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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2325ORDINANCE NO. ; 3.:q AN ORDINANCE of the City of Port Angeles regulating the installation, alteration, extension, and repair of electrical wiring, materials, appliances, apparatus, devices, and equipment, providing for inspection of same, repealing Ordinance 1004, and amending Chapter 14.12 of the Port Angeles Municipal Code. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ANGELES as follows: Section 1. Chapter 14.12 of the Port Angeles Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: CHAPTER 14.12 ELECTRICAL CODE Sections: 14.12.010 Purpose and Scope 14.12.020 Adoption of Electrical Code 14.12.030 Compliance 14.12.040 Definitions 14.12.050 Office of Electrical Inspector 14.12.060 Electrical Permit Required 14.12.070 Application for Electrical Permit 14.12.080 Inspections, Connections and Disconnections 14.12.090 Prohibitions 14.12.100 Regulatory Provisions 14.12.110 Wiring and Circuit Specifications - New Work 14.12.120 Installers' License and Other Requirements 14.12.130 Appeals 14.12.140 Liability for Injury or Damage 14.12.150 Violations 14.12.010 Purpose and Scope. This Chapter is enacted as an exercise of the Police Power of the City of Port Angeles for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the general public. This Chapter is intended to regulate the instal- lation, alteration, extension, and repair of electrical wiring, materials, appliances, apparatus, devices, and equipment in the City. This Chapter does not apply to electrical equipment or central stations or substations or control of electrical energy for light, power, telephone or telegraph, or to electrical con- struction governed by Chapter 19.29 RCW and Chapter 296 -44 WAC, as now or hereafter amended. 14.12.020 Adoption of Electrical Code. The National Electrical Code, 1984 Edition, one copy of which is on file in the office of the City Clerk and available for examination by the public, is hereby adopted as the City Electrical Code, except as modified herein. The State of Washington Electrical Law, as codified in Chapter 19.28 RCW and Chapters 296 -46 and 296 -401 WAC, as now or hereafter amended, is likewise incorporated as part of this Chapter, except as modified herein. 14.12.030 Compliance. A. It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, cor- poration, or other entity to install, alter, extend, or repair any electrical wiring, materials, appliances, apparatus, devices, or equipment not in accordance with this Chapter. B. No electrical wiring, materials, appliances, apparatus, devices, or equipment shall be installed, altered, extended, or repaired in the City unless they are in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter and unless they are in conformity with approved methods of construction for safety to life and property. Electrical wiring, materials, appliances, apparatus, devices, and equipment shall be indicated as acceptable by the established standards of the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., Mutual of Omaha, Canadian Standards Association, Fluorescent Fixtures and Manufacturer of Buffalo, New York, or other equivalently nationally recognized authorities. 14.12.040 Definitions. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this Section apply throughout this Chapter and the National Electrical Code. A. "Administrative Authority" means the Director of the Light Department of the City of Port Angeles or his designee. • • B. "Authorized Representative" means all public service inspectors qualified under State of Washington standards as electrical inspectors in accordance with RCW 19.28.070 or so qualified and appointed by the Administrative Authority. C. "Electrical Work" means the installation, alteration, extension, and /or repair of electrical wiring, materials, appliances, apparatus, devices, and /or equipment. D. "Inspector" or "Electrical Inspector" or "Office of the Electrical Inspector" is synonymous with authorized representa- tive. 14.12.050 Office of The Electrical Inspector. There is hereby created the Office of the Electrical Inspector. A. The Office of the Electrical Inspector shall function under the authority and at the direction of the Director of the Light Department or his designee. B. All inspectors in the Office of the Electrical Inspec- tor shall meet or exceed the qualifications and requirements as set forth in RCW 19.28.070. C. The Office of the Electrical Inspector shall keep complete records of all permits issued and inspections made and other official work performed under the provisions of this Chapter. D. It shall be unlawful for any inspector in the Office of the Electrical Inspector to engage in the business of electrical work, either directly or indirectly, and to have any financial interest in any business engaged in electrical work in the City while engaged as an inspector in the Office of the Electrical Inspector; provided that this Section shall not prohibit an inspector from engaging in the installation, alteration, exten- sion, or repair of electrical wiring, materials, appliances, apparatus, devices, or equipment, belonging to the City, where such electrical work is inspected by another inspector. -3- E. Inspectors may answer any relevant question concerning the meaning, intent or application of this Chapter; however, they shall not lay out work or act as a consultant to contractors, electricians or owners. 