilities.

(54) "Telecommunications network demarcation point" is as defined in RCW 19.28.400 for both regulated carriers and unregulated local service providers.

(55) "TIA/EIA" means the Telecommunications Industries Association/Electronic Industries Association which publishes the TIA/EIA Telecommunications Building Wiring Standards. Standards and publications are adopted by TIA/EIA in accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) patent policy.

(56) A "training school" is a public community or technical college or not-for-profit nationally accredited technical or trade school licensed by the work force training and education coordinating board under chapter 28C.10 RCW.

(57) "Under the control of a utility" for the purposes of RCW 19.28.091 and 19.28.101 is when electrical equipment is not owned by a utility and:

(a) Is located in a vault, room, closet, or similar enclosure that is secured by a lock or seal so that access is restricted to the utility's personnel; or

(b) The utility is obligated by contract to maintain the equipment and the contract provides that access to the equipment is restricted to the utility's personnel or other qualified personnel.

(58) "UL" means Underwriters Laboratory.

(59) "Utility" means an electrical utility.

(60) "Utility system" means electrical equipment owned by or under the control of a serving utility that is used for the transmission or distribution of electricity from the source of supply to the point of contact.

(61) "Utilization voltage" means the voltage level employed by the utility's customer for connection to lighting fixtures, motors, heaters, or other electrically operated equipment other than power transformers.

(62) "Variance" is a modification of the electrical requirements as adopted in chapter 19.28 RCW or any other requirements of this chapter that may be approved by the chief electrical inspector if assured that equivalent objectives can be achieved by establishing and maintaining effective safety.

(63) "WAC" means the Washington Administrative Code. Copies of this chapter of the WACs are available from the department and the office of the code reviser.

[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. 04-12-049, ?296-46B-020, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. 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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, and chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-020, filed 4/22/03, effective 4/22/03.]

WAC 296-46B-030   Industrial control panel and industrial utilization equipment inspection.  Specific definitions.

(1) Specific definitions for this section:

(a) "Department evaluation" means a review in accordance with subsection (2)(c) of this section.

(b) "Food processing plants" include buildings or facilities used in a manufacturing process, but do not include:

(i) Municipal or other government facilities;

(ii) Educational facilities or portions thereof;

(iii) Institutional facilities or portions thereof;

(iv) Restaurants;

(v) Farming, ranching, or dairy farming operations;

(vi) Residential uses; or

(vii) Other installations not used for direct manufacturing purposes.

(c) In RCW 19.28.010, "industrial control panel" means a factory or user wired assembly of industrial control equipment such as motor controllers, switches, relays, power supplies, computers, cathode ray tubes, transducers, and auxiliary devices used in the manufacturing process to control industrial utilization equipment. The panel may include disconnecting means and motor branch circuit protective devices. Industrial control panels include only those used in a manufacturing process in a food processing or industrial plant.

(d) "Industrial plants" include buildings or facilities used in a manufacturing process, but do not include:

(i) Municipal or other government facilities;

(ii) Educational facilities or portions thereof;

(iii) Institutional facilities or portions thereof;

(iv) Restaurants;

(v) Farming, ranching, or dairy farming operations;

(vi) Residential uses; or

(vii) Other installations not used for direct manufacturing purposes.

(e) "Industrial utilization equipment" means equipment directly used in a manufacturing process in a food processing or industrial plant, in particular the processing, treatment, moving, or packaging of a material. Industrial utilization equipment does not include: Cold storage, warehousing, or similar storage equipment.

(f) "Manufacturing process" means to make or process a raw material or part into a finished product for sale using industrial utilization equipment. A manufacturing process does not include the storage of a product for future distribution (e.g., cold storage, warehousing, and similar storage activity).

(g) "Normal department inspection" is a part of the department electrical inspection process included with the general wiring inspection of a building, structure, or other electrical installation. Normal department inspection will only be made for equipment solely using listed or field evaluated components and wired to the requirements of the NEC. Fees for the normal department inspections required under this chapter are included in the electrical work permit fee calculated for the installation and are not a separate inspection fee. However, inspection time associated with such equipment is subject to the progress inspection rates in WAC 296-46B-905.

(h) For the purposes of this section, "panel" means a single box or enclosure containing the components comprising an industrial control panel. A panel does not include any wiring methods connecting multiple panels or connecting a panel(s) and other electrical equipment.

Safety standards.

(2) Industrial control panels and industrial utilization equipment will be determined to meet the minimum electrical safety standards for installations by:

(a) Listing, or field evaluation of the entire panel or equipment;

(b) Normal department inspection for compliance with codes and rules adopted under this chapter; or

(c) By department evaluation showing compliance with appropriate standards. Appropriate standards are NEMA, ANSI, NFPA 79, UL 508A or International Electrotechnical Commission 60204 or their equivalent. Industrial utilization equipment is required to conform to a nationally or internationally recognized standard applicable for the particular industrial utilization equipment. Compliance must be shown as follows:

(i) The equipment's manufacturer must document, by letter to the equipment owner, the equipment's conformity to an appropriate standard(s). The letter must state:

(A) The equipment manufacturer's name;

(B) The type of equipment;

(C) The equipment model number;

(D) The equipment serial number;

(E) The equipment supply voltage, amperes, phasing;

(F) The standard(s) used to manufacture the equipment;

(G) Fault current interrupting rating of the equipment or the owner may provide documentation showing that the fault current available at the point where the building wiring connects to the equipment is less than 10,000 AIC; and

(H) The date the equipment was manufactured. Equipment that was manufactured prior to January 1, 1985, is not required to meet (c)(i)(F) of this subsection.

