Minnesota Administrative Code Department Of Public Safety Chapter 7512 Fire Protection Systems, Personnel -Minn. R. 7512.0400 (2007)

MINNESOTA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY CHAPTER 7512 FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS, PERSONNEL

Minn. R. 7512.0400 (2007)

7512.0400 CONTRACTOR LICENSE REQUIRED; EXCEPTIONS Subpart 1. License required. Except as provided in subpart 2, a person must have a fire protection contractor license to perform fire protection-related work.Subp. 2. Exceptions. A person does not need a fire protection contractor license for the following activities:A. A person does not need a contractor license to sell fire protection system parts or related equipment to a licensed contractor.B. A person does not need a contractor license to install or service a special agent fire suppression system that is not connected to a potable water source. A special agent fire suppression system uses extinguishing agents other than water and includes such systems as dry chemical systems, carbon dioxide systems, halogenated and gaseous agent systems, foam systems, and wet chemical systems.C. A person does not need a contractor license when acting in an official capacity as a building official, fire official, or insurance inspector.D. A person licensed as a plumber under Minnesota Statutes, section 326.40, does not need a contractor license to sell, design, install, modify, or inspect a standpipe or hose system only.E. A person licensed as a professional engineer under Minnesota Statutes, section 326.03, who is competent in fire protection system design does not need a contractor license to perform activities authorized by the professional engineer license.F. A person licensed as an alarm and communication contractor under Minnesota Statutes, section 326.2421, or a Minnesota-licensed electrical contractor under Minnesota Statutes, section 326.242, does not need a fire protection contractor license to perform activities authorized by the alarm and communication contractor license or electrical contractor license.G. A person does not need a contractor license to maintain a fire protection system. For purposes of this item, "maintain" means the scheduled activities to keep a fire protection system operable. Maintain also means to make emergency repairs to correct an emergency impairment of a fire protection system, until such time as permanent repairs can be done by a licensed fire protection contractor.Statutory Authority: Minn. Stat. § 299.04

 
43800.3860 TWO-YEAR ELECTRICAL PROGRAM CONTENT Subpart 1. Contact hours. A two-year electrical program shall consist of 2,000 or more hours of student/instructor contact time and is subject to the following:A. up to 200 hours of independent study may be substituted for student/instructor contact time;B. a minimum of 1,600 hours of contact time must be technical electrical instruction;C. at least 30 percent but not more than 40 percent of the technical electrical contact hours must be lecture and the balance shop or lab hours;D. intern programs, whether internal or external, must not be used to comply with the contact hours requirement;E. a student may receive advanced standing credit for up to one-third of the courses of an approved program.Subp. 2. Attendance policy. A two-year electrical program must include an attendance policy that requires students to attend a minimum of 95 percent of each required program course. The program must include a provision for students to retake courses or make-up portions of courses when the student does not attend 95 percent or more of each required program course. Attendance records must be kept at the course level.Subp. 3. Technical content. A two-year electrical program must include courses that cover the following knowledge and skill areas:A. electrical theory;B. electronic theory;C. lighting systems;D. heating and cooling systems;E. motors;F. generators;G. transformers;H. panelboards and switchboards;I. overcurrent devices;J. grounding;K. motor controls;L. electronic controls;M. electrical code;N. electrical test equipment and troubleshooting;O. specification and blueprint reading;P. installation and application of electrical materials and equipment;Q. wiring methods;R. conductors and cables;S. tools, materials, and handling;T. fire alarm systems;U. communication systems;V. alarm systems;W. data systems;X. electrical and jobsite safety;Y. related mathematics; andZ. related general education.

Minn. Stat. § 326.242 (2007)

 326.242 LICENSES

1. Master electrician. Except as otherwise provided by law, no individual shall perform or supervise electrical work unless the individual is: (a) licensed by the commissioner as a master electrician; and (b)(i) the electrical work is for a licensed contractor and the individual is an employee, partner, or officer of, or is the licensed contractor, or (ii) the electrical work is performed for the individual's employer on electrical wiring, apparatus, equipment, or facilities that are owned or leased by the employer and that are located within the limits of property operated, maintained, and either owned or leased by the employer.(1) An applicant for a Class A master electrician license shall (a) be a graduate of a four-year electrical course offered by an accredited college or university; or (b) shall have had at least one year of experience, acceptable to the commissioner, as a licensed journeyman; or (c) shall have had at least five years' experience, acceptable to the commissioner, in planning for, laying out, supervising and installing wiring, apparatus, or equipment for electrical light, heat and power.(2) As of August 1, 1985, no new Class B master electrician licenses shall be issued. An individual who has a Class B master electrician license as of August 1, 1985, may retain and renew the license and exercise the privileges it grants, which include electrical work limited to single phase systems, not over 200 amperes in capacity, on farmsteads or single-family dwellings located in towns or municipalities with fewer than 2,500 inhabitants.Subd.