14.12.060 Electrical Permit Required. A. No installation, alteration, extension, or repair of electrical wiring, materials, appliances, apparatus, devices, or equipment shall be accomplished for the use of electricity in any building or other premises in the City without first notifying the Office of the Electrical Inspector and securing a permit therefor; except minor repair work, such as repairing flush and snap switches, replacing fuses, changing lamp sockets and recep- tacles, taping bare joints and repairing drop cords, and wiring of equipment in electrical houses and substations of power companies or in any building or facility when it has previously been agreed that the electrical inspection shall be performed by Federal or State electrical inspectors, shall not require a permit pursuant to this Chapter. B. The electrical permit obtained pursuant to this Chapter shall be posted on the job site at the service switch or other conspicuous place and shall remain so posted during the entire course of the electrical work. C. The permit shall become void if the electrical work is not commenced within 180 days or if the electrical work is sus- pended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after being com- menced. 14.12.070 Application for Electrical Permit. To obtain an electrical permit pursuant to this Chapter, an application shall be filed with the Office of the Electrical Inspector by the licensed electrical contractor or homeowner engaging in the activity requiring a permit. A. The application shall contain the following: 1. The nature of the wiring, apparatus, fixture or fixtures for the use of electricity to be placed, installed, added to or changed. 2. The extent of the electrical work to be accom- plished. 3. The name, addresss, and phone number of the owner of the premises. 4. Street address of the premises. 5. Applicant's name, address, phone number, and contractor's license number, unless exempted by RCW 19.28.200. B. When requested to do so by the Office of the Electrical Inspector, the applicant for an electrical permit shall file a complete set of drawings and specifications with the application. C. Plans for new or altered installations in educational and health care occupancies shall be reviewed and accepted by the Electrical Division of the Department of Labor & Industries as required by WAC 296 -46 -130 and -140. The applicant shall include said approval with the application for an electrical permit from the City. D. Upon approval of the application and payment of the fee as set forth in the fee schedule adopted by the City Council, the permit shall be issued to the applicant. 14.12.080 Inspections, Connections and Disconnections. A. No electrical work for which a permit is required or issued pursuant to this Chapter shall be put to use or connected to service wires or any source of electrical energy until in- spected and accepted by the Office of the Electrical Inspector. B. Upon completion of the electrical work or wiring for which a permit is required by this Chapter, it shall be the duty of the applicant to notify the Office of the Electrical Inspec- tor, which shall inspect the electrical work. If the electrical work is found to be fully in compliance with this Chapter, a written approval authorizing connection to the electrical service and the turning on of the current shall be issued to such person for delivery to the owner. C. Electric utilities may not connect to the electrical work until a written approval is clearly affixed to each instal- lation or by equivalent means, except that increased or relocated services may be reconnected immediately at the discretion of the utility before approval if an electric work permit is displayed. Temporary permission for introduction of current may be granted by an inspector when, in his opinion, the installation is in such condition that current may be safetly used, and there exists an urgent necessity for the use. D. The Office of the Electrical Inspector, through its inspectors, shall have the right, during reasonable hours, to enter into and upon any building or premises in the discharge of official duties for the purpose of making any inspection or test of electrical work for which a permit is required pursuant to this Chapter and shall have the authority to cause the turning off of all electric currents and cut or disconnect, in cases of emergency, any wire where such electrical currents are dangerous to life or property or may interfere with the work of the Fire Department. The occupant of a dwelling unit has the right to request that the inspection be delayed until a time mutually agreed upon by the occupant and the inspector. Should the occu- pant refuse to allow inspection within a reasonable time as de- termined by the inspector, the inspector may obtain an adminis- trative inspection warrant from a court of competent jurisdic- tion. E. All mechanical work, including sheet metal, duct work, vacuum system and related work, and the roof, doors, and windows must be in place before the electrical wiring is to be inspected and no such wiring shall be considered complete