(ii) The equipment owner must document, by letter to the chief electrical inspector, the equipment's usage as industrial utilization equipment as described in this section and provide a copy of the equipment manufacturer's letter described in (c)(i) of this subsection. The owner's letter must be accompanied by the fee required in WAC 296-46B-905(14).

For the purposes of this section, the owner must be a food processing or industrial plant as described in this section.

(iii) The chief electrical inspector will evaluate the equipment manufacturer's letter, equipment owner's letter, and the individual equipment.

If the equipment is determined to have had electrical modifications since the date of manufacture, the chief electrical inspector will not approve equipment using this method.

(iv) If required by the chief electrical inspector, the owner must provide the department with a copy, in English, of the standard(s) used and any documentation required by the chief electrical inspector to support the claims made in the equipment manufacturer's or owner's letter. At the request of the owner, the department will obtain a copy of any necessary standard to complete the review. If, per the owner's request, the department obtains the copy of the standard, the owner will be billed for all costs associated with obtaining the standard.

If the industrial utilization equipment has been determined to be manufactured to a standard(s) appropriate for industrial utilization equipment as determined by the chief electrical inspector per RCW 19.28.010(1), the equipment will be marked with a department label.

The department will charge a marking fee as required in WAC 296-46B-905(14). Once marked by the department, the equipment is suitable for installation anywhere within the state without modification so long as the equipment is being used as industrial utilization equipment. If payment for marking is not received by the department within thirty days of marking the equipment, the department's mark(s) will be removed and the equipment ordered removed from service.

(v) If the equipment usage is changed to other than industrial utilization equipment or electrical modifications are made to the equipment, the equipment must be successfully listed or field evaluated by a laboratory approved by the department.

(vi) The equipment must be permanently installed at the owner's facility and inspected per the requirements of RCW 19.28.101.

(3) The department may authorize, on a case-by-case basis, use of the industrial control panel or equipment, for a period not to exceed six months or as approved by the chief electrical inspector after use is begun, before its final inspection, listing, or evaluation.

[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. 04-12-049, ?296-46B-030, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. 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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-030, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-040   Traffic management systems.  (1) The department will perform the electrical inspection and acceptance of traffic management systems within its jurisdiction. A traffic management system includes:

(a) Traffic illumination systems;

(b) Traffic signal systems;

(c) Traffic monitoring systems; and

(d) The electrical service cabinet and all related components and equipment installed on the load side of the service cabinet supplying electrical power to the traffic management system.

A traffic management system can provide signalization for controlling vehicular traffic, pedestrian traffic, or rolling stock.

(2) The department recognizes that traffic signal conductors, pole and bracket cables, signal displays, and traffic signal controllers/cabinets and associated components used in traffic management systems are acceptable for the purpose of meeting the requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW provided they conform with the following standards or are listed on the Washington state department of transportation (WSDOT) qualified products list.

(a) WSDOT/APWA Standard Specifications and Plans;

(b) WSDOT Design Manual;

(c) International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA);

(d) National Electrical Manufacturer's Association (NEMA);

(e) Federal Standards 170/Controller Cabinets;

(f) Manual for Uniform Road, Bridge, and Municipal Construction;

(g) Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE); or

(h) Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

(3) Associated induction detection loop or similar circuits will be accepted by the department without inspection.

(4) For the licensing requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW, jurisdictions will be considered owners of traffic management systems when doing electrical work for other jurisdiction(s) under a valid interlocal agreement, as permitted by chapter 39.34 RCW. Interlocal agreements for traffic management systems must be filed with the department prior to work being performed for this provision to apply.

(5) Jurisdictions, with an established electrical inspection authority, and WSDOT may perform electrical inspection on their rights of way for each other by interlocal agreement. They may not perform electrical inspection on other rights of way except as allowed in chapter 19.28 or 39.34 RCW.

(6) Underground installations.

(a) In other than open trenching, raceways will be considered "fished" according to the NEC and do not require visual inspection.

(b) The department will conduct inspections in open trenching within its jurisdiction. The electrical work permit purchaser must coordinate the electrical inspection. A written request (e.g., letter, e-mail, fax, etc.) for inspection, made to the department office having the responsibility to perform the inspection, must be made a minimum of two working days prior to the day inspection is needed (e.g., two working days - 10:00 a.m. Tuesday request for a 10:00 a.m. Thursday inspection, excluding holidays and weekends).

If, after proper written request, the department fails to make an electrical inspection at the time requested, underground conduit may be covered after inspection by the local government jurisdiction's project inspector/designee. Written documentation of a local government jurisdiction inspection must be provided to the department when requested. Written documentation will include:

(i) Date and time of inspection;

(ii) Location;

(iii) Installing firm;

(iv) Owner;

(v) Type of conduit;

(vi) Size of conduit;

(vii) Depth of conduit; and

(viii) Project inspector/designee name and contact information.

(7) Identification of traffic management system components. Local government jurisdictions or WSDOT may act as the certifying authority for the safety evaluation of all components.

(a) An electrical service cabinet must contain only listed components. The electrical service cabinet enclosure is not required to be listed but will conform to the standards in subsection (2) of this section.

