Electrical Safety

Electrical Bulletin 2003-01

From: David MacLeod, C.E.I, P.Eng., Chief Electrical Inspector
Date: October 16, 2003

Subject: Recent important changes to the Electrical Code Regulations regarding inspection requirements for electrical and communications contractors

Changes have been made to the Electrical Code Regulations herein referred to as the Regulations.

The recent changes clearly mandate that a contractor shall notify the electrical inspection department to obtain all necessary inspections, inclusive of a final inspection ,when the work is ready for inspection. ( Refer to item 3 C no. 2 & 3 below )

The requirements for contractors to call for inspections is effective immediately.

The following items 1 to 5 indicate all of the recent changes made to the Regulations:

1. Clause 2(c) of the Electrical Code Regulations was amended by striking out "1998" and substituting " 2002".
   
2. Section 2 of the regulations was amended by adding the following definition after clause 2(h):
   • (ha)
   • "final inspection" means an inspection performed by an inspection department to ensure that an electrical installation, an alteration or addition to an electrical installation, or a communications cabling installation has been completed and conforms to the Code, the Act and these regulations and is safe and free of any fire or shock hazards;
     
3. Section 7 of the regulations was amended by
   • striking out the heading immediately before Section 7 and substituting "Permits and inspections";
   • renumbering Section 7 as subsection 7(1);
   • adding the following subsections immediately after subsection 7(1):
     1. A contractor shall notify the inspection department when electrical or communications cabling work is ready for inspection, and upon notification the inspection department shall complete all necessary inspections as required by the Act and these regulations.
     2. In addition to other requirements under the Act and these regulations, a contractor shall notify the inspection department when electrical or communications cabling work is ready for a final inspection, and upon notification the inspection department shall perform a final inspection and issue a final inspection report.
     3. Subsection (3) does not apply to an industrial, commercial or other establishment for which a maintenance permit under subsection 8(2) has been issued to the contractor.
     4. An inspection department that issues a maintenance permit of the kind described in subsection 8(2) to a contractor for an industrial, commercial or other establishment shall, at least once in the year for which the permit is issued, perform a limited inspection of the establishment, with the scope of the inspection to be determined by the inspection department.
4. 1. Subsection 8(2) of regulations was amended by striking out "A permit" and substituting "A maintenance permit".
   2. Subsection 8(3) of the regulations is repealed.

Other changes made to the Regulations that effect only the electrical inspection departments are indicated below.

1. The regulations were further amended by
2. striking out the heading immediately before Section 10 and substituting "Requirements of inspection departments"; and
3. adding the following headings and Sections immediately after Section 10:
   
   
   • Inspection procedures of inspection department
   10A
   1. Upon request by the Chief Inspector, an inspection department shall provide, in a manner determined by the Chief Inspector, a written report outlining its inspection procedures for review and approval by the Chief Inspector.
   2. An inspection department shall only follow those inspection procedures that are currently approved.
      
   • Inspector qualifications
   10B
   • An inspection department shall ensure to the satisfaction of the Chief Inspector that an inspector in its employ
   • • has at least the minimum qualifications required, as set by the Chief Inspector in consultation with the inspection department;
     • performs inspections consistent with their qualifications; and
     • has upgrade and refresher training as required.

Copies of the new Regulations should be available on the following website as soon as it is updated: https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/eiicode.htm

Any questions regarding this bulletin may be forwarded to the Provincial Chief Electrical Inspector: David MacLeod, P.Eng. at 902-424-8018 or by email at macleodd@gov.ns.ca.