Home Theater Wiring

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tkb

tkb

Senior Member
Location
MA
While driving the roads of Massachusetts I have noticed that there are some new vans on the road from Best Buy, Tweeter, Circuit City, and other contractors that advertise home theater and home automation.

None of these vans have any contractor license numbers on them.

Is the wiring that these people do under the jurisdiction of the Mass electrical licensing board and should these contractors have at the minimum a low voltage contractors license?
 
I would certainly think so if your state requires it. Those bozos probably have no idea much like everything they do. Unless they are subbing it out I would bust them.

-Hal
 
TKB Here is our licensing law.

It could use some work.

PART I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT

TITLE XX. PUBLIC SAFETY AND GOOD ORDER

CHAPTER 141. SUPERVISION OF ELECTRICIANS

Chapter 141: Section 1A. Licensure requirement; exceptions

Section 1A. No person, firm or corporation shall enter into, engage in, or work at the business or occupation of installing wires, conduits, apparatus, devices, fixtures, or other appliances for carrying or using electricity for light, heat, power, fire warning or security system purposes, unless such person, firm or corporation shall be licensed by the state examiners of electricians in accordance with this chapter and, with respect to security systems, unless such person, firm or corporation shall also be licensed by the commissioner of public safety in accordance with the provisions of sections fifty-seven to sixty-one, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and forty-seven.

This chapter shall not apply to: a person not engaged in the business described in this section who employs or contracts for the services of a person, firm or corporation engaged in such business; or to an apprentice employed by a person, firm or corporation licensed in accordance with this chapter; or to an agent, employee or assistant of a person, firm or corporation licensed in accordance with this chapter who does not engage in or perform the actual work described in this section.
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Well, I don't see anything about low voltage other than fire and security in there. So unfortunately it looks like they can do what they are doing without a license.

-Hal
 
hbiss said:
Well, I don't see anything about low voltage other than fire and security in there. So unfortunately it looks like they can do what they are doing without a license.

-Hal
Click to expand...

Out here in California they have to be a lincensed cantractor or work for one under a C-10 license and the installers will have to be certified by the state in the very near future.
 
A license is not required for home theater wiring, but a permit and insurance policy are required.

Also realize that MA does not have a "low voltage" license. They do have systems contractors license which is only for burglar/ fire alarm systems.

Most of the GC's are surprised if I do a rough inspection and inform them they need a permit and inspection for the audio wiring. A lot of times, it gets installed after the rough wiring inspection, and I catch it on the rough building inspection.
 
We have a rush of new companies here in Colorado doing theatre, telephone/data/TV, security and LIGHTING CONTROL. None of this bugs me exept the lighting. I have actually had them call me and tell me that I need to call in an inspection on MY permit for their lighting control panels. That ussually ends up with a PO'd Home automation contactor hanging up on me. I lean towards reporting them to the local building departments (anonymously most of the time).
 
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