(b) The local government jurisdiction must identify, as acceptable, the controller cabinet or system component(s) with an identification plate. The identification plate must be located inside the cabinet and may be attached with adhesive.

(8) Conductors of different circuits in same cable, enclosure, or raceway. All traffic management system circuits will be permitted to occupy the same cable, enclosure, or raceway without regard to voltage characteristics, provided all conductors are insulated for the maximum voltage of any conductor in the cable, enclosure, or raceway.

[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-040, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-110   General -- Requirements for electrical installations.  

012 Mechanical execution of work.

(1) Unused openings. Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, cutout boxes, meter socket enclosures, equipment cases, or housings shall be effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment. Where metallic plugs or plates are used with nonmetallic enclosures, they shall be recessed at least 6 mm (1/4") from the outer surface of the enclosure. Unused openings do not include weep holes, unused mounting holes, or any other opening with less than .15 square inches of open area.

016 Flash protection.

(2) The flash protection marking required by NEC 110.16 must be an identification plate or label approved by the electrical inspector and may be installed either in the field or in the factory. The plate or label may be mounted using adhesive.

022 Identification of disconnecting means.

(3) For the purposes of legibly marking a disconnecting means, as required in NEC 110.22, an identification plate is required unless the disconnect is a circuit breaker/fused switch installed within a panelboard and the circuit breaker/fused switch is identified by a panelboard schedule. In other than dwelling units, the identification plate must include the identification designation of the circuit source panelboard that supplies the disconnect.

(4) Where electrical equipment is installed to obtain a series combination rating, the identification as required by NEC 110.22, must be in the form of an identification plate that is substantially yellow in color. The words "CAUTION - SERIES COMBINATION RATED SYSTEM" must be on the label in letters at least 13 mm (1/2") high.

030 Over 600 volts - general.

(5) Each cable operating at over 600 volts and installed on customer-owned systems must be legibly marked in a permanent manner at each termination point and at each point the cable is accessible. The required marking must use phase designation, operating voltage, and circuit number if applicable.

(6) Only licensed electrical contractors can use the Class B basic electrical inspection - random inspection process. Health care, large commercial, or industrial facilities using an employee who is a certified electrician(s) can use the Class B basic electrical inspection - random inspection process after permission from the chief electrical inspector.

(7) If the Class B basic electrical inspection - random inspection process is used, the following requirements must be met:

(a) The certified electrician performing the installation must affix a Class B installation label on the cover of the panelboard or overcurrent device supplying power to the circuit or equipment prior to beginning the work.

(b) The job site portion of the label must include the following:

(i) Date of the work;

(ii) Electrical contractor's name;

(iii) Electrical contractor's license number;

(iv) Installing electrician's certificate number; and

(v) Short description of the work.

(c) The contractor portion of the label must include the following:

(i) Date of the work;

(ii) Electrical contractor's license number;

(iii) Installing electrician's certificate number;

(iv) Job site address;

(v) Contact telephone number for the job site (to be used to arrange inspection); and

(vi) Short description of the work.

(d) The label must be filled in using sunlight and weather resistant ink.

(e) The electrical contractor must return the contractor's portion of the label to the Department of Labor & Industries, Electrical Section, Chief Electrical Inspector, P.O. 4460, Olympia, WA 98506-4460 within fifteen working days after the job site portion of the Class B installation label is affixed.

(8) Class B basic installation labels will be sold in blocks. Installations where a Class B basic installation label is used will be inspected on a random basis as determined by the department.

(a) If any such random inspection fails, a subsequent installation in the block must be inspected.

(b) If any such subsequent installation fails inspection, all installations in the block must be inspected.

(9) Any electrical contractor or other entity using the Class B basic electrical inspection - random inspection process may be audited for compliance with the provisions for purchasing, inspection, reporting of installations, and any other requirement of usage.

(10) Class B basic electrical work is described in RCW 19.28.006 (2)(b). For the purposes of Class B basic electrical work, a device includes: General use snap switches/receptacles, luminaires, thermostats, speakers, etc., but does not include wiring/cabling systems, isolating switches, magnetic contactors, motor controllers, etc. A cover inspection is required for all fire-wall penetrations.

In addition, Class B basic electrical work includes the like-in-kind replacement in a household of an:

(a) Electrical/gas/oil furnace not exceeding 240 volts and 100 amps when the furnace is connected to an existing branch circuit; and

(b) Air conditioning unit or refrigeration unit not exceeding 240 volts, 30 minimum circuit amps when the air conditioning unit or refrigeration unit is connected to an existing branch circuit.

Class B basic electrical work does not include any work in:

(c) Areas classified as Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, or Zone locations per the NEC;

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

(e) Any work where electrical plan review is required.

[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. 04-12-049, ?296-46B-110, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. 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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-110, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-210   Wiring and protection -- Branch circuits.       008B Other than dwelling units - GFCI requirements.

(1) For the purposes of NEC 210.8(B), all 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles must have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel as required by NEC 210.8(A). Kitchens in other than dwelling units are considered to be any work surface where food and/or beverage preparation occurs and other countertops or islands.

011 Branch circuits.

(2) Circuits must be taken to all unfinished spaces adaptable to future dwelling unit living areas that are not readily accessible to the service or branch circuit panelboard. The circuits must terminate in a suitable box(es). The box must contain an identification of the intended purpose of the circuit(s). The branch circuit panelboard must have adequate space and capacity for the intended load(s).

