(Amended by Ord. No. 187,719, Eff. 1/23/23.)
Chapter 1 of the California Electrical Code (CEC) is adopted by reference for the purpose of providing definitions and requirements for electrical installations except as those definitions are modified or new definitions added as provided herein.
ACCESS FLOOR. An assembly consisting of panels mounted on pedestals to provide an underfloor space for the installation of electrical, communications, or mechanical systems.
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. (Added by Ord. No. 181,561, Eff. 3/22/11.) The air temperature of locations in the City of Los Angeles as described in the Table below:
LOCATION | TEMPERATURE |
In normally heated building | 30°C (86°F) |
Poorly or unventilated rooms or spaces such as attics, transformer, machinery (refrigeration) or elevator rooms*, etc. | 45°C (113°F) |
Ventilated transformer rooms, machinery (refrigeration) rooms, elevator rooms* or spaces, etc | 37°C (99°F) |
In buildings with major heat sources such as power stations or industrial processes | 45°C (113°F) |
Furnace and boiler rooms | 60°C (140°F) within 2 ft. of a furnace or boiler 40°C (104°F) |
In thermal insulation | 45°C (113°F) |
Outdoors un-shaded areas | 39°C (102°F) |
Outdoors in shaded areas | 34°C (93°F) |
Outdoors lowest expected temperature | -7°C (20°F) |
Behind stand-off (i.e., parallel to the roof) or integral flat photovoltaic crystalline-silicon cell module, panel or array (up to 6 inches, add 4°C to the ambient temperature, where channels (rails) are installed under the modules as part of the mounting system) | Within 1 inch = 60°C (140°F) Over 1 to 3 inches = 56°C (133°F) Over 3 to 6 inches = 55°C (131°F) Over 6 inches = 39°C (102°F) |
Behind rack mounted (i.e., at an angle to the roof) flat photovoltaic crystalline-silicon cell module, panel or array | Within 1 inch = 54°C (129 °F) Over 1 inch = 39°C (102°F) |
Behind direct mounted flat photovoltaic crystalline-silicon cell module, panel or array | 63°C (145°F) |
* Lower ambient temperature in elevator room is permitted when it is required to be maintained at a specified maximum ambient temperature per equipment manufacturer as permitted in the Los Angeles Elevator Code.
APPROVED LABORATORY. A laboratory that is approved by the Department when it complies with the provisions of LAMC Section 98.0503. (Added by Ord. No. 184,692, Eff. 12/30/16.)
CEC. California Electrical Code
CORD WIRING. The use of cord as substitute for the wiring methods permitted by this Code.
DEPARTMENT. The Department of Building and Safety.
DESIGN LOAD. The maximum connected and expected future loads. This load shall not exceed the branch circuit, feeder or service respective overcurrent protective devices or conductor ratings. (Added by Ord. No. 182,851, Eff. 1/3/14.)
ELECTRIC WIRING. Any device or equipment constituting a part of, or connected to, any electrical installation attached or fastened to any building, structure or premise and which installation, or some portion thereof, is designed, intended or used to generate, transmit, transform, utilize or control electrical energy.
EXISTING. (As applied to electric wiring, buildings or portions of buildings) Having a final approval by the Department of Building and Safety.
FIRE ALARM AND SIGNALING SYSTEM. A system or portion of a system that consists of equipment and circuits arranged to monitor, supervise (or unsupervised), and annunciate the status of the system by indicating appliances (i.e., bell, horn, speaker, light, or text display, etc.) as a result of the activation of any signal initiation device (i.e., manual pull station, water flow switch, smoke detector, heat detector, etc.); provide emergency communications systems (when installed or required); and to control emergency control functions (i.e., fan control, smoke damper operation, elevator recall, elevator power shutdown, door holder release, shutter release, door unlocking, etc.) when required. These systems may incorporate an approved means (such as a dialer) to inform the status of the system to a remote location. (Added by Ord. No. 182,851, Eff. 1/3/14.)
GROUND RESISTANCE. The resistance of the ground soil, as determined by field measurement by a qualified engineer, and the associated grounding electrode system as determined by calculation. (Added by Ord. No. 174,828, Eff. 10/27/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)
HAZARDOUS WIRING. Any wiring which did not conform with all applicable laws in effect at the time of installation, or wiring which is not in good condition or is being used in an unsafe manner.
INSTALL. The act of attaching or fastening electric systems, temporarily or permanently, in any manner, including the attaching or connecting of portable equipment even though designed to be moved, removed or disconnected at will.
INSTALLATION. That which is installed, regardless of whether or not it is energized.
N.E.C. National Electrical Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 179,325, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.)
NFPA 72. The National Fire Alarm Code published by the National Fire Protection Association. (Added by Ord. No. 179,325, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.)
NON-RESIDENTIAL. Where used in this Code, the term “non-residential” shall apply to any building or premises other than hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartment houses, dwellings, or portions thereof, or buildings and structures accessory thereto.
PREMISES. Any parcel of land, regardless of the number of contiguous lots, occupied by or under the control of the same person or firm and including all buildings, structures or improvements thereon.
SALE OR SELLING. Any act of selling, offering for sale, advertising or displaying for sale, disposing of by way of lease or premium any equipment as defined therein.
SATISFACTORY. Acceptable to the Department.
SERVING AGENCY. A public or privately owned electric utility authorized by the City of Los Angeles to distribute electric energy to 100 or more separate premises.
SIGNALING EQUIPMENT. Any contrivance which produces an audible or visual signal, including doorbells, buzzers, code calling systems and signal lights. This equipment shall not include those audible or visual signals which are part of motor control circuits, data processing systems, fire-warning systems and nurse call systems.
SPECIAL PERMISSION. The express permission in writing from the Superintendent of Building, obtained prior to the commencement of any work for which special permission is required.
STATION. (Industrial or Commercial.) A building, room or outside enclosure on a customer’s premises designed, intended or used to house or enclose the electric distribution and control equipment of the serving agency.
USED MATERIAL. Previously used equipment as defined in Article 100 of the California Electrical Code. (Added by Ord. No. 174,828, Eff. 10/27/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)
VAULT. A chamber (over 80 cubic feet in volume) in an underground conduit distribution system containing sufficient working space and an entrance for personnel. (Added by Ord. No. 174,828, Eff. 10/27/02, Oper. 11/1/02.)
VOLTAGE, NOMINAL. A nominal value assigned to a circuit or system for the purpose of conveniently designating its voltage class (e.g., 120/240, 480Y/277, 600). The actual voltage at which a circuit operates can vary from the nominal within a range that permits satisfactory operation of equipment. (Amended by Ord. No. 179,325, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.)