§ 10-486. Amendments to the National Electrical Code, 2014 Edition (NFPA 70-2014).

The following provisions of the National Electrical Code (NEC), 2014 Edition (NFPA 70-2014), as adopted by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission, are now added, deleted or amended to read as follows:

Informative Annex H Administration and Enforcement - Stillwater Added.

80.2 Definitions - Stillwater Amendatory. Informative Annex H, Section 80.2 is amended to read as follows:

Authority Having Jurisdiction - Stillwater Amendatory. The Building Safety Division of the Development Services Department is created and the official in charge shall be known as the building official. Wherever "Authority Having Jurisdiction", "AHJ", "Chief Electrical Inspector" or "Electrical Inspector" is referenced in this code, it shall mean the building official.

Appointment - Stillwater added. The chief appointing authority of the jurisdiction shall be the city manager.

Deputies - Stillwater added. The city manager shall appoint all employees within the Building Safety Division and such employees shall have the powers as established by the city manager and/or as delegated by the building official.

Personal Residence - Stillwater added. Personal Residence means a single-family dwelling, owned and occupied by that person as their primary residence. A new construction single-family dwelling may only be considered a personal residence upon issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the building inspection department.

80.7 Title - Stillwater Amendatory. Informative Annex H, Section 80.7 is amended to read as follows: These provisions shall be known and may be cited as the 'Electrical Code of the City of Stillwater' or as the 'Stillwater Electrical Code.'

80.9 Application - Stillwater Amendatory. Informative Annex H, Section 80.9, is amended to read as follows:

(A)

New Installations. This Code applies to new installations. Buildings with construction permits dated after adoption of this Code shall comply with its requirements.

(B)

Existing Installations. Existing electrical installations that do not comply with the provisions of this Code shall be permitted to continue in use unless the building official determines that the lack of conformity with this Code presents and imminent danger to the occupants or the public. Where changes are required for correction of hazards, a reasonable amount of time shall be given for compliance, depending on the degree of the hazard.

(C)

Additions, Alterations, or Repairs. Additions, alterations, or repairs to any building, structure, or premises shall conform to that required of a new building without requiring the existing building to comply with all the requirements of this Code. Additions, alterations, or repairs shall not cause and existing building to become unsafe or to adversely affect the performance of the building as determined by the building official. Electrical wiring added to an existing service, feeder, or branch circuit shall not result in an installation that violates the provisions of the Code in force at the time the additions are made.

(D)

Moved Buildings. Electrical systems and equipment that are a part of buildings or structures moved into or within the City of Stillwater shall comply with the provisions of this code for new installations.

80.15 Electrical Board. - Stillwater Deleted. Informative Annex H, Section 80.15 of this code is intentionally deleted from Informative Annex H of the National Electrical Code (NEC), 2014 Edition (NFPA 70-2014). Appeals from an order, decision or determination of the building official shall be to the Building Trades Board and governed by Chapter 10, Article II of the Stillwater City Code; provided that the Building Trades Board shall not have any authority to wave the requirements of this code.

80.19 Permits and Approvals, Subsection (A) Application. - Stillwater Amendatory. Informative Annex H, Subsection 80.19(A), is amended to read as follows:

(1)

Activity authorized by permit issued under this Code shall be conducted by the permitee or the permittee's agents or employees in compliance with all requirements of this Code and in accordance with all approved plans and specifications. Persons eligible for a permit shall include a person who is a registered electrical contractor; a home owner doing work on the owner's personal residence; and a business, firm, partnership, association or corporation that employs a registered electrical contractor. No permit issued under this Code shall be interpreted to justify a violation of any provision of this Code or any other applicable law or regulation. Any addition or alteration of approved plans or specifications shall be approved in advance by the building official, as evidenced by the issuance of a new or amended permit.

(2)

A copy of the permit shall be posted or otherwise readily accessible at each work site or carried by the permit holder as specified by the building official.