012 Arc-fault circuit-interrupter protection.

(3) For the purpose of NEC 210.12(B), Dwelling Unit Bedroom spaces that:

(a) Are accessed only through the bedroom;

(b) Are ancillary to the bedroom's function; and

(c) Contain branch circuits that supply 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere, outlets must be protected by an arc-fault circuit interrupter listed to provide protection of the entire branch circuit.

For the purposes of this section, such spaces will include, but not be limited to, spaces such as closets and sitting areas, but will not include bathrooms.

051(B)(5) Receptacle outlet locations.

(4) Receptacle outlets installed in appliance garages may be counted as a required countertop outlet.

052(A)(2) Dwelling unit receptacle outlets.

(5) For the purpose of NEC 210.52(A)(2)(1), "similar openings" include the following structures that are a permanent part of the dwelling structure or finish:

(a) Window seating; and

(b) Bookcases or cabinets that extend from the floor to a level at least 1.7 meters (five (5) feet six (6) inches) above the floor.

Any outlets eliminated by such window seating, bookcases, or cabinets must be installed elsewhere within the room.    

[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. 04-12-049, ?296-46B-210, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. 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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-210, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-215   Wiring and protection -- Feeders.  

010 Feeders - ground fault protection testing.

Equipment ground fault protection systems required by the NEC must be tested prior to being placed into service to verify proper installation and operation of the system as determined by the manufacturer's published instructions. This test or a subsequent test must include all system feeders. A firm having qualified personnel and proper equipment must perform the tests required. A copy of the manufacturer's performance testing instructions and a written performance acceptance test record signed by the person performing the test must be provided for the inspector's records at the time of inspection. The performance acceptance test record must include test details including, but not limited to, all trip settings and measurements taken during the test.



[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-215, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-220   Wiring and protection -- Branch circuit, feeder, and service calculations.  

003 Branch circuit calculations.

Occupancy lighting loads. In determining feeder and service entrance conductor sizes and equipment ratings, the currently adopted Washington state energy code unit lighting power allowance table and footnotes may be used in lieu of NEC 220.3.


[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-220, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-225   Wiring and protection -- Outside branch circuits and feeders.  

032 Location of outside feeder disconnecting means.

The building disconnecting means required by NEC 225.32 must be provided to disconnect all ungrounded conductors that supply or pass through a building or structure per the requirements of NEC 225.32 (except for Exceptions 1, 2, 3, or 4) in accordance with subsection (1) or (2) of this section.

(1) Outside location: Where the feeder disconnecting means is installed outside a building or structure, it must be on the building or structure or within sight and within fifteen feet of the building or structure supplied. The building disconnecting means may supply only one building/structure unless the secondary building(s)/structure(s) has a separate building disconnecting means meeting the requirements of the NEC and this subsection. The disconnecting means must have an identification plate with at least one-half-inch high letters identifying:

(a) The building/structure served; and

(b) Its function as the building/structure main disconnect(s).

(2) Inside location: The feeder disconnecting means may be installed anywhere inside a building or structure when there is a feeder disconnecting means, located elsewhere on the premises, with overcurrent protection sized for the feeder conductors.


[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, and chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-225, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-230   Wiring and protection -- Services.  

001 General service requirements.

(1) The owner, the owner's agent, or the electrical contractor making the installation must consult the serving utility regarding the utility's service entrance requirements for equipment location and meter equipment requirements before installing the service and equipment. Provisions for a meter and related equipment, an attachment of a service drop, or an underground service lateral must be made at a location acceptable to the serving utility. The point of contact for a service drop must permit the clearances required by the NEC.

(2) A firewall must have a minimum two-hour rating as defined by the local building official to be considered a building separation in accordance with Article 100 NEC.

(3) The height of the center of the service meter must be as required by the serving utility. Secondary instrument transformer metering conductor(s) are not permitted in the service raceway.

002 Number of services.

(4) In addition to the items described in NEC 230.2(A), an additional service is permitted to supply a transient voltage surge suppressor. In addition, a service disconnect for a transient voltage surge suppressor is not required to be counted as one of the six service disconnects allowed in NEC 230.71

028 Service or other masts.

(5) Conduit extended through the roof to provide means of attaching:

(a) All overhead drops for service, feeder, or branch circuits exceeding #1 AWG aluminum or #3 AWG copper must be rigid steel galvanized conduit no smaller than two inches.

(b) All overhead drops for service, feeder or branch circuits not exceeding #1 AWG aluminum or #3 AWG copper must be rigid steel galvanized conduit no smaller than one and one-quarter inch. The installation must comply with drawings E-101 and/or E-102, or must provide equivalent strength by other approved means. Masts for altered or relocated installations will be permitted to comply with drawing E-103.

 

Notes to drawings E-101, E-102, and E-103 An approved roof flashing must be installed on each mast where it passes through a roof. Plastic, nonhardening mastic must be placed between lead-type flashings and the conduit. Neoprene type flashings will also be permitted to be used. Masts must be braced, secured, and supported in such a manner that no pressure from the attached conductors will be exerted on a roof flashing, meter base, or other enclosures.  (3) Utilization of couplings for a mast are permitted only below the point the mast is braced, secured, or supported. Except as otherwise required by the serving utility, service mast support guys must be installed if the service drop attaches to the mast more than twenty-four inches above the roof line or if the service drop is greater than one hundred feet in length from the pole or support. Masts for support of other than service drops must comply with this requirement as well. Intermediate support masts must be installed in an approved manner with methods identical or equal to those required for service masts. For altered services, where it is impractical to install U bolt mast supports due to interior walls remaining closed, it will be permissible to use other alternate mast support methods such as heavy gauge, galvanized, electrical channel material that is secured to two or more wooden studs with five-sixteenths inch diameter or larger galvanized lag bolts. Conductors must extend at least eighteen inches from all mastheads to permit connection to the connecting overhead wiring.

