Access control installation in New Hampshire

Electricians get licensed by New Hampshire; alarm or security companies do not. In New Hampshire, no state license is designed for card readers or door entry systems. According to the Electricians' Board, you must hold a current electrician license when you handle 30 volts or higher.

The wording in the statute is a bit different. Under RSA 319-C, any wiring or device for heat, light or power qualifies as an electrical installation, whatever the voltage. A reader or lock circuit might fall under the board's threshold, yet its power supply typically ties into the building's electrical system.

Let a licensed electrician take care of that link to the building's power. When a quote includes both types of work, ask who handles each hookup.

Journeyman or master electricians put in 8,000 hours as apprentices and finish at least 600 hours of coursework. They also took and passed a board-approved exam. Licensed electricians need to post their certificate where they do business, or have it with them and produce it when an inspector asks.

The law carries real consequences. Doing electrical installations without a license counts as a misdemeanor for an individual and a felony for a business. Homeowners can still perform electrical tasks inside a single-family home they own and occupy.

The license lookup page from the state directs you to New Hampshire Online Verification, where electricians appear among the listed occupations. Use the name or license number your installer provides to search.

A few towns set their own alarm or permit requirements. Reach out to the town's building or fire department before the project starts.

A maglock uses a magnet to secure a door, so it has to release the door for anyone exiting during an emergency. These requirements come from the building and life safety codes.

New Hampshire transitions to the 2024 International Building Code on July 1, 2026, according to the state building code page. Permits can be based on the 2021 code or the 2024 code through December 31, 2026. The 2023 National Electrical Code, with New Hampshire amendments, governs electrical work.

Under the state fire code list, the 2022 fire alarm code, NFPA 72, and the 2024 Life Safety Code, NFPA 101, both apply. Both sets of rules apply to doors connected to a fire alarm system.

Alarm and access control businesses do not need a state license in New Hampshire. Electrician licensing is handled by the state through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.