The New Hampshire Board licenses three categories: master, journeyman, and high/medium voltage electricians. In addition, it registers apprentice electricians and high/medium voltage trainees. All electrical work for which an electrician’s license is required must be overseen by a licensed master electrician. This individual need not be at the jobsite at all times, but is responsible for seeing that the work complies with the National Electrical Code. Journeyman electricians may perform the on-site electrical work, but they may not work on their own as independent contractors. Apprentice electricians may also perform electrical work, but they must be supervised by journeyman electricians, who must be on-site whenever apprentices are working. A one-on-one ratio must be maintained. If there are two apprentice electricians performing electrical work, there must be two journeyman or master electricians at the site.
To receive a master electrician’s license, the individual must have 8000 hours practical experience as an apprentice to a licensed electrician and at least one of the following:
■ 575 hours of electrical schooling in blocks of 144 hours per year or have an associate or higher degree in an electrical curriculum
■ Have ten years experience as a journeyman or master electrician as required in another jurisdiction; or Have taken the journeyman or master exam in New Hampshire previously
■ Acquired credit or school time, not to exceed 2000 hours, towards the practical experience requirement or completion of prescribed courses in electrical installations at an approved school
■ Pass the journeyman examination and obtain 2000 hours of experience as a journeyman in performing electrical installations prior to being examined
The master electrician exam consists of 50 NEC questions, 50 questions on practical installations, and 25 questions on applicable state laws and the Board’s administrative rules. The license fee is $270 for three years. To receive a journeyman electrician’s license, the requirements are substantially the same, but the exam is less difficult. The fee is $150 for three years.
The apprentice is not required to take an examination or have work experience prior to application, but must possess a high school diploma or equivalent. The fee for the apprentice card is $30, and it is valid for one year. During that period the apprentice is expected to complete 150 hours of vocational training and to study for the journeyman’s license. New Hampshire also issues an elevator mechanic’s license. Considerable practical experience working with a licensed individual is required to obtain this license, so it would be a long-range goal.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), through its Board on Safety Codes and Standards (BSCS), develops and maintains a comprehensive portfolio of codes and standards that governs elevators and escalators. A complete listing can be seen at ASME.org.
ASME A17, Safety Code for Existing Elevators and Escalators, is an essential reference for elevator maintenance workers and repair technicians. It can be ordered online at ASME.org. After a few paragraphs on Purpose and Exceptions, ASME A17 lists pertinent definitions. Here, by way of overview, are some highlights, with references to escalators, moving walks, and material lifts eliminated because they are outside the scope of this textbook.
■ Car annunciator: An electrical device in the car that indicates visually the landings at which an elevator landing signal registering device has been actuated.
■ Auxiliary power lowering device: An alternatively powered auxiliary control system that will, upon failure of the main power supply, allow a hydraulic elevator to descend to a lower landing.
■ Emergency brake: A mechanical device independent of the braking system used to retard or stop an elevator should the car overspeed or move in an unintended manner. Such devices include, but are not limited to, those that apply braking force on car rails, counterweight rails, suspension or compensation ropes, drive sheaves, and brake drums.
■ Buffer: A device designed to stop a descending car or counterweight beyond its normal limit of travel by storing or by absorbing and dissipating the kinetic energy of the car or counterweight.
■ Bumper: A device, other than an oil or spring buffer, designed to stop a descending car or counterweight beyond its normal limit of travel by absorbing the impact.
■ Car-direction indicator: A visual signaling device that displays the current direction of travel.
■ Car door interlock: A device having two related and interdependent functions, which are to prevent the operation of the driving machine by the normal operating device unless the car door is locked in the closed position; and to prevent the opening of the car door from inside the car unless the car is within the landing zone and is either stopped or being stopped.
■ Car door or gate electric contact: An electrical device, the function of which is to prevent operation of the driving machine by the normal operating device unless the car door or gate is in the closed position.
■ Overslung car frame: A car frame to which the hoisting rope fastenings or hoisting rope sheaves are attached to the crosshead or top member of the car frame.
■ Underslung car frame: A car frame to which the hoisting rope fastenings or hoisting rope sheaves are attached at or below the car platform.
■ Car lantern: An audible and visual signaling device located in a car to indicate the car is answering the call and the car’s intended direction of travel.
■ Car platform: The structure that forms the floor of the car and directly supports the load.
■ Compensating rope sheave switch: A device that automatically causes the electric power to be removed from the elevator driving-machine motor and brake when the compensating sheave approaches its upper or lower limit of travel.
■ Motion control: That portion of a control system that governs the acceleration, speed, retardation, and stopping of the moving member.
■ Operation control: That portion of a control system that initiates the starting, stopping, and direction of motion in response to a signal from an operating device.
■ Automatic operation: Operation control wherein the starting of the elevator car is effected in response to the momentary actuation of operating devices at the landing, and/or of operating devices in the car identified with the landings, and/or in response to an automatic starting mechanism, and wherein the car is stopped automatically at the landings.
■ Motion controller: An operative unit comprising a device or group of devices for actuating the moving member.
■ Motor controller: The operative units of a motion control system comprising the starter devices and power conversion equipment required to drive an electric motor.
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