80.19 Permits and Approvals, Subsection (C) Issuance of Permits. - Stillwater Amendatory. Informative Annex H, Subsection 80.19(C), is amended to read as follows:

The building official shall be authorized to establish and issue permits, certificates, notices, and approvals, or orders pertaining to electrical safety hazards pursuant to 80.23, except that no permit shall be required to execute any of the classes of electrical work specified in the following:

(1)

Installation or replacement of equipment such as lamps and of electric utilization equipment approved for connection to suitable permanently installed receptacles. Replacement of flush or snap switches, fuses, lamp sockets and luminaries or fans, and receptacles, and other minor maintenance and repair work, such as replacing worn cords, and tightening connections on a wiring device.

(2)

The process of manufacturing, testing, servicing, or repairing electrical equipment or apparatus.

(3)

The extension of an existing individual branch circuit or the installation of additional openings in an existing branch circuit provided that the work is not associated with a building permit.

80.19 Permits and Approvals, Subsection (E) Fees. - Stillwater Amendatory. Informative Annex H, Subsection 80.19(E), is amended to read as follows: Permit fees shall be established by resolution of the city council, no portion of which shall be refundable.

80.19 Permits and Approvals, Subsection (F) Inspections and Approvals, paragraph 3. - Stillwater Amendatory. Informative Annex H, paragraph 80.19(F)(3), is amended to read as follows:

(3)

When any portion of an electrical installation within the jurisdiction of the building official is to be hidden from view by the permanent placement of parts of a building, the person firm or corporation installing the equipment shall notify the building official and the equipment shall not be concealed until it has been approved by the building official or until two (2) business days have elapsed from the time of such notification, provided that on large installations, where the concealment of equipment proceeds continuously, the person, firm or corporation installing the equipment shall give the building official due notice in advance, and inspections shall be made periodically during the progress of the work

80.23 Notice of Violations, Penalties, Subsection (B) Penalties, paragraphs 3, 4 and 5. - Stillwater Added. Informative Annex H, paragraphs 80.23(B)(3), 80.23(B)(4), 80.23(B)(5) are added to Section 89.23 to read as follows:

(3)

Any person violating any provision of this article, or any provision of the National Electrical Code (NEC), 2014 Edition (NFPA 70-2014), as amended and revised by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission (OUBCC) and the City of Stillwater and as subsequently adopted by reference as part of the Stillwater City Code shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class A offense.

(4)

Stop Work Orders. Upon notice from the building official, work on any electrical system that is being performed contrary to the provisions of this code or in a dangerous or unsafe manner shall immediately cease. Such notice shall be in writing to the owner of the property, or the owner's agent, or to the person performing the work. The notice shall state the conditions under which work is authorized to resume. Where an emergency exists, the building official shall not be required to give a written notice prior to stopping the work. Any person, firm or corporation who shall continue any electrical work in or about the structure 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, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class C offense.

(5)

Correction of Unsafe Conditions. If the building official finds any electrical installation to be in an unsafe or hazardous condition, the official shall notify the person controlling the premises where such electrical conditions exist, to correct the unsafe condition or hazard and place it in a safe condition. If such person fails to do so the building official shall cause electrical service to such premises to be discontinued; such service shall not be reinstated until the official determines that the unsafe condition or hazard has been corrected and that the installation is in a safe condition. The utilities department is authorized by this provision to discontinue or disconnect electrical service where the building inspector has determined that hazardous or unsafe electrical conditions exist.

80.25 Connection to Electrical Supply, Subsection (C) Notification. - Stillwater Amendatory. Informative Annex H, paragraph 80.25(C), is amended to read as follows:

(C)

Notification. If, within two (2) business days after the building official is notified of the completion of an installation of electrical equipment, other than a temporary approval installation, the building official has neither authorized connection nor disapproved the installation, the supplier of electricity is authorized to make connections and supply electricity to such installation, at their own risk.

80.27 Inspector's Qualifications. - Stillwater Amendatory. Informative Annex H, Section 80.27, is amended to read as follows:

(A)

Certificate. All electrical inspectors shall meet those specifications set forth in the State of Oklahoma, Electrical Licensing Act, as amended, 59 O.S. 2011 Section 1680 et seq., and Oklahoma Inspectors Act, as amended, 59 O.S. 2011, Section 1031 et seq. All electrical inspectors shall be certified by a nationally recognized inspector certification program accepted by the building trades board. The certification program shall specifically qualify the inspector in electrical inspections. No person shall be employed as an electrical inspector unless that person is the holder of an electrical inspector's certificate of qualification issued by the building trades board.

