Chapter 15.08
ELECTRIC CODE
Sections:
15.08.010 National Electric Code—Adopted.
15.08.020 National Electric Code—Enforcement.
15.08.030 National Electric Code—Modification.
15.08.040 National Electric Code—Appeals.
15.08.050 National Electric Code—Disclaimer.
15.08.060 National Electric Code—Violations—Penalties.
15.08.070 Amendments to the National Electric Code.
15.08.080 Electric permits required.
15.08.090 Electric permit fees.
15.08.010 National Electric Code—Adopted.
A. The 2011 Edition of the National Electric Code, published by the National Code Council, together with the amendments set out in this chapter, are designated and shall be known as the Valdez Electrical Code, and shall constitute the laws of the city relating to electrical regulations. Although not published in full in this section, all of the provisions of these codes shall be and are adopted by reference to the same extent as if set forth in full herein, except to the extent that they shall be in conflict with this code or any relevant ordinance later adopted in which case the provisions of this code and later ordinances shall prevail.
B. The city clerk is directed to keep on file at least three copies each of the National Electric Code, and all appendices thereto published by the National Code Council.
C. It is unlawful for any person to take any action or permit any action to be taken contrary to or in violation of any provisions of the National Electric Code.
D. All permits shall be issued with the name of the person who owns the improvement and the name, if another, of the person performing the work. All permits shall be accompanied by plans, diagrams, computations and specifications as required by the building inspector or the building official. All permits shall show the location and nature of the work. All work shall be inspected before it is concealed and without the necessity of removing any covers or obstructions. (Ord. 12-04 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-26 § 1 (part))
15.08.020 National Electric Code—Enforcement.
The National Electric Code shall be enforced by the building department. (Ord. 12-04 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-26 § 1 (part))
15.08.030 National Electric Code—Modification.
The city council shall have power to modify the provisions of the National Electric Code adopted by this chapter. (Ord. 12-04 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-26 § 1 (part))
15.08.040 National Electric Code—Appeals.
Whenever the building department shall disapprove an application or refuse to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the code do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of the code has been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal the decision of the chief building official.
A. Appeal to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
1. Filing Limit. An appeal of the decision of the building official in enforcement of this title may be taken to the planning and zoning commission by the permittee or agent thereof. The written appeal must be filed within fifteen days of the decision of the building official. The appeal must be filed with the office of the city clerk.
2. Report. A report concerning each case appealed to the planning and zoning commission shall be prepared by the building official and filed with the city clerk. Such report shall state the decision and recommendations of the building official together with reasons for the decision and recommendations. All data pertaining to the case shall accompany the report.
3. Stay of Proceedings. The filing of an appeal shall stay all proceedings in the matter until a determination is made by the planning and zoning commission, unless the court issues an enforcement order based on a certificate of imminent peril to life or property.
B. Appeal to the Board of Adjustment.
1. Filing Limit. An appeal from any action or decision of the planning and zoning commission may be taken by the permittee or agent thereof. The appeal shall be in the form of a written statement, and state how the appellant will be affected or aggrieved by the action. The appeal must be filed within ten days of the date of the action or decision by the planning and zoning commission. The notice of appeal must be filed with the city clerk.
2. Report. A report concerning each case appealed to the board of adjustment shall be prepared by the planning and zoning commission and filed with the city clerk. Such report shall state the decision and recommendations of the commission together with reasons for the decision and recommendations. All data pertaining to the case shall accompany the report.
3. Stay of Proceedings. The filing of an appeal shall stay all proceedings in the matter until a determination is made by the board of adjustment, unless the court issues an enforcement order based on a certificate of imminent peril to life or property.
C. Appeal to Superior Court. An appeal from any action, decision, ruling, judgment or order of the board of adjustment may be taken by the permittee or agent thereof, or any officer, commission or board of the city, to the superior court by filing with the court, with a copy to the city clerk, within thirty days from the date of the action appealed from, a notice of appeal which shall specify the grounds of such appeal. Failure to file the notice of appeal in the manner and time specified shall forfeit any right to appeal. The filing of an appeal shall stay all proceedings in the matter until a determination is made by the court, unless the court issues an enforcement order based on a certificate of imminent peril to life or property. (Ord. 12-04 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-26 § 1 (part))
15.08.050 National Electric Code—Disclaimer.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is, for any reason, held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter. The city council hereby declares that it would have passed the ordinance codified in this chapter, and each section, subsection, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses and phrases be declared unconstitutional. (Ord. 12-04 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-26 § 1 (part))
15.08.060 National Electric Code—Violations—Penalties.
A. Violation Penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars. Each ten days that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.
