21 ncac 12A .0202 CLASSIFICATION

(a) A general contractor shall be certified in one of the following five classifications:

(1) Building Contractor. This classification covers all building construction and demolition activity including: commercial, industrial, institutional, and all residential building construction. It includes installation of solar panels; parking decks; all site work, grading and paving of parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, and gutters; storm drainage, retaining or screen walls, and hardware and accessory structures; and indoor and outdoor recreational facilities including natural and artificial surface athletic fields, running tracks, bleachers, and seating. It also covers work done under the specialty classifications of S(Concrete Construction), S(Insulation), S(Interior Construction), S(Marine and Freshwater Construction), S(Masonry Construction), S(Roofing), S(Metal Erection), S(Swimming Pools), and S(Asbestos), and S(Wind Turbine).

(2) Residential Contractor. This classification covers all construction and demolition activity pertaining to the construction of residential units that are required to conform to the Residential Building Code adopted by the Building Code Council pursuant to G.S. 143-138; all site work, driveways, sidewalks, and water and wastewater systems ancillary to the aforementioned structures and improvements; and the work done as part of such residential units under the specialty classifications of S(Insulation), S(Interior Construction), S(Masonry Construction), S(Roofing), S(Swimming Pools), and S(Asbestos). This classification also covers the installation of solar panels on residential units that are required to conform to the residential building code.

(3) Highway Contractor. This classification covers all highway construction activity including: demolition, grading, paving of all types, installation of exterior artificial athletic surfaces, relocation of public and private utility lines ancillary to a principal project, bridge construction and repair, culvert construction and repair, parking decks, sidewalks, curbs, gutters and storm drainage. It also includes installation and erection of guard rails, fencing, signage, and ancillary highway hardware; covers paving and grading of airport and airfield runways, taxiways, and aprons, including the installation of fencing, signage, runway lighting and marking; and work done under the specialty classifications of S(Boring and Tunneling), S(Concrete Construction), S(Marine and Freshwater Construction), S(Railroad Construction), and H(Grading and Excavating).

(4) Public Utilities Contractor. This classification includes demolition and operations that are the performance of construction work on water and wastewater systems and on the subclassifications of facilities set forth in G.S. 87-10(b)(3). The Board shall issue a license to a public utilities contractor that is limited to any of the subclassifications set forth in G.S. 87-10(b)(3) for which the contractor qualifies. A public utilities contractor license covers work done under the specialty classifications of S(Boring and Tunneling), PU(Communications), PU(Fuel Distribution), PU(Electrical-Ahead of Point of Delivery), PU(Water Lines and Sewer Lines), PU(Water Purification and Sewage Disposal), and S(Swimming Pools).

(5) Specialty Contractor. This classification covers all construction operation and performance of contract work outlined as follows:

(A) H(Grading and Excavating). This classification covers the digging, moving, and placing of materials forming the surface of the earth, excluding air and water, in such a manner that the cut, fill, excavation, grade, trench, backfill, or any similar operation may be executed with the use of hand and power tools and machines used for these types of digging, moving, and material placing. It covers work on earthen dams and the use of explosives used in connection with all or any part of the activities described in this Subparagraph. It also includes clearing and grubbing, and erosion control activities.

(B) S(Boring and Tunneling). This classification covers the construction of underground or underwater passageways by digging or boring through and under the earth's surface, including the bracing and compacting of such passageways to make them safe for the purpose intended. It includes preparation of the ground surfaces at points of ingress and egress.

(i) all types of pole lines, and aerial and underground distribution cable for telephone systems;

(ii) aerial and underground distribution cable for cable TV and master antenna TV systems capable of transmitting R.F. signals;

(iii) underground conduit and communication cable, including fiber optic cable; and

(iv) microwave systems and towers, including foundations and excavations where required, when the microwave systems are being used for the purpose of transmitting R.F. signals; and installation of PCS or cellular telephone towers and sites.

(D) S(Concrete Construction). This classification covers the construction, demolition, and installation of foundations, pre-cast silos, and other concrete tanks or receptacles, prestressed components, and gunite applications, but excludes bridges, streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, driveways, parking lots, and highways.

(E) PU(Electrical-Ahead of Point of Delivery). This classification covers the construction, installation, alteration, maintenance, or repair of an electrical wiring system, including sub-stations or components thereof, which is or is intended to be owned, operated, and maintained by an electric power supplier, such as a public or private utility, a utility cooperative, or any other properly franchised electric power supplier, for the purpose of furnishing electrical services to one or more customers. This classification includes the construction of solar arrays.

(F) PU(Fuel Distribution). This classification covers the construction, installation, alteration, maintenance, or repair of systems for distribution of petroleum fuels, petroleum distillates, natural gas, chemicals, and slurries through pipeline from one station to another. It includes all excavating, trenching, and backfilling in connection therewith. It covers the installation, replacement, and removal of above ground and below ground fuel storage tanks.

(G) PU(Water Lines and Sewer Lines). This classification covers demolition and construction work on water and sewer mains, water service lines, and house and building sewer lines, as defined in the North Carolina State Building Code, and covers water storage tanks, lift stations, pumping stations, and appurtenances to water storage tanks, lift stations, and pumping stations. It includes pavement patching, backfill, and erosion control as part of construction.

(H) PU(Water Purification and Sewage Disposal). This classification covers the demolition and performance of construction work on water and wastewater systems; water and wastewater treatment facilities; and all site work, grading, and paving of parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters that are ancillary to such construction of water and wastewater treatment facilities. It covers the work done under the specialty classifications of S(Concrete Construction), S(Insulation), S(Interior Construction), S(Masonry Construction), S(Roofing), and S(Metal Erection) as part of the work on water and wastewater treatment facilities.

