electrician

TVA electricians, Tennessee, 1942.

An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure.^[1]

Terminology

In the U.S.A electricians are sometimes referred to as Inside Wireman as opposed to Outside Linemen who work on electric utility company distribution systems at higher voltages. "Electrician" is also used as the name of a role in stagecraft, where electricians are tasked primarily with hanging, focusing, and operating stage lighting. In this context, the Master Electrician is the show's chief electrician. Although theater electricians routinely perform electrical work on stage lighting instruments and equipment, they are not part of the electrical trade and have a different set of skills and qualifications from the electricians that work on building wiring.

Training and regulation of trade

An electrician hooking up a generator to a home's electrical panel.

In most countries, the job of an electrician is a regulated trade for safety reasons due to the many hazards of working with electricity, requiring testing, registration, or licensing. Licensing of electricians is controlled through government and/or professional societies.

JIB (UK)

For electricians in the construction industry the JIB Electrotechnical Certification scheme provides certification and qualification for the Electrical Contracting Industry (ECA) for an annual fee.

JIB is in place to regulate and control Employment of electricians in the construction industry. It is responsible for skill levels, proficiency, wage levels and welfare benefits of its members.

United States

In the United States licensing requirements for construction work are controlled by local building officials. Typically, certain types of electrical work are only permitted to be performed by a Journeyman or Master electrician. The requirements for becoming a journeyman or master electrician, and the types of work they are permitted to do, vary between states; however, there are often interstate reciprocity agreements. Not all states offer a statewide journeyman or master electrician license.

Before electricians are allowed to work without supervision, they are usually required to serve an apprenticeship lasting from 3 to 5 years under the general supervision of a Master Electrician and usually the direct supervision of a Journeyman Electrician. Schooling in electrical theory and electrical building codes is usually required to complete the apprenticeship program. A Journeyman electrician is a well rounded craftsman trained in all phases of electrical construction installation in various building styles and maintenance of equipment after installation. A Journeyman is usually permitted to perform all types of electrical work except design of electrical systems^[2][3]. A Master Electrician must first be a Journeyman and usually has a minimum of two years more experience and has to pass further testing. A Master Electrician is further trained in layout, estimation, and design of electrical installations.

Certification usually requires experience and a passing score on a written test. The written test usually includes questions about the NFPA's National Electrical Code, and load calculations.

Trade Organizations

Many unions represent electricians such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine, and Furniture Workers; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; United Auto Workers; and the United Steelworkers.^[4]

See also

• Best boy
• Building code
• Circuit breaker
• Circuit breaker panel
• Domestic AC power plugs and sockets
• Electrician (theater)
• Electricity
• Electric light
• Electric switch
• Electrical wiring
• Fire safety
• Industrial & multiphase power plugs & sockets
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• Moritz Volz - an English footballer nicknamed "The Electrician"
• Lineman (occupation)
• National Electrical Code (US)
• Power cable
• Power cord
• Residual-current device
• Three-way circuit
• Wire

Tools of the trade

• Electrical tape
• Fish tape
• Friction tape
• Lineman's pliers
• Multimeter
• Needle-nose pliers
• Rotosplit
• Solenoid voltmeter
• Wire stripper
• Wireless Light Switch

References

1. ^ Roger Jones (2004). Electrician. Trotman Publishing. ISBN 0856609978. 
2. ^ West Virginia Journeyman Electrician. American Contractors Exam Services. Retrieved on 2007-06-30.
3. ^ Requirements to apply for an Electrician Certificate. Retrieved on 2007-06-30.
4. ^ Electricians. BLS (2006-08-04). Retrieved on 2007-06-30.

External links

• Electricians - from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

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