Administrative (NH Law/Rules)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

4.Identify the New Hampshire administrative rules that govern the licensing, supervision, and conduct of master electricians.

5.Distinguish between the authority of the New Hampshire Electricians' Board and the local code enforcement official (inspector).

6.Apply the legal thresholds for permit issuance, inspections, and the master electrician's supervisory responsibilities.

7.Recognize the specific statutory requirements for a master electrician to be the "person in responsible charge" of an electrical installation.

8.Navigate the interplay between NH RSA 319-C (Electricians) and the 2023 NEC adoption, including local amendments.

1.1 The Regulatory Framework: RSA 319-C and the Board

In New Hampshire, the legal authority to perform electrical work is governed by RSA 319-C (Electricians), not by the NEC itself. The NEC is a technical standard; it only has the force of law when adopted by a jurisdiction. New Hampshire adopts the NEC as a state-wide building code, but the administrative rules—who can work, who can pull permits, and what constitutes a violation—are found in the statutes and the administrative rules of the New Hampshire Electricians' Board (hereafter "the Board").

The Board operates under the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. For the Master's exam, you must understand the Board's composition and its rule-making authority. The Board is empowered to adopt rules (found in NH Admin Rules Elc 300-700) that govern the classification of licenses, apprenticeship requirements, and continuing education. Crucially, the Board does not interpret the NEC for field installations; that authority rests with the local code enforcement official (Building Inspector) or the State Fire Marshal's office, depending on the municipality.

Key Exam Concept: The Board issues licenses. The local inspector enforces the code. The Master Electrician is responsible for the work performed under their permit. If a dispute arises regarding a code interpretation, the appeal path is typically through the local building code board of appeals, not the Electricians' Board.

1.2 The Master Electrician License: Scope and Authority

The Master Electrician license is the highest classification in NH. It authorizes the holder to:

Plan, lay out, and supervise the installation of electrical wiring and equipment.

Pull permits for electrical work.

Act as the "person in responsible charge" for a business entity (electrical contractor).

Critical Distinction: A Journeyman license allows you to perform the physical installation under the supervision of a Master. The Master's license is a management and supervisory credential. The law requires that a Master Electrician be "readily available" to the job site. This does not mean physically present at all times, but it does mean accessible by phone or other means and able to be on-site within a reasonable time frame. The Board has defined "readily available" in its administrative rules (Elc 402.02). You must know this definition cold.

Supervisory Responsibility: As a Master, you are responsible for the work of all journeymen and apprentices under your charge. This is a strict liability standard in many cases. If an apprentice under your supervision makes an error that causes a fire, the Board will look first at the Master's supervision practices. You must ensure that the ratio of apprentices to journeymen/masters complies with Elc rules (typically 1:1 for first-year apprentices, increasing with experience). You must also verify that each worker on site holds a valid, appropriate license.

1.3 Permits, Inspections, and the "Responsible Charge" Doctrine

NH law (RSA 319-C) requires a permit for most electrical work. The Master Electrician named on the permit is the "person in responsible charge." This is a legal designation, not a formality.

Permit Issuance: Permits are typically issued by the local building department. The application requires the Master's license number. By signing the permit application, you are attesting that you will supervise the work. You cannot pull a permit for a job you have no intention of supervising.

Inspection Process: The local inspector will make required inspections. The Master (or a designated responsible individual) must be available to answer questions and provide access. Common inspection points include:

Rough-in (before insulation/drywall).

Service equipment (before energization).

Final (after all trim-out).

Exam Trap: A common question involves a scenario where a Master pulls a permit for a friend's house but never visits the site. The work is performed entirely by an unlicensed individual. In NH, the Master is liable for the violation, regardless of intent. The defense of "I didn't know" is not a valid legal defense. The doctrine of responsible charge imposes a duty to know.

1.4 Adoption of the NEC and Local Amendments

New Hampshire adopts the NEC as a statewide code. However, the state does not have a single, uniform building code enforcement agency for all municipalities. Each city and town has the authority to adopt the NEC and enforce it locally. The State Building Code (RSA 155-A) adopts the NEC by reference.

Key Administrative Point: While the NEC is adopted statewide, local jurisdictions may adopt amendments or stricter standards, provided they are not less stringent than the state code. As a Master working across multiple towns, you must be aware of local amendments. For example, one town may require a specific type of service entrance mast, while another does not. The Master is responsible for knowing the local rules where the permit is pulled.

The 2023 NEC: New Hampshire is currently on the 2023 NEC cycle. The exam is open-book on the 2023 edition. Do not study from the 2020 or 2017 editions. The administrative rules will reference the specific edition.

