MINUTES OF MEETING OF
BOARD OF ELECTRICAL APPEALS

January 9, 2007 - 3:00 p.m.

OFFICE OF CENTRAL INSPECTION
CITY HALL, 455 NORTH MAIN
OCI CONFERENCE ROOM, 7th FLOOR


Chairman Roy Meinhardt called the meeting to order at 3:03 pm, with Board members Dale 
Johnson, John Whittit, Harold Ragland, Dave Urban, Shane Chapman and Secretary Tom 
Kerschen present.  Board member Jerry Addington was absent.   Also present was Inspectors 
Mike Hood and Steve Schauner.


The minutes of the December 12, 2006 meeting were read.  Board member Whittit made a 
motion the minutes be approved as written, it was seconded by Board member Ragland and 
approved. 


The recent examination results from Thomson Prometric for electrical examinations 
administered by their office for City of Wichita approved applicants were presented to the Board.  
The results were as follows:
          
  APPLICANT            APPLICANT           EXAMINATION              EXAMINATION
             NAME                   NUMBER             CLASSIFICATION                   RESULT       

	Jason Wohlgemuth	0374	Electrical Journeyman	Failed
	Kristopher Warren	3306	Elevator Journeyman 	Failed

	
One (1) Master Electrician and three (3) Journeyman Electrician examination applications 
were reviewed for approval to be administered the appropriate examination for certification.  The 
results were as follows:

	   NAME                           NUMBER                 CLASSIFICATION	ACTION	

	Rickey Lee Applegate	6822	Master	Approved	
	Nick Wernecke	4647	Journeyman	Denied	
	Isaza Hill	6989	Journeyman	Approved	
	Travis Honey	9336	Journeyman	Approved	
	
			
Under part A of the new business section of the agenda, the Board welcomed Ben Boesen 
with Otis Elevator.  Otis Elevator is requesting a clarification on the location of the Fire 
Controller panel.  At 2395 N Somerset, Somerset Apartments, Otis Elevator modernized the 2 
elevators that included adding Fire Controller panel in each elevator.  Otis Elevator installed the 
Fire Controller panel (FCP) off to the side of the main Control Operations Panel (COP).  Ben 
Boesen stated he did not feel that location was a violation of the code, but was sent a violation 
notice from inspector Mike Hood.  Mr. Boesen went on to say that he feels the building owner 
should have the option of where the FCP should be installed.  Mr. Boesen said the job to 
modernize the elevator was awarded to Otis Elevator in 2005, prior to the adoption of the 2004 
Elevator Code but he did not take out the permit until March of 2006, as he did not want the 
permit to expire before the job was completed.

Inspector Mike Hood explained to the Board that ASME A17.1-2004 code requires the Fire 
Operation, Call Cancel, Door Open and Door Closed buttons, the additional visual signal and the 
operating instructions to be grouped together at the top of the main car-operating panel behind a 
locked door.

The Board thanked Mr. Boesen for his time and explained that they would discuss this 
interpretation later in the meeting and Secretary Kerschen would notify him in writing as to the 
Board's decision.

Secretary Kerschen gave the Board a copy of an email sent by David McColl, engineer for 
Otis Elevator, stating in part;  "I am a member of the A17 Standards Committee and the A17 
Emergency Operations Committee.  I think the panel installed in the subject building meets the 
intent of 2.27.3.3.7… It is my intention to seek clarification from the committee at our next 
meeting, and if necessary, to propose a revision to the current working to clarify its intent, so that 
a literal reading does not unnecessarily restrict installers from providing a safe and effective FF 
panel."

Secretary Kerschen also gave the Board copies of emails sent by Lawrence Taylor, Elevator 
Inspector State of Texas; Jack Day, Chief Elevator Inspector State of Washington and Mike 
Dorosk Elevator Inspector City of Houston, stating they would not consider the FCP installed at 
Somerset Apartments to meet the code.

Mr. Hood told the Board he talked to Captain Schowalter with Fire Prevention and they did 
not have a problem with the location of the FCP at this particular address.

After a long discussion on the wording of the code language and the different emails received by 
Secretary Kerschen, Board member Johnson made a motion that the interpretation is the Fire 
Operation Controls shall be directly above the Control Operation Panel and not more than 72 
inches above the floor or part of the Control Operation Panel above the public accessible buttons 
and not more than 72 inches above the floor.  This allows the indicators to be installed above the 
Fire Operation Controls.  Should an existing elevator not allow for the Fire Operation Controls to 
be installed as stated, a different location will be allowed ONLY if pre-approved by the City 
Code Official, as defined in Title 19, and the Fire Marshall or his representative.  By such an 
interpretation that the installation by Otis Elevator does not meet the code, but to grant them a 
one-time variance to allow the Fire Controller panel as installed.  This motion was seconded by 
Board member Chapman and was approved 5-0.  Board member Ragland was not available at 
the time of the vote.


There was no other business listed on the agenda.

Board member Whittit made a motion to adjourn. Board member Chapman seconded the 
motion and the meeting adjourned.

The time was 4:14 pm.

Tom Kerschen, Secretary, 
Board of Electrical Appeals


1