OAR 918-311-0040: Electrical Plan Review for Complex Structures

(1) The division or a jurisdiction providing electrical code plan review services, including plan review for prefabricated structures, may only require electrical plan review for a complex structure. For the purpose of this rule, “complex structures” have an electrical system designed, constructed or reconstructed with any of the following: (a) A service or feeder beginning at 400 Amps where the available fault current exceeds 10,000 Amps at 150 Volts or less to ground or exceeds 14,000 Amps for all other installations; or (b) Installation of a 150 KVA or larger separately derived system as defined in Article 100 of the National Electrical Code (NEC); or (c) Addition of a new motor load of 100 HP or more; or (d) Fire pump installations as defined in Article 695 of the NEC; or (e) Emergency systems installations as defined in Article 700 of the NEC; or (f) A service or feeder rated at 600 Amps or over; or (g) Voltage. More than 600 supply volts nominal; or (h) Renewable Energy. Renewable electrical energy systems rated over 25 KVA; or (i) Height. More than three stories; or (j) Occupancy. (A) Six or more residential units in one structure; or (B) An “A” (Assembly) occupancy, “E” (Educational) occupancy, or “I-2” or “I-3” (Institutional) occupancy as defined in the adopted Oregon Structural Specialty Code; or (C) Any of the following special occupancies as described in Chapter 5 of the NEC adopted by the board in OAR 918-305-0100: (i) Hazardous (Classified) locations as defined in Articles 500 to 516; or (ii) Installations in patient care areas of health care facilities as defined in Article 517; or (iii) Agricultural buildings used for commercial purposes, as defined in Article 547; or (iv) Floating buildings as defined in Article 553; or (v) Marinas and boat yards as defined in Article 555; or (k) Recreational Vehicle Park. A new recreational vehicle park, or any addition or alteration to an existing park. (l) Prefabricated buildings as defined in ORS 455.010 and as further defined by the division in OAR chapter 918, division 674, where the division performs plan review for the construction or alteration of prefabricated buildings. (2) Plan review is not required for work permitted through minor installation labels under OAR 918-309-0210 to 918-309-0260. (3) A jurisdiction requiring electrical plan review may not require plan review on more than one building or structure under construction or reconstruction at the same job site, as long as: (a) The electrical systems of the buildings or structures are materially alike, and (b) A person obtains electrical permits for the buildings or structures within a reasonable time. (4) Standardized Format for Plan Review. When electrical plan review is required the electrical plan shall meet the following requirements: (a) Copies. Submit two sets of electrical plans; (b) Readability. The plans shall be drawn to scale, contain definitions for legends used, be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed and show in detail that it will conform to the applicable electrical code requirements, laws, ordinances, rules and regulations; (c) Contents. The plans shall contain the following minimum requirements: (A) Feeder riser diagram showing panel location and circuit schedules; (B) One line riser diagram showing bonding and grounding and conductor sizes; (C) Available fault current on the line side of service disconnect; (D) Complete load calculations, or provide applicable load records, for all new installations and for additions to existing installations; (E) Fixture schedule, showing type, location and layout of the fixtures; (F) Address of the installation and name of owner and address; (G) Identification of the employer, identification and signature of person who prepared the plan, license number if the person is an electrical supervisor and professional registration number if the person is an architect or registered professional electrical engineer; and (H) Location of emergency systems, identifying the power source and the system on plan. (5) Nothing in these rules shall prohibit a jurisdiction from requiring a lighting energy budget. (6) Nothing in these rules shall prohibit the owner or the owner’s agent from requesting and receiving plan review for non-complex structures. [Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.]