(I) S(Insulation). This classification covers the installation, alteration, or repair of materials classified as insulating media used for the non-mechanical control of temperatures in the construction of residential and commercial buildings. It does not include the insulation of mechanical equipment, and lines and piping that are ancillary to the building.

(J) S(Interior Construction). This classification covers the installation and demolition of acoustical ceiling systems and panels, load bearing and non-load bearing partitions, lathing and plastering, flooring and finishing, interior recreational surfaces, window and door installation, and installation of fixtures, cabinets, and millwork. It includes the removal of asbestos and replacement with non-toxic substances.

(K) S(Marine and Freshwater Construction). This classification covers all marine and freshwater demolition and construction and repair activities and all types of marine and freshwater construction and demolition in deep-water installations and in harbors, inlets, sounds, bays, channels, canals, rivers, lakes, ponds, or any navigable waterway; it covers dredging, construction, and installation of pilings, piers, decks, slips, docks, and bulkheads. It does not include other structures that may be constructed on docks, slips, and piers.

(L) S(Masonry Construction). This classification covers the demolition and installation, with or without the use of mortar or adhesives, of the following:

(i) brick, concrete block, gypsum partition tile, pumice block, or other lightweight and facsimile units and products common to the masonry industry;

(ii) installation of fire clay products and refractory construction; and

(iii) installation of rough cut and dressed stone, marble panels and slate units, and installation of structural glazed tile or block, glass brick or block, and solar screen tile or block.

(M) S(Railroad Construction). This classification covers the demolition, building, construction, and repair of railroad lines including:

(i) the clearing and filling of rights-of-way;

(ii) shaping, compacting, setting, and stabilizing of road beds;

(iii) setting ties, tie plates, rails, rail connectors, frogs, switch plates, switches, signal markers, retaining walls, dikes, fences, and gates; and

(iv) construction and repair of tool sheds and platforms.

(N) S(Roofing). This classification covers the installation, demolition, and repair of roofs and decks on residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional structures requiring materials that form a water-tight and weather-resistant surface. The term "materials" for purposes of this Subparagraph includes cedar, cement, asbestos, clay tile and composition shingles, all types of metal coverings, wood shakes, single ply and built-up roofing, protective and reflective roof and deck coatings, sheet metal valleys, flashings, gravel stops, gutters and downspouts, and bituminous waterproofing including torch down roof systems. Any insulation material installed as a component of a torch down roofing system shall be included as work covered under this classification.

(O) S(Metal Erection). This classification covers:

(i) the field fabrication, demolition, erection, repair, and alteration of architectural and structural shapes, plates, tubing, pipe and bars, not limited to steel or aluminum, that are or may be used as structural members for buildings, equipment, and structure; and

(ii) the layout, assembly and erection by welding, bolting, riveting, or fastening in any manner metal products as curtain walls, tanks of all types, hoppers, structural members for buildings, towers, stairs, conveyor frames, cranes and crane runways, canopies, carports, guard rails, signs, steel scaffolding as a permanent structure, rigging, flagpoles, fences, steel and aluminum siding, bleachers, fire escapes, and seating for stadiums, arenas, and auditoriums.

(P) S(Swimming Pools). This classification covers the construction, demolition, service, and repair of all swimming pools. It includes:

(i) excavation and grading;

(ii) construction of concrete, gunite, fiberglass, metal-walled with liner, steel-walled with liner, and plastic-type pools, pool decks, and walkways, and tiling and coping; and

(iii) installation of all equipment including pumps, filters, and chemical feeders. It does not include direct connections to a sanitary sewer system or to portable water lines, nor the grounding and bonding of any metal surfaces or the making of any electrical connections.

(Q) S(Asbestos). This classification covers renovation or demolition activities involving the repair, maintenance, removal, isolation, encapsulation, or enclosure of Regulated Asbestos Containing Materials (RACM) for any commercial, industrial, or institutional building, whether public or private. It also covers all types of residential building construction involving RACM during renovation or demolition activities. This specialty is required only when the cost of asbestos activities as described herein are equal to or exceed thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).

(R) S(Wind Turbine). This classification covers the construction, demolition, installation, and repair of wind turbines, wind generators, and wind power units. It includes assembly of blades, generator, turbine structures, and towers. It also includes ancillary foundation work, field fabrication of metal equipment, and structural support components.

(b) An applicant may be licensed in more than one classification of general contracting provided the applicant meets the qualifications for the classifications, which includes passing the examinations for the classification requested by the applicant. The license granted to an applicant who meets the qualifications for all of the classifications set forth in the rules of this Section shall be designated "unclassified."

History Note: Authority G.S. 87-1; 87-4; 87-10;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Readopted Eff. September 26, 1977;

Amended Eff. June 1, 1994; June 1, 1992; May 1, 1989; January 1, 1983;

Temporary Amendment Eff. February 18, 1997;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2014; June 1, 2011; September 1, 2009; April 1, 2004; April 1, 2003; August 1, 2002; April 1, 2001; August 1, 2000; August 1, 1998;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. July 23, 2016;

Amended Eff. September 1, 2019; April 1, 2018;

Recodified from 21 NCAC 12 .0202 Eff. January 2, 2020;

Amended Eff. December 1, 2023; January 1, 2023; January 1, 2022.