until such mechanical work and roof, doors, and windows are in place. F. If any inspection made under this Chapter requires any correction or change in the work inspected, a written report of the inspection shall be made by the inspector, in which report the corrections or changes required shall be plainly stated. A copy of the report shall be furnished to the person, firm, part- nership, corporation, or other entity doing the installation work, and a copy shall be filed with the Office of the Electrical Inspector. G. The Office of the Electrical Inspector, through its inspectors, may make periodically a thorough re- inspection of existing or future electrical work for which a permit is required pursuant to this Chapter, and when such electrical work is found to be in a defective, dangerous or unsafe condition, the person owning, using or operating the same shall be notified and shall make the necessary repairs or changes required to place such electrical work in a safe condition. H. No written approval shall be issued unless the elec- trical work is in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter. Whenever the electrical work is not in accordance with this Chapter, and is not in such a condition as to be dangerous to life or property, the person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity owning, using, or operating it shall be notified by the Office of the Electrical Inspector and shall, within 15 days, or such further reasonable time as may upon request be granted, make such repairs and changes as are required to remove the danger to life or property and to make it conform to this Chap- ter. If such repairs are not made within such time, the Office of the Electrical Inspector, through its inspectors, is empowered to disconnect or order the disconnection of electrical service to such electrical work. I. The Office of the Electrical Inspector, through its inspectors, is hereby empowered to disconnect or order the discontinuance of electrical service to electrical work that is found to be in a dangerous or unsafe condition and not in accord- ance with this Chapter. Upon making a disconnection, the inspec- tor shall attach a notice stating that the electrical work has been found dangerous to life or property and is not in accordance with this Chapter. It is unlawful for any person to reconnect such defective electrical work without the approval of the Office of the Electrical Inspector and until the electrical work has been placed in a safe and secure condition and in a condition that complies with this Chapter. 14.12.090 Prohibitions. A. It is unlawful for any person: 1. To introduce current into electrical work which has been disconnected until permission to do so has been granted by the inspector; 2. To attach wires for the supply of current to a disconnected electrical work; or 3. To remove, break or deface a seal placed on dis- connected electrical work by the Administrative Authority. B. It is unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale any electrical wiring, materials, appliances, apparatus, devices, or equipment which does not meet the standards of, and carry the approval of, the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., Mutual of Omaha, Canadian Standards Association, Fluorescent Fixtures and Manufacturer of Buffalo, New York, or other equivalently national recognized authorities. 14.12.100 Regulatory Provisions. A. In all public buildings and in all buildings within Fire Zone 1 of the City, the wiring method employed shall be only rigid metal conduit or electrical metal tubing; provided that this shall not prohibit the use of surface metal raceways or armored cable for extensions in office, show windows and similar localities, except as required in Article 517 or 520 of the National Electrical Code. For the purpose of this Sub - section, public buildings shall be deemed to be any building or portion of building used for theater, lecture, lodge, union, school, church, hospital, hotel, public dance, store, office, or any building a portion of which is used for any public gathering, or places and portions of buildings where the public is invited to gather and congregate or which are open to the public, such as business establishments. B. The connections for electric meters shall be so located that meters will be readily accessible at all times. Meters shall not be permitted inside buildings or within carports or porches without special approval of the Office of the Electrical Inspector. C. For all motors, other than portable motors, located in industrial or manufacturing establishments, such as mills, ware- houses, foundries, mercantile and similar establishments, such as grocery stores and butcher shops, factories and machine shops, the wiring method employed shall be only rigid conduit. Elec- trical metal tubing or flexible metal conduit may be used, pro- vided that it is not exposed to mechanical injury, or as per- mitted in Section 400.4 of the National Electrical Code. D. All kitchens, bathrooms, toilet rooms, laundry rooms and similar locations containing plumbing fixtures, shall have a separate wall switch for lighting fixtures. No pull chains shall be permitted. 