Hawaii Electrician Legislation, Codes, and Guidelines
Hawaii State Building Codes and Electrician Legislation
Hawaii's building codes are established by the State Building Code Council and are based on nationally recognized standards. The specific codes adopted can vary, but generally include the International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), and the National Electrical Code (NEC).
As of the latest available information, the State Building Code Council adopted the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) on March 15, 2022. Counties in Hawaii are required to adopt the 2020 NEC by March 14, 2024, or it will become applicable as an interim county electrical code. Prior to this, the 2017 NEC was adopted by the State Building Code Council, with an effective date of August 21, 2018. The Hawaii State Building Codes are also based on the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC), with the 2018 versions of these codes being adopted.
Electrician licensing and regulation in Hawaii are primarily governed by Chapter 448E of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, which deals with Electricians and Plumbers. The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, through its Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, is the primary state agency responsible for setting and enforcing these standards.
Key aspects of electrician legislation include:
- Licensure is required for individuals performing electrical work, with different classifications such as journey worker electrician and supervising electrician.
- At least half of the individuals performing electrical work on a construction site must be licensed.
- Licensed workers must visibly display their licenses on their person while on the job site.
- The state has adopted specific administrative rules for electricians and plumbers, found in the Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 80.