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HomeMy WebLinkAbout122 06-27-1961City of Euless Electrical Ordinance ORDINANCE NO. 122 AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE OFFICE OF ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR AND DEFINING THE DUTIES OF SUCH OFFICE, REGULATING THE WAY AND MANNER IN WHICH ELECTRICAL WIRES AND APPARATUS SHALL BE INSTALLED IN THE CITY OF EULESS, TEXAS, AND PRO- VIDING FOR THE GENERAL INSPECTION OF SUCH WORK: PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF LICENSES AND PERMITS: PROVIDING FOR FEES TO BE CHARGED FOR DOING SUCH WORK; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES AND PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH: FURTHER PROVIDING THAT ANY PERSON, FIRM OR CORPORATION WHO VIOLATES ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE DEDEEMED GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND UPON CONVIC- TION THEREOF SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN $5.00 NOR MORE THAN $100.00; EACH DAY SUCH VIOLATION CONTINUES SHALL BE A SEPARATE OFFENSE: FURTHER PROVIDING THAT SAID ORDINANCE SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE AND BE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT FROM AND AFTER THE DATE OF ITS ADOPTION AND PUBLICATION AS BY LAW PROVIDED. BE IT ORDAIN771) BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF 7ME" , TEXAS: 1. DEFINITIONS 1. The term "electrical wiring" herein used is intended to mean the installation of electrical wires, fixtures, appliances, apparatus or the addition to any wires, fixtures, apparatus or appliances TTSed or to be used on or in any buildin, or in any premises for the pur- pose of transmitting electrical current for electric light, heat, power, house annuciator sTrstems, electric bells, telephones, signal systems, private telephone or telegraph, radios, lighting fixtures, or for any purpose, of any kind, nature or description. 2. "Plaster Electrician or Electrical Contractor" shall mean any person, firm, partnership or corporation en�a ;ed in the business of, or holding themselves out to the public as being engeged in the business of installing or repairing, or contracting to install or reps'_r any electrical wiring, conduits, fixtures, devices, equipment or other electrical materials for conducting, using or consuming electrical energy for which a permit is herein required. 3. "Journeyman Electrician" shall doing the work of installing, repairing wirin -, conduits, fixtures, or devices, materials or appliances for conducting, energy and who may engage in such work of, or in the direct employ of a Maste Contractor. - 1 - mean and include any person or maintaining any electrical or any other electrical using or consuming electrical only under the supervision r Electrician, or Electrical 11. ELECTPTCAL INSP ^,TOPS 1. There is hereby created the office of Electrical Inspector of the City of Euless, Texas, who shall be appointed by the City Council which may also appoint such assistant inspectors as may be necessary, for such term and at such Compensation as the City Council may determine. 2. Upon completion and request for final inspection of work upon which a permit has been issued, the Electrical Inspection Dep- artment shall make final inspection and if the work is found to com- ply with the Ordinance, a certificate of inspection shall be issued stating that the work has been done according to the provisions of the Ordinance and the rules governing the respective class to which it bolongs, and shall report such final approved inspection to the Public ?forks Director or the City Secretary or their duly authorized representatives and pay over to such officers all fees collected thereupon the Public `"forks Director or City Secretary shall certify such final inspection to the Electric service Company operating under a franchise from the City, and authorize the said Electric Service Company to install a meter. Provided teat a permit for a temporary electric meter may be issued to the Electrical Contractor for con- struction purposes, and this meter may be transfer -od to the owner or agent of the property when authorized by the Public ''forks Director or the City Secretary; provided that no permit or permanent inotalla- tion of an electric meter be issued until all inspections fees have been paid to the City Secretary. 3. The Electrical Inspectors nro herein given authority to re- fuse to issue a permit on an addition to old work where the old work is in an unsafe condition until such is changed to come up to a satisfactory condition. All light, heat, and power companies, shall be notified not to make service connections until they receive clearance of written permission from the Electrical Inspection Department. 