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Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Question:

I have been following NEC Code question for a long time, first heard from my first electrical class. 22years later I was wondering. as a Master Elec. And contractor. I have recently Noticed (2017-2018) many related Home owner/handy man Questions. Normally you would respond, Electrical work should be done by LICESENED ELECTRICIANS. Though, I can't seem to find that. Should Any Electrical Work Be Performed Buy Home Owners and Handyman, adding switches, plugs, ceiling fans.

Your thoughts, Matthew C Geres

A

Answer:

Hey Matthew thanks for your question. The CQD is published by NECA as a service to the electrical industry. Our readers include apprentices, architects, building officials, designers, electrical contractors, electrical inspectors, electricians, engineers, general contractors, manufactures, students, technicians, and others including some home owners. The primary focus is on NEC rules for installations but occasionally an answer to a question asked by someone not actually doing an electrical installation can benefit and be of interest to others. More than one instructor has said some of the best questions come from those just learning the NEC or electrical trade.

Licensing and permitting and who is allowed to do electrical work is determined by the municipality. It would be great if all electrical work was required to be done only by licensed professionals but that is not always the case. Many municipalities allow homeowners to do work in their own home but the installation must be inspected before use. The NEC uses and defines a Qualified Person in Article 100 so that is our focus of who should be doing electrical work. Homeowners and others, that are having work done by electrical contractors, want to make sure the installation is compliant. Sometimes they get opposing opinions from different contractors so educating them might help them choose a qualified contractor.

Every question and answer might not be equally important to any of us but hopefully we can learn something from each one of them.

ABOUT CQD: The Code Question of the Day (CQD) is NECA and ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Magazine’s flagship National Electrical Code (NEC®) public forum for the industry, sponsored by EATON. The daily distribution of Q&A generates a lively dialogue and shares relative Code-based practical responses.

SUBMIT YOUR CODE QUESTION: Click here to submit a question to for inclusion in an upcoming edition of the Code Question of the Day, or email codequestion@necanet.org. 

CHARLIE TROUT: Charles M. Trout, better known as Charlie, was a nationally known NEC® expert and author. He served on several NEC® technical committees and is past chairman of CMP-12. In 2006 Charlie was awarded the prestigious Coggeshall Award for outstanding contributions to the electrical contracting industry, codes and standards development, and technical training. Even though Charlie passed away in October of 2015, his work continues in spirit. NECA continues to maintain this question forum for its many subscribers in memory and recognition of all his significant contributions to making the NEC what it is today.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: Unless the question requests a response based on a specific edition, all answers are based on the latest edition of NFPA 70® National Electrical Code®.

This correspondence is not a formal interpretation of the NEC® and any responses expressed to the questions are opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of NECA, NFPA, the NEC Correlating Committee any Code-making panel or other electrical technical committee. In addition, this correspondence is neither intended, nor should it be relied upon, to provide professional consultation or services. 

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