PDFWAC 296-46B-100
General definitions.
All definitions listed in the National Electrical Code and chapter 19.28 RCW are recognized in this chapter unless other specific definitions are given in this chapter and chapter 19.28 RCW. The definitions in this section apply to all parts of this chapter. Some sections may have definitions specific to that section.
"Accreditation" is a determination by the department that a laboratory meets the requirements of this chapter and is therefore authorized to evaluate electrical products that are for sale in the state of Washington.
"Administrative law judge" means an administrative law judge (ALJ) appointed pursuant to chapter 34.12 RCW and serving in board proceedings pursuant to chapter 19.28 RCW and this chapter.
"ANSI" means American National Standards Institute. Copies of ANSI standards are available from the National Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards, Inc.
"Appeal" is a request for review of a department action by the board as authorized by chapter 19.28 RCW.
"Appellant" means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity that has filed an appeal or request for board review.
"Appliance" means household appliance.
"ASTM" means the American Society for Testing and Materials. Copies of ASTM documents are available from ASTM International.
"AWG" means American Wire Gauge.
"Basement" means that portion of a building that is partly or completely below grade plane. A basement will be considered as a story above grade plane and not a basement where the finished surface of the floor above the basement is:
(a) More than six feet above grade plane;
(b) More than six feet above the finished ground level for more than 50 percent of the total building perimeter; or
(c) More than 12 feet above the finished ground level at any point. Also see "mezzanine" and "story."
"Board" means the electrical board established and authorized under chapter 19.28 RCW.
"Category list" is a list of manufacturing safety standards or product types determined by the department.
A "certified electrical product" is an electrical product to which a laboratory, accredited by the state of Washington, has the laboratory's certification mark attached.
A "certification mark" is a specified laboratory label, symbol, or other identifying mark that indicates the manufacturer produced the product in compliance with appropriate standards or that the product has been tested for specific end uses.
"Certificate of competency" includes the certificates of competency for master journey level electrician, master specialty electrician, journey level, and specialty electrician.
A laboratory "certification program" is a specified set of testing, inspection, and quality assurance procedures, including appropriate implementing authority, regulating the evaluation of electrical products for certification marking by an electrical products certification laboratory.
A "complete application" includes the submission of all appropriate fees, documentation, and forms.
"Chapter" means chapter 296-46B WAC unless expressly used for separate reference.
"Construction," for the purposes of chapter 19.28 RCW, means electrical construction.
"Coordination (selective)" as defined in NEC 100 must be determined and documented by a professional engineer registered under chapter 18.43 RCW.
"Department" means the department of labor and industries of the state of Washington.
"Director" means the director of the department, or the director's designee.
"Egress - Unobstructed (as applied to NEC 110.26 (C)(2)(a))" means an egress path that allows a worker to travel to the exit from any other area in the room containing the equipment described in NEC 110.26 (C)(2) without having to pass through that equipment's required working space.
"Electrical equipment" includes electrical conductors, conduit, raceway, apparatus, materials, components, and other electrical equipment not exempted by RCW 19.28.006(9). Any conduit/raceway of a type listed for electrical use is considered to be electrical equipment even if no wiring is installed in the conduit/raceway at the time of the conduit/raceway installation.
An "electrical products certification laboratory" is a laboratory or firm accredited by the state of Washington to perform certification of electrical products.
An "electrical products evaluation laboratory" is a laboratory or firm accredited by the state of Washington to perform on-site field evaluation of electrical products for safety.
An "equivalent apprenticeship program" for the purposes of RCW 19.28.161 (2)(a)(i), means one that is party to a reciprocal agreement recognized by the Washington state apprenticeship and training council (WSATC) under WAC 296-05-011(3).
"Field evaluated" means an electrical product to which a field evaluation mark is attached. Field evaluation must include job site inspection unless waived by the department, and may include component sampling and/or laboratory testing.
"Field evaluation mark" is a specified laboratory label, symbol, or other identifying mark indicating the manufacturer produced the product in essential compliance with appropriate standards or that the product has been evaluated for specific end uses.
A "field evaluation program" is a specified set of testing, inspection, and quality assurance procedures, including appropriate implementing authority regulating the testing and evaluation of electrical products for field evaluation marking.
