(A) National Electrical Code 2017 Edition. The National Electrical Code 2017 edition has been adopted by Will County and apply to all electrical installations as though fully written and set forth herein, except as specifically noted otherwise in this code.
(B) License. All electrical contractors engaged in the performance of electrical work shall be licensed per the Illinois Municipal Code 11-33-1. The contractor shall file with the Will County Building Department a copy of the valid license and said license shall reflect the scope of the work.
(C) Permits. Permits are required for all electrical work. Permits for electrical work shall be issued only when a duly licensed and bonded electrical contractor is listed on the permit application.
Exception #1: Work that does not alter the wiring of the building (replacement of light fixtures, exhaust fans, smoke detectors, outlets or similar)
Exception #2: Qualified homeowners who can demonstrate their ability to perform such work, to the satisfaction of the Building Department, may work on their own place of residence as long as they reside on site for a period of at least six months after issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
(D) Electrical amendments.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to alter, disturb or change any electrical wiring or equipment or to permit any electrical wiring or equipment to be altered, disturbed, or changed unless done in conformity with the requirements of county adopted codes and ordinances.
(2) Where rework or rewiring of any building or structure exceeds 50%, all wiring in the entire structure shall be installed per the currently adopted electrical code and Will County Building O rdinances.
(3) All electrical wiring on the load side of the meter shall be copper.
Exception: Aluminum wiring may be allowed outside underground.
(4) Electrical metallic tubing (EMT, conduit and sometimes called thin wall) shall be required throughout all structures, however, it shall not be installed underground or in concrete.
Exception 1: Wiring to equipment where vibration is present,
Exception 2: Existing wiring may remain in place when certified by a licensed electrical contractor as long as it is safely installed and proposed work does not exceed the 50% threshold that triggers rewiring the entire structure.
Exception 3: Flexible metallic conduit (FMC) shall be allowed in whips not greater than 6' to connect can lights and areas difficult to install EMT
(5) All electrical services shall be installed in rigid metal conduit, or intermediate metal conduit.
Exception 1: The underground portion of services may include Schedule 40 PVC with a properly sized ground per table 250-122 NEC
Exception 2: Direct burial service conductors with rigid or intermediate conduit sweeps Schedule or Schedule 40 PVC sweep shall be permitted (from the elbow below grade to the termination point above grade). Schedule 40 PVC shall be protected above grade inside of structures by a rigid material (plywood or similar).
(6) No more than ten feet of service entrance conductor shall be permitted inside a building or structure without providing an exterior disconnect.
(7) The electrical outlet for an above ground swimming pool shall be at least 5' from the inside walls of the pool.
(8) A grounding electrode conductor complying with NEC 250.52(A)(3) shall be installed in footings. A supplemental ground rod, pipe, or plate type shall be installed per NEC 250.56. All grounding electrodes present at each building or structure served shall be bonded together to form the grounding electrode system. Where technically infeasible to install the grounding electrode in footings 2 ground rods 6" apart shall be installed.
(9) If required by the authority having jurisdiction a diagram showing service and feeders wire sizes, type of conductors, calculated loads, the area in square feet being supplied, and demand factors shall be submitted. Required panel schedules shall show connected loads, total connected loads per phase.
(10) The receptacle outlet for refrigeration equipment shall be supplied from an individual branch circuit rated 15 amperes or greater.
Exception: Refrigeration equipment located in an area other than a kitchen unless required by other parts of any adopted codes or ordinances and electrical can meet the load.
(11) Sizing of electrical services for dwellings: (All measurements shall be taken from the outside of the walls of the dwelling unit.)
(a) Dwelling units 2,500 square feet to 3,500 square feet shall have a minimum size electrical service of 200 amperes or greater.
(b) Dwelling units over 3,500 square feet shall have electrical services rated at least 350 amperes or greater.
Exception: Load calculations may be presented to the Will County Building Department for review. The authority having jurisdiction determines the proper size electrical service based on the load calculation submitted. At no time shall the total calculated load exceed 80% of the service size.
