MINUTES OF MEETING OF
BOARD OF ELECTRICAL APPEALS

March 8, 2005 - 3:00 p.m.

OFFICE OF CENTRAL INSPECTION
CITY HALL, 455 NORTH MAIN
OCI CONFERENCE ROOM, 7th FLOOR


Chairman Roy Meinhardt called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm, with Board members John Whittit, Dale Johnson, Harold Ragland, Larry Clark and Secretary Tom Kerschen present.  Also present was Steve Schauner electrical inspector.  Board members Jerry Addington and Larry Hackney and were absent. 

The minutes of the February 8, 2005 regular monthly meeting were read.  Board member Clark made a motion the minutes be approved as written, it was seconded by Board member Whittit and approved. 

The recent examination results from Experior Assessments for electrical examinations administered by their office for City of Wichita approved applicants were presented to the Board.  The results were as follows:
          
    APPLICANT                     APPLICANT               EXAMINATION                 EXAMINATION
             NAME                               NUMBER                CLASSIFICATION                      RESULT       

	Joe Correll  	7098		Journeyman	Failed
	Paul Bohlken    	3552		Journeyman	Failed
	Jody Olsen	8428		Journeyman	Failed



Two (2) Master Electrician, three (3) Journeymen Electrician examination applications were reviewed for approval to be administered the appropriate examination for certification.  The results were as follows:

            NAME	 NUMBER	CLASSIFICATION	ACTION	

	Clinton Black 	0916		Master	Approved
	John Clark    	9610		Master	Approved
	Jason DeBerry     	9735		Journeyman	Approved
	Damon Dial  	7994		Journeyman	Approved
	Richard Claycamp      	5439		Journeyman	Approved

Under part A of the new business section of the agenda, the Board welcomed Mr. Ken Hanson of Hanson Homes.  Hansom Homes is a licensed electrical contractor in the City of Wichita and is requesting a variance to the City of Wichita Electrical Code (Title 19), to permit over 15 feet of unfused service entrance conductor inside the building and to allow the use of 2 1/2 inch standard LB's that do not meet the requirements of the 2002 National Electrical Code (NEC) Article 314.28(A)(2).  The Board reviewed the photos prepared for them by Mr. Hanson and listened to his explanation about why he built the service this way.  Mr. Schauner also brought photos of the installation, which the Board reviewed.  The Board asked specific questions concerning safety issues of the installation and options of the viability of relocating the service mains to either outside the building or within 15 feet of the service conductors entering the building.  The only place inside the building that would allow the (2) two-hundred amp mains to be located was a few inches short of having the minimum height required by the NEC.

After continued discussion and debate regarding this issue, concerns were raised by the Board as to the safety of the people inside the building, with the added length of unfused conductors inside the building, against the possible hazards of a person working on the service equipment by allowing a variation of the minimum height requirement in front of the service disconnect.  There was also discussion about the date a previous Electrical Board allowed a permanent variance for permitting standard conduit bodies to be used for raceways up to and including 2-inch trade size, without that exception added to Title 19.  This issue was tabled until the April 12th Board meeting to allow time for Secretary Kerschen to find the previous board minutes regarding this variance.

A motion was made by Board member Clark and 2nd by Board member Ragland, the Board unanimously voted not to permit the installation of more than 15 feet of service conductors inside the building, but to grant a variance to the free space height required in front of the service equipment should Mr. Hanson decide to install the new main disconnect(s) inside the building back to back with the meter enclosure.  The board also grants a variance to the use of standard LB's used and not require them to be changed to mogul LB's, but the rest of the installation shall meet the requirements of the 2002 NEC.  The Board grants a maximum of 45 days to correct and have successfully inspected this electrical service.  

Under part B of the new business the review of the 2005 National Electrical Code was tabled until the April 12th meeting.

With no other business to conduct, Board member Clark made a motion to adjourn. Board member Whittit seconded the motion and the meeting adjourned.

The time was 4:35 pm.


Tom Kerschen, Secretary, 
Board of Electrical Appeals

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