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Electrical Code Regulations

made under Section 6 of the

Electrical Installation and Inspection Act

R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 141

O.I.C. 1999-470 (October 6, 1999, effective October 4, 1999), N.S. Reg. 95/99

as amended to O.I.C. 2015-96 (March 31, 2015, effective April 1, 2015), N.S. Reg. 95/2015

Citation

1     These regulations may be cited as the Electrical Code Regulations.

Interpretation

2     For the purpose of these regulations

 

                (a)    “Act” means the Electrical Installation and Inspection Act;

 

                (b)    “Chief Inspector” means the Chief Inspector appointed under the Act and includes any person who may exercise the powers of the Chief Inspector;

 

                (c)    “Code” means the latest issue of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, published by the Canadian Standards Association, the current issue of which is CSA Standard C22.1 - 2002 and as supplemented, amended or added to from time to time by the Canadian Standards Association;

Clause 2(c) amended: O.I.C. 2003-424, N.S. Reg. 174/2003.

 

                (d)    “communications cabling specialist” means a communications cabling specialist certified by the Chief Inspector under these regulations;

 

                (e)    “communications certificate” means a certificate issued pursuant to subsection 5(6) designating an individual as a communications cabling specialist;

 

                (f)    “communications permit” means a permit for the installation of cabling for communications systems, as defined in the Code, including CATV cabling requirements;

 

                (g)    “construction electrician” means an electrician who holds a valid Certificate or Restricted Certificate of Qualification in the Electrical Construction Trade issued under the authority of the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act;

 

                (h)    “electrical permit” means a permit for an electrical installation as defined in the Code but does not include installations that require a communications permit;

 

                (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;

Clause 2(ha) added: O.I.C. 2003-424, N.S. Reg. 174/2003.

 

                (i)     “inspection department”, when used in the Code and these regulations, means a public utility that supplies or will supply electric power or energy and grants permits to contractors;

 

                (j)     “maintenance permit” means a permit for electrical installation work of a routine nature and connected with the maintenance or operation of an industrial, commercial or other establishment;

 

                (k)    “permit” means a communications permit, an electrical permit or a maintenance permit; and

 

                (l)     “special permission” when used in clause (1) of Section 2-030 (Deviation or Postponement) of the Code means the written authority of the Chief Inspector.

Adoption of Code

3     (1)    Except as varied or modified by these regulations or where inconsistent with the Act, the Code is hereby adopted and constituted as regulations with respect to matters enumerated in Section 6 of the Act in addition to any other regulations made under Section 6 of the Act.

 

       (2)    The date of coming into force of the Code, including any supplement, amendment or addition to the Code, shall be the first clear day of the fourth month following the month of publication of the Code or any supplement, amendment or addition to it.

 

4     Where a fire door of Class A Rating (3 hours fire resistance) is required under the Code, the fire door shall have a 3-point latching.

Certificate for communications cabling specialist

5     (1)    An individual may apply to the Chief Inspector for a communications certificate.

 

       (2)    An applicant for a communications certificate shall

 

                (a)    provide documentation or evidence of the applicant’s experience and training in installing communication systems in a manner and form satisfactory to the Chief Inspector;

 

                (b)    successfully complete an examination conducted by the Chief Inspector by obtaining a pass mark of 70% or more; and

 

                (c)    pay an application fee of $33.15 plus applicable taxes.

Clause 5(2)(c) amended: O.I.C. 2015-96, N.S. Reg. 95/2015.

 

       (3)    Clause (2)(b) shall not apply to an applicant who is a construction electrician.

 

       (4)    Where an applicant fails the examination referred to in clause (2)(b), the applicant will not be eligible for re-examination until 3 months have elapsed.

 

       (5)    Where an applicant fails the examination referred to in clause (2)(b) a second time, the applicant shall not be permitted to be re-examined until the applicant completes a period of training and produces proof of training acceptable to the Chief Inspector.

 

       (6)    The Chief Inspector shall issue a communications certificate to an applicant who fulfills the requirements of subsection (2), and the certificate shall not be transferable.

 

       (7)    A communications certificate issued by the Chief Inspector pursuant to subsection (6) shall be accompanied by an identification card indicating the name of the communications cabling specialist and the date of the certification.

