HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 8316~"
ORDINANCE NO 8316
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF THE CODE OF
THE CITY OF FORT WORTH (1964), AS AMENDED, BEING AN
ORDINANCE SAFEGUARDING PERSONS AND PROPERTY AND PROMOT-
ING THE PUBLIC WELFARE DEFINING TERMS CREATING THE
OFFICES OF CHIEF ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR AND ELECTRICAL
INSPECTORS AND PRESCRIBING THEIR RESPECTIVE DUTIES
RIGHTS AND AUTHORITY PROVIDING STANDARDS FOR~ELECTRI-
CAL EQUIPMENT AND FOR ITS INSTALLATION AND REQUIRING
CONFORMITY THEREWITH MAKING iT UNLAWFUL TO UNDERTAKE
THE INSTALLATION ~OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WITHOUT A
PROPER LICENSE TO DO SUCH WORK EXCEPT A5 OTHERWISE
PROVIDED' AND WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING A PERMIT THEREFOR
AND PAYING A FEE AS PROVIDED HEREIN PROVIDING FOR
INSPECTIONS OF ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONSAND NOTICES
CREATING AN ELECTRICAL BOARD AND PRESCRIBING ITS
DUTIES REQUIRING LICENSE FOR MASTER ELECTRICIANS AND
JOURNEYMEN ELECTRICIANS MASTER SIGN AND JOURNEYMEN
SIGN ELECTRICIANS PROVIDING FOR TEMPORARY WORKING
PERMITS FOR UNLICENSED ELECTRICAL WORKERS PROVIDING
FOR EXAMINATIONS OF APPLICANTS FOR SUCH LICENSES AND
PRESCRIBING ANNUAL LICENSE FEES PROVIDING FOR SUSPEN-
SION AND REVOCATION OF SUCH LICENSES REPEALING ALL
ORDINANCES AND PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HERE-
WITH PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE FIXING A PENALTY FOR
THE VIOLATION HEREOF AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
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WHEREAS, it is deemed necessary to provide minimum stand-
ards for electrical equipment and for the installation altera-
tion or repair of any electrical equipment thereof, within the
City to protect and promote public safety, health and welfare
and
WHEREAS, the present Electrical Code is in need of amend-
ments in order to protect and promote public safety health and
welfare under modern conditions and
WHEREAS, the Electrical Code Revision Committee of the City
of Fort Worth has recommended the adoption of the provisions of
the 1981 National Electrical Code with certain amendments
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF FORT
WORTH
SECTION 1 1981 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE ADOPTED The
Electrical Code of the City of Fort Worth is hereby revised and
amended to conform to the 1981 National Electrical Code, as
amended hereby and the same as amended is hereby adopted as the
Electrical Code of the City of Fort Worth from the effective
date hereof Three copies of the 1981 National Electrical Code
with corrections, marked Exhibit A are incorporated herein by
reference and have been filed in the office of the City Secre-
tary for permanent record and inspection
SECTION 2 AMENDMENTS That the 1981 National Electrical
Code (Exhibit A ) be amended as shown by Exhibit B attached
hereto, which amendments are incorporated herein by reference
and shall have been filed in the office of the City Secretary
for permanent record and inspection
SECTION 3 PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS It shall be unlawful
for any person to install alter or repair any electrical equip-
ment in the City or cause the same to be done contrary to or in
violation of any of the provisions of this Code
Any person violating any of the provisions of this Code
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and each such person
shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each day or a
portion thereof during which any violation of the provisions of
this Code is committed, continued or permitted and each viola-
tion shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $200
SECTION 4 VALIDITY If any section subsection sen-
tence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason,
held to be unconstitutional such decision shall not affect the
validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance The City
Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordi-
nance and each section subsection clause of phrase thereof
irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections subsec-
