Newsletter
Spring 2012
Presidential Views
Greg Smith, 2012 President
We've had an unusual winter and an early spring. As I remember to take time for the enjoyment of nature, I realize it's also a great way to relieve stress if needed. Springtime is a wonderful, beautiful time in North Carolina, and I appreciate it even more each year. Every year I also enjoy my friends here more and more, and I’m also thankful for all the people I’ve met in the electrical industry. That includes close friends and others I don’t know quite as well, but have great respect for. Every Spring at the NC Electrical Institute, I get a chance to see many of these friends.
May is electrical safety month, and I want to say a special thanks to our Secretary of State Elaine Marshall for her vigilance in identifying counterfeit electrical products. With the new foreign manufacturing countries come these counterfeit and dangerous electrical products, such as extension cords that will overheat and cause a fire.
Adoption of the NEC has again been delayed and special interest groups are reporting inaccurate or incomplete information about the NEC and electrical safety in general. The current changes to the National Electrical Code represent protection from hazards brought to light by new technology and new installations, and new uses of electrical products. Even people who know very little (Or nothing) about electricity are involved in the effort to delay these important changes and technologies. Electrical shock, electrical fire and electrocution are not particular about their victims. As we help educate our politicians, business owners and citizens, these educated people become our friends and allies, and are with us in the quest to prevent death and injury from electrical hazards. May we continue to advance together in this important work.
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 continued to send out special announcements for Continuing Education classes and job available. Join our mailing list – go to www.nciaei.org (Contact us page).
Retirements
Ken Rademacher has retired from Mecklenburg County 2/29/2012. He has worked there in code enforcement for 24 years, mostly in plan review. Ken has a BS degree in electrical engineering and a level III electrical inspector certification, and has taught in the electrical apprentice program and assorted code and technical classes. He and his wife Charlotte hope to spend time visiting family and friends, fishing, helping others, maybe taking some classes, finishing up projects, and Ken will also find time to get in some hunting with his friends. Kens considers himself very fortunate to have worked with so many talented and kind coworkers, designers and contractors over the years. He probably will not miss work but will miss his second family of friends met through work. “Thanks for contributing to my success and making work with you such a pleasure. You are a great group, thanks”.
New Faces and Places
Paul Abernathy, NEMA Southern Section Field Representative succeeding John Minick. Paul has been an instructor and NEC consultant for over 22 years, and is known as “The Electrical Guru.” He has been considered by many as one of the top electrical educators in the country and is the winner of the 2007 Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc. prestigious "TOP GUN" award for his electrical presentation ability and National Electrical Code knowledge.
Paul began his electrical career in the mid 80's after attending a 2 year technical school (Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center). He also went on to be named (at the time of his graduation) the # 1 student in the schools electrical program history, all while also winning Virginia's regional electrical VICA program competition and went on to also win nationally as well as teaching electrical code at local community colleges. After school he formed an electrical contracting business with his brother and in the early 2000's formed his own electrical contracting business.
Over the past 20 + years Mr. Abernathy has achieved the highest achievements in his industry from first becoming a Master Electrician to the highest level of certifications in the ICC and IAEI ( NCPPI ) as well as in his state of Virginia as a Certified Electrical Inspector and Plans Examiner.
Mr. Abernathy is also a NFPA® Electrical Section Member, Fire Science and Technology Educators Section Member and Building Fire Safety Systems Section Member.
Mr. Abernathy is a great addition to NEMA and to our electrical industry in the Southeast.
Bereaved
Mr. James Ira "Jim" Burgess, 80, of Greensboro, NC, died Monday, February 27, 2012. A funeral service was held 2:00 pm Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at Friendly Avenue Baptist Church. Burial followed at Lakeview Memorial Park. Jim was Chief Electrical Inspector, City of Greensboro when he retired. He also served as President of the NC Ellis Cannady Chapter, IAEI 1977-1979. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Burgess family.