 

       (8)    A communications cabling specialist shall produce the identification card upon the request of an inspection department or the Chief Inspector.

 

       (9)    The fee for a duplicate identification card or communications certificate is $6.65.

Subsection 5(9) amended: O.I.C. 2015-96, N.S. Reg. 95/2015.

 

       (10)  A communications cabling specialist shall notify the Chief Inspector of any change of that individual’s address within 7 days of the change of address.

Subsection 5(11) repealed: O.I.C. 2001-537, N.S. Reg. 139/2001.

Suspension or cancellation of communications certificate

6     (1)    Subject to subsection (2), where the Chief Inspector, after due inquiry, finds that

 

                (a)    a communications certificate has been issued on the basis of false or misleading information;

 

                (b)    a communications cabling specialist has acted in a manner that is

 

                         (i)     not consistent with good practice in the trade, or

 

                         (ii)    detrimental or hazardous to property or public safety,

 

the Chief Inspector may suspend or cancel the communications certificate.

 

       (2)    The Chief Inspector shall not suspend or cancel a communications certificate until the Chief Inspector gives the certificate holder 15 days’ notice of the reasons for the suspension or cancellation, to allow the certificate holder an opportunity to appeal the Chief Inspector’s decision.

 

       (3)    Notice given by the Chief Inspector pursuant to subsection (2) shall be by registered mail addressed to the certificate holder’s last known address, and a copy of the notice shall be given to each inspection department in the Province.

 

       (4)    An appeal against the suspension or cancellation of a communications certificate may be made to the Fire Marshal within 15 days of receipt by the certificate holder of notice pursuant to subsection (3), and the Fire Marshal may confirm, modify or reverse the action of the Chief Inspector.

Permits and inspections

7     (1)    No person shall perform electrical or communications cabling work without first obtaining a permit.

Section 7 heading replaced and renumbered 7(1): O.I.C. 2003-424, N.S. Reg. 174/2003.

 

       (2)    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.

Subsection 7(2) added: O.I.C. 2003-424, N.S. Reg. 174/2003.

 

       (3)    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.

Subsection 7(3) added: O.I.C. 2003-424, N.S. Reg. 174/2003.

 

       (4)    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.

Subsection 7(4) added: O.I.C. 2003-424, N.S. Reg. 174/2003.

 

       (5)    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.

Subsection 7(5) added: O.I.C. 2003-424, N.S. Reg. 174/2003.

Electrical permits

8     (1)    An inspection department shall not issue an electrical permit except to an electrical contractor, as defined in the Code, who

 

                (a)    is or employs a construction electrician provided that if the construction electrician holds a Restricted Certificate, the work to which the permit relates is of the class of work authorized by the Restricted Certificate; or

 

                (b)    is or employs a construction electrician or an industrial electrician and is the owner or occupant of any industrial, commercial or other establishment where electrical installation work of a routine nature and connected with the maintenance or operation of the establishment is required to be performed at frequent intervals.

 

       (2)    A maintenance permit issued to an electrical contractor pursuant to clause (1)(b) shall be for a term of 1 year provided that the owner or occupant keeps a record of all work performed and the record is made available for inspection by an inspection department.

Subsection 8(2) amended: O.I.C. 2003-424, N.S. Reg. 174/2003.

Subsection 8(3) repealed: O.I.C. 2003-424, N.S. Reg. 174/2003.

Communications permits

9     (1)    Upon the coming into effect of these regulations, an inspection department may issue a communications permit to a communications cabling specialist.

 

       (2)    An inspection department shall not issue a communications permit except to a communications cabling specialist.

Subsection 9(2) effective March 1, 2000.

Requirements of inspection departments

10   (1)    An inspection department that issues a permit or completes an inspection of an electrical or a communications installation, or issues a maintenance permit or completes an annual maintenance inspection, shall maintain a record of the permit or inspection in electronic or written format for review and audit by the Chief Inspector.

 

       (2)    Where an inspection department issues a permit to its subsidiary or a closely related entity or performs an inspection pursuant to that permit, it shall maintain a record of the permit or inspection in electronic or written format for review and audit by the Chief Inspector.

Section 10 heading replaced: O.I.C. 2003-424, N.S. Reg. 174/2003.

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.