tions sentences clauses and phrases be declared unconstitu-
tional
SECTION 5 ORDINANCES REPEALED Ordinance 7668 and all
Ordinances amendatory and all ordinances conflicting herewith
are expressly superseded by the terms of this Ordinance
Electrical permits heretofore issued under existing Ordi-
nances shall be valid for the time being for which they are
issued under the existing Electrical Code but upon expiration
thereof, the same shall be void
All pending litigation and existing violations both civil
and criminal whether pending in court or not under the Elec-
trical Code and amendments thereto superseded by the Ordinance,
shall not be affected by this Ordinance but may be prosecuted
until final disposition by the courts
SECTION 6 EFFECTIVE DATE The fact that the present
Electrical Code is inadequate creates an urgency and an emer-
gency for the .immediate preservation of the public peace,
health comfort, safety and general welfare and requires that
this Ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after its
passage and it is accordingly so ordained
SECTION 7 DIGEST AND REVISION The Ordinance constitutes
a digest and a revision of the Electrical Code Ordinances of the
City of Fort Worth Texas as provided by Section 2 Chapter
XXVI and Section 10, Chapter XXVIII of the Charter of the said
City, and the City Secretary is hereby directed to publish this
Ordinance in book or pamphlet form for general distribution
among the public and this Ordinance as so published in pamph-
let form, shall be admissible in evidence as provided in Section
3 Chapter XXVI of the Charter
SECTION 8 WHEN EFFECTIVE The fact that the present
Ordinances providing for an Electrical Code and regulating the
electrical installation within the corporate limits of the City
are deemed inadequate and there are conditions existing in said
City endangering the convenience safety and welfare of the
public which creates an emergency and public necessity in the
preservation of the public health and safety thereof the City
Secretary shall have this Ordinance published promptly in pamph-
let form as provided in Section 7 hereof and it shall become a
law and be in full force and effect from and after such publica-
tion
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
r_____-------
CITY ATTORNEY
ATTEST
~t~1V
SECRETARY
EXHIBIT A
ELECTRICAL CODE
The following Chapters Sections and parts of the 1981
National Electrical Code (Exhibit A ) are hereby amended and
after having been so amended shall be and read as follows
r
EXHIBIT B
SECTIONS
306-307
Certificate (g) When the owner or his agent requests a
of Approval Certificate of Approval for a conforming instal-
lation the Chief Electrical Inspector shall
issue such a certificate which will accurately
describe the installation and certify its inspec-
tion and approval
Temporary (h) When a certificate of approval is
Certificate issued authorizing the connection and use of a
of Approval temporary installation such certificate shall be
issued for a specified period as stated thereon,
and shall be revocable by the Chief Electrical
Inspector for good cause
Notice of (i) If upon inspection, the installation
Non-Conform- is found not to conform with the provisions of
ance this Code, the Chief Electrical Inspector shall
issue a notice of nonconformance and shall notify
the Master Electrician making the installation of
the defects which have been found to exist All
defective work shall be corrected and brought in
conformity with the provisions of this Code with-
in ten (10) days from the date of the written
notices If the defective work is not corrected
within the said ten (10) days no further
electrical work will be permitted within or on
the building or premises and the Master Electri-
cian making the installation will not be issued
any other permits to perform any other electrical
work
The provisions of this section shall in no
way nullify the Emergency Powers set out in
Section 204 of this code
Inspection SECTION 307 Each Master Electrician apply-
Fees ing for a permit shall pay an Inspection Fee as
set out by SCHEDULE 307A Payment of such fees
shall in no way excuse the Master Electrician
from the penalties set forth in this Code