040 Service conductors - two-family and multiple-occupancy buildings.

(6) Two-family and multiple-occupancy buildings. A second or additional service drop or lateral to a building having more than one occupancy will be permitted to be installed at a location separate from other service drops or laterals to the building provided that all the following conditions are complied with:

(a) Each service drop or lateral must be sized in accordance with the NEC for the calculated load to be served by the conductors;

(b) Each service drop or lateral must terminate in listed metering/service equipment;

(c) Each occupant must have access to the occupant's service disconnecting means;

(d) No more than six service disconnects may be supplied from a single transformer;

(e) All service drops or laterals supplying a building must originate at the same transformer or power supply;

(f) A permanent identification plate must be placed at each service disconnect location that identifies all other service disconnect locations in or on the building, the area or units served by each, the total number of service disconnecting means on the building/structure and the area or units served. If a structure consists of multiple buildings (i.e., by virtue of fire separation), all service disconnects in or on the entire structure must be labeled to identify all service disconnects in or on the structure; and

(g) A permanent identification plate must be placed at each feeder disconnecting means identifying the area or units served if the feeder disconnecting means is remote from the area or unit served.

042 Service conductor - size and rating.

(7) If the service conductors have a lesser ampacity than the overcurrent protection or the equipment rating that they terminate in or on, an identification plate showing the ampacity of the conductors must be installed on the service equipment.

043 Wiring methods for 600 volts, nominal or less.

(8) The installation of service conductors not exceeding 600 volts, nominal, within a building or structure is limited to the following methods: Galvanized or aluminum rigid metal conduit; galvanized intermediate metal conduit; wireways; busways; auxiliary gutters; rigid nonmetallic conduit; cablebus; or mineral-insulated, metal-sheathed cable (type MI).

(9) Electrical metallic tubing must not be installed as the wiring method for service entrance conductors inside a building. Existing electrical metallic tubing, installed prior to October 1984, which is properly grounded and used for service entrance conductors may be permitted to remain if the conduit is installed in a nonaccessible location and is the proper size for the installed conductors.

(10) In addition to methods allowed in the NEC, the grounded service conductor is permitted to be identified with a yellow jacket or with one or more yellow stripes.

062 Service equipment - general.

(11) Service equipment, subpanels, and similar electrical equipment must be installed so that they are readily accessible and may not be installed in bathrooms, clothes closets, or shower rooms. All indoor service equipment and subpanel equipment must have adequate working space and be adequately illuminated.

(12) Temporary construction service equipment may only be used for construction purposes and must be disconnected when the permanent service is connected unless the department grants an extension of time.

070 Service disconnecting means.

(13) The service disconnecting means must be installed at a readily accessible location in accordance with (a) or (b) of this subsection.

(a) Outside location: Service disconnecting means will be permitted on the building or structure or within sight and within fifteen feet of the building or structure served. The building disconnecting means may supply only one building/structure. The service disconnecting means must have an identification plate with one-half-inch high letters identifying:

(i) The building/structure served; and

(ii) Its function as the building/structure main service disconnect(s).

(b) Inside location: When the service disconnecting means is installed inside the building or structure, it must be located so that the service raceway extends no more than fifteen feet inside the building/structure.

095 Ground-fault protection of equipment.

(14) Equipment ground-fault protection systems required by the NEC must be tested prior to being placed into service to verify proper installation and operation of the system as determined by the manufacturer's published instructions. This test or a subsequent test must include all service voltage feeders. A firm having qualified personnel and proper equipment must perform the tests required. A copy of the manufacturer's performance testing instructions and a written performance acceptance test record signed by the person performing the test must be provided for the inspector's records at the time of inspection. The performance acceptance test record must include test details including, but not limited to, all trip settings and measurements taken during the test.

200 Wiring methods exceeding 600 volts.

(15) The installation of service conductors exceeding 600 volts, nominal, within a building or structure must be limited to the following methods: Galvanized rigid metal conduit, galvanized intermediate metal conduit, schedule 80 rigid nonmetallic conduit, metal-clad cable that is exposed for its entire length, cablebus, or busways.

(16) In addition to methods allowed in the NEC, the grounded service conductor is permitted to be identified with a yellow jacket or with one or more yellow stripes.



[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-230, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-250   Wiring and protection -- Grounding.  

030(A)(3)(b) Grounding separately derived alternating-current systems.

(1) All tap connections to the common grounding electrode conductor shall be made at an accessible location by a listed connector, an irreversible compression connector listed for the purpose, listed connections to copper busbars not less than 6 mm x 50 mm (1/4 in. x 2 in.), or by exothermic welding process. The tap conductors shall be connected to the common grounding electrode conductor in such a manner that the common grounding electrode conductor remains without a splice or joint.

032 Two or more buildings or structures.

(2) Effective August 1, 2003, an equipment grounding conductor must be installed with the circuit conductors between buildings and/or structures. A grounded conductor (i.e., neutral) is not permitted to be used in place of a separate equipment grounding conductor between buildings and/or structures.

