| Q.
| Do
I need a license to provide electrical installations within
my own dwelling or building?
|
| A.
| If
you are the owner, some municipalities do allow you the right
to install your own wiring. As long as it is inspected by an
authorized inspection agency. However, you must also know, that
in certain towns and villages you are not allowed and require
a licensed electrical contractor no matter what. What seem to
be the current standards in most of the larger towns the owner
is permitted to wiring simple outlets, etc. However, they are
NOT permitted to wire what is considered high hazard areas,
such as POOLS, SERVICE CHANGES and HEATING SYSTEMS.
|
|
| Some
towns are now requiring a test that will enable them to prove
to the municipality that they are competent to install the wiring.
|
|
| I
suggest contacting your local town or village and requesting
information relating to electrical installations and requirements.
Call, fax or e-mail your request, I will guide you to the proper
authority.
|
| Q.
| What
is an "ELECTRICAL APPROVAL CERTIFICATE"?
|
| A.
| In
the past this was called a Board of Fire Underwriters Certificate.
However, since the New York Board of Fire Underwriters is a
private company and not a State Agency, the proper designation
for a certificate issued by an authorized inspection is "ELECTRICAL
APPROVAL CERTIFICATE".
|
| Q.
| Isn't
the New York Board of Fire Underwriters a state agency?
|
| A.
| No.
The New York Board of Fire Underwriters is a private
corporation whose membership consists of 96 Fire Insurance
companies authorized to write fire insurance policies within
the state.
|
| Q.
| What
is UL?
|
| A.
| UL,
"Underwriters Laboratories", is a testing company
that provides testing on products for safety and usage. They
are not associated with an electrical inspection. Often our
certificate is incorrectly referred to as a UL certificate,
although the correct reference should be Electrical Approval
Certificate.
|
| Q.
| Are
there State Inspectors?
|
| A.
| No,
there are no such employee as a State Electrical Inspector that
is employed to provide inspection services in Nassau or Suffolk
County. What many people have stated to us, is "The State Inspector
was here and he said...". After asking certain questions, it
was an inspector from the New York Board of Fire Underwriters,
which is a private inspection agency.
|
| Q.
| Are
our Certificates accepted in every town, village and city?
|
| A.
| No,
our list of approved areas is under "Nassau/Suffolk Village
Served", or call for an update list.
|
| Q.
| Can
I wire my own pool?
|
| A.
| No,
pools are one of the most serious life safety areas. In most
cases pools are installed for recreational use with children.
If the pool is not wired as per the National Electrical Code,
NEC Part 680, it is not a safe pool. Consult a licensed electrical
contractor for pricing on pool wiring.
|
| Q.
| After
the inspection, do our inspectors correct the violations?
|
| A.
| No,
we are an inspection agency and independent licensed electrical
contractors provide violation corrections. Check your local
yellow pages for a licensed electrical contractor.
|
| Q.
| What
is the standard time frame that all violations are sent to the
local municipality?
|
| A.
| 30
days after the initial inspection we send a "NOV" Notice of
Violation to the owner and or contractor. If there is no response
in 30 days, then we send a second notice to all parties concerned.
Within 15 days of the second notice, total 45 days, with no
response; we automatically send the entire file to the town
having jurisdiction. Once this occurs, your file is closed and
a new application is required.
|
| Q.
| How
do I request for an inspection?
|
| A.
| By
phone, fax or mail. Customers with accounts have access via
the internet.
|
| Q.
| If
my contractor requested the inspection, can I obtain a copy
of it directly from this company?
|
| A.
| No,
you must obtain your certificate from your electrical contractor
and or person who requested the application. We have a contractual
agreement with that person, although it may be your property
that was inspected.
|
| Q.
| Are
any inspection agencies permitted to make up their own laws
and rules?
|
| A.
| No.
An approved inspection agency is required to follow the
Building Code of New York State.
|
| Q.
| What
if my needs are different and not listed in the Building Code
of NYS? What are
my choices?
|
| A.
| You
can apply for a variance with the Secretary of State Codes Division.
|
| Q.
| What
trade Associations are on Long Island?
|
| A.
| Nassau
Electrical League, Suffolk County Electrical Contractors Association.
|