4.It shall be the duty of the Electrical Inspectors to inspect all public and isolated light pinnt(excepting property of companies and corporations operating under a regular franchise) now or here- after in operation, at least once in each year, or more often if application is made by the owners thereof. They shall see that any dangerous or defective machinery, wires or npparatus are removed in,i,ediately at the expense of owner or agent of said property. 5. It shall be the duty of the Electrical Inspectors to enuso all dead wires, unused poles or electric apparatus on the outside of buildings or in streets or alleys to be removed at the expense of the owners by giving the said owners written notice. This does not apply to apparntus owned and operated by the Utility Company. 6„ The City Electrical Inspectors may be called upon as many tir,cs as rogLirod to inspect new buildings in course of construction in order roc to delay construction, and must inspect such work wL—i in 48 hours from the time such request is received. Sunday and holidays excepted. 2 - 7. The Electrical Inspectors shall have the authority to demand building contractors to open such work that in any manner conceals electrical wiring that has boon cicsod without his knowledge or permission, and in no case shall inspectors issue clearance until he is satisfied that the work is in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance. Inspectors shall have the right to refuse to issue a clearance on any wiring that is concealed in such manner that they cannot fully satisfy himself that it has been done in accordance with this Ordinance. S. The Electrical Inspector shall have the right at all times to make a thorough re- inspection of the installation in or on build- ings and or premises of all electric wiring, electric devices and electric material now installed or that may hereafter be installed, within the City of Euless, Toxas. ,hen the installation of any such wiring, devices and or materials is found to be in a da,n7crous or unsafe condition, the person, firm or corporation owning, using or operating the same shall be notified in writing, and shall make the necessary repairs or changes required✓to place such wiring, devices and material in a safe condition and have such work completed within fifteen (15) days from date of said notice or other reasonable period specified by the Electrical Inspector in said notice. 9. The Electrical Inspector is herob7 empowered to disconnect or order the public utility company serving electric energy to serve the electrical service to such wiring, device and or material so found to be defectively installed until the installation of such wiring device and material has been made safe as directed by the Electrical Inspector. Any person, firm or corporation ordered to dis- continue any electrical service shall do so within twenty -four (24) hours and shall not reconnect or allow it to be reconnected until notified to do so by the City Electrical Inspector. No person or persons shall hinder or prevent the Cit7 Electrical Inspector or his deputies from making any electrical inspection. 10. Thonever service is disconnected to any building used for commercial or mercantile purposes, theaters, gasoling stations and garages in the corporate limits of the City of Euless, Texas, clear- ance must be obtainod from the Electrical Inspector before connecting to the electrical energy. No change will be made for such inspection and inspections will be made on application of owner, or tenant. 11. The City Electrical Inspector shall have the power to enter any building, structure, alley, lot, manhole or subway during roason- able hours and while in the actual porformance of his regular duties he shall have power to arrest, or cause the arrest of any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this ordinance. - 3 - 111. ELECTRICIAN: A LINCENSE 1, No person, firm or corporation shall engage in the business of installing, altering or repairing, or work in the capacity of a Vaster Electrician for himself or any other person within the City of Euless, Texas, on any electrical wirin -, devices or eeuipment for the installation, alteration or repair, or the replacement and /or reconn- ection of starters, motors, generators, signs, or other fixed or stationary appliances, nor shall any person, firm or corporation in any manner undertake to execute any such work unless such person, firm or corporation is the holder of a piaster Llectrician: a ( or Electrical Contractors ) License. 2. No permit for the installation or alteration of any electrical *wing, devices or equipment shall be issued to any person, firm or corporation unless such person, firm or corporation is the holder of a license entitling said holder to procure permits for and to execute the class of work described in said permit. 3. Any person, firm, or corporation failing to renew their license within thirty (30) days after expiration of said license, shall be required to make a new application and pay a fee of ""100.00 for renewal of said license. 