14.12.110 Wiring and Circuit Specifications - New Work. The following specifications shall apply for all new wir- ing and circuit installations governed by this Chapter: A. All new service panels shall have at least four full sized spaces for future circuits, after wiring is complete. B. Except for large load center installations, all service equipment, including switches, gutters and subfeed switches, shall be mounted no more than 6 feet to center of breakers or fuses, nor less than 3 feet from the floor or permanent working platform. C. Underground water pipes shall not be laid in the same trench with an electrical service wire unless: 1. A minimum horizontal separation of 3 feet is maintained at all points along the line; or 2. All electrical wires are enclosed within a rigid metal conduit, or Schedule 80 rigid non - metallic conduit. D. Where water service pipes cross electrical service wires, a minimum vertical separation of 1 foot shall be main- tained. E. Underground service conductors used in a direct burial installation shall be of 200 amp minimum capacity. F. Service ampacity in multi- family residences shall have a minimum rating of 100 amps per apartment. G. The smallest wire sizes permitted are: 1. In commercial installations, No. 12 American Wire Gauge copper; except for control wiring and voltages of 24 or less. 2. In residential installations, No. 14 American Wire Gauge copper. 3. In all installations, no aluminum wire smaller than No. 8 American Wire Gauge may be used. H. Where more than one electric meter is used on a build- ing, all meters must be identified by plainly showing the apart- ment number or occupancy on each meter base. I. The equipment grounding conductor and bond conductor shall be copper only. Aluminum shall be prohibited. J. Residential occupancies, ground fault circuit inter- rupters. In addition to complying with Article 210 -8, National Electrical Code, there shall be a separate circuit to each bathroom. K. Workmanship. All electrical wiring and equipment shall be installed in a neat, workmanlike manner. Where applicable, non - metallic sheath cables shall follow the lines of the building and be fastened to building structures. Unnecessary, or unneces- sarily complicated wiring shall be avoided. See National Elec- trical Code, Article 110. 14.12.120 - Installers' License and Other Requirements. A. Any person engaging in electrical work in the City shall have a valid and current license to do so issued by the State, provided that no license or certification shall be re- quired for: 1. Persons doing electrical work on their own resi- dences; or 2. To regularly employed competent electrical main- tenance employees doing electrical work on the property of their employer; or 3. Electrical work specifically exempted under Chap- ter 19.28 RCW. B. Before a licensed electrical contractor receives an electrical permit, the bond required by RCW 19.28.120 shall be conditioned that the principal will comply with the provisions of this Chapter. 14.12.130 Appeals. When the Office of the Electrical Inspector condemns all or part of any electrical work, the owner may, within five working days after receiving written notice from the Office of the Electrical Inspector, file a petition in • • writing for review of such action. The review shall be by the Administrative Authority. Upon receipt of the petition, the Administrative Authority shall at once proceed to determine whether such electrical work complies with this Chapter and within ten working days after the filing of the petition shall make a decision in accordance with its findings. 14.12.140 Liability for Injury or Damage. Nothing contained in this Chapter will be construed to relieve from or lessen the responsibility or liability of any person for injury or damage to person or property caused by or resulting from any defect of any nature in any electrical work performed by said person or in any electrical equipment owned, controlled, in- stalled, or used by him; nor shall the City of Port Angeles, or any officer, agent, or employee thereof incur or be held as assuming any liability by reason or in consequence of any per- mission, certificate of inspection, inspection or approval authorized herein, or issued or given as herein provided, or by reason of consequence of any things done or acts performed pursuant to any provision of this Chapter. 14.12.150 Violations. Violations of this Chapter shall be punished as a Class II misdemeanor under PAMC 9.16.900. Each day that any violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense. Section 2 Repealer. Ordinance 1004 is hereby repealed. Section 3 Severability. If any provision of this Chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the Chapter or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected. Section 4 Adoption by Reference. Pursuant to RCW 35.21.180, one copy of the Code adopted by reference herein shall -12- be filed for use and examination by the public in the office of the City Clerk prior to the effective date of this Ordinance. Section 5 Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect as provided by law. PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Angeles at a regular meeting of said Council held on the jaiLday of (� 0fvn�PIN- 1984. ATTEST: Merr1 A. Lannoye, Cityrk APP ED AS TO /F . nuts , ity Attorney PUBLISHED: 1 0 .Ina-ex �81 % $y- -13-- MA Yu- R