EXCEPTION Where the Fee for new structures
and additions to structures have been collected
on a building permit additional Fees are not
required but the permit application shall be
filed before the work is commenced by the
Electrical Contractor doing the work
SCHEDULE 307A -- INSPECTION FEES
Minimum Fee ----------------------------- $10 00
LIGHT OUTLETS, FIXTURES, SWITCHES
RECEPTACLE VENT FANS
Up to 100 -- 20 each
All over 100 -- 15 each
APPLICANCES MACHINES CONTROLS, EQUIPMENT
MOTORS, GENERATORS WELDERS
Up to 100 -- $2 00 each
All over 100 -- 1 50 each
MISCELLANEOUS
Services including 150 amp ---------------$ 5 00
Services over 150 amp -------------------- 10 00
Swimming pools --------------------------- 25 00
Construction pole ------------------------ 5 00
First turndown --------------------------- 5 00
Successive turndown ---------------------- 15 00
Wrong number or locked ------------------- 5 00
Sign connections each ------------------- 3 00
SECTION 308 SECTION 308 When electrical work requiring
a permit is found to be in progress or completed
and no permit has been issued for such work, an
Investigation Fee of double the amount of the
Inspection Fee shall be charged to the Master
Electrician doing all or part of the work in
addition to such fees as are required by this
Code
SECTION 1012 (b) A license or permit may be suspended,
repealed or revoked by the Building Official or
Revocation of Chief Electrical Inspector by reason of the
Licenses occurrence of one or more of the following
1 Adjudication of insanity
2 Fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining
a license or permit
3 Violation of a provision of this ordi-
nance the Plumbing Mechanical or
Building Codes or any other regulating
ordinances of the City applicable to
the installation or alteration of
appliances equipment or sustems as set
forth in Ordinance No 8316 as
amended
4 Conviction of defrauding a person for
whom he had rendered or contracted to
render service
5 Failure to obtain a permit or the
attempted assignment of a permit
6 The voluntary or involuntary filing of
bankruptcy proceedings by or against
the firm, partnership association or
corporation and
7 The sending of six (6) notifications
within a six ( 6 ) month period that the
licensee is in violation of Ordinance
No 8316 as amended
SECTION 1013 Section 1013 (a) Upon suspension or revo-
cation of said Master Electricians or Master Sign
Suspension of Electricians License same shall be null and void
Licenses and no work thereafter may be performed there-
under
(b) Upon appeal to the Electrical Board
said Board may affirm, revise or modify such
suspension or revocation
SECTION 1014 SECTION 1014 (a) All persons who are
currently licensed shall be licensed under this
General Code, and such licenses shall expire at the
Provisions expiration date set out on such licenses unless
renewed as provided in this Code
(b) No license shall be issued under the
terms of this Code to any other than a natural
person
(c) No license in effect issued or
renewed under the terms of this Code shall ever
be transferred to or used by any other person
other than the one to whom or to which the same
is issued, nor shall a holder of a license allow
his name or license to be used by any other
person to obtain a permit or to perform work
under such license
(d) Journeyman Electricians or holders of
Temporary Working Permits who are not the holders
of valid Master Electrician s licenses shall
carry their Journeyman Electrician s license or
Temporary Working Permits on their persons at all
times while performing electrical work, and they
shall produce and present such licenses or
permits immediately upon request by any Electri-
cal Inspector
(e) Each holder of a license of any grade
or of a Temporary Working Permit shall furnish
the Chief Electrical Inspector with a written
notice of his permanent address and each holder
of a Master Electrician s license shall furnish
the Chief Electrical Inspector with a written
notice of the address and telephone number of his
regularly established place of business, and if
actively engaged in the electrical contracting
business, a list of Journeyman Electricians and
other electrical workers employed by him.