052 Grounding electrodes.

(3) If a ground resistance test is not performed to ensure a resistance to ground of twenty-five ohms or less, two or more electrodes as specified in NEC 250.52 must be installed a minimum of six feet apart. However, a temporary construction service is not required to have more than one made electrode.

090 Bonding.

(4) Metallic stubs or valves used in nonmetallic plumbing systems are not required to be bonded to the electrical system unless required by an electrical equipment manufacturer's instructions.

(5) Hot and cold water plumbing lines are not required to be bonded together if, at the time of inspection, the inspector can determine the lines are mechanically and electrically joined by one or more metallic mixing valves.

184 Solidly grounded neutral systems over 1 kV.

(6) In addition to the requirements of NEC 250.184(A), the following applies for:

(a) Existing installations.

(i) The use of a concentric shield will be allowed for use as a neutral conductor for extension, replacement, or repair, if all of the following are complied with:

(A) The existing system uses the concentric shield as a neutral conductor;

(B) Each individual conductor contains a separate concentric shield sized to no less than thirty-three and one-half percent of the ampacity of the phase conductor for three-phase systems or one hundred percent of the ampacity of the phase conductor for single-phase systems;

(C) The new or replacement cable's concentric shield is enclosed inside an outer insulating jacket; and

(D) Existing cable (i.e., existing cable installed directly in the circuit between the work and the circuit's overcurrent device) successfully passes the following tests:

?A cable maintenance high potential dielectric test. The test must be performed in accordance with the cable manufacturer's instruction or the 2001 NETA maintenance test specifications; and

?A resistance test of the cable shield. Resistance must be based on the type, size, and length of the conductor used as the cable shield using the conductor properties described in NEC Table 8 Conductor Properties.

An electrical engineer must provide a specific certification to the electrical plan review supervisor in writing that the test results of the maintenance high potential dielectric test and the resistance test have been reviewed by the electrical engineer and that the cable shield is appropriate for the installation. The electrical engineer must stamp the certification document with the engineer's stamp and signature. The document may be in the form of a letter or electrical plans.

Testing results are valid for a period of seven years from the date of testing. Cable will not be required to be tested at a shorter interval.

(ii) A concentric shield used as a neutral conductor in a multigrounded system fulfills the requirements of an equipment grounding conductor.

(b) New installations.

(i) New installations do not include extensions of existing circuits.

(ii) The use of the concentric shield will not be allowed for use as a neutral conductor for new installations. A listed separate neutral conductor meeting the requirements of NEC 250.184(A) must be installed.

(7) Multiple grounding. NEC 250.184(B) is replaced with the following:

The neutral of a solidly grounded neutral system may be grounded at more than one point.

(a) Multiple grounding is permitted at the following locations:

(i) Services;

(ii) Underground circuits where the neutral is exposed; and

(iii) Overhead circuits installed outdoors.

(b) Multiple grounding is not allowed:

(i) For new systems where singlepoint and multigrounded circuits form a single system (e.g., where a singlepoint circuit is derived from a multigrounded circuit); or

(ii) In new single phase (i.e., single phase to ground) installations.

(8) Multigrounded neutral conductor. NEC 250.184(D) is replaced with the following:

Where a multigrounded neutral system is used, the following will apply for new balanced phase to phase circuits and extensions, additions, replacements; and repairs to all existing systems of 1 kV and over:

(a) For existing systems:

(i) The cable's concentric shield must be used as the neutral and all the requirements for neutral conductors described in subsection (6) of this section must be met; or

(ii) The cable's concentric shield must be effectively grounded to a separate bare copper neutral conductor at all locations where the shield is exposed to personnel contact.

(b) For new systems:

A separate copper neutral must be installed and the cable's concentric shield is effectively grounded to the separate neutral at all locations where the shield is exposed to personnel contact.

(c) In addition to (a) and (b) of this subsection, the following is required:

(i) A minimum of two made electrodes, separated by at least six feet, must be installed at each existing and new transformer and switching/overcurrent location and connected to the neutral conductor at that location;

(ii) At least one grounding electrode must be installed and connected to the multigrounded neutral every 400 m (1,300'). The maximum distance between adjacent electrodes must not be more than 400 m (1,300');

(iii) In a multigrounded shielded cable system, the shielding must be grounded at each cable joint that is exposed to personnel contact;

(iv) All exposed noncurrent carrying metal parts (e.g., mounting brackets, manhole covers, equipment enclosures, etc.) must be effectively grounded to the neutral conductor; and

(v) An electrical engineer must provide a specific certification to the electrical plan review supervisor in writing that the design of the multiple grounding installation has been reviewed by the electrical engineer and the design is in accordance with the requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW, this chapter, and normal standards of care. The electrical engineer must stamp the certification document with the engineer's stamp and signature. The document may be in the form of a letter or electrical plans.


[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. 04-12-049, ?296-46B-250, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. 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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-250, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-300   Wiring methods and materials -- Wiring methods.  

001 Wiring methods.

(1) Cables and raceways for telecommunications, power limited, NEC Class 2 and Class 3 conductors must be installed in compliance with Chapter 3 NEC unless other methods are specifically allowed elsewhere in the NEC, chapter 19.28 RCW, or this chapter.

005 Underground installations.

(2) Induction loops.

See WAC 296-46B-040 for induction detection loops that are made in a public roadway and regulated by a governmental agency.

