How Lewis Bass Field Evaluates Non-Listed Electrical Equipment in San Jose, California
If you’ve ever tried to bring a new piece of machinery into operation in San Jose, California, there’s a good chance you’ve run into a very specific and very important phrase: Non-Listed Electrical Equipment.
It’s not exactly the most exciting topic over coffee, but if you’re an OEM, facilities manager, or installer dealing with custom or imported gear, it might be the most critical phrase in your project timeline.
At Lewis Bass International Engineering Services, we specialize in evaluating and field-labeling Non-Listed Electrical Equipment for compliance with NFPA 79, NFPA 791, and local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) policies. In San Jose, that policy comes straight from the city’s Building Division under Policy No. NEC 110-1-93, and it spells out how you can (and can’t) get your electrical equipment approved.
Let’s break it down and explain how we fit in.
What Counts as Non-Listed Electrical Equipment?
The City of San Jose expects all installed electrical equipment to be listed—meaning it’s been tested and certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). This includes QPS, ETL, CSA, and other organizations on OSHA’s NRTL list. The idea is to ensure that anything drawing electricity has been vetted for safety before being energized.
But here’s the catch: Not all equipment comes with an NRTL label. Especially if it’s imported, custom-built, part of a prototype line, or manufactured for a niche market. That’s where the term Non-Listed Electrical Equipment enters the scene. And for these situations, San Jose provides three pathways for compliance:
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General Equipment: You can send the equipment off to an NRTL and get it listed. Simple, but time-consuming and expensive.
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Non-Complex Equipment: If the city’s inspector determines it’s simple enough—think junction boxes, light fixtures, or basic panels—they may sign off after a field inspection.
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Complex and/or Unique Equipment: This is the big one. This is where Lewis Bass plays a major role.
The Role of Lewis Bass for Complex and Unique Equipment
San Jose’s policy specifically allows approved licensed engineering firms like Lewis Bass to perform third-party evaluations of Non-Listed Electrical Equipment that falls into the “complex and/or unique” category. According to the policy, the equipment must be evaluated using proper testing methods and applicable standards, and a documented report must be submitted for AHJ review. That report must include:
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Testing methods
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Designated safety standards (like NFPA 79)
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A suitability statement indicating the equipment is safe for its intended use
Let’s emphasize that: This work can’t be done by just anyone. The city must approve the third-party firm, and the evaluation must be performed by qualified personnel with appropriate credentials. Lewis Bass, as an IAS-accredited Field Evaluation Body (FEB), is recognized for this type of work throughout California and we’ve built a strong reputation in San Jose over the past three decades for helping businesses bring their equipment online without lengthy delays or excessive costs.
San Jose vs. Other NorCal Cities: What’s Different?
What makes San Jose stand out is the clarity of its policy and its formal acceptance of third-party field evaluation by licensed engineering firms. Many other cities in Northern California such as Oakland, Sacramento, or San Francisco often rely heavily on NRTL evaluations or don’t provide clear documentation outlining their acceptance of engineering firm evaluations.
In those cities, the lack of a consistent policy can lead to frustrating back-and-forths with inspectors, unclear requirements, or sudden demands to ship a machine back to the manufacturer for modifications. That’s expensive, and it delays project timelines by weeks or months.
By contrast, San Jose’s NEC 110-1-93 policy clearly states that an approved engineering firm can be used to evaluate complex or unique Non-Listed Electrical Equipment. This helps fast-track inspections, lowers compliance costs, and enables local businesses to get up and running much faster especially those in advanced manufacturing, semiconductor, biotech, or clean energy sectors.
Why Should You Choose Lewis Bass for Your Field Evaluation Project in San Jose?
At Lewis Bass, we go beyond compliance. We partner with your team from the moment a red tag goes up or a permit is pulled, helping identify whether your equipment falls into the complex category and preparing the right path forward.
Whether you’re dealing with a foreign-built automation cell, a custom power distribution cabinet, or any piece of electrical gear that doesn’t have an NRTL label, we’re here to help you get it approved, inspected, and operational with minimal hassle and maximum efficiency.
If you’ve got Non-Listed Electrical Equipment in San Jose or anywhere in California, get in touch with us today. We know the codes, we know the AHJs, and we know how to get your project moving again if you’ve been blocked by a city inspector. In most cases, we’re also faster and more affordable than trying to route the equipment through a traditional NRTL listing process which may not even be viable for one-off or specialized systems.
