Chapter 15.36
ELECTRICAL CODE
Sections:
15.36.040 Local amendments to the National Electrical Code, 2020 Edition.
15.36.010 Adoption.
The code known as the National Electrical Code, 2020 Edition, of the National Fire Protection Association, and every part thereof, together with the local amendments as set forth in NPMC 15.36.040, shall constitute the laws of the City relating to electrical installations. An electronic copy of the National Electrical Code is retained at the City offices. (Ord. 22-02 § 2, 2022; Ord. 17-12 § 2(D), 2017; Ord. 12-10 § 2, 2012)
15.36.020 Modifications.
The Building Official shall have the power to modify any of the provisions of the National Electrical Code adopted by this chapter upon application in writing by the owner or lessee or his duly authorized agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code; provided, that the spirit of the code is observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice done. The particulars of the modification, when granted or allowed, and the decision of the Building Official thereon shall be entered upon the records of the Department, and a signed copy shall be furnished the applicant. (Ord. 22-02 § 2, 2022; Ord. 17-12 § 2(D), 2017; Ord. 12-10 § 2, 2012)
15.36.030 Appeals.
Whenever the Building Official disapproves an application or refuses to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the code have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal from the decisions of the Building Official to the Mayor/City Manager within thirty days from the date of the decision. The appointment of the appeals board will be on a case-by-case basis with the members of said board comprised of local design professionals, contractors, inspectors or other members of the public deemed knowledgeable of the subject matter by the Mayor/City Manager. (Ord. 22-02 § 2, 2022; Ord. 17-12 § 2(D), 2017; Ord. 12-10 § 2, 2012)
15.36.040 Local amendments to the National Electrical Code, 2020 Edition.
The amendments to the National Electrical Code, 2020 Edition, as published by the National Electrical Code Committee, are hereby adopted by the City of North Pole as follows:
Article 210.8, Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel. Add subsection (G) to read as follows:
(G) Day Care Facilities.
In all day care facilities as defined by the current building codes adopted by the City of North Pole, all 125 (one hundred twenty-five)-volt, single phase, 15 (fifteen) and 20 (twenty) ampere receptacles installed where accessible to children shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection.
Article 210.52, Dwelling Unit Receptacle Outlets. Add subsection (J) to read as follows:
(J) Parking spaces.
For each dwelling unit and mobile home, there shall be at least one exterior weatherproof duplex receptacle on a separate 20 (twenty) ampere circuit adjacent to on-site parking locations.
Article 220.52. Change title to read as the following:
Article 220.52 Small-Appliance, Laundry, and Car Head bolt Heater Loads – Dwelling Unit.
Add subsections (C) and (D) to read as follows:
(C) Car Head bolt Heater Loads.
A feeder load of not less than 1500 (one thousand five hundred) volt-amperes shall be included for each individual 20 (twenty) ampere branch circuit required by Article 210.52(e). This requirement also applies to Article 220.30, 220.31, 220.32, 220.33.
(D) Commercial Parking Areas.
The minimum calculated load for each car head bolt heater receptacle is 1200 (one thousand two hundred) volt-amperes. If the service, feeder, and branch circuit overcurrent protective devices are located outside then 1200 (one thousand two hundred) volt-amperes for the first 30 (thirty) spaces, 1000 (one thousand) volt-amperes for the next 30 thirty) spaces, and 800 (eight hundred) volt-amperes for each space over 60 (sixty) will be allowed.
Article 230.9(A), Clearances. Amend as follows:
Service conductors installed as open conductors or multi-conductor cable without an overall outer jacket shall have a clearance of not less than 900 (nine hundred) mm (three feet) from windows that are designed to be opened, doors, porches, balconies, ladders, stairs, fire escapes, building attic gable vents, or similar locations.
Article 230.11, Service Detail Requirements. Add a new section as follows:
Service installations shall comply with the details of Exhibit #1 Residential Service.
Article 230.12, Temporary Power Service. Add a new section as follows:
Temporary Services shall comply with the details of Exhibit #2 Temporary Service.
Article 230.24(B), Vertical Clearance for Overhead Service Conductors. Amend as follows:
(1) 3.81 m (twelve and one half-foot) at the electrical service entrance to buildings, also at the lowest point of the drip loop of the building electrical entrance, and above areas or sidewalks accessible only to pedestrians, measured from final grade or other accessible surface only for overhead service conductors supported on and cabled together with a grounded bare messenger where the voltage does not exceed 150 (one hundred fifty) volts to ground
(2) 3.81 m (twelve and one half-foot) over residential property and driveways, and those commercial areas not subject to truck traffic where the voltage does not exceed 300 (three hundred) volts to ground.
