July 22, 2017

TO NH LICENSED ELECTRICIANS:

NEW HAMPSHIRE’S AMENDMENTS TO THE NEC ARE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.

SEE NEC AMENDMENTS IN THE LIST ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOME PAGE.

THE NEW BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED ARE ON OUR HOME PAGE, PLEASE REVIEW THEM.

http://www.oplc.nh.gov/electricians/

CHAPTER 157

HB 85 - FINAL VERSION

8Mar2017... 0016h

05/18/2017 1816s

2017SESSION

17-0036

05/10

HOUSE BILL 85

AN ACT relative to installation requirements for arc-fault circuit interrupters.

SPONSORS: Rep. Proulx, Hills. 44; Rep. Beaudoin, Straf. 9; Rep. Hansen, Hills. 22; Rep. DiSilvestro,

Hills. 9

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill permits an arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) device to be replaced with a device without AFCI protection in certain circumstances.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.] Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

8Mar2017... 0016h

05/18/2017 1816s 17-0036

05/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

AN ACT relative to installation requirements for arc-fault circuit interrupters.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

157:1 New Section; New Hampshire Building Code; Installation of Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters; Exception. Amend RSA 155-A by inserting after section 3-b the following new section:

155-A:3-c Installation of Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI); Exception.

I.Notwithstanding any provision of the state building code or state fire code requiring the installation of arc-fault circuit interrupters, after repeated tripping of an AFCI device and determination the branch circuit is not causing the AFCI to trip, an AFCI device may be replaced with one without AFCI protection in accordance with this section.

II.All receptacle outlets supplied by the branch circuit without AFCI protection shall prior to occupancy either be:

(a)Marked “No AFCI Protection;” or

(b)Identified in a notice given by the property owner to all occupants.

III.If an electrician installs a device without AFCI protection, within 5 working days the electrician shall file an AFCI unwanted tripping report with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association on the association's webpage for arc fault breaker safety, and shall submit a copy of the report to the property owner and the electricians' board.

IV.The device without AFCI protection shall be permitted to remain in place for the period of time it takes for the manufacturer to resolve the matter.

V.Nothing in this section shall prevent a homeowner from making electrical installations in or about a single family residence owned and occupied by him or her or to be occupied by him or her as his or her bona fide personal abode. 157:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: June 28, 2017

Effective Date: June 28, 2017

CHAPTER 201

SB 135-FN - FINAL VERSION

03/30/2017 0477s

03/30/2017 1215s

1Jun2017... 1805h

2017 SESSION

17-0777

10/05

SENATE BILL 135-FN

AN ACT relative to the regulation of electricians.

SPONSORS: Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Rep. Backus, Hills. 19 COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill clarifies who may request identification of licensed electrical inspectors, requires the electricians' board to adopt rules on third party electrical inspections, updates the National Electrical Code in the state building code, and removes the authority of the state fire marshal to enforce provisions on electrician regulation.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [--in brackets and struckthrough.--]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/30/2017 0477s

03/30/2017 1215s

1Jun2017... 1805h 17-0777

10/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

AN ACT relative to the regulation of electricians.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

201:1 New Paragraph; Electricians; Inspectors; Identification. Amend RSA 319-C:5 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

V. A state, city, or town building official or code enforcement officer appointed by the administrative authority of the state, city, or town, who performs electrical inspections authorized in accordance with RSA 155-A:2, IV, RSA 155-A:2, VI, RSA 47:22, or RSA 674:51 shall have the authority to check the license or identification card issued under this chapter.

201:2 New Section; Third Party Electrical Inspections; Rulemaking. Amend RSA 319-C by inserting after section 5 the following new section:

319-C:5-a Third Party Electrical Inspections. The board shall adopt rules under RSA 319-C:6-a requiring any entity engaging a person to conduct third-party electrical inspections of electrical

installations in this state to have the person conducting the inspection be approved by the board. The board shall maintain and make available a list of such persons approved for third-party electrical inspections. The approval of a person to conduct third-party electrical inspections shall not prohibit a city or town that has established inspections under RSA 47:22 or RSA 674:51 from contracting with any person of its choice to perform third-party electrical inspections.

201:3 State Building Code; National Electrical Code. Amend RSA 155-A:1, IV to read as follows:

IV. "New Hampshire building code'' or "state building code'' means the adoption by reference of the International Building Code 2009, the International Existing Building Code 2009, the International Plumbing Code 2009, the International Mechanical Code 2009, the International Energy Conservation Code 2009, and the International Residential Code 2009, as published by the International Code Council, and the National Electrical Code [2014] 2017, as amended by the state building code review board and ratified by the legislature in accordance with RSA 155-A:10. The provisions of any other national code or model code referred to within a code listed in this definition shall not be included in the state building code unless specifically included in the codes listed in this definition.

201:4 Licensing Requirements; Requests for Certificate. Amend RSA 319-C:7, III to read as follows:

III. All persons licensed by the board shall receive a certificate under the seal of the board and with the signature of the board chairman, which must be publicly displayed at the principal place of business of said electrician, or, if no such place of business, must be carried on his or her person and displayed at any time upon request to any electrical inspector appointed by the board under this chapter, as long as said person continues in the business as herein defined. The certificate shall specify the name of the person licensed who, in the case of a firm, shall be one of its members or employees and, in the case of a corporation, one of its officers or employees passing the examination. In the case of a firm or corporation, the license shall be void upon the death of or the severance from the company of said person.

201:5 Department of Safety; Enforcement by Fire Marshal; Electricians Removed. Amend RSA 21- P:4, VII to read as follows:

VII. Have the discretion to grant authority to issue a citation for violations of fire safety rules adopted under RSA 153:4-a, RSA 153:5, and RSA 160-C and to unlicensed persons who perform actions that require a license under RSA 153:28, RSA 153:29-a, [RSA 319-C,] or RSA 329-A to the state fire marshal or his or her designee, or to any fire chief, fire investigator, fire inspector or fire prevention officer who meets the qualifications established pursuant to RSA 21-P:14, II(s). A citation for violations under this paragraph shall carry the penalty set forth under RSA 153:24. A building official or code enforcement officer may also be granted authority under RSA 21- P:14, II(s) to issue a citation to any unlicensed person who performs actions requiring a license under RSA 153:28, RSA 153:29-a, [RSA 319-C,] or RSA 329-A.

201:6 New Paragraph; State Building Code; National Electrical Code; Exception Added. Amend RSA 155-A:2 by inserting after paragraph X the following new paragraph:

XI. Notwithstanding the inclusion of the National Electrical Code 2017 in the state building code under RSA 155-A:1, IV, the amended provisions of section 210.12 of the National Electrical Code, which modify the National Electrical Code 2014 version to add arc-fault circuit interrupter requirements for dormitory unit devices and bathrooms, guest rooms and guest suites, and branch circuit extensions or modifications for dormitory units shall not be enforced under the state building code or this chapter.

201:7 Effective Date.

I.Section 3 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2018.

II.The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage

Approved: July 05, 2017 Effective Date:

I.Section 3 effective January 1, 2018

II.Remainder effective September 3, 2017.