The "filing" is the date the document is actually received in the office of the chief electrical inspector.
"Final judgment" means any money that is owed to the department under this chapter, including fees and penalties, or any money that is owed to the department as a result of an individual's or contractor's unsuccessful appeal of a citation.
"Fished wiring" is when cable or conduit is installed within the finished surfaces of an existing building or building structure (e.g., wall, floor or ceiling cavity).
"Household appliance" means utilization equipment installed in a dwelling unit that is built in standardized sizes or types and is installed or connected as a unit to perform one or more household functions such as food preparation, cooking, and cleaning. Includes appliances typically installed in a dwelling unit kitchen, clothes washing, drying, and water heating appliances, portable room air conditioning units and portable heaters, etc. Fixed electric space-heating equipment covered in NEC 424 (furnaces, baseboard and wall heaters, electric heat cable, etc.) and fixed air-conditioning/heat pump equipment (NEC 440) are not household appliances. Household appliance does not mean any utilization equipment that:
(a) Supplies electrical power, other than Class 2, to other utilization equipment; or
(b) Receives electrical power, other than Class 2, through other utilization equipment.
HVAC/refrigeration specific definitions:
(a) "HVAC/refrigeration" means heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration.
(b) "HVAC/refrigeration component" means electrical power and limited energy components within the "HVAC/refrigeration system," including, but not limited to: Pumps, compressors, motors, heating coils, controls, switches, thermostats, humidistats, low-voltage damper controls, outdoor sensing controls, outside air dampers, stand-alone duct smoke detectors, air monitoring devices, zone control valves and equipment for monitoring of HVAC/refrigeration control panels and low-voltage connections. This definition excludes equipment and components of non-"HVAC/refrigeration control systems."
(c) "HVAC/refrigeration control panel" means an enclosed, manufactured assembly of electrical components designed specifically for the control of a HVAC/refrigeration system. Line voltage equipment that has low voltage, NEC Class 2 control or monitoring components incidental to the designed purpose of the equipment is not an HVAC/refrigeration control panel (e.g., combination starters).
(d) "HVAC/refrigeration control system" means a network system regulating and/or monitoring a HVAC/refrigeration system. Equipment of a HVAC/refrigeration control system includes, but is not limited to: Control panels, data centers, relays, contactors, sensors, and cables related to the monitoring and control of a HVAC/refrigeration system(s).
(e) "HVAC/refrigeration equipment" means the central unit primary to the function of the "HVAC/refrigeration system." HVAC/refrigeration includes, but is not limited to: Heat pumps, swamp coolers, furnaces, compressor packages, and boilers.
(f) "HVAC/refrigeration system" means a system of HVAC/refrigeration: Wiring, equipment, and components integrated to generate, deliver, or control heated, cooled, filtered, refrigerated, or conditioned air. This definition excludes non-HVAC/refrigeration control systems (e.g., fire alarm systems, intercom systems, building energy management systems, and similar non-HVAC/refrigeration systems).
"IBC" means the International Building Code. Copies of the IBC are available from the International Code Council.
An "individual" or "party" or "person" means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, government subdivision or unit thereof, or other entity.
An "installation" includes the act of installing, connecting, repairing, modifying, or otherwise performing work on an electrical system, component, equipment, or wire except as exempted by WAC 296-46B-925. An installation is not the passive testing or operational programming of an electrical system, component, equipment, or wire. See "passive testing."
An "identification plate" is suitable for the environment and is a printed or etched adhesive label approved by the department or a phenolic or metallic plate or other similar material engraved in block letters at least 1/4 inch high unless specifically required to be larger by this chapter, suitable for the environment and application. The letters and the background must be in contrasting colors. Screws, rivets, permanent adhesive, or methods specifically described in this chapter must be used to affix an identification plate to the equipment or enclosure.
"Job site" means a specific worksite having a single address or specific physical location (e.g., a single-family residence, a building, a structure, a marina, an individual apartment building with a specific address, etc.).
"Journey level electrician" means a person who has been issued a journey level electrician certificate of competency by the department. The terms "journey level" and "journeyperson" in chapter 19.28 RCW are synonymous.
"Labeled" means an electrical product that bears a certification mark issued by a laboratory accredited by the state of Washington.