Article 230.26, Point of Attachment. Amend as follows:
In no case shall this point of attachment be less than 4.27 m (fourteen feet) above finished grade.
Article 230.28, Service Masts as Supports. Add subsections (C), (D), (E), and (F) to read as follows:
(C) General.
When the overhead service is installed on the eave side of a structure with a pitched roof, the service mast conduit shall extend through the roof.
(D) Conduit Size.
The conduit size shall be a minimum of two inches rigid metal or intermediate metal conduit and must extend at least three feet above the roof surface. If couplings are used in the installation, they must be located below the roof overhang.
(E) Guyed Support.
The service mast conduit when installed through the roof shall be guyed to the roof with a minimum 5/8 inches galvanized closed eyebolt using a minimum of 1/8 (one eighth) inches stranded stainless steel wire aircraft cable with four approved clamps. If the service mast conduit extends above the roof over four feet in length, then a double V-guy installation is required.
(F) Protection of Meter.
When the eave overhang is less than eighteen inches, additional protection shall be required to protect the meter from snow and ice damage by a minimum of an 18 gauge galvanized metal hood or equivalent extending over the meter.
Article 230.41, Insulation of Service-Entrance Conductors. Add the following:
Individual ungrounded service entrance conductors shall be XHHW, RHW, or R-Type insulation approved for exterior use. No other insulation is acceptable.
Article 230.54(F), Drip Loops. Add the following:
For 100 (one hundred) ampere service, leave 18 (eighteen) inches of conductors, for 200 (two hundred) ampere and larger, leave 24 (twenty four) inches of conductors extending out of the weather head.
Article 230.70(A)(1), Location. Add the following:
If installed inside, a means to disconnect all conductors in the building from the service entrance conductors shall be provided on the building exterior
Article 230.70(A)(3), Remote Control. Add the following subsections:
(a) The remote-control device shall be a key switch approved by the Fire Department.
(b) The key switch shall shut down the electrical power for the entire building.
(c) If a facility is equipped with a generator, a key switch shall be installed to shut down the generator in the event of an emergency. This switch shall be located adjacent to the electrical service remote control key switch or the electrical service disconnect.
(d) Key switch locations shall be marked with a visible sign indicating “Fire Department Use Only” and “Generator Disconnect”.
Article 230.70(A)(4). Add subsection (4):
(4) Natural and Liquid Petroleum Gas. Electrical equipment (i.e.: service disconnect, electrical meters, receptacles, etc.) shall be installed not less than 5 (five) feet from any LPG tank installation and related regulators, etc. or NG meter and regulators. If the gas equipment is installed less than 5 (five) feet to the electrical equipment, then the electrical equipment shall meet the requirements of Article 500 and 501 of the National Electrical Code.
Article 230.70(B), Marking. Add the following:
When there is more than one meter on any single service, they shall be permanently identified with numbers painted on the meter base at least one inch in height or identified by other approved means that corresponds to the number on the unit served.
Article 250.66(B), Connections to Concrete Encased Electrodes. Amend the following:
Where the grounding electrode conductor is connected to a concrete encased electrode as permitted in 250.52(A)(3) a #4 AWG bare copper conductor consisting of at least 6.0 m (twenty feet) in length shall be installed in the footing for a 100-200 (one hundred to two hundred) ampere service. A #2 AWG bare copper conductor shall be installed in the footing for 225-300 ampere service. A 1/0 AWG bare copper conductor is required for a 350-400 (three hundred fifty to four hundred) ampere service. A 2/0 AWG bare conductor is required for a 450-500 (four hundred fifty to five hundred) ampere service and 3/0 AWG bare conductor is required for services greater than 500 (five hundred) amperes.
Article 410.36(B), Suspended Ceilings. Add the following exception:
Exception: When the light fixtures are supported seismically in accordance with the current building codes adopted by the City of North Pole the above supports are not required.
Article 700.12(D), Generator Set. Add subsection (6):
(6) The generator shall have an exterior disconnect complying with Article 230.70(A)(3) located adjacent to service disconnect to prevent the generator from starting when the normal power is turned off in case of an emergency or fire. A weatherproof sign shall be installed adjacent to the service disconnect that reads: Emergency Generator Disconnect Switch.
(Ord. 22-02 § 2, 2022; Ord. 17-12 § 2(D), 2017; Ord. 12-10 § 2, 2012)