(A) Electric Code. The 2014 National Electric Code, as amended herein, is adopted by reference as the Electric Code for the city.
(1) Definitions.ELECTRICAL WIRING AND APPARATUS includes all material, devices, machinery, appliances or conductors used in connection with the supplying of electrical energy for lights, heat or power or the transmission of electrical signals.
(2012 Code, § 18-106)
(2) Application. The provisions of this section shall be applicable to all electrical work and electrical wiring and apparatus done, performed or installed within the city from and after 1-7-1966, only in connection with:
(a) All new construction; and
(b) All electrical work and wiring requiring an additional circuit or circuits in conjunction with additions or alterations to existing buildings.
(2012 Code, § 18-107)
(3) Installation standards generally.
(a) The 2014 National Electrical Code, as amended, of rules, regulations and requirements for the installation of electrical wiring and apparatus is adopted as a standard for the installation of all electrical wiring, apparatus and fixtures, except as otherwise specifically provided in this section; and such code is made a part of this section as fully as though copied in this section in full.
(b) All electrical installation and construction, all material and all apparatus used in connection with electrical work, and the operation of all electrical apparatus shall be in conformity with the rules, regulations and requirements of the National Electrical Code and division (A)(7) below.
(2012 Code, § 18-108)
(4) Work permit.
(a) Application; fee. It shall be unlawful for any person to commence the installation or alteration of any electrical work, wiring or apparatus for use in connection with electric light, heating or power, either outside or inside of any building, within the city, without first making application in writing, in person or through a duly authorized agent, at the city office, on forms furnished by the Electrical Inspector or City Secretary, for a permit for such installation or alteration of electrical wiring and apparatus. Such application shall contain such description, by street and number or by lot and block number, as may be necessary to identify the location of the work to be done. A permit fee for new construction and for work in conjunction with additions or alterations to existing buildings, which shall be as established by the Council, shall be paid by the applicant before a permit shall be issued. All such permit fees shall be disposed of as the City Council may direct.
(b) Applicant’s bond. No permit for electrical work shall be issued unless the person applying for the permit shall have on file with the City Secretary a good, valid and effective bond in the penal sum of $1,000, payable to the city, conditioned upon compliance with this section, regulating electrical wiring and apparatus and the faithful performance of any contract entered into for the installation of electrical wiring and apparatus for use in connection with electric light, heating or power. Such bond shall be executed by such applicant and by a responsible surety company authorized to do a surety business in the state, and such bond shall be approved by the City Secretary. Such bond may be an annual electrician’s bond posted and filed by the permittee, bonding the permittee as for all such electrical work during its effective period. Any person making application for a permit for electrical work to be done by such applicant in person on his or her personal residence or improvements to be used as his or her personal residence shall not be required to post or file such bond, but shall be required to obtain such permit and inspections of such work as provided in this section.
(c) Issuance. Upon application being made and the permit fee paid as provided for in division (A)(4)(a) above, and subject to the provisions of divisions (A)(4)(b) above and (A)(4)(d) below, the Electrical Inspector or City Secretary shall issue a permit for the installation or alteration of any electrical work.
(d) Violations. Any failure on the part of a permittee to comply with the provisions of this section regulating electrical wiring and apparatus or to faithfully carry out the conditions of a contract for installing electric wiring and apparatus shall be deemed sufficient cause for the forfeiture of the permittee’s bond by action of the City Council, by order entered to such effect after hearing, upon the recommendation of the Electrical Inspector. The amount realized upon the forfeiture of any bond over and above the expense involved in its forfeiture shall be expended in making the necessary changes in the electric wiring and apparatus found to be contrary to the provisions of this section or deficient in quality or other particulars as specified in the contract or contracts entered into and covered by the bond; and the unused balance, if any, shall be paid into the city treasury, to be used for such purposes as the City Council may direct.
(2012 Code, § 18-109)
(5) Inspection of new work.
