Educating the Building Inspector
Want your Generac® generator installed correctly? It would be a good idea to ensure that your building code inspections department knows what they are inspecting and that it is installed correctly. Manufacturer recommendations vary from manufacturer to manufacture. At Hale’s Electrical Service, Inc., we have only provided Generac® generators for ten years running. By installing only one brand, we are well versed in the code and manufacture best practices and recommendations for our one and only brand. We pride ourselves on being 100% knowledgeable on one brand and in turn, share this knowledge with Virginia’s Building Code Enforcement, Public Safety and Fire Departments and Planning Departments.
When your City/County Building inspectors receive training pertaining specifically to Generac® generators and their proper installations, you are better protected. Building codes and manufacturer recommendations are put in place to protect consumers in the same manner UL Approvals and the Good Housekeeping Seal is used. Inspector Training by manufacturers and local generator dealers provides inspectors with the specific knowledge and recommendations to ensure proper generator installation and use, base on National Electrical Code (NEC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and manufacturers recommendations.
In partnership with Generac® certified national professionals, we have trained over 150 building inspections department personnel from Virginia. Hale’s Electrical Service, Inc. and Generac’s Brian Baughman, recently educated over 25 local inspectors at their 3rd Semi-Annual Inspectors forum at Dinwiddie County’s Eastside Enhancement Center in North Dinwiddie, VA. Inspectors who attended took away brochures, sizing guides and specialized slide calculators designed to aid in calculating proper generator size and fuel requirements. These tools are used by building inspectors to ensure your newly installed Generac® is correctly sized for your application/home requirements. They learn the proper installation method, materials to be used to meet NEC code and the fuel and fuel connections/supply to meet manufacture specifications and load requirements.
After their training, which provided them with CLE’s for state certification, they received hands on training with Generac® products at Hale’s Electrical Service, Inc. new Showroom minutes away on Route 460 / Airport Street at I-85. This hands-on training gives Generac® and Hale’s personnel the opportunity to point out items that were discussed during the forum and introduce inspectors to equipment and visuals that they may see out on installation inspections throughout the Commonwealth. This hands on and Question and Answer Session proves invaluable to both the inspectors and Hale’s, as we develop a working rapport with the inspectors, enabling us to work together on common ground, work out concerns and provide better service to our mutual consumers.
Trending now in Virginia, many city/counties Building Inspection Departments require contractors to provide an NEC (National Electrical Code) load calculation with their generator permit application or at final installation and start up. This calculation sheet is a tool and a means for building inspectors to ensure your generator will provide for your home without overloading the generator and rendering it useless, or worse cause damage to your home. This also ensures proper sizing of the generator, based on your requirements. From this load calculation, your Building Inspection Official will verify proper wire sizing for your installation and your protection. Improper wire sizing or inadequate wire, based on NEC code can cause damage to your new Generac® investment, as well as to your home.
As a community service, Hale’s Electrical Service, Inc. is proud to provide our potential customers this opportunity to educate their building inspections departments, fire departments and planning departments. We are combining talents with Generac® to provide for your safety now and in the future! More Generac® Inspector’s Forums will be scheduled in the near future. If you are a building inspection official or your local building inspection official is looking to attend one of these sessions, please contact Hale’s Electrical Service, Inc. at (804) 518-3060 to attend or schedule a forum in your area. Partnering to protect your investment!