4. All licenses shall be issued in the name of the person as certified by the City Electrical Inspectors. 5. The fee for Electrical Contractors License shall be `100.00 for the first year, payable in full in advance, said License shall be revoked at any time by the order of the PRa-or and the City Council for violation of any of the provisions of this ordinance; and the offending person, firm or corporation shall be prohibited from engaging in or conduction of any such work, rs called for in said license in the City of Euless, Texas, for the period of one (1) yeer, at which time it may be renewed for ';25.00. 6. It shall be unlawful for any person holding license to transfer same or allow the use of same directly, or indirectly, by any other person, firm or corporation, for the purpose of obtaining a permit to do any electric work herein specified. 7. yo minor, nor any person or persons not of lewful age will be issued a Plaster Electricians License. 8. Any person, firm or corporation desiring to secure an Elcc- tr'_cal Contractors License under the terms and provisions of the Ordinance, shall file with the City Secretary and application in writing, who shall report samo to the City Council following the receipt of same, and who shall deliver the said application to the Chief Electrical Inspector for further handling in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Ordinance. - 4 9. It shall be the duty of the Chief Electrical Inspector to make sl_Zch investigation as he may deem necessary as to all applicants, nsto their cualification, fitness, roputation, character and finan- cual ability, and after such investigation, the Chief Electrical Inspector is not satisfied with the qualification and fitness of the applicant, he shall notify said applicant in writing of such decision, and advise said applicant, that if he desires an examination, a date, time and place will be set for same. The Chief Electrical Inspector shall notify any .applicants that takes such examination of his -rade within five (5) days after such examination is held. A .general average of 75 will be the minimum passing grade. 10. Should such applicant fail, he may appeal from the decision of the Chief Electrical Inspector to the City Council if the applicant shall feel that he has not been fairly dealt with, and if he shall be able to establish to the satisfaction of the City Council may order a second examination. 11. Upon approval of any application, the Chief Electrical Inspector shall certify such approval to the City Council for their consideration, and if said application received the approval of City Council, City Secrotary shall forthwith issue to the said npplicant a certificate of qualification upon the payment of the fee as is provided in this Ordinance. 12. Approved Methods. No certificate of approval shall be issued unless the electric light, power and henting installations are in strict conformity with the provisions of this ordinance and the statutes of the State of Texas, and unless the installation is made In compliance with approved methods of construction for safety to life and property. The redula,tions as laid down in the National Elec- trical Code, as approved b,r the American Standards Association and in the National Electrical Snfot,;,- Code, as approved by the American Standards Association, and other installation and safety re-,ul^.tions approved by the American Standard Association shall be prima facie evidence that said installations ar@' in conformity of such approved mothods. 13. That Paragraph Three of such electrical ordinance style "Electricians License" be amended by nddin- a Subdivision 13 thereof to provide that the City of Inless, Texas, will recognize the electricians license issued by and other incorporated city within the State of Texas and that on presentation of such license and the pay- ment of a fee of 125.00, the said Cite of Euless shall issue a permit for such electrician to do electrician work in the City* of Euless for P, period which shall run and be concu - -ant witb the period for which said license issued bar sono other city- in the State of Texas is valid, and that the permit issued by the City of Euless shall expire on the expir ^.tion date of such electrician License. The renewal fce for such permit shall be d$25.00 per -oar ^s provided for the renewal of all other licenses under subdivision 5 of Article 111 of this ordinance. All other provisions of said Article 111 shall remain intact except �s to such portion with which are in direct conflict herewith. - 5 - IV. Electrical Permits, Not Obtained, Fees And Payment of Sale 1. No wiring devices or equipment for the transmission, distri- bution or utilization of electrical energy for light, power and /or heat, shall be installed within or on any building or structure, nor shall any alteration or addition be made to any such existing wiring device or equipment without first obtaining a permit therefor from the City Secretarv, except as stated in the following paragraphs. 