Electrical Generator Operator Licence Requirements

[cbcommryan]

I have opened pandora's box in the former winter olympic venues. I was required to file a permit for a temporary venue, ie., concerts, parties in tents etc.

According to this "building inspector" it's Utah State Law that generator operators pluggin wires into a generator, or laying cable to power video monitors, lighting fixutres, sound equipment etc requires that all personnel be certified electricians. In that case there are a lot of people who are in violation. I need help in understanding the NEC for these types of applications.

 

[iwire]

Re: Electrical Generator Operator Licence Requirements

The NEC has nothing to do with permits, licensing or inspections.

All those issues are up to the local area.

The NEC does provide rules for temporary wiring.

Depending on the application some of the rules can be found in the following articles

ARTICLE 520 Theaters, Audience Areas of Motion Picture and Television Studios, Performance Areas, and Similar Locations

ARTICLE 525 Carnivals, Circuses, Fairs, and Similar Events

ARTICLE 527 Temporary Installations

If the local rules require permits and inspections (which IMO they should for public events) then you must follow those rules.

Here in my area you are supposed to pull a permit and get inspected. Obviously some people ignore that and if something happens it will be one more thing used against them at court.

So it is in your own best interest to talk to the local inspector before you get started and see what is required in that area.

 

[iwire]

Re: Electrical Generator Operator Licence Requirements

For what it is worth I believe one of the inspectors on this site has shut down an outdoor concert for non-compliance.

 

[petersonra]

Re: Electrical Generator Operator Licence Requirements

This kind of nonsense goes on in a lot of jurisdictions. It is strictly pandering to unions.

Even so, the law is the law, and IF it is required by local law, I don't see how the inspector is out of line, assuming that it is within his authority to enforce that particular law.

Chicago had a law where any industrial facility with any kind of boiler had to have a licensed building engineer on the premises anytime the boiler was on. Don't know if they still do, but I do know that as a cost saving measures many places would turn off their heat at night so they did not have to pay for someone to sit and watch TV all night just to have the heat on.

This was of course a "safety" issue but somehow the plants on the other side of the street from Chicago managed to run their boilers 24/7 w/o such a person sitting next to it reading the paper, and I don't recall there were all that many of them that blew up.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Electrical Generator Operator Licence Requirements

Bob,

This kind of nonsense goes on in a lot of jurisdictions. It is strictly pandering to unions.

Have you ever taken a close look at some of these temporary installations? The requirement for a licensed electrician to make the hook-ups is not unreasonable.
Don

 

[iwire]

Re: Electrical Generator Operator Licence Requirements

Originally posted by petersonra:
This kind of nonsense goes on in a lot of jurisdictions. It is strictly pandering to unions.

Thats bull, there is no other way to put that.

Having been involved in with outdoor events of many different types I can tell you that a lot of very dangerous electric work gets performed by the unskilled.

Have you been to a carnival?

How about an outdoor fair?

How about some Christmas light displays.

Think of what we hear about the work some DIYs perform in homes, now think about what they would do with 100, 200, 400 amp temp feeders.

No concept of the need for EGCs, etc.

Someone with electrical knowledge should be overseeing electrical installations that the public are exposed to.

Bob

 

[petersonra]

Re: Electrical Generator Operator Licence Requirements

Do you really believe it is unsafe for someone to plug his own TV into an outlet? Or plug his own monitor in?

I don't disagree about there being a point where it is a good idea to get competant help.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Electrical Generator Operator Licence Requirements

Bob,

Do you really believe it is unsafe for someone to plug his own TV into an outlet? Or plug his own monitor in?

I think that the installation of temporary power is a little more involved than that. I have seen many cases where the audio tech has cut of the EGC pin to get rid of hum. There are so many dangerous practices, that all temporary installations for road shows and things like that should be installed by a licensed electrician and have an electrical inspection.
Don

 

[iwire]

Re: Electrical Generator Operator Licence Requirements

Originally posted by don_resqcapt19:
I have seen many cases where the audio tech has cut of the EGC pin to get rid of hum.

I have seen the 'smart ones' install a switch marked 'Ground Lift'.