The Electrical Underground Certification is used in lieu of county performed inspections when electrical work needs to be placed underground. It allows for the continuation of installation without the necessity of a county inspector verifying wire size, type, conduit, depth, and number of conductors.
Example: Electrical work in parking lots, ditches, trenches, concrete.
NOTE: The Electrical Underground Certification cannot be utilized for swimming pools and/or hazardous locations, as defined by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
This information is the most common for how to obtain the necessary approval for your project and is not representative of all the conditions you may encounter.
PLAN AHEAD
Before scheduling the final inspection, a Master Electrician must provide the Electrical Underground Certification for all electrical work done underground and not inspected by county inspectors. Failure to do so may result in a failed final inspection and the possibility of a re-inspection fee.
REQUIREMENTS
The Master Electrician will be responsible for certifying the electrical underground work. They must have the proper license and acknowledge that the installation was installed according to the construction documents. They also will acknowledge that they have read the current editions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC), National Electric Code (NEC), and Chapter 66 of the Code of the County of Fairfax.
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY RECORD?
PLUS Application
Once you have made the determination that an Electrical Underground Certification must be submitted, login to PLUS to make the request. The request must be made by selecting Make Changes under the appropriate permit record (Figure 1).
Select Electrical Underground Certification. Click Continue Application (Figure 2).
Enter the specific inspection details of the underground installation by clicking Add a Row (Figure 3). Once all information has been entered, enter the Name of Certifier. Check the box to acknowledge the installation is in accordance with the necessary codes. Lastly, click Continue Application.
Once all information is entered and submitted, you will receive submittal confirmation with a unique record number (Figure 4).
Helpful Video:
Make Changes to a Record - YouTube
What's Next?
Review Process
Staff from the Building Inspections Branch will review the submission for completeness and compliance with the building code and county ordinances. You will be notified of any deficiencies. Corrections, resubmission fees and additional supporting documents may be required.
Record Acceptance
Once all county reviews are approved, the record status will update to “Closed.” Staff will enter the results of the Underground Electrical Certification and the associated electrical record.
Inspections
Once the Electrical Underground Certification status is closed, a Final Inspection can be scheduled. The county must be notified once stages of construction are reached that require an inspection. For more information, see our inspections webpage.
Helpful Video:
Building Inspections (an overview on how to schedule an inspection) - YouTube Video
