Can light fixtures and ballasts be replaced without an electrician?

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muskiedog

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Minnesota
We are having a discussion today on when an electrican is required. I believe this to be routine maintenance activities. My partner in crime says anything done must be by electrician. I can only find qualified to perform tasks?
 
muskiedog said:
We are having a discussion today on when an electrican is required. I believe this to be routine maintenance activities. My partner in crime says anything done must be by electrician. I can only find qualified to perform tasks?
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Just who else do you think would be qualified? Many ballasts are on MWBC's and most people do not understand MWBC's and the potential dangers involved.
 
The OP is too broad for any single answer. Some jurisdictions require licenses for everyone performing any type of electrical work. Some don't have any licensing requirements at all. It would be up to the governing body of that jurisdiction to decide who can and who can't. For example in NJ a homeowner can legally perform electrical work within their own home. And this would cover anything from changing a ballast to upgrading a service.
 
Muskiedog the only way that you will know for sure is to contact your local AHJ and explian your situation. They should be able to give an answer that will keep you legal. In many areas the maintenance staff is allowed to change fixtures and ballast as routine maintenance. If they give the OK then it is up to the employeer to make sure the people doing the work are qualified. If you are changing ballast & fixtures for others then in most places you would need to be licensed & insured.
 
AHJ States

AHJ States

FYI - Here is what MN State Electrical stated: That installation would need to be performed under the direction of the electrican and would require inspection. The ballast could be done by maintenace staff (qualified and trained) under the supervision of the on staff electricain or if you do not have one on staff you could contract this out to the electricain to serve this purpose and it would not require inspection. But the electrican would need to ensure it was replaced correctly.
 
muskiedog said:
FYI - Here is what MN State Electrical stated: That installation would need to be performed under the direction of the electrican and would require inspection. The ballast could be done by maintenace staff (qualified and trained) under the supervision of the on staff electricain or if you do not have one on staff you could contract this out to the electricain to serve this purpose and it would not require inspection. But the electrican would need to ensure it was replaced correctly.
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By electrician are they saying licensed master or just an on staff in house electrician ? They are not the same.While many factories have electricians that often do electrical work most are not licensed to work this way.
 
In WA state they have to have their 07 card, which is a nonresidential maintenance certificate, or their 07(A) nonresidential lighting maintenance and lighting retrofit certificate.
 
paul said:
In WA state they have to have their 07 card, which is a nonresidential maintenance certificate, or their 07(A) nonresidential lighting maintenance and lighting retrofit certificate.
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Yeah, Michigan has such a law also, but it is rarely if ever enforced.
 
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