The department will inspect induction loops that are not installed in public roadways regulated by a governmental agency. These induction loops must comply with the following requirements:

(a) General:

(i) A preformed direct burial induction loop is designed to be installed within the road surface base (e.g., concrete or asphalt) or below the road surface of a road with an unpaved surface (e.g., gravel or brick pavers);

(ii) A saw-cut induction detection loop is designed to be installed into a groove saw-cut into an existing paved road surface (e.g., concrete or asphalt);

(iii) The loop system includes the loop and the lead-in conductor;

(iv) The loop system must be:

(A) Tested to assure that at 500 volts DC, the resistance between the conductor and ground equals or exceeds 50 megohms; and

(B) Without splice; or

(C) If spliced, the splice must be soldered and appropriately insulated;

(v) The lead-in conductor must comply with the following:

(A) Must be stranded and have a lay (i.e., twist) of two turns per foot; and

(B) If installed in an electrical raceway;

Are not required to be listed or suitable for wet locations; and

Must have a burial cover of at least 6"; or

(C) If direct buried;

Must be listed for the use; and

Must have a burial cover of at least 18".

(b) Preformed direct burial induction detection loops must conform with the following:

(i) The loop conductor must be rated for direct burial and be a minimum of No. 16 AWG;

(ii) The loop design must not allow movement of the loop conductor within the outer jacket. The outer jacket containing the loop conductor is not required to be listed;

(iii) The loop yoke casing (i.e., the location where the lead-in conductor is connected to the loop):

(A) Includes any device used to house the "loop to lead-in splice" or to otherwise couple the loop with the lead-in electrical raceway;

(B) Is not required to be listed; and

(C) Must have a coupler that will create a waterproof bond with the electrical raceway, containing the lead-in conductor, or a direct buried lead-in conductor.

(c) Saw-cut induction detection loops:

(i) The loop conductor must be cross-linked polyethene or EPR Type USE insulation and be a minimum of No. 18 AWG stranded;

(ii) The saw-cut groove must not cut into rebar installed within the roadway.

011 Support of raceways, cables, or boxes in suspended ceilings.

(3) NEC power limited, Class 2, and Class 3 cables must be secured in compliance with NEC 334.30 and must be secured to boxes in compliance with NEC 314.17.

(4) Telecommunications cables must be secured in a manner that will not cause damage to the cables and at intervals not exceeding five feet. Cables are considered adequately supported when run through holes in building structural elements or other supporting elements. Telecommunications cables may be fished into inaccessible hollow spaces of finished buildings. Clamps or fittings are not required where telecommunications cables enter boxes.

(5) Optical fiber cables must be secured in a manner that will not cause damage to the cables and at intervals not exceeding five feet. Cables are considered adequately supported when run through holes in building structural elements or other supporting elements. Optical fiber cables may be fished into inaccessible hollow spaces of finished buildings. Supports must allow a bending radius that will not cause damage to the cables.

(6) Where not restricted by the building code official or Article 300 NEC, the wires required in NEC 300.11(a) may support raceways, cables, or boxes under the following conditions:

(a) Raceways and/or cables are not larger than three-quarter-inch trade size;

(b) No more than two raceways or cables are supported by a support wire. The two-cable limitation does not apply to telecommunications cables, Class 2 cables, or Class 3 cables on support wires installed exclusively for such cables. The support wire must be adequate to carry the cable(s) weight and all attached cables must be secured with approved fittings; or

(c) Raceways and cables are secured to the support wires by fittings designed and manufactured for the purpose.

In addition to (a), (b), and (c) of this subsection, the following conditions must be complied with:

(d) The support wires are minimum #12 AWG and are securely fastened to the structural ceiling and to the ceiling grid system; and

(e) The raceways or cables serve equipment that is located within the ceiling cavity or is mounted on or supported by the ceiling grid system. Telecommunications cables, Class 2 cables, or Class 3 cables supported as required by this section, may pass through ceiling cavities without serving equipment mounted on or supported by the ceiling grid system.

017 Conductors in raceway.

(7) Cables will be permitted in all raceway systems if:

(a) The cable is appropriate for the environment; and

(b) The percentage fill does not exceed that allowed in NEC Chapter 9, Table 1.


[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. 04-12-049, ?296-46B-300, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. 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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-300, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-314   Wiring methods and materials -- Outlet, device, pull and junction boxes.  

001 Boxes and fittings.

(1) Single conductors, cables, taps, or splices installed in an open bottom junction box or handhole must be suitable for direct burial. However, an open bottom box manufactured specifically for electrical use will be permitted to be used as an electrical junction box to enclose single conductors, cables, taps, or splices rated for wet locations, only under the following conditions:

(a) In vehicular traffic areas the box must be rated for not less than H-20 loading and be provided with a bolted, hinged, or slide-on lid embossed with the identification "ELECTRIC" or "ELECTRICAL."

(b) In incidental vehicular traffic areas (e.g., parks, sports fields, sidewalks, grass lawns, etc.) the box must be rated for not less than H-10 loading and be provided with a bolted, hinged, or slide-on lid embossed with the identification "ELECTRIC" or "ELECTRICAL."

(c) In nonvehicular traffic areas (e.g., flower beds, patio decks, etc.) the box must be designed for the purpose and be provided with a lid embossed with the identification "ELECTRIC" or "ELECTRICAL."