B. Failure to Comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be liable to a fine of not more than three hundred dollars in addition to other remedies available by law. (Ord. 12-04 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-26 § 1 (part))
15.08.070 Amendments to the National Electric Code.
The following amendments are made to the National Electric Code, 2011 Edition (references are to section numbers in the National Electric Code and appendices thereof):
A. Section 80.19(D), Annual Permits, is amended by deleting this section in its entirety.
B. Section 110.14, Electrical Connections, is amended by adding the following to the end of the first paragraph:
Whenever aluminum conductors are used, an approved corrosion inhibitor shall be used on all terminations.
C. Section 210.23, Permissible Loads, is amended by adding a new subsection as follows:
(E) Outlets per circuit. In dwelling units, the number of receptacle outlets per 15 and 20-amp branch circuit shall be based on 180 volt amps per outlet, using 80% of circuit over current rating.
Exception: Fixed lighting circuits designed to meet the appropriate section of the code.
D. Section 230.70(A)(1), Readily Accessible Location, is amended to read as follows:
The location of the meter shall be on the gable end unless the City of Valdez and Copper Valley Electric Association (CVEA) approve another location. The meter and service equipment shall be protected from falling ice and snow by a method approved by the building official and CVEA. A roof built over service equipment shall be built to support 200 psf. CVEA shall not be allowed to connect power to a service until the building official has approved the service.
E. Section 230.28, Service Masts as Supports, is amended by adding the following:
Raceway for overhead service shall be a minimum of 2" rigid steel conduit and be fastened to gable end of structure by U-bolts or other approved method.
F. Section 230.62, Service Equipment — Enclosed or Guarded, is amended by adding subsection C to read as follows:
C. Meter bases shall be mounted on a pole or exterior of building so that the center of the meter socket is 5'6" above finished grade plus or minus 6". Service equipment shall not be mounted higher than 6'6" from finish grade to top of equipment.
G. Section 230.70(A)(1), Readily Accessible Location, is amended by adding a second paragraph to read as follows:
Main disconnect shall be located on the outside of buildings.
H. Section 300.5, Underground Installations, is amended by adding subsections L and M as follows:
(L) Underground service entrance conductors for commercial installations shall be installed in conduits sized for a 50% future expansion, up to and including 600 amp services.
(M) Service entrance conduit shall be a minimum of schedule 80 PVC to a depth of 24 inches.
I. Section 700.5(A), General, is amended by adding the following:
Standby generators shall be installed to meet the requirements of the NEC, CVEA, and be approved by the building official.
(Ord. 12-04 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-26 § 1 (part))
15.08.080 Electric permits required.
A. A permit and inspection shall be required for all electrical work performed, except where the work is confined to the incidental replacement or repair; but such exception shall not include any extensions or changing the characteristics of any electrical system, either in whole or in part.
B. A permit shall not be issued to any person in violation of any city, state or federal law, including the electrical contractors licensing statute, construction contractors statute, fire alarm signaling system permit law (13 AAC 50.035) and certificate of fitness (AS 18.60.580).
C. All permits shall be issued in the name of the person who owns the improvement, and the name, if another, of the person performing the work. All permits for new construction and remodeling that substantially change the characteristics of the electrical system shall be accompanied by plans, diagrams, computations and specifications prepared by the electrical contractor, engineer or other designer approved by the building official. Permit applications for installation or alteration of fire alarm signaling systems shall be accompanied by a copy of the State Fire Marshal plan review certificate. All permits shall show the location and the nature of the work. All work shall be inspected before it is concealed and without the necessity of removing any covers or obstructions.
D. Any electrical system or portion thereof deemed unsafe by the building official because of wear, damage, neglect, defects or hazardous location shall, upon written notice from the building official, be repaired, replaced or altered in accordance with this chapter upon receipt of such notice. (Ord. 12-04 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-26 § 1 (part))
15.08.090 Electric permit fees.
A. Fees shall be established by resolution of the city council.
B. Where work for which a permit is required by this chapter is started or proceeded with prior to obtaining such permit, the fees specified by resolution shall be doubled.
C. When extra inspections are made necessary because of life safety issues, or otherwise through fault or error on the part of the holder of the permit, or on the part of his employees, contractors, or agents thereof after notice has been given in writing by the building inspector setting forth the violation, additional fees may be assessed, and will be established by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 12-04 § 1 (part): Ord. 02-26 § 1 (part))