Electrician in Unlicensed State Installing Heat Trace in a Licensed State?

[TwoBlocked]

This will take some explanation because the installation might or might not need inspection.

I work in the gas industry in PA which does not required licensed electricians. There is a small job in neighboring WV, which does require licensed electricians, that we would like to do. As far as I understand it (will need to make sure...) This is to "temporarily" install heat trace on some pipelines in a CID2 area, powered by a portable generator. My plan would be to rig up a small breaker panel mounted on some strut, with the proper EP breakers outside the classified area. The breaker panel would be fed by a cord that plugs into the portable generator.

As long as the operator/owner plugs in the system, and since this is not a dwelling, would this be ok for me to do? I suppose there is a department in WV I could contact. Maybe someone could point me in the right direction.

 

[tom baker]

It’s more than a being an electrician, there is contractor licensing, permits, etc would be required.
If you call they will ask who, where what
But if it’s a gas utility it may not be subject to the NEC or inspections

 

[TwoBlocked]

It’s more than a being an electrician, there is contractor licensing, permits, etc would be required.
If you call they will ask who, where what
But if it’s a gas utility it may not be subject to the NEC or inspections

Thanks, not a gas utility, a gas well operator.

 

[Dsg319]

This will take some explanation because the installation might or might not need inspection.

I work in the gas industry in PA which does not required licensed electricians. There is a small job in neighboring WV, which does require licensed electricians, that we would like to do. As far as I understand it (will need to make sure...) This is to "temporarily" install heat trace on some pipelines in a CID2 area, powered by a portable generator. My plan would be to rig up a small breaker panel mounted on some strut, with the proper EP breakers outside the classified area. The breaker panel would be fed by a cord that plugs into the portable generator.

As long as the operator/owner plugs in the system, and since this is not a dwelling, would this be ok for me to do? I suppose there is a department in WV I could contact. Maybe someone could point me in the right direction.

Most gas plants I work at rarely see a state fire Marshall and are not typically subject to state/city electrical inspections other than the service.

All the gas company’s I work for use either third party inspection agency or there own electrician to make sure things are done up to there spec/standards.

Do you work for said gas company or are you a contractor?

Edit: I’m from WV

 

[TwoBlocked]

Most gas plants I work at rarely see a state fire Marshall and are not typically subject to state/city electrical inspections other than the service.

All the gas company’s I work for use either third party inspection agency or there own electrician to make sure things are done up to there spec/standards.

Do you work for said gas company or are you a contractor?

Edit: I’m from WV

Good to hear from someone in that state. THANKS!

I work for a contractor. Been looking at the WV codes. If I was an employee at an industrial facility, I understand no licensing is required.

 

[kwired]

Been looking at the WV codes. If I was an employee at an industrial facility, I understand no licensing is required.

Does another party inspect the work even if done by non licensed employees? Or at least is one supposed to?

I'd think there is lots of things done in many industrial facilities that by law maybe requires permits/inspections yet never happens. Or maybe they have inspector come every 3, 6, or 12 months and take them around and show them what has been done. Likely won't catch everything that was done though, even if they intended to. Might even be things that were installed, then decided something wasn't going to work as planned or not very efficient, etc. and end up removing and inspector never knew it was there when they do come.

Insurance and/or OSHA maybe bigger concerns for plant owners than a local building inspection department on many these smaller projects within the facility.

 

[TwoBlocked]

Does another party inspect the work even if done by non licensed employees? Or at least is one supposed to?

I'd think there is lots of things done in many industrial facilities that by law maybe requires permits/inspections yet never happens. Or maybe they have inspector come every 3, 6, or 12 months and take them around and show them what has been done. Likely won't catch everything that was done though, even if they intended to. Might even be things that were installed, then decided something wasn't going to work as planned or not very efficient, etc. and end up removing and inspector never knew it was there when they do come.

Insurance and/or OSHA maybe bigger concerns for plant owners than a local building inspection department on many these smaller projects within the facility.

I highly doubt it. It's kinda like the Wild West in the gas industry out here. They "self-inspect" if at all.

Gotta say that there are some that do pay attention to their electrical installations, uh, or think they do. The most stringent one had Delta/Delta and Wye/Delta transformers installed ungrounded on the secondary. I explained a number of times. Maybe they finally understood.