Town of Wawarsing, NY Electrical Standards

Editor's Note: This local law also repealed former Ch. 51, Electrical Standards, adopted 5-7-1987 by L.L. No. 4-1987.

The Building Inspector of the Town is hereby authorized to accept electrical inspections from any qualified electrical inspector. No person or agency shall be deemed to be qualified within the meaning of this chapter unless such person or agency has first complied with all of the requirements set forth in this chapter and continues to comply with these requirements as follows:

(1)

The person or agency shall furnish the Town with currently effective certificates of insurance including statutory workmen's compensation insurance for its employees and workmen, public liability insurance for property damage in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 and personal injury claims in the minimum amount of $1,000,000. The person or agency shall maintain such insurance policies in full force and effect while performing inspections and submitting certificates, and such policies shall name the Town as an additional insured. All cancellation notices must be sent to the Town upon issuance.

(2)

The person, if using a trade name other than his or her own name, and all inspection agencies shall furnish the Town Building Department with a certified copy of the proper business, partnership or corporate certificate and proof of filing with the appropriate recording office.

(3)

The person or agency shall not solicit of any person or entity or require, as a condition of inspection, any waiver of responsibility of an error, omission or recommendation made by its inspectors or for any other action of its inspectors.

(4)

The person or agency shall require all wiring to meet standards of the latest revision of the National Electrical Code (NEC), the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (hereinafter referred to as the "code"), including the regulations thereunder, and all other applicable codes prescribed by the State of New York or the Town in which the inspected premises are located and also the applicable rules and regulations of the appropriate utility company. All references in this chapter to the National Electrical Code, the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (the "code") and other applicable codes, rules and regulations shall be deemed to include all amendments to the same which may occur after the adoption of this chapter.

(5)

The person or agency shall not compete with others in any manner which would cause it to reduce the quality if its inspections. The person or agency shall not knowingly accept an application at any given location from any applicant who has received violations from another inspector, agency, utility company, insurance examiner and/or municipal official.

(6)

Each person or agency performing inspections must file a list of current inspection charges and fees with the Town. Established charges will be applied uniformly and will not be discounted. Inspections and reports shall be made only by qualified electrical inspectors permitted to make such inspections by this chapter and by the relevant codes, utility companies and all other applicable governmental requirements. The person or agency shall ensure that the inspectors they employ have adequate experience, education and training as follows:

(a)

Have working knowledge of the principles of electricity necessary to interpret the NEC, the code and other applicable requirements.

(b)

Know the requirements of the NEC, the code and other applicable requirements.

(c)

Be familiar with the construction practices of the electrical wiring trade.

(d)

Each particular inspector shall submit written proof of successful completion of one of the following courses, together with updates as required:

[1]

International Association of Electrical Inspectors' (IAEI) National Certification program for Electrical Inspectors.

[2]

National Certification Program for Construction Code (Electrical) Inspectors.

[3]

The National Fire Protection Association's National Electric Code Thirty-Two-Hour Course.

[4]

Any other comparable course as approved by the Town Building Inspector.

(7)

The person or agency, its employees and workmen shall comply with all federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations pertaining to any electrical inspection.

(8)

The person or agency agrees to maintain adequate records so that it can provide the Town and applicable officials with records of inspections when requested. Such records will be maintained for a minimum of five years.

(9)

The person or agency performing the electrical inspection shall establish a system to receive applications and issue inspection reports in accordance with the following:

(a)

The person or agency shall provide an application form which shall include a copy for the Town, for the applicable utility company and for the landowner or applicant. The form shall contain or have attached a statement that the person or agency has no knowledge of any other violations previously issued for the property or, if such violations were issued, the form shall state how such violations were or will be corrected.

(b)

The person or agency shall issue a temporary certificate to the Town giving notice that a preliminary inspection has been made and it is safe to energize the service. A copy of the same shall be filed with the applicable utility company.

(c)

The person or agency shall establish a procedure for prompt notification of any noncompliance. This notice shall be served on the Town Building Department, the applicable utility company and the applicant and landowner, if different.

(d)

The person or agency shall issue a certificate of compliance on a form acceptable to the Town and shall provide a copy of the certificate to the Town Building Department, the applicable utility company and the applicant and landowner, if different. All such certificates of compliance must be filed with the Town Building Department and accepted as complete before the certificate of occupancy can be granted.

(10)

For good cause and when requested by the Town prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the person or agency will perform a reinspection of an existing electrical service and related components and submit a formal report to the utility company, Town Building Department, applicant and/or landowner in letter form.

(11)

All inspections will be completed and certificates issued in a timely manner to ensure that applicants are not subjected to undue delay in receiving electric service. Inspections shall normally be made within 48 hours of the receipt of the application.

(12)

All inspectors, upon request of the Town Building Department, shall submit proof to such Department of meeting the requirements set forth in this chapter inclusive of any special standards for the particular structure to be inspected. The Town Building Inspector shall have the authority to determine the particular inspector unqualified to perform such inspections in the Town for good cause, including, without limitation, such inspector's exhibited lack of knowledge of the particular codes and regulations. Prior to making such determination, the Building Inspector shall provide written notice to the particular inspector or agency setting forth the reasons for the particular concerns, and the inspector or agency shall have not more than 10 days from receipt of the notice to submit written proof to the Building Inspector on the issue of the qualifications and competence of the particular inspector or agency. Within 10 days of receipt of this written proof or, if no proof is received, within 25 days of the mailing of the notice, the Building Inspector shall render a final determination in writing setting forth the reasons for such determination.

Failure of any person or agency to abide by the above requirements shall be grounds for the Town to provide notice to the person, agency, utility company, applicant and landowner that such inspector is no longer qualified to perform such inspections in the Town.