(f) Each licensed Master Electrician and
Master Sign Electrician shall have his company
name and his Electrician s license number as
follows FW E or approved Universal
Number permanently affixed on each front door of
each truck or vehicle which said electrician
operates in connection with the installation,
alteration or repair of electrical wiring equip-
ment or signs within the city, in letters and
numerals of at least two and one-half (2-1/2)
inches in height Such name and number shall be
the same for all vehicles so operated by any one
Licensed Master Electrician or any one Licensed
Master Sign Electrician Such name and number
shall not be of the plastic magnetic type
(g) This Code shall not be construed to
affect the responsibility or liability of any
party owning, operating controlling or
installing any electrical equipment for damages
to persons or property caused by any defect in
such equipment or in the installation thereof
nor shall either any Electrical Inspector or the
City assume any liability by reason of the
inspection or reinspection authorized in this
chapter or by reason of the certificates of
conformance or nonconformance or by reason of the
approval or disapproval of any equipment author-
ized in this chapter or by the issuance of any
permits or licenses
(h) The regulations provided in this Code
are hereby declared to be governmental and for
the benefit of the general public Any member of
the City Council any City official or employee
or any member of the Electrical Board charged
with the enforcement of this chapter acting for
the City in the discharge of his duty, shall not
thereby render himself personally liable and he
is hereby relieved from all personal liability
for any damage that may accrue to persons or
property as the result of an act required or
permitted in the discharge of his duties Any
suit brought against such official or employee
because of such act performed by him in the
enforcement of any provision of this chapter
shall be defended by the Department of Law until
the final adjudication of the proceedings
(i) Agencies of any federal state or local
government shall be exempt from the payment of
licensing fees in cases where the electrician
performing the work is an employee of such agency
and the work is to be performed on premises owned
or controlled by such agency The exemption
shall not void the requirements of the other
sections of Ordinance No 8316, the 1981 National
Electrical Code or this ordinance
SECTIONS PART III -- STANDARDS FOR THE
1501-1503 INSTALLATION OF
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
General CHAPTER 15 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Installation SECTION 1501 All installations of electri-
Prima Facie cal equipment and wiring made within the City
Compliance shall be made so that they will be in safe condi-
tion and will conform with the provisions of this
Code and all applicable Federal and State laws
and regulations
Equipment SECTION 1502 (a) If electrical equipment
Prima Facie and installations conform with all applicable
Compliance regulations set forth in the National Electrical
Code and the National Electrical Safety Code,
then such conformity shall be prima facie evi-
dence that such equipment and installations are
in safe condition provided that such conformity
does not conflict with this Code or any other
Ordinances of the City or any State or Federal
laws or regulations
(b) All installation of electrical wiring
and equipment shall conform to requirements of
Articles 90 through 820 and the accompanying
tables of the 1978 edition of the National Elec-
trical Code (National Fire Protection Association
No 70-1981) except as modified by the provisions
of this Ordinance
(c) Installations of electrical wiring and
equipment not in comnformance with the require-
ments of the 1981 edition of the National Elec-
trical Code or not in conformance with this
Ordinance are not in a safe condition and are a
violation of this Ordinance
SECTION 1503 If electrical equipment or wiring
conforms with all applicable standards of Under-
writers Laboratories Inc such conformity shall
be prima facie evidence that such equipment or
wiring is in safe condition
SECTIONS SECTION 1504 All unused electrical equip-
1504-1505 ment within or on public or private buildings or
premises shall be removed if such equipment in
Unused the opinion of the Electrical Inspector consti-
Equipment tutes a hazard or danger to life or property
Emergency SECTION 1505 The location and illumination
Exit requirements for emergency exit electrical light-
Lighting ing systems shall be as required in the Fort
Worth Building Code and installed in accordance
with the National Electrical Code
SECTIONS CHAPTER 16 -- GENERAL WIRING METHODS
1601-1604 AND MATERIALS
Wiring SECTION 1601 All electrical wiring methods
Methods used within or on all buildings hereafter erected
and all alterations in and additions to such
wiring in or on buildings now existing shall be
(a) Type MI cable
(b) Approved metal raceway system and/or
approved multi-outlet assemblies
(c) Aluminum sheathed cable systems
(d) Limited use of interlocking armored
power cable for feeder circuits in accessible
locations is permitted provided the cable is not
subject to mechanical injury, the cable is -1/0
or larger and is supported by and securely