(a) Upon the issuance of a permit under this section, the Electrical Inspector shall carefully inspect such work during and after its completion. If such electrical work or electrical wiring and apparatus is proved to be performed, furnished or installed in accordance with all rules and requirements governing the work, the Electrical Inspector shall issue a certificate approving the work.
(b) Application for electrical inspection must be made at the city office in the forenoon, if desired in the afternoon of the same day, or in the afternoon, if inspection is desired in the forenoon of the next regular working day. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays shall not be considered as working days. There shall be two inspections on all work, both provided for by the original permit granted. One inspection shall be made when roughing-in is completed and the second inspection shall be made upon the completion of the work.
(c) Inspection fees shall be as established by the Council. If additional inspections are required at the discretion of the Electrical Inspector because of a defect or deficiency in the work or apparatus at the time inspected, on either the first or second inspection, or for any other good cause, an inspection fee, which shall be as established by the Council, shall be charged the permittee and paid by him or her to the city for each such inspection in excess of the two regular inspections provided for in division (A)(5)(b) above. All such inspection fees shall be disposed of as the City Council may direct.
(d) Upon the completion of the installation of electric wires and apparatus in any building for use in connection with electric light, heat or power, it shall be the duty of the person doing the work to notify the Electrical Inspector, who shall at once inspect the work and, if approved by him or her, he or she shall issue a certificate of satisfactory inspection which shall contain the date of inspection and outline of the results of such examination. No certificate shall be issued unless all connected electrical wiring and apparatus are in strict conformity with the rules and regulations set forth in this section, nor shall current be turned on any wiring and apparatus until a certificate of satisfactory inspection is issued.
(2012 Code, § 18-110)
(6) Concealing work without permission. No person shall conceal or cause to be concealed any electrical wiring or apparatus mentioned in this section, except with the express permission of the Electrical Inspector; and he or she is authorized and directed to require the removal of any flooring, lathing or plaster, sheet metal or other material which may conceal any electrical wiring or apparatus contrary to the provisions of this section. On completion of the inspection of any electrical wiring or apparatus designed to be concealed and found to be in full compliance with the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the Electrical Inspector to post a notice to that effect at the main cut-out center, which shall be considered as an express permission to conceal the electrical wiring and apparatus; but no concealment shall take place until such notice has been posted by the Electrical Inspector.
(2012 Code, § 18-111)
(7) Miscellaneous specifications.
(a) The miscellaneous specifications set forth in this section shall apply in governing electrical work in the city, whether or not specifically covered in the National Electrical Code, and whether or not in conflict with any provision of such code.
(b) No conductor supplying electricity for lighting or appliances shall be smaller than AWG wire size #12.
(c) Not more than eight light outlets shall be installed on one circuit, and not more than six receptacle outlets shall be installed on one circuit. In case of lighting and receptacle openings on the same circuit, such circuit shall not have more than six openings.
(d) Size #14 AWG wire may be used on switch legs where the light outlets are singly switched. In case of one switch being used to turn on more than one light simultaneously, no wire smaller than AWG #12 shall be used.
(e) A kitchen appliance circuit shall be a separate circuit fused not to exceed 20 amperes, and no adjoining room outlets shall be made a part of the circuit.
(f) No electrical wire shall be fused above the allowable current-carrying capacity of insulated conductors in amperes as specified in the National Electrical Code.
(g) All exposed wiring in buildings other than private residences shall be enclosed in conduit or electric metallic tubing. In such cases, all exposed wiring from floor level to seven feet above floor level shall be enclosed in rigid conduit, and all exposed wiring seven feet from floor level and above may be enclosed in metallic tubing where adaptable and suitable.
(h) In cases of installation in construction of new buildings, the multibreaker or fuse box shall be of a size sufficient to leave a minimum of four spare circuits upon completion. Pull wires must be installed through separate or individual holes in both the multibreaker or fuse box enclosure and the ceiling plate, continuous from the inside of the enclosure to an accessible place in the attic (provided, such building has an attic).
(i) All wires entering a multibreaker or fuse box enclosure or junction box must be clamped at the entering point by means of box connectors, either separate clamps or box clamp provided.