Nick Fountain's mother, Hilda B. Fountain, age 103, died February 14, 2012 after several months of declining health. Mrs. Fountain was born on Oct. 25, 1908 on a farm in the Tar Landing community near Jacksonville, Onslow County, N. C. She is survived by her sons, Rear Admiral Robert R. "Bob" Fountain Jr. and wife Betsey, of Montross, Va., Dr. Stuart B. Fountain and wife Carol of Asheboro, NC, John N."Nick" Fountain Esq. and wife Julia of Raleigh, NC, and a daughter Eleanor "Happy" Halliburton of Greensboro, NC. She is also survived by her "favorite 9" grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Being very devoted to her family, she wrote a personal note to each of her 9 grandchildren each month until a few weeks before her death. Services were held February 25, 2012 at 1:00 pm at Wesley Memorial, High Point, NC.
Sick and Shut-In
Henry Jenkins is in treatment for Signet Ring Carcinoma (a rare cancer) He has been treated in Raleigh and at Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, and is responding well to Chemo treatments. We hope to see Henry again soon and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. We spent some time with Henry at the NC Electrical Institute, and everyone was very happy to see him there.
NC Chapter Annual Meeting
Our 2012 annual Chapter meeting will be held in Cherokee, NC. 2/21/12. Mark this on your calendar now, check on our website for more information (Coming soon). www.nciaei.org
Behind the Scenes
We’d like to say a special thanks to Mitchell Bryant for his continuing hard work behind the scenes. As you may know, Mitchell is a Field Investigator for the NC Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. In his “spare” time, he takes care of the chapter bookkeeping (as chapter Treasurer), is active in planning for the NC Council of Code Officials. Mitchell is also the incoming IAEI Southern Section President, and is on the NC Chapter, PR committee, Education Committee, Southern Section 2013 committee. Many thanks Mitchell for all you do!
Electrical Incidents
A Charlotte man lost an arm in an industrial machinery incident at Barnhardt Manufacturing company. The company has been cited 35 times for OSHA violations, and OSHA has visited the plant 7 times in the last 10 years.
While there is no word on exactly how the incident occurred, inspectors and testing laboratories have been warning of the dangers of Industrial Machinery for years. Many inspections reveal missing guarding and e-stops required by US National standards.
Product Safety
Groundwater Remediation Systems. Cleanup from leaks of removed underground fuel tanks is important work. The remediation systems used for this cleanup are often temporary buildings and trailers. Keep in mind, these systems are hazardous location equipment and need to be third party inspected for electrical fire and shock, but most importantly explosion. Testing laboratory Inspectors have found some serious deficiencies with these systems, so make sure and look for evidence of certification. If you see a testing laboratory label, be sure to ask for the report, which will include a list of the proper Standards for evaluating this equipment. Also, if the certification was performed several years back, the system may have been modified and will need to be re-inspected.
Safety Reminders
Donnie’s Accident Video, Arc Flash. This is a powerful reminder of the dangers of Arc Flash. Keep in mind, the images are disturbing and you may need to take care that more sensitive viewers may not be able to watch this video. Although Donnie eventually recovers, his journey is tragic. The website and video can be seen at www.donniesaccident.com, or on our website www.nciaei.org under Arc Flash True Stories.
Code Enactments and Activity
The NEC is scheduled for adoption this year. We continue to work towards a faster adoption. Check our website for regular updates. www.nciaei.org. The chapter, along with the NCBEEC and other industry groups, has asked the governor to make an Executive order adopting the 2011 NEC.
Charlotte Mecklenburg inspection department has gone completely electronic for plans review. To see the website, click here
Continuing Education with NC IAEI
Spring dates now available on our website:
· April 26, 2012 Wrightsville Beach at BlueWater Banquets & Catering
· May 8, 2012 Franklin at the Macon County Community Facilities Building
· May 17, 2012 Fayetteville at the Fayetteville PWC Operations Complex
These classes will include: Top 50 NEC 2011 Changes; Grounding & Residential Generators; Electric Vehicles and Residential Elevators.
NEC Continuing Education Classes for 2011-2012
Our continuing education classes for 2011-2012 were again a great success! Thanks to all those who have attended and registered for the 2011 season, and a special thanks to our instructors. Visit our chapter website for updates on continuing education. 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.