Newsletter
Winter 2012
Presidential Views
Greg Smith, 2012 President
2012 promises to be an interesting year. New technologies are coming to the market, and with these new technologies come new electrical hazards and installation challenges. This will also be a year of likely contentious national and local elections, which always bring opinions and arguments, sometimes between people who have never had disagreements before. As individuals we will need to remember to be civil and gracious, putting aside our differences so that as an association we can continue our critically important work together - promoting electrical safety education and public awareness.
When I first started attending IAEI meetings back in the early 90`s, I realized I had found a group of people who shared the same passion for protecting our families and communities from electrical hazards. As a Testing Laboratory Inspector, I came to see that my job had much in common with government Inspectors. After 20 years of inspecting electrical products in the field and in the laboratory, I have gained a special appreciation for the scrutiny of these products, and for the Inspectors who enforce our laws designed to keep our citizens safe from shock, fire and electrocution, both at home and at work. Having spent a great deal of time with our Inspector and Contractor members, I realize how much we help each other complete this picture. From the correct design of components and wiring, to the manufacture and testing of products, to the installation and inspection of buildings, homes and installed products, we complete a chain of events that culminate in the mostly unseen continued safe operation of electricity in our lives.
Our continuing education classes have been a great success, thanks to our hard working members who spend their valuable time bringing NEC education to areas around our State, providing affordable and local classes. Still, two great challenges remain for us. One is the education of the public including our children, so that people may have an appreciation for this work, and that children can grow up with an opportunity to enter the electrical safety and related professions. The second is the education and awareness for politicians and other groups who have agendas contrary to the critical need to protect our citizens from harm. As we move forward, we can use technology and new means of publicizing the goals of our industry, including special presentations and public forums.
I look forward to serving our membership as President of the NC Ellis Cannady Chapter, it is a great honor and privilege to represent this group of special people who I have come to love and respect. My door will always be open, please call, email or visit me at any time. For those of you who can attend, I hope to see you at our upcoming NC Electrical Institute, and later this year at our Southern Section and Annual meetings.
Best Regards,
Greg Smith, Chapter President
MET Laboratories
901 Sheldon Drive
Cary, NC 27513
800-321-4655 (Office)
919-524-4555 (Cell)
Industry Events
See our Meetings Page for up-to-date information
NC IAEI Electronic Newsletter:
Our newsletter continues to be our main form of communication to our members. In addition to our quarterly newsletters, we have continues to send out special announcements for Continuing Education classes. We’re also advertising Jobs available - Three inspection jobs were advertised in 2011. Please send us any news and details of upcoming jobs – go to www.nciaei.org (Contact us page), or forward to any of our members.
Retirements
Steve Carden retired from Durham City/County December 30, 2011. Steve has worked for Durham City County Inspections since 1978, and was promoted to Electrical Field Inspections Supervisor in 1999. He began his career as an electrician in 1968. Thanks Steve for your hard work and dedication to electrical safety. You will be missed at Durham City County Inspections. We hope to see Steve at some of our upcoming meetings.
NC Chapter Annual Meeting
The NC Chapter Annual Convention was November 6-8, 2011 at Childress Vineyards in Lexington. It included many outstanding events, beginning with the Sunday night Pig Pickin get together at the Childress Racing Museum. The Ladies program included a tour of the Moravian Cookie factory and local shopping.
At the banquet, Steve Carden Received the Inspector of the Year award, Mark Griffin received the Distinguished Service Award, Danny Thomas received the Richard B. Boyd Award. Greg Smith was installed as 2012 Chapter President. See the Chapter website for awards photos
The 2012 Meeting will be in Cherokee NC. Please make plans to attend, we hope to see you there. Details will be on the website soon.
Behind the Scenes
Gerald Harvell accepts 3 year appointment to the ICC Electrical EDC Committee. Gerald and the other committee members of the ICC EDC (Electrical Exam Development Committee) have updated the entire ICC electrical exam to the 2011 NEC. This included rewording questions and checking for compliance to the 2011 NEC. The exams updated include: E1 Exam (Residential Electrical Inspector), E2 Exam: (Commercial Electrical Inspector), E3 Exam: (Electrical Plans Examiner). E1: updated 255 items and re-wrote 18 K-Type items. E2: updated 75 items. E3: reviewed and discussed 113 plan reading items (to determine if they could be used as exhibits) of which 55 were approved and cut-scored, reviewed 90 calculation type items of which 22 were approved and cut-scored, reviewed and cut-scored 25 new code items. Cut scoring was done for 112 items.