A "laboratory" may be either an electrical product(s) certification laboratory or an electrical product(s) evaluation laboratory.
A "laboratory operations control manual" is a document to establish laboratory operation procedures and may include a laboratory quality control manual.
"License" means a license required under chapter 19.28 RCW.
"Like-in-kind" means having the same overcurrent protection requirements and similar characteristics such as voltage requirement, current draw, short circuit characteristics, and function within the system and being in the same location. Like-in-kind also includes any equipment component authorized by the manufacturer as a suitable component replacement part.
For the purpose of WAC 296-46B-940, a "lineworker" is a person employed by a serving electrical utility or employed by a licensed general electrical contractor who carries, on their person, evidence that they:
(a) Have graduated from a department-approved lineworker's apprenticeship course; or
(b) Are currently registered in a department-approved lineworker's apprenticeship course and are working under the direct 100 percent supervision of a journey level electrician or a graduate of a lineworker's apprenticeship course approved by the department. The training received in the lineworker's apprenticeship program must include training in applicable articles of the currently adopted National Electrical Code.
"Listed" means equipment has been listed and identified by a laboratory approved by the state of Washington for the appropriate equipment standard per this chapter.
"Low voltage" means:
(a) NEC, Class 1 power limited circuits at 30 volts maximum.
(b) NEC, Class 2 circuits powered by a Class 2 power supply as defined in NEC 725.60(A).
(c) NEC, Class 3 circuits powered by a Class 3 power supply as defined in NEC 725.60(A).
(d) Circuits of telecommunications systems as defined in chapter 19.28 RCW.
"Member of the firm" means the member(s) on file with the department of licensing for sole proprietorships/partnerships or with the secretary of state for corporations.
"Mezzanine" is the intermediate level or levels between the floor and ceiling of any story with an aggregate floor area of not more than one-third of the area of the room or space in which the level or levels are located. Also see "basement" and "story."
"NEC" means National Electrical Code. Copies of the NEC are available from the National Fire Protection Association.
"NEMA" means National Electrical Manufacturer's Association. Copies of NEMA standards are available from the National Electrical Manufacturer's Association.
"NESC" means National Electrical Safety Code. Copies of the NESC are available from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
"NETA" means International Electrical Testing Association, Inc. Copies of the NETA standards and information are available from the International Electrical Testing Association, Inc.
"NFPA" means the National Fire Protection Association. Copies of NFPA documents are available from the National Fire Protection Association.
"NRTL" means Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory accredited by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after meeting the requirements of 29 C.F.R. 1910.7.
A "new building" for the purposes of RCW 19.28.261 includes the setting of a manufactured, mobile, or modular building.
"Passive testing" (e.g., pressing of test buttons, use of testing equipment like voltage testers, clamp-on meters, removal of a device head where the wiring is terminated on a separate base plate, etc.) means testing that does not require any:
(a) Physical modification to the electrical system wiring; or
(b) Wiring to be disconnected or terminated, except as necessary for an approved electrical testing laboratory or approved engineer performing an equipment evaluation.
"Point of contact" or "point of connection" means the service point.
"Proceeding" means any matter regarding an appeal before the board including hearings before an administrative law judge.
"Public area or square" is an area where the public has general, clear, and unrestricted access.
A "quality control manual" is a document to maintain the quality control of the laboratory's method of operation. It consists of specified procedures and information for each test method responding to the requirements of the product standard. Specific information must be provided for portions of individual test methods when needed to comply with the standard's criteria or otherwise support the laboratory's operation.
"RCW" means the Revised Code of Washington. Electronic copies of electrical RCW are available from the department and the office of the code reviser (https://leg.wa.gov/codereviser).
"Readily accessible" means the definition as defined in NEC 100. In addition, it means that, except for keys, no tools or other devices are necessary to gain access (e.g., covers secured with screws, etc.).
"Service" or "served" means that as defined in RCW 34.05.010(19) when used in relation to department actions or proceedings.
A "sign," when required by the NEC, for use as an identification method (e.g., legibly marked, legible warning notice, marked, field marked, permanent plaque/directory, etc.) means "identification plate."
A "stand-alone amplified sound or public address system" is a system that has distinct wiring and equipment for audio signal generation, recording, processing, amplification, and reproduction. This definition does not apply to telecommunications installations.