1.5 Continuing Education and License Renewal

To maintain a Master's license, you must complete continuing education hours (CEHs) as required by the Board. The current requirement is typically 15 contact hours per renewal cycle, including a mandatory component on code changes and a component on NH law and rules.

Supervision Implication: The Board audits CEH records. If you fail to maintain your license, you cannot legally supervise work or pull permits. A lapse in licensure is a common reason for Board disciplinary action. As a Master, you must track your renewal date and your employees' license statuses.

1.6 Administrative Rules vs. Code Requirements: A Case Study in Services

Let's look at a practical example to illustrate the difference between administrative law and NEC technical requirements.

Scenario: You are installing a new 400A, 120/208V, 3-phase, 4-wire service for a commercial building.

NEC Technical Requirements (2023):

Article 230 governs services. You must ensure the service conductors have adequate ampacity (230.42).

Table 230.42(B) gives minimum ampacity for service conductors. For a 400A service, you need conductors rated at least 400A.

230.70 requires a service disconnecting means. For a 400A service, you may need multiple disconnects (up to six) or a single main breaker.

230.95 requires ground-fault protection for solidly grounded wye services of more than 150V to ground, but not exceeding 600V phase-to-phase, where the disconnect is rated 1000A or more. A 400A service does not require GFPE, but a 1200A service does.

250.24 requires the grounding electrode conductor to be sized per Table 250.66.

NH Administrative Requirements:

You must hold a valid NH Master license.

You must pull a permit with the local building department.

You must schedule a rough-in inspection of the service equipment before the utility company connects power.

The utility company (e.g., Eversource, Unitil) has its own requirements for the service point, which may exceed the NEC.

The Master's Role: You must ensure the design meets the NEC, the installation meets the local amendments, and the administrative process (permits, inspections) is followed. A failure in any one of these areas is a violation.

1.7 Separately Derived Systems and Administrative Oversight

The NEC defines a separately derived system (SDS) as a premises wiring system whose power is derived from a battery, solar photovoltaic system, or from a generator, transformer, or converter windings, and that has no direct electrical connection, including a solidly connected grounded circuit conductor, to supply conductors originating in another system.

NEC Technical Requirements:

Article 250.30 governs grounding of SDS. You must establish a system bonding jumper and a grounding electrode conductor.

250.30(A)(4) requires the grounding electrode to be as close as practicable to the SDS.

450.3(B) requires transformer overcurrent protection per Table 450.3(B) . For a transformer with a primary current of less than 9A, the primary OCPD can be set at 167% of rated primary current. For a transformer with a primary current of 9A or more, the primary OCPD can be set at 125%.

Administrative Oversight: In NH, a generator or transformer installation is an electrical installation. It requires a permit. The Master must ensure the SDS is properly bonded and grounded. A common inspection failure is the improper installation of the system bonding jumper for a generator transfer switch. The inspector will check for the "separately derived" status. If the generator is a separately derived system, the neutral must be switched and the generator's neutral must be bonded to its own grounding electrode. If it is not separately derived (a solidly connected neutral), the bonding jumper must be removed.

1.8 Overcurrent Protection Coordination and the Master's Duty

While the NEC does not strictly require selective coordination for all systems, it does require it for specific life safety and critical operations systems.

NEC Technical Requirements:

Article 700.28 requires selective coordination for emergency systems.

Article 701.27 requires selective coordination for legally required standby systems.

Article 708.54 requires selective coordination for critical operations power systems (COPS).

Article 240.12 (in the informational note) discusses coordination, but it is not a mandatory requirement for general systems.

Administrative Implication: As a Master, you must be able to demonstrate that the OCPDs in an emergency system are coordinated. This is a design function. You must perform a time-current coordination study or use manufacturer's tables. The inspector will likely ask for documentation on a commercial job with an emergency generator. This is a "supervision" task—you are responsible for the engineering, even if you hire an outside engineer to perform the study.

1.9 Code Navigation: Where to Find It

For the open-book exam, you need to navigate the NEC quickly. Here is a map of the critical administrative and technical sections.

