(A) Additional rules. Chapter 1 through 8 are subject to these additional rules and amendments or modifications as set forth herein below.
(1) Commercial or other nonresidential service equipment shall be a minimum of 100 amperes with no less than 20 circuits using bolt-on circuit breakers.
(2) In remodeling, renovating and/or new construction, main disconnects shall be located in each panel. All sources of power must be able to be turned off at the panel location.
(3) Derating of service conductors is not permitted.
(4) All sub panels shall clearly be marked “Sub Panel.”
(5) Floor mounted switchgear, panel boards, control centers and electrical equipment designed for floor mounting, shall be installed on a four-inch concrete housekeeping pad.
(6) The maximum distance from the point of entrance of the service conductors to a readily accessible location for the installation of the interior disconnecting means shall be six feet.
(7) Minimum wire size requirements for circuit wiring in commercial buildings shall be AWG #12. Devices and receptacles shall be 20 amp rated.
(8) Conductors shall not be installed in any raceway, until wall finishes are applied or mechanical work has been completed, without the consent of the Chief Electrical Inspector or his or her authorized designee.
(9) Minimum size boxes for general lighting outlets shall be one and one-half inches deep and three and three-fourths inches in diameter. Minimum size boxes for switch and receptacles shall be one and one-half inches deep and four inches square.
(10) Back-to-back box installations shall not be permitted in any case.
(11) Circuit breakers commonly referred to as twin, piggy-back or cheaters are not permitted; only full size circuit breakers shall be used.
(12) Stairways, hallways, passageways, corridors, garages, rooms or other areas with more than one entry shall have a lighting outlet switched from all exits and entries.
(13) Circuits designated exit signs and/or emergency lights shall have a lockout device installed on their respective circuit breakers. Circuits designated, “night lighting” shall have a lockout device installed on their respective circuit breakers.
(14) For final inspection purposes, all light fixtures shall have at least one bulb or lamp in each fixture.
(B) Remodeling. Existing commercial and nonresidential buildings or structures that are scheduled for remodeling, and/or additions, or have been vacated and made available to new tenants shall, prior to occupancy under approved permit, be required to remove existing electrical equipment and materials that will not be used or are determined not to conform to the currently adopted code requirements of the city. In some instances, the space may be required to be completely stripped of existing materials. All corrections shall be completed before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
(C) Remodeling, additions and/or revisions. Existing wiring, materials and equipment shall be in good condition, without actual or potential hazards or unsafe conditions. Hazardous or unsafe conditions would include, but are not limited to, open boxes, unstable raceways, frayed wiring, dried out/flaking insulation on electrical conductors, improper connections, burned or defective contacts, overloaded circuits, insufficient number of circuit breakers/fuses, defective main breaker/bus bars, insufficient electrical drops for the actual electrical energy demand of the premises, nonlabeled fixtures and devices and other similar unsafe conditions, and shall be replaced, removed or repaired as provided for by the provisions of this code. Useable electrical systems and devices in good condition, which will provide safe electrical service may remain in place.
(D) Temporary wiring.
(1) General construction. No portion of the permanent conduit system nor the permanent wiring installed therein shall be used for the purpose of temporary lighting or power, except as may be approved, by the Chief Electrical Inspector or his or her authorized designee.
(2) General nonconstruction. TEMPORARY shall be defined as a use not to exceed 30 calendar days. The provisions of this section shall apply to all temporary use of electrical current for the purpose of illuminating, animating, activating or displaying in connection with temporary exposition exhibits, shows, convention, meetings or assemblies. The use of this type of wiring is limited to locations which are classified by the Director of Community Development as suitable for the intended occupancy and use and which are equipped, if required, with proper emergency lighting systems.
(3) Temporary wiring voltage. Temporary wiring voltage to ground shall not exceed 150 volts.
(E) Low voltage wiring.
(1) Residential low voltage wiring for control, signaling or communication systems which are enclosed in building partitions, walls, ceilings, and other areas, made inaccessible by building construction, shall be encased in a raceway wherever they are so enclosed. Such raceway will protect the conductors during construction and provide ready means for replacement of conductors after the building is completed. These raceways need not terminate in a box or fitting as long as normal precautions are taken to protect the conductors against injury. Raceways shall be terminated with a bushing of the proper size if a box or fitting is not used.
(2) Commercial, nonresidential. Low voltage wiring for control, signaling or communication systems shall be encased in a raceway throughout. These raceways need not terminate in a box or fitting as long as normal precautions are taken to protect the conductors against injury. Raceways shall be terminated with a bushing of the proper size if a box or fitting is not used.
(F) Identification.
(1) Equipment. All equipment, such as panels, cabinets, switchgear and the like shall be permanently labeled in an approved manner so as to identify the type of equipment, size, voltage characteristics and source of supply.
(2) Control devices. Label all devices controlling equipment such as TT switches, disconnects, starters, controls and the like clearly, so as to identify what they control.
(3) Wire and cable. All wire and cable shall be properly color coded and shall be labeled with tags, tape or markers at each end, indicating the circuit number and source of supply.
(4) Conduit systems and pull or junction boxes. Except normal branch power and lighting systems under 300 volts, shall be identified in an approved manner to indicate what system it may be, i.e., emergency, exit and the like.
(5) Special outlets. Special outlets and/or receptacles shall be clearly labeled to identify their specific use.
(6) Overcurrent devices. All overcurrent devices, i.e., circuit breakers in panels and the like shall clearly indicate what they feed. A typewritten I.D. schedule card mounted inside of the front cover, enclosed in a clear plastic envelope or cover may be used to accomplish this procedure. The contractor shall also provide his or her name, address and phone number in the same manner.
(G) Swimming pools, fountains, spas, hot tubs and similar facilities. After an electrical permit has been applied for, as described in this code, and the electrical equipment has been installed for the swimming pool, fountain, spa, hot tub or similar facility, it shall not be used for its intended purpose until an inspection has been completed by the Chief Electrical Inspector or his or her authorized designee and the equipment has been approved for the designed use.
(H) Smoke detectors. The Electrical Commission of the city hereby adopts, and makes Pub. Act No. 85-143 of the state, a part of the Electrical Code of the city. In addition to that which is described in Pub. Act No. 85-143, the following shall become a requirement and made part of this section.
(1) A dedicated circuit shall be provided for smoke detectors which are to be permanently wired into the dwelling units AC power.
(2) A “lock out” shall be installed on the system’s circuit protection devise, i.e., switch, circuit breaker and the like to maintain power to the equipment.
(3) A separate raceway shall be provided for the system’s circuit and detector’s control wiring, thereby eliminating the interference of circuit conductors and raceways which may be installed for other equipment or outlets.
(4) Smoke detectors shall be approved by an accepted testing laboratory, i.e., Underwriters Laboratories Inc., (U.L.), ETL Testing Laboratories, Inc. (E.T.L.).
(5) Attics and/or closets which contain mechanical equipment, i.e., heating, ventilating, cooling, shall contain an approved smoke detector. The location shall be determined by the Chief Electrical Inspector or his or her authorized designee.
(6) An automatic fan shut-down device shall be installed for all ceiling house fans, attic fans or other air handling equipment. This shall interconnect with the smoke detector system and de-energize the power to the fan thereby discontinuing the induced air flow from one area to another.
(Prior Code, § 9-153) (Ord. 94-11B, passed 4-21-1994; Ord. 04-12, passed 1-15-2004)