The world for smaller EC’s is fashioned with hazards and they should be conscious of the numerous circumstances of potential liability.
The NFPA is not liable for any errors, omissions, or ambiguities in codes.
The AHJ is not liable for “green tagging” or “red tagging” accomplished due to misinterpretation or erroneous application of NFPA 70.
If it is proven years after completion that a system was unsafe at the time of installation, the EC bears total and complete responsibility for personal injury, death, property damage, etc to the exclusion of the NFPA and/or the AHJ. The courts have ruled time after time that the EC “… is the expert and should have known of potential hazards…..”
Set up your company whereby you are not personally responsible for actions of the corporation. Speak with your attorney. A small legal bill is better than losing everything.
A major concern is that smaller EC’s maintain minimal liability insurance due to cost concerns. Another is that the smaller EC’s fail to challenge rulings by AHJ’s that they know are incorrect. Larger EC’s, for the past nine years that I have info, emphasize gross incompetence on the part of the AHJ. This has been the most successful argument for EC’s to get AHJ’s rulings overturned. Regrettably, small EC’s won’t challenge rulings due to monetary considerations as well as having to deal with the AHJ in the future. Never forget that in court cases running the array from financial to criminal charges you have been ruled the expert, not the NFPA nor the AHJ.
Rowdy