Concept	NEC Location (2023)	NH Administrative Location
Services (General)	Article 230	RSA 319-C; Local Building Code
Service Disconnects	230.70 – 230.80	Local Inspection Authority
Grounding & Bonding	Article 250 (Parts I, II, III)	Local Inspection Authority
SDS Grounding	250.30	Local Inspection Authority
Transformer Protection	450.3(B), Table 450.3(B)	Local Inspection Authority
Emergency Systems	Article 700	Local Inspection Authority
Legally Required Standby	Article 701	Local Inspection Authority
Critical Operations (COPS)	Article 708	Local Inspection Authority
Overcurrent Protection	Article 240	Local Inspection Authority
Motor Circuits	Article 430 (Parts III, IV)	Local Inspection Authority
Generators	Article 445	Local Inspection Authority
License Law	N/A	RSA 319-C
Board Rules	N/A	NH Admin Rules Elc 300-700
State Building Code	N/A	RSA 155-A

1.10 Inspection and Supervision Points for the Master

When you arrive on a job site as the Master in responsible charge, you must perform a site walk-through. Here are the specific points you must check:

83.License Posting: Verify that the electrical permit is posted and that the license numbers of all workers on site are current. Check the journeyman's pocket card—do not rely on a photocopy.

84.Service Equipment Clearance: Check that the working clearance in front of the service equipment is at least 36 inches (110.26). Is the equipment rated for the available fault current? Check the short-circuit current rating (SCCR) on the nameplate.

85.Grounding Electrode System: Verify that the grounding electrode conductor (GEC) is continuous to the electrode. Check for the use of irreversibly compressed connectors (acorn clamps) on the ground rod. Is the GEC protected from physical damage (230.30, 250.64)?

86.Bonding: Check the main bonding jumper in the service equipment. Is the neutral bus bonded to the enclosure? Is there a bonding jumper for the water meter (250.53(D))?

87.3-Phase Systems: For a 3-phase, 4-wire delta service, check for the high-leg (B-phase). Is the high-leg properly identified with orange tape or paint (230.56)? Is the high-leg connected to the correct terminal on the panelboard?

88.Generator/Transfer Switch: If an SDS is present, verify the neutral is switched and the generator's neutral is bonded to its own GEC. Check that the transfer switch is rated for the load and that the generator disconnect is interlocked.

1.11 Common Exam Traps

Trap 1: Confusing the Board with the Inspector. The Board does not issue code violations; it issues license violations. The inspector issues code violations. A question might ask, "Who has the authority to revoke a license?" The answer is the Board, not the local inspector.

Trap 2: The "Readily Available" Definition. The law does not require the Master to be on-site 100% of the time, but they must be available. A question might state the Master is "on another job site across town." This is acceptable if they are available by phone and can respond in a reasonable time. If the Master is "out of state for the week," that is a violation.

Trap 3: The 6-Disconnect Rule. For services, you are allowed up to six disconnects (230.71). However, for a commercial building with a 120/208V, 3-phase service, if you use six disconnects, you must ensure that the grounded conductor (neutral) is not switched. The neutral must be solidly connected to the neutral bus.

Trap 4: Transformer Protection. For a 75 kVA, 480V to 208Y/120V transformer, the primary current is 90A (75,000 / (480 × 1.732)). The primary OCPD can be sized at 125% (90 × 1.25 = 112.5A). You must round up to the next standard size (110.3, 240.6). The next standard size is 125A. A common trap is rounding down to 110A.

Trap 5: Motor Feeder Short-Circuit Protection. For a motor feeder supplying multiple motors, the OCPD must be sized per 430.62. The rating of the feeder OCPD shall not be greater than the largest branch-circuit OCPD for any motor in the group, plus the sum of the full-load currents of the other motors. A question might give you a scenario with a 25 hp and a 10 hp motor. You must calculate the largest branch OCPD and add the FLC of the other motor.

Trap 6: NH Specific—Local Amendments. The exam may ask about a specific NH rule, such as the requirement for a permit for a temporary service. In NH, a permit is required for temporary power. The Master must ensure the temporary service is properly grounded with a ground rod, and the GEC must be sized per Table 250.66.

1.12 Summary

The Master Electrician's role in New Hampshire is a hybrid of technical expertise and legal responsibility. You are not just a wireman; you are a supervisor, a planner, and a legal agent. The NEC provides the technical minimums, but the NH administrative rules provide the legal framework for how that work is performed and who is accountable.

Remember these pillars:

101.Licensure: You must be licensed, and you must supervise only licensed individuals.

102.Permits: You are the person in responsible charge. Your signature is a legal attestation.

103.Code Enforcement: The local inspector is the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for technical compliance.

104.Technical Mastery: You must know the NEC Articles for services, grounding, motors, and transformers to answer the inspector's questions and to design safe, compliant systems.

Master the administrative rules, and you will understand the boundaries of your authority. Master the NEC, and you will understand the boundaries of your craft. The exam tests both.

Administrative (NH law/rules)