(B)

Experience. All Electrical inspector applicants shall demonstrate the following:

(1)

Have a demonstrated knowledge of the standard materials and methods used in the installation of electric equipment.

(2)

Be well versed in the approved methods of construction or safety to persons and property

(3)

Be well versed in the statutes of the State of Oklahoma relating to electrical work and the National Electrical Code, as approved by the American National Standards Institute (ASI)

(4)

Have had at least two (2) years' experience as an electrical inspector or four years' experience as a journeyman electrician as defined by the State of Oklahoma, Electrical Licensing Act. In lieu of such experience, the applicant shall be a graduate in electrical engineering or of a similar curriculum of a college or university considered by the Building Trades Board as having suitable requirements for graduation and shall have had two years' practical electrical experience.

80.29 Liability and Damages. - Stillwater Amendatory. Informative Annex H, Section 80.29, is amended to read as follows: Article 80 shall not be construed to affect the responsibility or liability of any party owning, designing, operating, controlling, or installing any electrical equipment for damages to persons or property caused by any defect, nor shall the City of Stillwater or any of its employees be held as assuming any liability by reason of the inspection, reinspection, or other examination authorized.

80.35 Effective Date. - Stillwater Deleted. Informative Annex H, Section 80.35 of this code is intentionally deleted from Informative Annex H of the National Electrical Code (NEC), 2014 Edition (NFPA 70-2014). This effective date shall be specified by city council.

Article 210 Branch Circuits.

210.3 Rating - Stillwater Amendatory. Section 210.3 is amended to read as follows: Branch circuits recognized by this article shall be rated in accordance with the maximum permitted ampere rating or setting of the overcurrent device. The rating for other than individual branch circuits shall be: 20, 30, 40, and 50 amperes. Where conductors of higher ampacity are used for any reason, the ampere rating or setting of the specified overcurrent device shall determine the circuit rating.

Exception: Multioutlet branch circuits greater than 50 amperes shall be permitted to supply nonlighting outlet loads on industrial premises where maintenance and supervision indicate that qualified persons will service equipment.

Article 230 Services.

230.28 Service Mast as Supports. - Stillwater Amendatory. Section 230.28 is amended to read as follows: Only power service-drop or overhead service conductors shall be permitted to be attached to a service mast. Service masts used for the support of service-drop or overhead service conductors shall be installed in accordance with Subsections 230.28(A) and (B).

(A)

Strength. The service mast shall be a minimum of two (2) inch diameter Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC) or Intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC) and may be required to be supported by braces or guys to withstand safely the strain imposed by the service-drop or overhead service conductors. Hubs intended for use with a conduit that serves as a service mast shall be identified for use with service-entrance equipment.

(B)

Attachment. Service-drop or overhead service conductors shall not be attached to a service mast between a weatherhead or the end of the conduit and a coupling, where the coupling is located above the last point of securement to the building or other structure or is located above the building or structure.

Article 250 Grounding and Bonding.

250.64 Grounding Electrode Conductor Installation, Subsection (B) Securing and Protecting Against Physical Damage. - Stillwater Amendatory. Subsection 250.64(B) is amended to read as follows:

(B)

Securing and Protecting Against Physical Damage. Where exposed, a grounding electrode conductor or its enclosure shall be securely fastened to the surface on which it is carried. Grounding electrode conductors shall be permitted to be installed on or through framing members. A grounding electrode conductor shall be protected if exposed to physical damage. A grounding electrode conductor on the exterior of a building or structure shall be considered to be exposed to physical damage except for temporary installations as covered in the scope of Article 590. Grounding electrode conductors shall be protected from physical damage by rigid metal conduit (RMC), intermediate metal conduit (IMC), rigid polyvinyl chloride conduit (PVC), reinforced thermosetting resign conduit (RTRC), electrical metallic tubing (EMT), or cable armor. Grounding electrode conductors and grounding electrode bonding jumpers shall not be required to comply with 300.5.

