HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-2292 - Ordinance - 01/07/1998ORDINANCE NO. 2 2 9 2
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 3, "BUILDING REGULATIONS", OF THE
CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, BY AMEND-
ING CERTAIN SECTIONS AS SET OUT BELOW; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND DECLARING A PENALTY.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION,
TEXAS:
PART l: That Chapter 3, "Building Regulations", of the Code of Ordinances of the City of
College Station, Texas, be amended as set out in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and
made a part of this ordinance for all purposes.
PART 2: That if any provisions of any section of this ordinance shall be held to be void or
unconstitutional, such holding shall in no way effect the validity of the remaining
provisions or sections of this ordinance, which shall remain in full force and effect.
PART 3: That any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be
punishable by a fine of not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) nor more than
Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00). Each day such violation shall continue or be
permitted to continue, shall be deemed a separate offense. Said Ordinance,
becomes effective sixty (60) days after its publication in the newspaper, as
provided by Section 35 of the Charter of the City of College Station.
PASSED, ADOPTED and APPROVED this 7th day of January, 1998.
ATTEST:
CONNIE HOOKS, City Secretary
APPROVED:
LYNN MclLHANEY, Mayo~
js~¢:~vnndows~vanword~Pjan98~ordforml.doc
118/98
Ordinance No. 2292 Page 2
EXHIBIT "A"
Amend Chapter 3, Appendix 2, "Electrical Code Adopted", to read as follows:
"APPENDIX 2
ELECTRICAL CODE ADOPTED
A booklet entitled National Electrical Code 1996 Edition' as mended and as hereafter may be
amended, at least one (1) copy of which is on file in the office of the Building Official of the City
of College Station, Texas, is hereby adopted and designated as the Electrical Code of the City of
College Station, Texas.
AMENDMENTS TO NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
A. The above referenced 'National Electrical Code' is hereby amended as follows:
Section 210-23(a) shah be amended to delete the reference to 15 ampere circuits.
It shall also be amended to include after the words '... are also supplied' the
following sentence: ~-Iowever, a circuit of twenty (20) amperes shall not serve
more than ten openings.'
Table 210-24 shall be amended by adding the following: 'Reference all 14 AWG
conductor indicated in the table with asterisks (***) and add this footnote at the
bottom of the table *** special note: Except for fixture wires in UL or other listed
fixtures, no conductor of a size smaller than 12 AWG copper is allowed in
residential wiring.'
Section 210-52Co) shall be amended by adding the following: ~Exception No. 3: A
separate circuit is required for each refrigerator, deep freeze, dishwasher, disposal,
trash compactor or any other load exceeding six (6) amperes.'
Section 210-52(c) shall be amended by adding the following at the end of the
section: ~Exception: A separate circuit is required for microwave ovens or any
other counter top appliance with a load exceeding six (6) amperes.'
Section 210-52(0 shall be amended to include after the words '... for the laundry.'
the following sentence: ~owever, a separate circuit is required for a washing
machine or any other laundry appliance with a load exceeding six (6) amperes.'
Section 210-$2 shall be amended by adding the following subsection: '(j) Other
Locations. A separate circuit is required for each well pump or other outdoor
loads exceeding six (6) amperes.'
jsic: iwmdowslwmwor&l l. lan98Iordform l.doc
1/8/98
Ordinance No. 2292 Page 3
The Electrical Code shall be amended by adding the following section: 230-10
Meter Mounting Heights. Individual meters shall be mounted at a height not
greater than 5'-6" nor less than 4'-6" above finished grade, measured to the center
line of the meter base. Meter packs shall be mounted with its horizontal centerline
not greater than 4'-6" nor less than 4'-0" above finished grade.
Exception: Meters and meter packs may be mounted at a different height by
special permission of the Building Official or his designee when special conditions
make the installation at the above heights impractical.
Section 230-72 shall be amended by adding section (d) to read: '(d) Location:
The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location.
Such location shall be on the outside of commercial buildings or structures. Resi-
dential buildings may provide this disconnecting means either outside or inside the
nearest point of entrance of the service conductors.'
Section 250-83(c)(1) and (2) shall be amended by allowing only copper coated
grounds.
10.
Section 310-2(b) shall be amended to read as follows: 'Conductor Material.
Conductors in this article shall be copper only.'
11.
Section 333-4 shall be amended to read as follows: qgses Not Permitted. Type
AC cable shall not be permitted in commercial buildings as a wiring method.'
12.
Section 334.4 shall be amended to read as follows: Uses Not Permitted. Type
MC cable shall not be permitted in commercial buildings as a wiring method.