2. Journeyman electrician.(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, no individual shall perform and supervise any electrical work except for planning or laying out of electrical work unless:(1) the individual is licensed by the commissioner as a journeyman electrician; and(2) the electrical work is:(i) for a contractor and the individual is an employee, partner, or officer of the licensed contractor; or(ii) performed under the supervision of a master electrician also employed by the individual's employer on electrical wiring, apparatus, equipment, or facilities that are owned or leased by the employer and that are located within the limits of property operated, maintained, and either owned or leased by the employer.(b) An applicant for a Class A journeyman electrician license shall have had at least four years of experience, acceptable to the commissioner, in wiring for, installing, and repairing electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment, provided however, that the commissioner may by rule allow one year of experience credit for the successful completion of a two-year post high school electrical course approved by the commissioner.(c) As of August 1, 1985, no new Class B journeyman electrician licenses shall be issued. An individual who holds a Class B journeyman electrician license as of August 1, 1985, may retain and renew the license and exercise the privileges it grants, which include electrical work limited to single phase systems, not over 200 amperes in capacity, on farmsteads or on single-family dwellings located in towns or municipalities with fewer than 2,500 inhabitants.

Subd. 3. Class A installer.Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions 1, 2, and 6, any individual holding a Class A installer license may lay out and install and supervise the laying out and installing of electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment for major electrical home appliances on the load side of the main service on farmsteads and in any town or municipality with fewer than 1,500 inhabitants, which is not contiguous to a city of the first class and does not contain an established business of a contractor. As of December 1, 2007, no new Class A installer licenses shall be issued. An individual who holds a Class A installer license as of December 1, 2007, may retain and renew the license and exercise the privileges it grants.

Subd. 3a. Class B installer.Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions 1, 2, and 6, any individual holding a Class B installer license may lay out and install electrical wiring, apparatus and equipment on center pivot irrigation booms on the load side of the main service on farmsteads, and install such other electrical equipment as is approved by the commissioner.

Subd. 3b. Coursework or experience.An applicant for a Class A or B installer license shall have completed a post high school course in electricity approved by the commissioner or shall have had at least one year of experience, approved by the commissioner, in electrical wiring.

Subd. 3c. Bond.Every Class A and Class B installer, as a condition of licensure, shall give bond to the state in the sum of $1,000 conditioned upon the faithful and lawful performance of all work contracted for or entered upon by the installer within the state of Minnesota, and such bond shall be for the benefit of persons injured or suffering financial loss by reason of failure of such performance. Such bond shall be in lieu of all other license bonds to any political subdivision of the state. Such bond shall be written by a corporate surety licensed to do business in the state of Minnesota.

Subd. 3d. Power limited technician.(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, no individual shall install, alter, repair, plan, lay out, or supervise the installing, altering, repairing, planning, or laying out of electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment for technology circuits or systems unless:(1) the individual is licensed by the commissioner as a power limited technician; and(2) the electrical work is:(i) for a licensed contractor and the individual is an employee, partner, or officer of, or is the licensed contractor; or(ii) performed under the direct supervision of a master electrician or power limited technician also employed by the individual's employer on technology circuits, systems, apparatus, equipment, or facilities that are owned or leased by the employer and that are located within the limits of property operated, maintained, and either owned or leased by the employer.(b) An applicant for a power limited technician's license shall (1) be a graduate of a four-year electrical course offered by an accredited college or university; or (2) have had at least 36 months' experience, acceptable to the board, in planning for, laying out, supervising, installing, altering, and repairing wiring, apparatus, or equipment for power limited systems, provided however, that the board may by rule provide for the allowance of up to 12 months (2,000 hours) of experience credit for successful completion of a two-year post high school electrical course or other technical training approved by the board.(c) Licensees must attain 16 hours of continuing education acceptable to the board every renewal period.(d) A company holding an alarm and communication license as of June 30, 2003, may designate one individual who may obtain a power limited technician license without passing an examination administered by the commissioner by submitting an application and license fee of $30.(e) A person who has submitted an application by December 30, 2007, to take the power limited technician examination administered by the department is not required to meet the qualifications set forth in paragraph (b).