2. PTO permit will be required for the replacement of lamps, or the connection of portable devices to suitable receptacles which have been perrianently installed. 3. No permit will be required for the installation of wiring and equipment for the operation of transmission of intelligence where such wiring, devices and equipment operate at a volta7le not exceeding 25 volts between conductors. 4. Application of electrical permits shall describe the work to be done, and shall be made in writing to the City Inspector. by the person, firm or corporation installinl- the work and the permit when issued shall be to such applicant. 5. The City Inspector may require that applicant for permit furnish complete pland and specification for the installation showing sizes of conductors and such other details as may be necessary to determine whether the installation as described will be in conformity with the requirements of this Ordinance. 6. The issuance of a permit shall not be taken as permission to violate any of the requirements of the Ordinance. 7. PERFIT INSPECTION FEE: The fees to be charged for inspection of any electrical work in the City of Euless, Texas, shall be paid at the office of the City Secretary before work is commenced. (a) boor electric motors up to and including 3/4 H P, "0.75. (b) For electric motors from 3/4 H P to and including 5 H P `1.50 each; for electric motors from 5 H P up to and including 15 H P N3.00 each, for electric motors in excess of 15 H P, 1"4.00. - 6 - (c) r'or electric ?er.erators, i.ncludinn switchboards and excitors not in excess of 10 K T1 "`10.00 each. (d) For electric sins, "`0.50 per circuit for t'ne first four circuits; "O.25 per circuit for all electric signs circuits thereafter; for connections of electric signs, "i1.00; for neon strip ?nd outline lighting, '`1.00 for the fist circuit and *0.50 for each additional circuit. (c) For motion picture projection machines, '2.00 each; for rectifiers "F1.50 each; for motion picture sound annaratus, including the complete circuit, pick -up devices, sound panel and speakers, "5.00 each; for sport li.grt wbon permanently installed, '1.00 each. (f) For transformer tune welders or plug receptacles for welders, '1.50 for each outlet. (g) For inspection of repair work where no additional outlets are added, '1.00 each. (h) For chan -ing, extending, or rolocating the service equipment when not in excess of 30 amperes, 1.00; more than 30 amperes but not in excess of 60 amperes, ``1.50; for more than 60 anperes, but not in excess of 10.0 amperes, "2.00; for more than 100 amperes, "3.00. v (i) For the inspection of e1cctri_ca1 anpa e tus for which no fee is borein other wise provided, ^ fcc of '`2.00 shall ?he char?od. T?e- inspection of wirir_g twice boon rejected by the Electric Inspector as not m,cting regulation roquircmcnts, a foe of "'1.50 shall be char;cd. (j) If the office of the Electrical Tnspcctor is not notified within 72 hours (5undays and le?al holi_days excepted) after a specific job is started, an invcsti_gation foe of 2.00 shall be charged. (k) A separate permit shall be ^equircd for each separate stora?e space in store buildinms, a separato permit shall be required for each separate service in residential buildings such as apartments. All permit fees herein provided for shell be naid direct to the City Secretary. - 7 - V. EL7CT"ICAL 'UTPM, REQUI-?EI•'ENTS 1. All wiring installed in the City of Euloss, Texas, may be of romex, except what is listed in the National Electrical Code as h,,izardous locations. 'liring of hazardous locations shall be installed to comply with Article 500 of National Electrical Code. 2. All power wiring of three (3) phase shall be installed in metal conduit. All motors must be grounded. 3. All current consuming openings installed on main ceiling of store buildings for general illumination shall be made of 300 watt capacity, and in no case shall moro than four such openings be per - mittcd on one circuit of No. 14 wire. For ceiling fan outlets, four only will be permitted on one circuit of No. 14 wire, and circuits must be tagged so is to identify them. In all other installations except decorative outline and show window wiring, eight current con- suming outlets with a maximum of 1520 watt connected lead for circuits will be permitted. 4. All conduits must be secured to boxes, junction boxes or cabinets by placing approved locknuts on outside of boxes and bushings inside of box. The point of entrance of service wires shell in all cases be designated by Power Company unless proper lines carrying the proper current desired exist at n point easily accessible and at shortest distance for supply, necessitating only one point of contract to customers building. 