"Story" is that portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above. Next above means vertically and not necessarily directly above. Also see "basement" and "mezzanine."
"Structure," for the purposes of this chapter and in addition to the definition in the NEC, means something constructed either in the field or factory that is used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy as defined by the IBC.
"Supervision" for the purpose of supervising electrical trainees, means that the appropriately certified supervising electrician is on the same job site as the trainee being supervised. The trainee is not considered to be on the same job site if the supervising electrician and the trainee are working:
(a) In separate buildings at a single address (e.g., a campus, multibuilding industrial complex, multibuilding apartment complex, etc.) except for a single-family residence; or
(b) On an outdoor project (e.g., irrigation system, farm, street lighting, traffic signalization, etc.) where the trainee is more than 1,000 feet from the supervising electrician or where the trainee is more than 200 feet from the supervising electrician and out of sight.
"System design review" means a set of design documents that include the manufacturer's installation information, a legible one-line diagram of the system design, and calculations used to determine voltage and current within the system. The one-line diagram must show the system equipment, devices, overcurrent protection, conductor sizing, grounding, ground fault protection if required, and any system interconnection points. The review must be available to the inspector during all inspections.
A "telecommunications local service provider" is a regulated or unregulated (e.g., by the Federal Communications Commission or the utilities and transportation commission as a telephone or telecommunications provider) firm providing telecommunications service ahead of the telecommunications network demarcation point to an end-user's facilities.
"TIA/EIA" means the Telecommunications Industries Association/Electronic Industries Association which publishes the TIA/EIA Telecommunications Building Wiring Standards. Standards and publications are adopted by TIA/EIA in accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) patent policy.
A "training school" is a Washington public community or technical college or not-for-profit nationally accredited technical or trade school licensed by the work force training and education coordinating board under chapter 28C.10 RCW.
"Under the control of a utility" for the purposes of RCW 19.28.091 and 19.28.101 is when electrical equipment is not owned by a utility and:
(a) Is located in a vault, room, closet, or similar enclosure that is secured by a lock or seal so that access is restricted to the utility's personnel; or
(b) The utility is obligated by contract to maintain the equipment and the contract provides that access to the equipment is restricted to the utility's personnel or other qualified personnel.
"UL" means Underwriters Laboratory.
"Utility" means an electrical utility.
"Utility system" means electrical equipment owned by or under the control of a serving utility that is used for the transmission or distribution of electricity from the source of supply to the point of contact and is defined in section 90.2 (b)(5) of the National Electrical Code, 1981 edition (see RCW 19.28.010(1)).
"Utilization voltage" means the voltage level employed by the utility's customer for connection to lighting fixtures, motors, heaters, or other electrically operated equipment other than power transformers.
"Variance" is a modification of the electrical requirements as adopted in chapter 19.28 RCW or any other requirements of this chapter that may be approved by the chief electrical inspector if assured that equivalent objectives can be achieved by establishing and maintaining effective safety.
"WAC" means the Washington Administrative Code. Electronic copies of this chapter of the WAC are available from the department and the office of the code reviser (https://leg.wa.gov/codereviser).
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.28 RCW, RCW 19.28.031 and 19.28.251. WSR 24-05-085, § 296-46B-100, filed 2/21/24, effective 4/1/24; WSR 20-11-053 and 20-14-083, § 296-46B-100, filed 5/19/20 and 6/30/20, effective 10/29/20; WSR 19-15-117, § 296-46B-100, filed 7/23/19, effective 8/23/19. Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.28 RCW, RCW 19.28.010 and 19.28.031. WSR 17-12-021, § 296-46B-100, filed 5/30/17, effective 7/1/17. Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.28 RCW. WSR 14-11-075, § 296-46B-100, filed 5/20/14, effective 7/1/14; WSR 13-03-128, § 296-46B-100, filed 1/22/13, effective 3/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.281, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551. WSR 09-20-032, § 296-46B-100, filed 9/29/09, effective 10/31/09; WSR 08-24-048, § 296-46B-100, filed 11/25/08, effective 12/31/08; WSR 06-24-041, § 296-46B-100, filed 11/30/06, effective 12/31/06.]