Subd. 5. Unlicensed individuals.(a) An unlicensed individual means an individual who has not been licensed by the department to perform specific electrical work. An unlicensed individual shall not perform electrical work required to be performed by a licensed individual unless the individual has first registered with the department as an unlicensed individual. Thereafter, an unlicensed individual shall not perform electrical work required to be performed by a licensed individual unless the work is performed under the direct supervision of an individual actually licensed to perform such work. The licensed individual and unlicensed individual must be employed by the same employer. Licensed individuals shall not permit unlicensed individuals to perform electrical work except under the direct supervision of an individual actually licensed to perform such work. Unlicensed individuals shall not supervise the performance of electrical work or make assignments of electrical work to unlicensed individuals. Except for technology circuit or system work, licensed individuals shall supervise no more than two unlicensed individuals. For technology circuit or system work, licensed individuals shall supervise no more than three unlicensed individuals.(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no individual other than a master electrician or power limited technician shall plan or lay out electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment for light, heat, power, or other purposes, except circuits or systems exempted from personal licensing by subdivision 12, paragraph (b).(c) Contractors employing unlicensed individuals to perform electrical work shall maintain records establishing compliance with this subdivision that shall identify all unlicensed individuals performing electrical work, except for individuals working on circuits or systems exempted from personal licensing by subdivision 12, paragraph (b), and shall permit the department to examine and copy all such records.(d) When a licensed individual supervises the electrical work of an unlicensed individual, the licensed individual is responsible for ensuring that the electrical work complies with the Minnesota Electrical Act and all rules adopted under the act.Subd. 5a. Registration of unlicensed individuals.Unlicensed individuals performing electrical work for a contractor or employer shall register with the department in the manner prescribed by the commissioner. Experience credit for electrical work performed in Minnesota after January 1, 2008, by an applicant for a license identified in this section shall not be granted where the applicant has not registered with or is not licensed by the department.

Subd. 6. Contractor's license required.Except as otherwise provided by law, no individual other than an employee, partner, or officer of a licensed contractor, as defined by section 326B.31, subdivision 12, shall perform or offer to perform electrical work with or without compensation unless the individual obtains a contractor's license. A contractor's license does not of itself qualify its holder to perform or supervise the electrical work authorized by holding any class of personal license.

Subd. 6a. Bond required.As a condition of licensing, each contractor shall give and maintain bond to the state in the sum of $25,000 conditioned upon the faithful and lawful performance of all work contracted for or performed by the contractor within the state of Minnesota and such bond shall be for the benefit of persons injured or suffering financial loss by reason of failure of such performance. The bond shall be filed with the commissioner and shall be in lieu of all other license bonds to any other political subdivision. Such bond shall be written by a corporate surety licensed to do business in the state of Minnesota.

Subd. 6b. Insurance required.Each contractor shall have and maintain in effect general liability insurance, which includes premises and operations insurance and products and completed operations insurance, with limits of at least $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate limit for bodily injury, and property damage insurance with limits of at least $50,000 or a policy with a single limit for bodily injury and property damage of $300,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate limits. Such insurance shall be written by an insurer licensed to do business in the state of Minnesota and each contractor shall maintain on file with the commissioner a certificate evidencing such insurance which provides that such insurance shall not be canceled without the insurer first giving 15 days written notice to the commissioner of such cancellation.

Subd. 6c. Employment of master electrician or power limited technician.(a) Each contractor must designate a responsible master electrician or power limited technician, who shall be responsible for the performance of all electrical work in accordance with the requirements of sections 326B.31 to 326B.399 or any rule or order adopted or issued under these sections. The classes of work that a licensed contractor is authorized to perform shall be limited to the classes of work that the responsible master electrician or power limited electrician is licensed to perform.(b) When a contractor's license is held by an individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation and the individual, proprietor, one of the partners, one of the members, or an officer of the corporation, respectively, is not the responsible master electrician or power limited technician, all requests for inspection shall be signed by the responsible master electrician or power limited technician. If the contractor is an individual or a sole proprietorship, the responsible licensed individual must be the individual, proprietor, or managing employee. If the contractor is a partnership, the responsible licensed individual must be a general partner or managing employee. If the licensed contractor is a limited liability company, the responsible licensed individual must be a chief manager or managing employee. If the contractor is a corporation, the responsible licensed individual must be an officer or managing employee. If the responsible licensed individual is a managing employee, the responsible licensed individual must be actively engaged in performing electrical work on behalf of the contractor, and cannot be employed in any capacity as an electrician or technician by any other contractor or employer designated in subdivision 12. An individual may be the responsible licensed individual for only one contractor or employer.(c) All applications and renewals for contractor licenses shall include a verified statement that the applicant or licensee has complied with this subdivision.