5. All installations of six circuits or more must have standard panel boards enclosed in standard approved steel cabinets. 6. Exot light shall be required in all apartments, and hotel buildings more than two stories high, rnd must be connected with only one set of fuses between main fuse and exit circuit, all lights indicating fire escape exits shall be red li;hts with word "EXIT" clearly* lettered. 7. All wire installed in underground work, ice boxes and re- frigerating vaults must be in rigid galvanized iron pipe and lead covered or in fiber pipe. 71hich shall be properly covered. B. All Coiling and bracket outlet boxes must be equipped with standard fixture studs. Fixture studs must nlso be securely fastened with stove bolts and not less than four bolts to the stud will be accepted, or an approved boltless stud. 9. Conduit must be installed ns a complete sustem before wires are installed. Conduit must be equipped at evor�,- outlet with approved fitting for outlet box. In completed installation the box n.ust bo covered b,7 an approved cover. - g - For conce ^led work in walls and coilin -s compnsed of plaster or wooden joists or stud construction, outlet boxes n.nd cutout cabinets must be installed so that the front odgc will be even with finished surface. Armored cable, or romcx, shall not be run overtop of joist; holes must be borod so that in pulling the cnblo no injury will be c ^used to the armor or romex by sharp bonds, strrin and the like. At all terminals cable must be fitted with .n ^.pproved fiber bushing to protect the cable from sharp edges of the armor. 10. The service entrance conduit must enter Pieter Socket, nnchored with screws and a mril line s^.fet;r switch or circuit breaker ^pp -ovod for location and purpose of its use. In all sin;le and multi - family dwollings not exceeding six apartments (whcro outdoor metering is used) the scrvico switch must be of the service entrance type with fuses or circuit - breakers for each of the underground service conductors end a neutral strip or conceting b ^r for fnstneing neutral conductor. 11. It shall be unlawful for any person, or persons to replace any fuse or fuses, circuit breakers or current 19.miting devices, with n fuse, brc ^.kcr or device of greater current limiting capacity, than that specified in the P•? ^tional Electric Code, or to replace rn� fuse, or cu -rent limiting device with any t;-pc of substitute other than that approvod for the purpose and location. 12. Plain entrance switches or circuit brotkers shall not be in- stalled in a bathroom, or within ro ch of any typo of plumping. Brass shell sockets shall not be installed in a bathroom, kitchen or open porch; sockets installed in these locatinns must be of the shock -proof typo. No drop cods are to be installed in clothes closets; they must be box receptacle t711pe. 13. All service must be ;rounded °✓i.th not less than No. 8 wire. The service must be mroundcd to cold writer line if water line is within tl -venty feet of service. If not, a ground rod of the .^.pproved t ?pe of 3/4" r,alvanizod conduit mat- be used. A driven ground rod must not be under five (5) feet long, and should be loc ^tcd at the customers wave switch or brake- box, 14. For residontial wiring not more; than ei;ht (8) hot openin;s shall be installcd on one 15 ampere circuit. An appliance circuit must be installed in all new work. Thorn shall be at lust one base receptacle but not more then four on n circuit of Yo. 12 wire. The appliance circuit load shall not exceed r. 1350 watt lend. 15. No service or meter switch shall be wired with less than No. 6 P.C. wire. All services or entrance s,,vitch:s instilled shall comply with the RTationnl Electric Code. Any residence of 1000 or more sq. ft. area shall have 100 amp. main cntranco. 16. All splices must be snldcrcd and taped with rubber and fric- tion tope, except where porcelain *mire nuts are used. Romox wire with bare neutral sh�.11 not be used ^s a, switch control of any purpose, but may be used as a hot circuit provided the byre wire is used as the neutral throughout the complete circuit. - 9 - 17. All ungrounded wire of branch circuit must be protected by fuses or circuit breakers. The neutral conductor rust be identified and properly connected to all branch circuits and be connected to the scroar .hall of all sockets and not need to be fused. 18. 'Hiring for light, heat or power in all buildings hereina..ftor erected, and all wiring, alterations and additions to existing build- ings in the fire limits of the City of Euless, Texas, shall be install- ed in a rigid iron conduit, or metal receway. All buildings used or to- be used for mercantile purposes, all churches, schools, rooming houses, m -ra is for three or more cars, hotels, hospitals, factories, grain elcv ^tors, filling stations, refineries, apartment houses of more than two apartments, all basements, all buildings (ether than private residencies) of two or more stories and all buildings to be used for public entertainment within the city limits of the City* of Plzless, Texas, shall have all wiring for lights, heat and pnwo r installed in a complete conduit nr metal moulding system. All changes or additions to wiring used for light, heat or power in all buildings classified in this article shall be in conduit or metal raceway. 