Article 310 Conductors for General Wiring.

310.106 Conductors, Subsection (B) Conductor Material. - Stillwater Amendatory. Subsection 310.106(B) is amended to read as follows: Conductor Material. Conductors in this article shall be copper, unless otherwise specified. All reference herein to aluminum or copper-clad aluminum shall be interpreted to mean stranded conductors only.

Exceptions:

1.

Service entrance conductors as covered in article 230 may be of AA-8000 series aluminum alloy, copper-clad aluminum or copper.

2.

Outside branch circuits and feeders as covered in article 225 may be of AA-8000 series aluminum alloy, copper-clad aluminum or copper.

3.

In buildings or portions of buildings used as multifamily dwellings, AA-8000 series aluminum stranded conductors #2 and larger marked as type RHH, RHW, XHHW, THW, THHW, THWN, THHN, service-entrance Type SE Style U and SE Style R shall be permitted to be used as interior feeders between the service equipment and main branch circuit panelboards serving individual dwelling units. In mixed-use buildings, such feeders shall not be extended into or through the non-residential portion of the building unless the conductors are enclosed in raceways of Armored Cable, Metal-Clad Cable, Intermediate Metal Conduit, Rigid Metal Conduit, Flexible Metal Conduit, Liquidtight Flexible Metal Conduit, Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride Conduit, Liquidtight Flexible Nonmetallic Conduit, Electrical Metallic Tubing or Flexible Metal Tubing as permitted by the specific wiring method.

Article 334 Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable: Types NM, NMC, and NMS.

334.10 Uses Permitted - Stillwater Amendatory. Section 334.10 is amended to read as follows: Type NM, Type NMC, and Type NMS cables shall be permitted to be used in any residential use buildings or portions of buildings permitted to be of Type III, IV and V construction and their accessory structures except as prohibited in 334.12. In mixed-use buildings residential uses must be separated from non-residential uses by a minimum 1-hour rated fire barrier as described in the International Building Code to permit the use of Type NM, Type NMC, and Type NMS cables in the residential use portion of the building.

(A)

Type NM. Type NM cable shall be permitted as follows:

(1)

For both exposed and concealed work in normally dry locations except as prohibited in 334.10.3.

(2)

To be installed or finished in air voids in masonry block or tile walls where such walls are not exposed to or subject to moisture or dampness.

(B)

Type NMC. Type NMC cable shall be permitted:

(1)

For both exposed and concealed work in dry, moist, damp or corrosive locations except as prohibited in 334.10.3.

(2)

In outside and inside walls of masonry block or tile.

(3)

In a shallow chase in masonry, concrete, or adobe protected against nails or screws by a steel plate [at] least 1.59 mm (1/16 in.) thick, and covered with plaster, adobe, or similar finish.

(C)

Type NMS. Type NMS cable shall be permitted as follows:

(1)

For both exposed and concealed work in normally dry locations except as prohibited in 334.10.3.

(2)

To be installed or finished in air voids in masonry block or tile walls where such walls are not exposed to or subject excessive moisture or dampness.

334.12 Uses Not Permitted, Subsection (A) Types NM, NMC, and NMS. - Stillwater Amendatory. Section 334.12 is amended to read as follows: Types NM, NMC and NMS cables shall not be permitted as follows:

(1)

In any structure not specifically permitted in 334.10.

(2)

Embedded in poured cement, concrete, or aggregate.

Article 394 Concealed Knob-and-Tube Wiring.

394.10 Uses Permitted. - Stillwater Amendatory. Section 394.10 is amended to read as follows: Existing concealed knob and tube wiring systems shall be permitted to be maintained.

394.12 Uses Not Permitted. - Stillwater Amendatory. Section 394.12 is amended to read as follows: Concealed knob and tube wiring shall not be permitted for extensions of existing systems or for new installations.

( Ord. No. 3414, § 20, 9-10-2018 )