LICENSING
1. Licensing as Master Electrician Required
It shall be unlawful for any person to do electrical work within the City of College
Station unless such person is licensed under the provisions of this ordinance by the
City of College Station as a master electrician, or unless such electrical work is
performed under the personal control, supervision, direction and responsibility of
such a licensed master electrician. The term 'electrical work' as used in this ordi-
nance shall mean the installing, maintaining, altering, repairing or erecting of any
electrical wiring, apparatus, devices, appliances, fixtures or equipment for which a
permit is required under the terms and provisions of this ordinance, except poles
and guy anchors installed by an electric telephone, telegraph, signal or public serv-
ice company as a part of its distribution system.
2. Electrical Board Created To Administer Licensing Provisions
There is hereby created an Electrical Board consisting of five (5) members. The
five members of the Board shall be appointed by the City Council. The five shall
not be employees of the City, and one shall be licensed as a master electrician by
the City. The Board shall select its own chairman. The members of the Board shall
js~c: ~window~winwor& t ljan98~ordform l.doc
1/8/98
Ordinance No. 2292 Page 4
serve at the pleasure of the City Council except any Board member shall be
replaced any time he fails to meet the criteria for appointment or if his attendance
at called meetings falls below seventy percent ('/0%) for any twelve (12) month
period or he fails to attend three (3) consecutive meetings. The Board shall review
applicants for license, determine if their experience is such that they are qualified,
and determine by majority vote of the Board that a license shall or shall not be
issued. Said Board shall determine, by majority vote of the Board, as hereai~er
provided, when licenses shall be revoked for cause. If said Board revokes a license
for cause, the individual whose license is revoked shall cease ali electrical work
within the City unless or until said action of the Board is altered by action of the
City Council or a court of law. Also serving with the Board will be an employee
from the City who will serve as a staff liaison.
Qualifications for Master Electrician License
Anyone desiring to qualify for a ~vlaster Electrician's License' shall proceed in the
following manner:
(a) Application for Registration Fee
Apply in writing to the Secretary of the Electrical Board by complet~ g
application to SBCCI to take the qualifying SBCCI examination. 'll~e
application shall state the qualifications and experience of the applicant and
shall be accompanied by an application fee of Forty-five Dollars ($45.00),
(The minimum required experience shall be four [4] years full time employ-
ment in electrical work under direct supervision of a licensed master elec-
trician.) Along with the application shall be two (2) letters of recommenda-
tion. The letters shall be from Master Electricians or Electrical Inspectors
who can recommend the applicant for registration.
(b) Examination; Administration of
Take the examination required by the City of College Station and adminis-
tered by SBCCI in College Station, Texas. The examination will be given
four (4) times each year, once during each quarter of the calendar year.
(c) Issuance of License~ Terms of
Upon certification by SBCCI that he has passed the examination and is
eligible for the registration as a 'Master Electrician', he shall be issued said
registration by the Building Official upon payment of a Twenty-five Dollar
($25.00) fee. Said license shall be good for the period of that calendar year
unless revoked by the Electrical Exarnining Board and only at~er just
cause has been demonstrated. All licenses shall expire upon the date of
January 31 of the following year in which the license was issued.
(d) License Renewals; Fee
At least one (1) month prior to the expiration date of the license, licensee
shall apply for renewal for the subsequent year. Unless said license is
js~¢:~v~ndows~v~nword~#jan98~ordformI.doc
1/8/98
Ordinance No.
2292
Page 5
Co
suspended or has been under suspension, the Building Official is authorized
to issue a renewal of the license upon payment of a renewal fee of Twenty-
five Dollars ($25.00).
(e)
Anyone licensed under the provisions of this or previous ordinances per-
taining thereto who does not practice his profession within the City of
College Station for two (2) consecutive years after the date he received his
license or any subsequent renewal thereof, shall not be eligible for renewal
of his license. He may, at any later date, re-qualify according to the provi-
sions of this ordinance.
4. Reciprocal Agreements
The City of College Station designee (Building Official) may negotiate reciprocal
agreements with other municipalities wherein the license requirements are deemed
to be equal to those of this ordinance. Under said reciprocal agreements, a license
may be issued to anyone possessing a valid license in the municipality with which
the reciprocal agreement exists without the applicant being required to take the
written and oral examinations provided for in this ordinance. Said applicant shall
be required to fulfill all other requirements and pay all fees provided herein.
5. Forfeiture Of Any Bonds
The amount realized upon the forfeiture of any bond over and above the expense
involved in its forfeiture shall be expended in making the necessary changes in the
electric work found to be contrary to the provisions of this ordinance or deficient
in quality or other particulars as specified in the contract or contracts entered into
and covered by the bond, and the unused balance, if any, shall be paid into the City
Treasury.
ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS AND PERMITS
1. When Permit Required; Exceptions
No wiring, poles, duct line, guy anchors, apparatus, devices, appliances, fixtures or
equipment for the transmission, distribution or utilization of electrical energy for
any purpose shall be installed within the City limits, nor shall any alteration or
addition be made to any such existing wiring, poles, duct lines, guy anchors,
apparatus, devices, fixtures or equipment without first securing a permit therefor
from the Building Official, except as stated in the following paragraphs:
(a) Replacing Fuses
No permit shall be required for replacing fuses of like rating or lamps or the
connection of portable appliances to suitable receptacles which have been
permanently installed or for repairs to portable appliances.
jsk~:lwtndowsivanwordlttjan98iordforml.doe
1/8/98
Ordinance No. 2 2 ~ ~ Page 6
Co)
(d)
(e)
(0
(g)
Replacing Flush or Snap Switches
No permit shall be required for replacing flush or snap switches, recepta-
cles, lamp sockets, the installation of lamps, or minor repairs on perma-
nently connected electrical appliances.
Conveying Signals
No permit shall be required for the installation, maintenance or alteration of
wiring, poles and down guys, apparatus, devices, appliances or equipment
for telegraph, telephone, signal service or central station protective service
used in conveying signals or intelligence, except where electrical work is
done on the primary side of the source of power at a voltage over 50 volts
and of more than 500 watts.
Wiring by Electric Public Service Company
No permit shall be required for the installation, maintenance or alteration of
electric wiring, apparatus devices, appliances or equipment to be installed
by an electric public service company for the use of such company in the
generation, transmission, distribution, sale or utilization of electrical
energy. However, an electric public service company shall not do any
wiring on a customer's distribution system, including metering equipment
wherever located and transformer vaults in which customer's transformers
are located, nor shall any of its employees do any work other than done for
said company as hereinbefore provided for by virtue of this exception.
Temporary Wiring
No permit shall be required for the installation of temporary wiring, appa-
ratus, devices, appliances or equipment used by a recognized electrical
training school or college.
Railway Crossing Signal Devices
No permit shall be required for the installation and maintenance of railway
crossing signal devices, when such is performed by due authority of the
railroad and in accordance with the standards of the American Railroad
Association, and in collaboration with and approval of the Department of
Public Services of the City of College Station.
Suspensions and Revocations
(1)
The Building Official may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit
issued under the provisions of this ordinance whenever the permit is
issued in error or on the basis of incorrect information supplied or
when in violation of any ordinance, regulation or any of the provi-
sions of this ordinance.
jsic: l w~ndov~siw~nwora~l ljan981ordform l.doc
1/8/98
Ordinance No. 2 2 g 2 Page 7
(2)
A permit may be canceled upon notification by the owner of the
property that the contractor is no longer employed to do work on
said property after written notification to the Building Official.
(a)
Failure on the part of any licensed master electrician to correct any
defect, error or deficiency in any work installed under the authority
of an electrical permit issued to him within ten (10) calendar days
aider written notification thereof from the Building Official, the
Building Official shall, without further notice, stop the issuance of
permits to such licensed master electrician until such corrections
have been made, inspected and approved. This provision shah be
cumulative of all other penalties provided herein.
Notification and Final Approvals
(a) Electrician to Notify Building Official
When any part of a wire installation is to be hidden from view by the per-
manent placement of parts of a building, the licensed electrician to whom
the permit has been issued shall notify the Building Official. The licensed
electrician to whom the permit has been issued shall give the Building
Official due notice and inspection shall be made periodically during the
progress of the work, and where at the discretion of the Building Official
or his Assistant it is necessary, he shall post notice on the premises stating
that work is approved and may be covered, or it is not approved and may
not be covered, until such further inspection as is necessary has been made.
Any person removing, destroying, altering or defacing said notice without
the consent of the Building Official, shall be deemed guilty of an offense
under this section, and any work described in said notice shall be stayed
pending the further necessary inspection. Upon completion of the work
which has been authorized by the issuance of a permit, it shall be the duty
of the licensed electrician, to whom the permit has been issued, to
immediately notify the Building Official, who shall inspect or cause to be
inspected, such installation within thirty-six (36) hours, exclusive of Satur-
days, Sundays, and holidays, of the time such notice is given.
Co) Final Certificates of Approval
If the work is found to be in compliance with the provisions of this ordi-
nance, the Building Official, subject to the other applicable provisions of
this ordinance, shall issue a final Certificate of Approval to the public utility
company furnishing the electrical service or to the person supplying the
energy, which certification shall authorize connection of such approved
work to the source of energy of the electrical service, the turning on of the
current, and the use of the installation. No connection shall be made until
such authorization and final certificate is issued."
Jslc:~wmdows~wtnwordllOan98~ordforml.doc
1/8/98