(d) All conductors must be installed in approved electrical raceways that enter vertically from the open bottom of the enclosure or horizontally from the sides of the enclosure at least 150 mm (6 in.) from the sand or gravel at the bottom of the enclosure. These raceways must be fitted with a bushing, terminal fitting, or seal incorporating the physical protection characteristics of a bushing, and project not less than 5 cm (2") above the bottom surface material. The bottom surface material must be pea gravel or sand a minimum of 5 cm (2") thick or more if required by the box manufacturer.

(2) Conduit bodies, junction, pull, and outlet boxes must be installed so that the wiring contained in them is accessible without removing any part of the building structure, including insulation material.


[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. 04-12-049, ?296-46B-314, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. 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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-314, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-334   Wiring methods and materials -- Nonmetallic-sheathed cable.  

010 Nonmetallic-sheathed cable.

(1) The building classification, for subsections (2) and (3) of this section, will be as determined by the building official. For the purposes of this section, Type III, IV and V may be as defined in the International Building Code adopted in the state of Washington. The installer must provide the inspector documentation substantiating the type of building construction and finish material rating(s) prior to any electrical inspection.

(2) This section replaces NEC 334.10(2). In multifamily dwellings, Type NM, Type NMC, and Type NMS cable(s) may be used in structures of Types III, IV, and V construction except as prohibited in NEC 334.12.

(3) This section replaces NEC 334.10(3). In all other structures, Type NM, Type NMC, and Type NMS cable(s) may be used in structures of Types III, IV, and V construction except as prohibited in NEC 334.12. All cable(s) must be concealed within walls, floors, or ceilings that provide a thermal barrier of material that has at least a 15-minute finish rating as identified in listings of fire-rated assemblies.


[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. 04-12-049, ?296-46B-334, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. 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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-334, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-358   Wiring methods and materials -- Electrical metallic tubing.  

012 Electrical metallic tubing.

In addition to complying with the provisions of Article 358 NEC, electrical metallic tubing may not be installed in direct contact with the earth or in concrete on or below grade. Also see NEC 300.6 for resistance to corrosion.


[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-358, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-394   Wiring methods and materials -- Concealed knob-and-tube wiring.  

001 Knob-and-tube wiring.

Article 394 NEC does not prohibit the installation of loose or rolled thermal insulating material in spaces containing existing knob-and-tube wiring provided that all the following conditions are met:

(1) The wiring must be surveyed by an appropriately licensed electrical contractor who must certify in writing to the department that the wiring is in good condition with no evidence of improper overcurrent protection, conductor insulation failure or deterioration, and with no improper connections or splices. The electrical inspector must inspect all repairs, alterations, or extensions to the electrical system.

(2) The insulation must meet Class I specifications as identified in the Uniform Building Code, with a flame spread factor of twenty-five or less as tested using ASTM E84-81a. Foam insulation may not be used with knob-and-tube wiring.

(3) All knob-and-tube circuits must have overcurrent protection in compliance with NEC Table 310.16, 60 degree centigrade, Column C. Overcurrent protection must be either circuit breakers or Type S fuses.


[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-394, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-410   Equipment for general use -- Luminaires.       004 Luminaires.

(1) All luminaires within an enclosed shower area or within five feet of the waterline of a bathtub must be enclosed; these luminaires, with exposed metal parts that are grounded, must be ground fault circuit interrupter protected.

018 Exposed luminaire (fixture) parts.

(2) Replacement luminaires that are directly wired or attached to boxes supplied by wiring methods that do not provide a ready means for grounding and that have exposed conductive parts will be permitted only where the luminaires are provided with ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection and marked "no equipment ground."

030 Flexible cord connection pendant boxes and electric discharge luminaires.

(3) The flexible cord and cord connection must comply with NEC 410.30 and the following:

(a) Connection to a suspended pendant box must utilize an integral threaded hub;

(b) The length of the cord for a suspended pendant drop from a permanently installed junction box to a suitable tension take-up device must not exceed six feet;

(c) The flexible cord must be supported at each end with an approved cord grip or strain relief connector fitting/device that will eliminate all stress on the conductor connections;

(d) The flexible cord must be a minimum #14 AWG copper;

(e) The flexible cord ampacity must be determined in NEC Table 400.5(A) column A;

(f) The flexible cord must be hard or extra hard usage; and

(g) A vertical flexible cord supplying electric discharge luminaires must be secured to the luminaire support as per NEC 334.30(A).


[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. 04-12-049, ?296-46B-410, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. 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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-410, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-422   Equipment for general use -- Appliances.       010 Water heater circuit.

Water heaters with a rated circuit load in excess of 3,500 watts at 208 or 240 volts must be provided with branch circuit conductors not smaller than #10 AWG copper or equal. Overcurrent protection must comply with NEC 422.11(E).


[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-422, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-430   Motors, motor circuits, and controllers.       007 Marking on motors and multimotor equipment.

Except as required by the National Electrical Code, there is no requirement for motors to be identified for use or listed/field evaluated by a laboratory. All motors must be manufactured according to National Electrical Manufacturer's Association (NEMA) standards for motors except motors that:

(1) Are a component part of equipment listed or field evaluated by a laboratory; or

(2) Are a component part of industrial utilization equipment approved by the department per WAC 296-46B-030.


[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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. 04-12-049, ?296-46B-430, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. 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, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. 03-09-111, ?296-46B-430, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]

WAC 296-46B-450   Equipment for general use -- Transformers and transformer vaults.  

027 Flammable-liquid or oil-filled transformers installed outdoors.

(1