Mike Weitzel works as the electrical AHJ for Bechtel, Inc., on the Vitrification Plant Construction Project at the Hanford Nuclear Site. He is an instructor for IAEI International; he was formerly their codes and standards specialist. He worked for the city of Seattle, Washington, performing electrical plan review for large projects and as a technical advisor to the chief electrical inspector. For fifteen years, Weitzel was the electrical inspector and AHJ for the city of Wenatchee, Washington. He is a licensed master electrician, former electrical contractor, and he holds all IAEI electrical inspector certifications. He has more than thirty-two years experience in the electrical trade, in a variety of areas - utility, OEM -UL 508 Industrial Control Panel Shop, industrial plant R &D, construction wireman, electrical contractor, electrical inspector, and CEU instructor. He is a member of NFPA, ICC, IBEW and IAEI.
Protection Required There’s a lot of talk about protection going on currently. Personal protection, internet protection, home protection, neighborhood protection… the list goes on and on. Because results of a recent IAEI members survey show interest in more basic code training, this article will focus on a basic but essential requirement for most any electrical [...]
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)Maintaining positive and effective working relations is essential in business and the electrical trade. We are often asked by electrical contractors, installers, and the public how to get along with local electrical inspectors. Sometimes it’s not easy (smile). This article is based on one electrical inspector’s point of view—a viewpoint believed to be shared by [...]
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Medium voltage systems are defined by the IEEE as those operating at voltage levels greater than 1,000 volts and up to 72,000 volts. High voltage is defined by NEC 490.2 as any system operating at “more than 600 volts, nominal.” Field electrical inspectors may be asked to inspect medium voltage installations in the course of [...]
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Have you seen an electrical installation that stops you in your tracks? We’re talking about those installations that make you laugh and shake your head in disbelief! Others may make you angry that someone risked his safety and the safety of others. You may want to grab a camera and take a photo in order [...]
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Dangerous conditions exist in battery rooms all over the country, but the batteries themselves are not a hazard. The hazards come from working conditions that are often unsafe because of limited paths of egress or escape, poor lighting, no working clearances, no guards for exposed live parts, and little or no ventilation. It is often [...]
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Typically, when length is a factor in the installation, so is voltage drop. A variety of installations may involve feeders or branch circuits of considerable length. These include such installations as industrial plants; airports; tollway, highway, turnpike or street lighting; electrically controlled irrigation machines (also known as center pivot irrigation machines); installations on docks, marinas, [...]
(No Ratings Yet)All electrical inspectors have authority. The question is, How do they use it? Is it about their ego or about the work and safety for the customer? Authority is needed in society to establish order; otherwise, there is chaos. Inspectors have authority for a purpose: to protect people and property. Some inspectors have misused their [...]
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In most areas of the country, building construction is booming, and there is a huge need for and use of temporary construction power. As electrical inspectors and installers in the field, we either inspect, install, or otherwise work with these types of installations frequently, if not daily. That being the case, it can be easy [...]
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IAEI, as the keystone of the electrical industry, is a membership driven, non-profit association promoting electrical safety throughout the industry by providing premier education, certification of inspectors, advocacy, partnerships and expert leadership in Electrical Codes and Standards development.
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