Electrical Safety

Field Installation of Electrical Components : NS Labour and Advanced Education, Building and Equipment Safety

Electrical Bulletin 2001-01

From: David MacLeod,P.Eng., Chief Electrical Inspector
Date: May 2001

Subject: Field Installation of Electrical Components

The installation of electrical components such as relays, current transformers, etc in starters, panel boards, MCC’s etc.,unless installed by the manufacturer at the plant or installed as an approved listed factory field kit by an electrician or manufacturers’ technician at site , voids the overall certification of the equipment in which these relays etc. are being installed and therefore makes the overall piece of equipment non-certified.

The installation of non certified equipment is a violation of the Electrical Code Regulations and can be ordered disconnected or removed by the Chief Electrical Inspector or electrical inspection authority.

Therefore effective immediately the installation of such components shall only be accepted under one of the following conditions.

  • The components are installed by the manufacturer at the plant as part of their certification for that particular piece of equipment.
  • The components are installed in the field by a certified electrician or a technician of the manufacturer of the electrical equipment and are listed as an approved factory field kit for that particular piece of equipment. A letter from the manufacturer saying it can be installed is not acceptable, the components must be on a list of auxiliary equipment approved by a certification organization acceptable to the Chief Electrical Inspector.
  • Equipment is manufactured by a shop approved ,by an acceptable certification organization to the Chief Electrical Inspector, to build such equipment as control panels ,starters etc.
  • The components are installed by a qualified person, as defined in the Canadian Electrical Code, and a special inspection is performed by an acceptable agency authorized by the Chief Electrical Inspector .
The burden of proof is on the contractor to prove that one of the above criteria has been met to the satisfaction of the Chief Electrical Inspector or the electrical inspection authority if required.

Any questions may be forwarded to the Chief Electrical Inspector at 902-424-8018.