(12) Unfinished storage spaces five square feet or more shall be illuminated. Finished storage spaces (closets) with a depth greater than 3' and a total square footage exceeding ten square feet shall be illuminated and follow the 2017 National Electric Code (NEC) for such installation.
(13) All rough-in electrical installations shall be completed before the rough inspection is scheduled (including attic and crawl spaces). Pull chain or wall switched attic light fixtures at or near attic access point are required.
(14) All light fixtures shall have at least one lamp installed and all receptacles intended to be used for switched lighting shall be marked for the final inspection.
(15) Attached garages, detached garages and pole barns with power are required to be on a separate 20 ampere circuit. The 20 ampere circuit is a minimum requirement, more circuits may be added or required as needed.
(16) All ½ horsepower or larger motors and all appliances rated at 1127VA or greater shall be on its own dedicated circuit.
(17) Every panel box must have each circuit labeled.
(18) All electrical panels must be located a minimum of three feet from sump pump pits, ejector pits, laundry (mop) sinks, and laundry tubs.
Exception: Existing installations
(19) All three phase 120/240 volt services shall have phases marked (A) Black (B) Red and (C) Blue.
(20) All three phase 277/480 volt services shall have phases marked (A) Brown (B) Orange (C) Yellow with the neutral being of a gray color. Junction boxes shall be marked 277/480 volts with a permanent marker or approved sticker type products.
(21) In commercial and industrial installationsall switches for fire alarms, security alarms, exit signs, and emergency lighting shall be equipped with mechanical lockouts to prevent an accidental turnoff of the circuits. Emergency lighting shall be connected to a light circuit or equipped with a transfer switch in the event of a power failure.
(22) In addition to the low proximity exit signs required by 1013.2 of the 2018 International Building Code, low level exit signs shall be required in all occupancies of the International Building Code where the ceiling height is less than 9'.
Exception: Existing structures need only comply in areas where work is proposed.
(23) Above ground swimming pools, on ground swimming pools, in-ground swimming pools, hot tubs, or recreational equipment capable of holding water shall not be permitted under any overhead wiring.
(24) All commercial/industrial parking facilities shall require intermediate metallic conduit (IMC), rigid metallic conduit (RMC) or Schedule 80 PVC under the paved areas for all power and lighting installations.
(25) Continuity of the grounding path or bonding connection to interior piping shall not rely on water meters, water softeners, water heaters, water filtering devices or other similar equipment.
(26) Lighting switches shall be installed at each entrance to a room or hall where there is more than eight feet between such entrances.
(27) Provide a single, dedicated plug for sump pump and ejector pump (without GFI protection) with a GFI protected outlet within 10' or provide code required GFI protection for the sump pump and/or ejector pump outlet.
(28) Compression fittings shall be used for electrical installations in masonry walls or similar damp areas.
(29) Electrical outlets shall not be placed behind sliding surface mounted doors.
(30) Any electrical junction box in an attic shall be installed at least 24" above the drywall to keep it above the insulation line.
Exception: Existing installations.
(31) Electrical outlets shall be of the self-grounding type or a green wire (pig tail) shall be run from the green screw on the outlet to the metallic electrical box.
(32) Floor outlets that face up shall be GFI protected.
(33) Where solar panels on a roof provide areas for animals to make nests. Critter guards shall be installed.
(34) Whirlpool motor access panels shall be a minimum of 18" x 14" or 22" x 12".
(35) Any room meant to be a living space in single family residences, duplex's and townhouses (study, office, hobby room and similar spaces) that have privacy doors shall require a smoke detector in the room and outside of the room within 20'.
Exception #1: Three and four season rooms.
Exception #2: Single Family Residences, duplex's and townhouses with a fire suppression system.
(Ord. 14-103, passed 5-15-2014; Am. Ord. 21-102, passed 8-19-2021) Penalty, see § 150.999