Two states require special licensing to perform low voltage lighting work. The fear among some in the industry is that this will spread throughout the nation causing problems for Landscape Contractors who dabble low voltage work, and for the low- voltage manufacturers who cater to them. Washington and Minnesota have state codes that require licensure for certain low- voltage systems. In Washington, the issue revolves around system powered from a listed Class 2 power supply. Built-in residential vacuum systems; underground landscape sprinkler systems; underground landscape lighting; and residential garage doors are considered exempt from the requirements for licensing and permitting. These types of systems and circuits are considered exempt if the following conditions are met: the power supplying the installation must be derived from a listed Class 2 power supply; the installation and termination of line voltage equipment and conductors supplying these systems is performed by appropriately licensed and certified electrical contractors and electricians; the conductors of these systems do not pass through fire-rated walls, fire-rated ceilings or fire-rated floors in other than residential units; and conductors or luminaries are not installed in installations such as swimming pools, fountains, and similar installations). ?EUR??,,????'??Most of the transformers which are 12-volt are considered Class 1,?EUR??,,????'?? said Bill Blue, of Berkey Supply, a wholesale distributor in Woodinville, Wash. ?EUR??,,????'??In order to install these you would need to be a licensed electrical contractor.?EUR??,,????'?? Blue said reaction has been mixed among his customers. ?EUR??,,????'??A number of customers have become electrical contractors and a number of Landscape Contractors who didn?EUR??,,????'???t pursue licensing and quit installing,?EUR??,,????'?? he said. ?EUR??,,????'??Sales are down, but I don?EUR??,,????'???t know if it is because of the licensing issue, the economy or if it?EUR??,,????'???s a combination. It?EUR??,,????'???s hard to quantify.?EUR??,,????'?? According to Michael Southard, National Sales Manager, Landscape Lighting, for Kichler, it?EUR??,,????'???s cause for concern if people stop offering this service because of licensure issues. ?EUR??,,????'??Low-voltage landscape lighting has been an attraction for Landscape Contractors because there was no license,?EUR??,,????'?? he said. ?EUR??,,????'??Some people are just quitting. That?EUR??,,????'???s what were afraid of if this spreads nation-wide.?EUR??,,????'?? In Minnesota a 15 year battle over this issue recently ended. The Minnesota struggle became part of a bigger low-voltage question covering everything from doorbell to alarm system wiring. Finally a resolution was reached that all sides could live with. Under the ruling, companies that provide low-voltage wiring work had to obtain a current Alarm & Communications License by April 30 of this year. Companies holding this license by that date were grandfathered into the new Power Limited Technician License. After the deadline, any company or person wanting to obtain the license must apprentice for 36 months with a business already holding a license. This winter the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association will offer classes to help contractors get the proper license. In 1991, the State Board of Electricity interpreted the words ?EUR??,,????'??signaling circuit?EUR??,,????'?? to mean that the only persons who could practice their trade under the Alarm and Communication License were those whose products utilized electric impulses to briefly switch on or off a device or signal generator. Meaning that when in operation, the product has to use electric impulses ?EUR??,,????'??less?EUR??,,????'?? than ?EUR??,,????'??more.?EUR??,,????'?? Most landscape irrigation systems operate on a low-voltage signal but the current operating a control is ?EUR??,,????'??on?EUR??,,????'?? during the entire operation of a zone of irrigation and did not qualify. According to an open letter to MNLA members regarding low-voltage licensure, Tim Malooly, Chair of the MNLA Government Affairs Committee, the ?EUR??,,????'??Power Limited Technician and Technology Systems Contractor licensure finally establishes once and for all that a non-electrician can practice his/her trade LEGALLY in Minnesota providing he/she meets certain minimum requirements to carry the license.?EUR??,,????'?? Southard said a committee formed by the Low Voltage Lighting Institute of America is looking into getting the word out on this issue. For more information visit www.lvlia.com LCN wants to hear your thoughts on this subject. Go to the ?EUR??,,????'??Comment on this Article?EUR??,,????'?? link at the top of the page.