The committee meets as needed and will participate in questions that are challenged by anyone that takes the exam. This is an important appointment that helps bring all our codes closer together. A special thanks to Gerald for his continuing hard work improving our codes through the highest quality education.
Electrical Incidents
After N.C. Fire, Duke Energy Advises Customers to Suspend Use of Electric Car Chargers. Duke Energy, the southeastern utility, has advised 125 customers with electric or hybrid cars to avoid using their home charging stations during the investigation of a fire in Mooresville, N.C., that apparently started near a charging station the company installed. One hundred of its customers in Indiana and 25 in the Carolinas have the same Siemens charging station found in the garage by firefighters responding to the Oct. 30 fire, according to Paige Layne, a Duke Energy spokeswoman. “Because the early report said the fire started somewhere in the vicinity of the charging station, we suggested they may not want to use them out of an abundance of caution,” Layne said. There was no reason then to believe it was caused by the charger, she said, adding, “We still don’t think there is.”
Firefighters said a General Motors car was connected to a charger in the home’s garage when they responded to the fire, which did an estimated $800,000 worth of damage to the home, according to ABC affiliate WSOC. Iredell County Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Garland Cloer investigated the garage this morning with representatives of GM, Siemens, Duke Energy and the U.S. Department of Transportation to ascertain how the fire started. Firefighters said other electric appliances were plugged in in the garage when they responded to the fire, the report said. “It could take several days to take everything out of the garage”, Cloer said, according to WSOC. “From the electrical wiring to the house, to the vehicles, to anything in the garage, it could have even spontaneously combusted,” Cloer was quoted as saying. “We won’t know until we sift through it and find all the evidence that we can find.”
WSOC said the charger was a 240-volt unit built by Siemens for use with GM cars. The car is most likely the hybrid-electric Chevrolet Volt, GM’s most prominent hybrid car model. Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers has been a prominent proponent of electric vehicles (EVs), WSOC noted, adding that he has said he wanted to see more EVs and charging stations in Charlotte for the Democratic National Convention, which will be held there in 2012.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the following statement: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is aware of the fire that was reported in Mooresville, N.C., this past weekend and will be conducting a post-incident analysis. No conclusions have yet been reached regarding the cause of the fire. We are continuing to monitor the situation.
NHTSA researchers began studying earlier this year whether lithium ion batteries – the type of battery in the GM Volt – pose a fire hazard, AutoWeek.com reported. “We don’t want anyone to burn down their house when they’re charging their car,” said Kevin Vincent, the agency’s chief counsel, according to the report.
GM has assisted the study, giving researchers a tour of the battery lab that produces Volt batteries, the report said. GM did not respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Department Energy did not respond to inquiries.
Product Safety
Very often we come across the statement “It´s low voltage so it doesn´t need to be inspected”. In Many cases this is true, but certainly not in all cases. There are a couple of important questions to ask. Where is the low voltage coming from? Is the line voltage source a Listed device or a “Recognized component?”. If it´s a recognized component what are the limitations of that component? Is it protected per the certification requirements for the device, or has someone created a control panel? (Then the control panel would fall under regulations from another Standard). Does it contain a Lithium Ion battery? (These can represent explosion and fire risks). Is the low voltage output also low current? (High current can represent injury and fire hazards also). Recent incidents with EV batteries are a good example of this, also induction processes such as electroplating equipment. Many low voltage medical devices require certification due to risk of injury to a patient. Be sure to ask these questions if you encounter this statement, and if questions remain, contact your local product safety laboratory representative. There are several who are members of our NC IAEI Chapter.
Safety Reminders
.Most of our readers are already aware of these issues, but remember to pass these on to our friends and family and the general public whenever possible.
Electrical Safety Tips To Watch for Outside.
Watch for Frayed Cords. One of the first signs of trouble homeowners may notice is a frayed or broken cord. Homeowners with outdoor cords and electrical outlets should always be on the lookout for damaged cords and receptacles. Unplug any equipment with frayed cords at once, and do not plug it back in until you have replaced those cords. Never attempt to patch a frayed cord back together---especially if that cord will be outside in the elements.