(j) No wire shall be spliced in any other place than in a junction box.
(k) All joints must be soldered or approved compression fittings used and taped on rough-in jobs, and fixture leads must be soldered or a National Electrical Code approved fixture connector used.
(l) Service entrance conductors shall have sufficient current-carrying capacity to adequately carry the load; however, no service entrance conductor shall be smaller than AWG wire size #6, except for installations requiring not more than two branch circuits not in excess of 15 amperes each.
(m) Non-metallic sheathed cable shall be firmly secured by approved staples or fittings at intervals not exceeding four and one-half feet and within 12 inches from every outlet; except that, in concealed work where such supporting is impracticable the cable may be fished from outlet to outlet.
(2012 Code, § 18-112)
(8) Service entrance clearance.
(a) All electric service entrance on buildings or structures in the city shall be located so as to provide a minimum clearance of eight feet above the ground at the service entrance fitting or weather head, where electric service wires are attached.
(b) No person shall locate such entrance fittings or weather heads at distances lower than eight feet above the ground, and persons furnishing electric service in the city are prohibited from attaching electric service wires to buildings or structures at points lower than 12 feet measured from the ground to overhead wires.
(2012 Code, § 18-113)
(9) Wires not to interfere with Fire Department or obstruct fire escapes. No electric wire shall be installed, operated or maintained over any street, alley, sidewalk or building which shall be liable to seriously interfere with the work of the Fire Department in the use of ladders or other apparatus, or which shall obstruct or render hazardous the use of fire escapes; and, on complaint of the Fire Chief, such wires interfering or hazardous wires shall be removed or properly rearranged.
(2012 Code, § 18-114)
(10) Location of gas pipe near electric wires. Any person desiring to place any gas pipe within six inches of any electric wire installed for use in connection with electric light, heat or power shall, before proceeding with the execution of the work, obtain from the Electrical Inspector permission for such work; and, on completion of such work, such person shall notify the Electrical Inspector, who shall inspect the work and cause all wires to be placed in a safe and secure condition.
(2012 Code, § 18-115)
(11) Section does not affect liability for damages. This section shall not be construed to relieve from or lessen the responsibility of any person installing, operating or controlling any electrical wiring or apparatus for damage to anyone injured by such work; nor shall the city be held or regarded as assuming any liability by reason of the inspection authorized in this section or certificate or permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(2012 Code, § 18-116)
(B) Electrical Inspector.
(1) Office created; appointment; qualifications; records and reports.
(a) The office of Electrical Inspector in and for the city is created and established; and such office shall be filled by appointment of the City Administrator.
(b) The Electrical Inspector shall be well versed in the rules, regulations and requirements of the National Electrical Code.
(c) The Electrical Inspector shall keep a complete record of all permits issued, bonds filed under this section, inspections made and other official work performed by him or her as required by this section, and shall make such reports to the City Council as the Council shall direct.
(2012 Code, § 18-141)
(2) Enforcement. It shall be the duty of the Electrical Inspector to enforce the provisions of this section or any ordinance which may be adopted concerning electric wiring or apparatus.
(2012 Code, § 18-142)
(3) Right of entry. The Electrical Inspector shall have the right, during reasonable hours, to enter any building in the discharge of his or her official duties or for the purpose of making any test or inspection of the electrical wiring and apparatus contained in such building; and, for that purpose, he or she shall be given prompt access to all buildings, private or public, on application to the company or individual owning or in charge or control of the building.
(2012 Code, § 18-143)
(4) Questions not provided for. The Electrical Inspector shall decide all questions not provided for in this section pertaining to the installation, operation or maintenance of electric wiring and apparatus.
(2012 Code, § 18-144)
(5) Interference. No person shall interfere with the Electrical Inspector while in the performance of his or her duty and each interference shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense within the intent and meaning of this section.
(2012 Code, § 18-145)
(Ord. 060904, passed - -2006) Penalty, see § 150.99