MINUTES OF MEETING OF BOARD OF ELECTRICAL APPEALS August 14, 2007 - 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 3:02 pm, with Board members Dale Johnson, John Whittit, Dave Urban, Harold Ragland and Secretary Tom Kerschen present. Also present were inspectors Steve Schauner and Chris Nordick. Board member Shane Chapman was absent. The minutes of the June 12, 2007 meeting were read. Board member Whittit made a motion the minutes be approved as written, it was seconded by Board member Ragland 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 Joel Silvers 2129 Master Failed Anderson Looney 8641 Master Failed Kevin Dearinger 4951 Master Passed Weston Moody 8758 Journeyman Passed Kirtis Easley 8018 Journeyman Failed Isaza Hill 6989 Journeyman Failed Terry Rowe 5086 Res. Journeyman Failed Darrin West 8935 Master Failed Jacob Sharp 1447 Journeyman Passed Erik Albertson 8952 Journeyman Failed Brian Davis 6169 Master Failed Bryan Ball 4647 Elevator Electric Failed Five (5) Master Electrician, seven (7) Journeyman Electrician and one (1) Elevator Electric applications were reviewed for approval to be administered the appropriate examination for certification. The results were as follows: NAME NUMBER CLASSIFICATION ACTION Joel Silvers 2129 Master Approved Anderson Looney 8641 Master Approved Brian Davis 6169 Master Approved Dan Huynh 2563 Master Approved Floyd Smith Jr. 3820 Master Approved Kirtis Easley 8018 Journeyman Approved Matt Doll 1936 Journeyman Approved Jacob Sharp 1447 Journeyman Approved Erik Albertson 8952 Journeyman Approved Sirr Harryman 9110 Journeyman Approved Brandon Blodgett 7044 Journeyman Denied Eric Gibson 6128 Journeyman Denied Bryan Ball 4647 Elevator Electric Approved Under old business, Board member Whittit had asked for Secretary Kerschen to report on the additional revenue generated by the increase in electrical permit fees. Secretary Kerschen reported in the time frame from April 1, 2006 until April 1, 2007 there was an increase of approximately $65,000 which has taken the electrical section of the fees from approx. $45,000 in the red to $20,000 in the black. Under part A of the new business section of the agenda, the Board welcomed Jim Chapman with the International Union of Elevator Constructors. Mr. Chapman gave each of the Board members a copy of the proposed amended language to Title 19 Section 19.22.100 of the City of Wichita ordinance, the standards of Apprenticeship for the International Union of Elevator Constructors and an outline of the CET Certification program. Section 19.22.100 is the City requirements needed to be approved to take the electrical elevator master examination to become certified to work inside the City limits of Wichita. Section 19.22.100 currently states in part; “Applications for examination for an electrical elevators certificate shall be made to the office of central inspection. Applicants for the electrical elevators examination shall provide written documented proof of at least two years practical experience in the elevator construction industry. Documentation shall be one of the following: (1) written letter on company letterhead from employer(s) stating job description and dates of employment; (2) copy of a transcript or attendance record from an accredited elevator trade school; (3) a written letter on a city letterhead from the building official or elevator inspection division of a city where the applicant is licensed as an elevator contractor, or is certified by that city as an electrical elevator master and stating the length of time of the certification or license.” The proposed new language is “Applications for examination for an electrical elevators certificate shall be made to the office of central inspection. Applicants for the electrical elevators examination shall provide written documented proof of at least two years practical experience in the elevator construction industry and completion of a Department of Labor certified apprenticeship. Documentation shall consist of the following: a written letter on company letterhead from employer(s) stating job description and dates of employment and a copy of a transcript or attendance record from an accredited elevator trade school (National Elevator Industry Education Program or Certified Elevator Technician, etc.) or a written letter on a city letterhead from the building official or elevator inspection division of a city where the applicant is licensed as an elevator contractor, or is certified by that city as an electrical elevator master and stating the length of time of the certification or license and the criteria must meet the minimum requirements set forth in section 19.22.100.” Mr. Chapman explained that in addition to the two years of practical field experience an applicant should complete a Department of Labor certified apprenticeship program. He said there are 2 programs currently available in Wichita and his proposed wording would allow either program to be utilized as well as future programs as long as they are certified by the Department of Labor. Mr. Chapman said the apprenticeship program for the International Union of Elevator Constructors is currently 4 years and it may possibly go the 5 years in the near future. Chairman Meinhardt thanked Mr. Chapman for his presentation and said the Board would discuss it in detail later in the meeting and have Secretary Kerschen report to him in writing the Board’s decision. Under part B of the new business section of the agenda, Secretary Kerschen said that Betzen Trenching has developed a new vibrating blade that would allow him to vibrate in an electrical conduit 24 inches deep. Secretary Kerschen said he would appreciate the Board discussing this type of installation as it would not allow for an inspection to be made on the material used or on the depth, required by the National Electrical Code, of the raceway. Secretary Kerschen said that he talked with Russell Betzen and one of the main reasons he would like to have permission to vibrate install the raceway is that would be less disturbing to the soil and as such they, the trenching company, would not have to compact the soil. This would allow for less chance of a parking lot developing holes caused from improper compaction of an open trench. Secretary Kerschen also stated that Mr. Betzen said he has purchased a machine that would track and record the depth of the installation and has the ability to print it out on a permanent record. The Board discussed this in detail stating they would want to allow for new technology like this and seen definite advantages to not opening up a wide trench. But concerns were also expressed about verifying depth of the raceway and that an electrical journeyman or master working for an electrical contractor would need to do the actual assembly of the raceway and oversee its installation. The Board stated concerns they would not want someone who is not an electrician installing electrical raceways. The Board agreed to allow this type of installation as long as Central Inspection drafted a policy that would require evidence of the depth and also require a master or journeyman electrician, working for the electrical contractor that is doing the wiring, also do the assembly of the raceway and be present to oversee the installation of the raceway. At this time the Board returned to the discussion of amending Section 19.22.100 of Title 19. The discussion centered around the fact that this is minimum requirements for getting qualified to take the test and that the qualifications are comparable to the qualifications needed to take the electrical, plumbing or HVAC certification tests. Board member Ragland made a motion that Section 19.22.100 remain as currently written. Board member Whittit seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. With no other business to conduct, Board member Whittit made a motion to adjourn. Board member Urban seconded the motion and the meeting adjourned. The time was 4:16 pm. Tom Kerschen, Secretary, Board of Electrical Appeals 1