Use Only Outdoor Cords- Another common safety problem with outdoor appliances involves the choice of electrical cords. Because indoor cords are susceptible to weather damage, using them outside is extremely dangerous. When plugging in electrical appliances outside the home, use only outdoor-quality cords, which are designed specifically to withstand conditions such as rain, snow and wind.
Be Safe Around Outdoor Power Sources. Not all outdoor electrical sources are under your control; use caution with these power sources as well. If you have power lines near your home, steer clear of them as much as possible---and children should learn to never play near power lines. In the case of downed power lines, contact your power company immediately. Be aware of underground power lines as well---before you dig anywhere on your property, be sure to contact the power company to ensure you will not be digging near underground power lines. If you cut a power line, you could suffer a severe shock, and you could potentially be billed for any damage you do.
Consumer Product Safety Commission Safety Alert: Install Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) recommends installing and using ground-fault
circuit-interrupters (GFCIs) for protection against electrocution
hazards involving electrical circuits and underwater lighting
circuits in and around pools, spas, and hot tubs.
CPSC is aware
of more than a dozen electrocutions and a similar number of
electrical shock incidents involving circuits around swimming pools
between 1997 and 2002. Electrical incidents involving underwater
pool lighting were more numerous than those involving any other
consumer product used in or around pools, spas, and hot tubs.
The greater danger associated with electrical shock in a swimming pool is that anyone in the pool may be rendered immobile and unable to rescue themselves or to call for help. Drowning becomes a likely outcome, even if the current is not immediately lethal. Bystanders and would-be rescuers risk serious injury if the current flow isn't stopped before they make contact with a conductive fixture, such as a ladder, or enter the water to try to help a victim.
While grounding provides essential protection for pool, spa, and hot tub equipment, GFCIs are the most effective means for protecting people against electrical shock hazards of this nature.
A GFCI constantly monitors the flow of current through a protected lighting fixture, pump motor or appliance circuit and senses any loss of current to an outside path. If the current flowing into an electrical appliance or fixture differs by a very small amount from what flows back out, the GFCI instantly interrupts the current flow to prevent a sustained, lethal level of electricity from reaching the consumer. The consumer may feel a painful shock but should be protected from electrocution.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires GFCI protection for cord- and plug-connected pumps on pools, spas, and hot tubs; 120-volt underwater lighting fixtures; and receptacle outlets in the vicinity of pools, spas and hot tubs. Today, the code prohibits electrical installations closer than five feet from water and requires GFCI protection for all electrical equipment, including 240-volt equipment located five to 10 feet from the water and for receptacles within a 20-foot perimeter.
Older pools, spas and hot tubs may not have adequate GFCI protection. In particular, pools older than 30 years may not have GFCI protection on underwater lighting circuits. Because the NEC provision for spas only became effective in 1981, even somewhat newer spas or hot tubs may not be protected.
CPSC urges consumers to have an electrician who is qualified in pool and spa repairs install adequate GFCI protection for all pool, spa, and hot tub electrical equipment and for underwater swimming pool lighting fixtures. Additionally, outdoor outlets that could potentially be used to plug in electrical appliances (e.g., radios, pumps, washers) used near the pool also should be equipped with GFCI protection. Remember to test the GFCI regularly to be assured of continued protection.
Code Enactments and Activity
The NEC 2011 should become law in NC sometime in 2012, but due to delays and objections no one is really sure exactly when this will take place. The objections were non-specific form letters, some were not even signed. All codes except electrical would go into effect on June 1, 2012. One change is that CO2 detectors will be required in single family, duplex, town houses only where a fossil fuel is used for heating, cooking, or for any kind of appliance. The following electrical codes were sent to committee: 210.12B, 210.62I, 404.2C, 406.4D4.
Continuing Education with NC IAEI
Our continuing education classes for 2011 were a great success! Thanks to all those who attended, and a special thanks to our instructors After the NC Electrical Institute, check our website for Spring and Summer Continuing Education. We´ll be bringing you exciting new and relevant topics and knowledgeable instructors. See our www-nciaei.org Education and Meetings pages. Remember the importance of contact hours, and the great benefit students receive with a live instructor and classroom interaction
On Our Website
Remember to check the NC IAEI website regularly! We are making continuous improvements and always have great information on the NEC, on Continuing Education class schedules, code interpretations, important documents and exciting technology news.