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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7947
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 5, 1995
X Subject: Electrical Code Amendment Related to Requirements for Engineers' Seals on
Electrical Plans
During the adoption of the 1993 National Electric Code as the Electrical Code of this City,
discussions took place between the Electrical Board and the Texas State Board of Registration
for Professional Engineers. The City's previous Electrical Code allowed Master Electricians to
prepare and submit electrical plans for any building. It was the State Engineering Boards'
position that this provision violated state law for buildings that are subject to the Engineering
Practice Act.
As a result of these discussions, the local amendments were revised to accept only seals from a
registered electrical engineer since the Electrical Board felt it inappropriate for all engineers,
regardless of their field of training, to stamp electrical plans. The effect of this local amendment
is that the City's Electrical Code is now more restrictive than the State Engineering Practice Act.
This has eliminated many non-electrically trained engineers from sealing plans who have
previously prepared plans in Fort Worth and who continue to prepare plans in other locations
throughout the State. A complication to enforcing this provision of the local code is that the State
does not register "electrical" engineers as required by our local code, only "professional"
en ineers.
A recommendation of the Electrical Board and the Chief Electrical Inspector attempts to resolve
this situation while maintaining a standard for qualified designers. This recoinmendation
proposes to accept sealed plans from registered engineers with non-electrical training provided
they can successfully pass the Master Electricians exam. This recommendation attempts to insure
that the engineer stamping the plans has demonstrated knowledge of the City's Electrical Code
through a testing process. While the management staff of the Department of Development
recognizes that the Electrical Board is attempting to insure that the engineer stamping electrical
plans is trained in the electrical field, both the Director and Acting Building Official believe that
this issue should be addressed at the State level by the Board of Registration for Professional
The management staff of the Development Department proposes a second alternative that
removes any reference to field of training and duplicates the wording in the Building,
Mechanical, and Plumbing Codes. This alternative coincides with the standard accepted by the
State and other municipalities throughout the State. The City's plan review process would
provide the necessary oversight to maintain effective quality control and code compliance for
submitted plans. This alternative also recognizes the ability of engineers w*ho have previously
demonstrated ability to design electrical plans without requiring additional local testing.
clT�y SECRETARY
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.- 7947
T
ark To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
September 5, 1995
Page 2 of 2
x Subject: Electrical Code Amendment Related to Requirements for Engineers' Seals on
1873
Electrical Plans
At the Mayor and Council's direction, staff will present the proposed alternatives for
consideration during a public hearing process. At that time the Mayor and Council will have the
option of amending the current Electrical Code.
Bob Terrell
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS