OAR 918-309-0100: Master Permit Program Under ORS 479.560(3)

(1) Authority for Rule. This rule is authorized by ORS 479.560, only deals with electrical master permits and shall not be interpreted as changing any licensing requirement. (2) Definitions. For the purpose of this rule: (a) “Applicant” is an owner, building operating manager or an electrical contractor of a covered facility who complies with ORS 479.630; (b) “Covered Facility” is one or more industrial plants as defined in OAR 918-251-0090 or any successor rule; commercial office buildings; buildings owned, leased, managed or operated by a state or local government entity; or other facilities designated by the board: (A) Under common ownership or operating management; (B) Located within the boundaries of the same inspecting jurisdiction; and (C) Within the same complex or contiguous lots located at the same geographic site. (c) “Inspecting Jurisdiction” is the state or municipality having authority to inspect a covered facility under a master permit program. (d) “Master Permit” is an annual permit issued under ORS 479.560 and these rules by the inspecting jurisdiction. (3) Additional Facilities Designated by the Board. “Covered facilities” also include: (a) Where only a single building or structure is involved, the grounds and adjacent facilities under common control or management that make up the complex containing the building or structure; (b) Isolated buildings and structures in multiple sites within the area served by the inspecting jurisdiction that individually meet the definition of “covered facility” but only when acceptable by both the inspecting jurisdiction and owner or operating manager; and (c) Incidental buildings and structures adjacent or connected to a commercial office building, industrial plant, government building or building designated by the board, provided the building or structure is under the same ownership or management as the covered facility. (4) Scope of Master Permit Program: (a) Under ORS 479.540 which allows electrical master permit for “repair, alteration or replacement of existing electrical products,” an “electrical product replacement” includes installing a product in place of another that shall not exceed the capacity or design of the existing electrical system; (b) The following do not constitute “repair, alteration or replacement of existing electrical products” and require a separate permit and inspection: (A) Electrical installations in a new building shell, structural retrofits, installation or alteration of load bearing walls, foundations or exit passageways; (B) Any electrical installation in connection with changing the type of use or occupancy classification of the building or structure; (C) Any addition which increases the square footage of the building or structure; (D) Remodeling within an occupied existing shell which results in: (i) Vacation of more than 25 percent of occupants within a floor or building resulting from remodel; (ii) Termination of a tenant’s usual activities for more than ten working days; or (iii) Construction that involves more than 25 percent of the contiguous area of any floor. (E) Electrical installations a part of construction within a covered facility that also involve a plumbing, structural or mechanical permit other than a master permit under ORS 455.154. (5) Interpretation. Who can use a master permit: (a) A master permit shall only be provided to an electrical contractor, owner or operating manager responsible for all electrical installations in the whole covered facility; (b) An owner, electrical contractor or operating manager of a covered facility can obtain a permit only if appropriately licensed electricians are to do the work. (6) Operation of the Master Permit Program: (a) An applicant electing to have a covered building inspected under the master permit program shall take out a master permit with the inspecting jurisdiction and pay required fees; (b) If applicant is an owner or operating manager, applicant shall file a roster with the inspecting jurisdiction of all electricians currently employed by applicant showing name, electrical license number and type of electrical license, and all electrical contractors whose work is included under a master permit taken out by the owner or operating manager. The roster must be filed at the same time as the permit application: (A) When an electrical contractor under a continuing retainer ceases to serve the covered facility, notice of termination shall be filed with the inspecting jurisdiction by the permit holder within ten working days of termination; (B) An updated roster shall be available to the inspecting jurisdiction at any regularly scheduled inspection; (C) An updated roster shall be filed with the inspecting jurisdiction at each master permit renewal. (c) If applicant is an owner, operating manager or contractor, applicant shall: (A) Create and keep records of all electrical work done under the master permit, show the person doing the work, electrical license number, date of work and have the records available for the electrical inspector at the covered facility at site or sites agreed to in writing with the inspecting jurisdiction. If there is no written agreement, each building shall have a record of electrical work done and of persons employed electrically for that building and its adjacent facilities; (B) Set up an inspection schedule with the inspecting jurisdiction which shall be at least once a year; (C) Call for inspections when necessary under the electrical requirements and not cover electrical work until an inspection is performed; (D) Call for immediate inspections, if applicant chooses to discontinue the electrical master permit program. All future work must be by separate permit and inspection. (7) Enforcement. The inspecting jurisdiction shall: (a) Report and document all electrical licensing violations by a person holding an electrical master permit to the board; (b) Take enforcement actions against persons who violate the scope of the master permit or compliance requirement and report the violations and actions taken to the board; and (c) Make inspections at more frequent intervals to insure that licensing and scope of master permit requirements are being complied with. (8) Limited Maintenance Electrician. Work by a limited maintenance electrician licensed under ORS 479.630 and performed under the scope of that license can be combined with a master permit program, provided separate records are kept and there is an annual inspection. (9) Operations by Electrical Contractors. Electrical contractors: (a) Shall be issued a separate master permit only if the contractor is a general electrical contractor, has a licensed signing supervisor on staff and is authorized by the owner or operating manager; (b) Can work under the master permit of the applicant if the work is recorded together with the applicant’s electrical installations and the work is within the scope of the contractor’s license; and (c) Shall comply with the applicable requirements of section (6) of this rule. (10) Inspection Fees: (a) A person obtaining a master inspection permit does not have to pay the normal permit inspection fees of the inspecting jurisdiction for installations within the scope of the permit. A separate permit, fees and individual inspections are required for installations outside the scope of a master permit; (b) By the Division. Building Codes Division inspection charges are the division’s miscellaneous fee for hourly inspections where no specific fee category is established, OAR 918-309-0070(5) and successor rules; (c) By Municipalities. Municipal inspection charges shall be the municipality’s miscellaneous fee for hourly inspections where no specific fee category is established; (d) A one-time, set-up fee may be charged by the inspecting jurisdiction when a master permit is obtained, which shall not exceed $100; (e) To determine time charges, the “cost of making the inspection” in ORS 479.560 includes the inspector’s travel time from the inspector’s office to return, actual lodging and per diem expenses as established by the jurisdiction and preparation and review of reports whether this is done at the plant or at the inspector’s office. The lodging and per diem expenses shall not exceed the standard amounts allowed by the inspecting jurisdiction. (11) Delegation Standards. Delegation shall only be granted to municipalities that also serve essentially the same area with basic electrical inspection services: (a) A municipality requesting delegation of the master permit program shall, in addition to the notice required by ORS 455.148 or 455.150, file an application prior to January 1 of the year for which delegation is requested and provide: (A) The number of master permits anticipated to be issued and the names of electrical inspectors certified to inspect under the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code who are or will be assigned to the program; (B) A master permit inspection operating plan. Initial applicants, excluding those who were doing industrial plant inspections under contract with the division on the effective date of this rule, shall also show what arrangements are to be operational on July 1; (C) An agreement with each surrounding inspecting jurisdiction having covered facilities crossing municipal boundaries, providing who will inspect each covered facility, if the facility elects to be inspected under the master permit program. The agreement: (i) Shall cover all electrical inspections for the facility; (ii) May identify specific facilities but shall also include a method of determining who shall serve those facilities that become operational or make elections during the term of the agreement; and (iii) Shall show how fees will be established for the complete covered facility that elects to be inspected under the master permit program. (D) An authorization to the division that if the agreement in paragraph (C) of this subsection fails to include a contingency or method of resolving a contingency and there is any disagreement between the jurisdictions over who should serve a complete facility, the division is authorized to immediately assign the facility to an inspecting jurisdiction as it deems appropriate and that each will enter into intergovernmental agreements as needed to carry out the assignment; (E) A prototype agreement with a facility that crosses municipal boundaries covering the terms and conditions of electrical inspection services unless other arrangements are made which gives the municipality enforcement and fee setting authority over the complete facility. (b) Delegation shall only be granted where it is affirmatively found that the jurisdiction is clearly able to perform the new master permit program with no loss of efficiency or effectiveness to its basic electrical inspection program. (12) Renewal of Delegation: (a) Prior to January 1 of any year, when the municipality applies for renewal of the master permit program, it shall provide a report of number of master permits issued and number inspected during the prior calendar year. It shall be granted the delegation automatically if its basic electrical program is also renewed, unless the division expressly notifies the municipality to the contrary by April 30; (b) All notices of discontinuation of the master permit program shall be filed by the same date shown in subsection (a) of this section; (c) All amendments to the filing made under section (11) of this rule should be filed as soon as amendments are available, but no later than the date shown in subsection (a) of this section to allow review by division staff.