Section 10A added: O.I.C. 2003-424, N.S. Reg. 174/2003.

Inspector qualifications

10B An inspection department shall ensure to the satisfaction of the Chief Inspector that an inspector in its employ

 

                (a)    has at least the minimum qualifications required, as set by the Chief Inspector in consultation with the inspection department;

 

                (b)    performs inspections consistent with their qualifications; and

 

                (c)    has upgrade and refresher training as required.

Section 10B added: O.I.C. 2003-424, N.S. Reg. 174/2003.

Permit fees

11   An inspection department shall charge permit fees and may require the person who requests an inspection of an electrical or a communications installation to pay fees in accordance with the scale of fees approved by the Utility and Review Board.

Electrical permit exemptions

12   An electrical permit is not required for the following categories of installations, provided that the work is performed by a construction electrician who maintains a record of the work completed for inspection by an inspection department or the Chief Inspector:

 

                (a)    the replacement or repair of wiring devices or electrical equipment with an electrical rating no greater than 30 A, 120 V to ground or 50 A, 240 V and that are not in a location referred to in Sections 18 and 20 of the Code;

 

                (b)    the installation of one 15 A to 30 A, 120 V branch circuit or one 15 A to 50 A, 240 V branch circuit that is not in a location referred to in Section 18 and 20 of the Code;

 

                (c)    the replacement of light fixtures in a dwelling unit;

 

                (d)    the replacement of motors; and

 

                (e)    wiring supplied from an approved class II transformer in a single dwelling, provided it is not part of a lighting installation.

Communications cabling permit exemptions

13   A communications permit is not required for the following categories of communications systems installations, provided that the work is performed by a communications cabling specialist who maintains a record of the work completed for inspection by an inspection department or the Chief Inspector:

 

                (a)    an installation that does not exceed 6 cabling drops and is not in a location referred to in Sections 18 and 20 of the Code; and

 

                (b)    a relocation of 20 communication outlets where the installation does not involve any new cable runs or penetrate any existing fire wall and the relocation meets all current Code requirements.

General permit exemptions

14   The following types of installations are exempt from the permit requirements of these regulations:

 

                (a)    communications and cable TV installations in a single dwelling as defined by the Code;

 

                (b)    security and intrusion alarm systems; and

 

                (c)    installation of signs and outline lighting where the work is completed according to Section 34 of the Code by a certified electrical sign manufacturer acceptable to the Chief Inspector.

Approved equipment

15   (1)    No corporation, company, or person shall sell, have for sale, display, rent, lease, advertise, install or use any electrical device, appliance or equipment unless it is certified as approved equipment, as defined in the Code, by a certification organization acceptable to the Chief Inspector.

 

       (2)    The Chief Inspector may approve the installation and use of electrical equipment in accordance with the Code.

 

       (3)    If, in the opinion of the Chief Inspector, electrical equipment poses a fire or shock hazard, the Chief Inspector may order the disconnection of the equipment.

 

       (4)    Where the Chief Inspector finds uncertified electrical equipment stocked by a retailer, wholesale supplier, distributor, manufacturer or contractor, the Chief Inspector may order the retailer, wholesale supplier, distributor, manufacturer or contractor, within a reasonable period of time, to

 

                (a)    provide the Chief Inspector with a list of persons to whom the equipment has been supplied;

 

                (b)    remove from shelves and discontinue selling, renting or leasing the equipment; and

 

                (c)    recall the uncertified electrical equipment from the persons to whom it was supplied.

 

       (5)    Where an inspection department or the Chief Inspector finds uncertified electrical equipment installed in an electrical installation, the inspection department or the Chief Inspector may order the disconnection of the equipment.

 

       (6)    An inspection department or the Chief Inspector shall tag uncertified equipment to warn persons that the equipment must not be connected to an electrical supply.

Hazardous installations

16   Where an inspection department or the Chief Inspector finds a hazardous installation, the inspection department or the Chief Inspector may

 

                (a)    order or effect the disconnection of the installation; and

 

                (b)    take whatever action the inspection department or the Chief Inspector considers necessary to ensure safety in the area of the installation.

Special permission

17   The Chief Inspector may grant special permission in writing to an electrical or cabling contractor for a deviation or postponement under the Code.

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