19. All power wiring shall include all necessary wiring for electric motors, rectifiers, generators, electric heating and all electrical apparatus other than lighting and signalling equipment, and shall be in ri-;id iron conduit. All switches controlling motors or lights other than those mounted on switchboards shall be what is known as safety t�Tpe externally operated, indicate the on or off position. All buildings known as private residences, all duplex apartments, and all- out - buildings of residence occupancy hereinafter wire for lights, heat or power, and all alterations, changes or extensions to existing wiring shall be done in a metal conduit or armored ca.ble s -stem. Metal moulding can only be used on exposed work. 20. In commercial installations outside of Fire Zones, service entrance switches or circuit breakers for sinc;le phase, two wire, end single phase, three wire, not exceeding sixty amperes must be the service entrance type with fuses or circuit brakers for each of the ungrounded service entrance conductors and a neutral strip or connect- ing bar for fasting the neutral conductor. For multi -phase installat- ion the service entrance switch when up to and including 100 amperes must be equipped 1,,iith meter testing lugs .^.nd the switch must be the accessible fuse type safety meter service switches with fuses acc- essible only when switch is in open position. In multi -phase install- ations requiring instrument transformers the switch must be of the service entrance safety t7pe rnd the instrument transformers must be enclosed in an approved steel cabinet. - 10 - 21. In commercial buildings in the Fire Zones, all service entrance switches up to and including 100 amperes, single phase and multi- phase, must be the safety type meter service entrance switch with meter testing lugs in each of the ungrounded conductors, and shall have the main line fuses accessible only when the switch is in open position. fain line service entrance switches in excess of 100 amperes must be the safety type service entrance switch or circuit breaker, if instrument transformers are used; such transformers must be installed in approved steel cabinets. Texas Power and Light Co. furnishes C T Can and electrician installs cabinet, and T P L furnishes and installs C.T.s. 22. Pain entrance switches or circuit breakers in excess of 400 amperes may be mounted on approved switchboards, approved for the purpose and location. 23. The service entrance equipment for a multi- family apartment shall be wired so that the entire load shall be brou -;ht in through one main line service entrance switch; if separate metering is re- quired for each apartment, all such apartments must be supplied throu;h a safety type service entrance switch grouped with their respective meters at a readily accessible room or place. 24. Service entrance switches, circuit breakers, or fuse cabinets installed on the outside of buildings or structures must be app ^oved weatherproof switches. 25. All tune of meter sockets installed outside shall be in- stalled not more than six feet (61) or less than five feet six inches (516 °) from the center of the socket to the groundlevel. If the meter socket is installed indoors, the measurements shall be from floor level. 26. Hereafter, all electrical outlet boxes and switch boxes in bathrooms, and all electrical outlet boxes and switch boxes within ei -ht feet (S1) of any exposed plumbing shall be grounded. The ground- ing conductor shall be not less than 'A 14 wire. 27. This ordinance shall apply to electrical work done upon any structure in the City of Euless, Texas. VI PRYALTY Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and the person, firm or corpor -tion, or an employee, a agent manager, or officer thereof be fined in any amount not less than 1"5.00 nor more than "'100.00 for each offence, and ever violation of and each and every days failure or refusal to comply with the sp id provisions will - 11 - constitute a separate offense, and in case of willful or continued violations by any person, firm or corporation as afore said, or their agents, employees, servants or officers, the City shall have power to revoke and repeal any license under which said person, firm or corporation may be acting, and revoke all permits, privileges and franchises granted to said person, firm or corporation aforesaid. EXTM TED THIS 27th DAY OF JUNE, 1961. °/g J.S. Anderson Mayor, City of Euless, Texas Attest; S m 15J.E. Flippo City Secretary