Subd. 7. Examination.In addition to the other requirements described in this section and except as provided in subdivision 11, as a precondition to issuance of a personal license, each applicant must pass a written or oral examination developed and administered by the commissioner to ensure the competence of each applicant for license. An oral examination shall be administered only to an applicant who furnishes a written statement from a certified teacher or other professional, trained in the area of reading disabilities stating that the applicant has a specific reading disability which would prevent the applicant from performing satisfactorily on a written test. The oral examination shall be structured so that an applicant who passes the examination will not impair the applicant's own safety or that of others while acting as a licensed individual. No individual failing an examination may retake it for six months thereafter, but within such six months the individual may take an examination for a lesser grade of license. Any individual failing to renew a personal license for two years or more after its expiration, and any licensee whose personal license is revoked under this chapter, shall be required to retake the examination before being issued a new license. An individual whose personal license is revoked under any other chapter is not required to retake the examination before being issued a new license, unless the personal license was revoked two years or more before the commissioner received the completed application for a new license. A licensee whose personal license is suspended for any reason is not required to retake the examination before the personal license is reinstated, unless the personal license has not been reinstated within two years after the suspension began.An applicant for a personal license shall submit to the commissioner an application and examination fee at the time of application. Upon approval of the application, the commissioner shall schedule the applicant for the next available examination, which shall be held within 60 days. The applicant shall be allowed one opportunity to reschedule an examination without being required to submit another application and examination fee. Additionally, an applicant who fails an examination, or whose application was not approved, shall submit another application and examination fee.Subd. 8. License, registration, and renewal fees; expiration.(a) Unless revoked or suspended under this chapter, all licenses issued or renewed under this section expire on the date specified in this subdivision. Master licenses expire March 1 of each odd-numbered year after issuance or renewal. Electrical contractor licenses expire March 1 of each even-numbered year after issuance or renewal. Technology system contractor licenses expire August 1 of each even-numbered year after issuance or renewal. All other personal licenses expire two years from the date of original issuance and every two years thereafter. Registrations of unlicensed individuals expire one year from the date of original issuance and every year thereafter.(b) Fees for application and examination, and for the original issuance and each subsequent renewal, are:(1) For each personal license application and examination: $35;(2) For original issuance and each subsequent renewal of:Class A Master or master special electrician, including master elevator constructor: $40 per year;Class B Master: $25 per year;Power Limited Technician: $15 per year;Class A Journeyman, Class B Journeyman, Installer, Elevator Constructor, Lineman, or Maintenance Electrician other than master special electrician: $15 per year;Contractor: $100 per year;Unlicensed individual registration: $15 per year.(c) If any new license is issued in accordance with this subdivision for less than two years, the fee for the license shall be prorated on an annual basis.(d) A license fee may not be refunded after a license is issued or renewed. However, if the fee paid for a license was not prorated in accordance with this subdivision, the amount of the overpayment shall be refunded.(e) Any contractor who seeks reissuance of a license after it has been revoked or suspended under this chapter shall submit a reissuance fee of $100 before the license is reinstated.(f) The fee for the issuance of each duplicate license is $15.(g) An individual or contractor who fails to renew a license before 30 days after the expiration or registration of the license must submit a late fee equal to one year's license fee in addition to the full renewal fee. Fees for renewed licenses or registrations are not prorated. An individual or contractor that fails to renew a license or registration by the expiration date is unlicensed until the license or registration is renewedSubd. 11. Reciprocity.The commissioner may enter into reciprocity agreements for personal licenses with another state if approved by the board. Once approved by the board, the commissioner may issue a personal license without requiring the applicant to pass an examination provided the applicant:(a) submits an application under this section;(b) pays the fee required under this section; and(c) holds a valid comparable license in the state participating in the agreement.Agreements are subject to the following:(1) The parties to the agreement must administer a statewide licensing program that includes examination and qualifying experience or training comparable to Minnesota's.(2) The experience and training requirements under which an individual applicant qualified for examination in the qualifying state must be deemed equal to or greater than required for an applicant making application in Minnesota at the time the applicant acquired the license in the qualifying state.(3) The applicant must have acquired the license in the qualifying state through an examination deemed equivalent to the same class of license examination in Minnesota. A lesser class of license may be granted where the applicant has acquired a greater class of license in the qualifying state and the applicant otherwise meets the conditions of this subdivision.(4) At the time of application, the applicant must hold a valid license in the qualifying state and have held the license continuously for at least one year before making application in Minnesota.(5) An applicant is not eligible for a license under this subdivision if the applicant has failed the same or greater class of license examination in Minnesota, or if the applicant's license of the same or greater class has been revoked or suspended.(6) An applicant who has failed to renew a personal license for two years or more after its expiration is not eligible for a license under this subdivision.

