(a) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:
(1) The construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation by any public utility, as that term is defined by § 23-1-101(9)(A), by any rural electric association or cooperative, or by any municipally owned utility, of any transmission or distribution lines or facilities incidental to their business and covered under other nationally recognized safety standards or to any other such activity when performed by any duly authorized employee, agent, contractor, or subcontractor of any such public utility, association, cooperative, or municipally owned utility;
(2) The construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation by any industry, as that term is defined in subsection (f) of this section, of any electric conductors or equipment or facilities incidental to their business and covered under other nationally recognized safety standards or to any other such activity when performed by any duly authorized employee of any such industry;
(3) The construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of telephone equipment, computer systems, or satellite systems by a person, firm, or corporation engaged in the telecommunications or information systems industry when such activities involve low-voltage work exclusively for communication of data, voice, or other signaling purposes, including fire alarm systems, security systems, and environmental control systems that are not an integral part of a telecommunications system;
(4) The construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of any nonresidential farm building or structure;
(5) The construction and manufacture of manufactured homes covered by the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5401 et seq.; and
(6) Any industry, as that term is defined in subsection (f) of this section, or group of industries under common ownership or control, with assets in this state of one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) or more, provided that the exemption provided in this subdivision (a)(6) shall only apply to projects commenced between July 1, 2001, and December 31, 2003.
(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require an individual to hold a license before doing electrical work on his or her primary residence except as otherwise required by state law, rules, regulations, or local ordinances. The exemption from compliance with the licensing standards shall not be referred to in any way and shall not be any evidence of the lack of negligence or the exercise of due care by a party at a trial of any civil action to recover damages by any party.
(c)
(1) Any holder of a state-issued heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration, or HVACR, license may run line voltage power wiring in compliance with the state electric code from a disconnect box to an outdoor HVACR unit within a distance not to exceed ten feet (10') from any point of the HVACR equipment without obtaining an electrician's license as required by this chapter.
(2) Any person licensed by the Commission on Water Well Construction pursuant to the provisions of the Arkansas Water Well Construction Act, § 17-50-101 et seq., and subject to that commission's rules and to the National Electrical Code may run power and control wiring from an existing disconnect box to water well equipment without obtaining an electrician's license as required by this chapter. Nothing in this subdivision (c)(2) shall be construed to allow a licensed water well installer or contractor to alter the existing electrical service to any building or structure.
(d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as repealing, modifying, or affecting in any way the provisions of § 17-25-101 et seq.
(e) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require an employee of a hospital to hold a license in order to perform minor repairs or make minor alterations to existing electrical facilities during the normal performance of his or her duties with a hospital licensed by the Department of Health.
(f) For the purposes of this chapter, the term “industry” means manufacturing, processing and refining facilities, warehouses, distribution facilities, repair and maintenance facilities, agricultural facilities, and corporate and management offices located on industrial sites.