Subd. 12. Exemptions from licensing.(a) An individual who is a maintenance electrician is not required to hold or obtain a license under sections 326B.31 to 326B.399 if:(1) the individual is engaged in the maintenance and repair of electrical equipment, apparatus, and facilities that are owned or leased by the individual's employer and that are located within the limits of property operated, maintained, and either owned or leased by the individual's employer;(2) the individual is supervised by:(i) the responsible master electrician for a contractor who has contracted with the individual's employer to provide services for which a contractor's license is required; or(ii) a licensed master electrician, a licensed maintenance electrician, an electrical engineer, or, if the maintenance and repair work is limited to technology circuit and system work, a licensed power limited technician; and(3) the individual's employer has filed with the commissioner a certificate of responsible person, signed by the responsible master electrician of the contractor, the licensed master electrician, the licensed maintenance electrician, the electrical engineer, or the licensed power limited technician, and stating that the person signing the certificate is responsible for ensuring that the maintenance and repair work performed by the employer's employees complies with the Minnesota Electrical Act and the rules adopted under that act.(b) Employees of a licensed electrical or technology systems contractor or other employer where provided with supervision by a master electrician in accordance with subdivision 1, or power limited technician in accordance with subdivision 3d, paragraph (a), clause (1), are not required to hold a license under sections 326B.31 to 326B.399 for the planning, laying out, installing, altering, and repairing of technology circuits or systems except planning, laying out, or installing:(1) in other than residential dwellings, class 2 or class 3 remote control circuits that control circuits or systems other than class 2 or class 3, except circuits that interconnect these systems through communication, alarm, and security systems are exempted from this paragraph;(2) class 2 or class 3 circuits in electrical cabinets, enclosures, or devices containing physically unprotected circuits other than class 2 or class 3; or(3) technology circuits and systems in hazardous classified locations as covered by chapter 5 of the National Electrical Code.(c) Companies and their employees that plan, lay out, install, alter, or repair class 2 and class 3 remote control wiring associated with plug or cord and plug connected appliances other than security or fire alarm systems installed in a residential dwelling are not required to hold a license under sections 326B.31 to 326B.399.(d) Heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration contractors and their employees are not required to hold or obtain a license under sections 326B.31 to 326B.399 when performing heating, ventilating, air conditioning, or refrigeration work as described in section 326.245.(e) Employees of any electrical, communications, or railway utility, cable communications company as defined in section 238.02, or a telephone company as defined under section 237.01 or its employees, or of any independent contractor performing work on behalf of any such utility, cable communications company, or telephone company, shall not be required to hold a license under sections 326B.31 to 326B.399:(1) while performing work on installations, materials, or equipment which are owned or leased, and operated and maintained by such utility, cable communications company, or telephone company in the exercise of its utility, antenna, or telephone function, and which(i) are used exclusively for the generation, transformation, distribution, transmission, or metering of electric current, or the operation of railway signals, or the transmission of intelligence and do not have as a principal function the consumption or use of electric current or provided service by or for the benefit of any person other than such utility, cable communications company, or telephone company, and(ii) are generally accessible only to employees of such utility, cable communications company, or telephone company or persons acting under its control or direction, and(iii) are not on the load side of the service point or point of entrance for communication systems;(2) while performing work on installations, materials, or equipment which are a part of the street lighting operations of such utility; or(3) while installing or performing work on outdoor area lights which are directly connected to a utility's distribution system and located upon the utility's distribution poles, and which are generally accessible only to employees of such utility or persons acting under its control or direction.(f) An owner shall not be required to hold or obtain a license under sections 326B.31 to 326B.399.