fastened to a suitable metal rack or tray which
is designed for such purpose and which is made
electrically continuous throughout its length and
properly grounded at the source •end
SPECIAL EXCEPTION (1) The provisions of
this Section shall apply to all buildings used as
a combination living quarters and a business
commercial or industrial establishment
(2) The provisions of this section shall
not apply to Group H apartment houses Group I
Occupancies and Group J Occupancies three
stories or less in height as same are defined in
the Fort Worth Building Code The provisions of
this section shall apply to the separate branch
service conductors to individual apartment
breaker panels, to occupancies other than Group H
apartment houses Group I Occupancies and to
occupancies where two or more washing machines or
drying machines are located and to mechanical
buildings and other nonresidential occupancies
Flexible SECTION 1602 Flexible metal conduit shall
Conduit be used in exposed locations where flexibility is
required because of vibration or adjustment
needs and then only in lengths not greater than
needed and in no case shall such sections be
greater than six feet in length except by special
permission
Electrical SECTION 1603 Electrical Metallic Tubing
Metallic shall not be installed in the ground or in
Tubing concrete slabs poured on the ground
Exposed SECTION 1604 Exposed Raceways and cables
Raceway shall be run parallel or at right angles to
building lines and securely fastened to struc-
tural parts of buildings
SECTION 1605 SECTION 1605 A minimum of one and one-
fourth inch (1-1/4 ) raceway shall be required
Electrical from a service panel to an approved load center
Furnace in each heater closet Provided however that
Raceway all or a portion of any raceway may be installed
in an attic or in the crawl space between the
underfloor and ground or in both however, if
the electric furnace is 10 KW or smaller the
raceway size may be reduced
SECTIONS CHAPTER 17 -- CONDUCTORS
1701-1707
SECTOR 1701 Where conductor sizes are
General given in this Code they shall be used in accor-
dance with Table 310-16 and Table 310-18 of the
1981 edition of the National Electrical Code
Note No (3) of the notes to Tables 310-16
through 310-19 shall not apply
Aluminum SECTION 1702 Aluminum conductors shall
have connectors of proper size and approved for
such connection All aluminum connectors lugs
and splice connections shall be treated with
approved inhibitor for minimum wire size of No
8 All conductors of all wire sizes shall be
treated with approved inhibitors that are
connected to breakers lugs and other approved
terminals in service panels, meter sockets,
gutters or junction boxes All conductors shall
be wire brushed or scraped to remove oxide film
immediately before inserting into connectors
Temperature SECTION 1703 (a) Conductors used in loca-
Limitations tions which are exposed to both rain and sun,
such as on roof tops shall be approved for both
wet locations and for temperatures of not less
than 75 C (167 F) such as Type RHW or RH-RW
conductors or Type MI cable
(b) Conductors approved for a maximum of
60 C such as Type TW shall be derated to 70
percent of normal carrying capacity when used in
locations which are exposed to the sun
Damp SECTION 1704 Conductors approved for dry
Locations locations only such as Type RH and THHN shall
not be installed in locations which extend to and
include damp locations such as service entrance
conductors supplied by outside overhead service
drops
Lead Covered SECTION 1705 Lead covered conductors shall
be installed in an approved raceway system.
Underground SECTION 1706 Underground conductors other
than street lighting conductors having a voltage
greater than 600 volts between conductors shall
be enclosed in an approved raceway
SECTION 1707
CHAPTER 18 -- SERVICE CONDUCTORS
SECTION 1801 SECTION 1801 Outside overhead conductors
shall be installed in such a manner that a mini-
Service Drop mum clearance is maintained of less than twenty-
Height two feet above public streets
SECTIONS
1802-1806
SECTION 1802 Where alterations or new
Relocate construction by the owner of the premises or his
Service Drop agent reduces the clearance of outside wiring or
service drops below the minimum required by this
Ordinance or where swimming pools are construc-
ted under or in close proximity to such wiring
drops the conductors shall be relocated or the
service landing and service entrance shall be
relocated to provide required clearances at the
expense of the owner
Relocate SECTION 1803 Where alterations or new
Service construction by the property owner or his agent
Laterals interferes with or reduces the minimum protection
required for underground conductors or service
laterals, the underground conductors or service
laterals shall be relocated to provide required
protection at the expense of the owner (Parti-
cular attention is called to underground petrol-
eum storage tanks and swimming pools
Service Drop SECTION 1804 Racks and insulators shall
Attachments not be secured to the surface of roof tops
Where such racks and insulators cannot be
installed at a height great enough to permit the
minimum clearances of conductors as required by
this Code because of the construction of the
building than additional structures shall be
erected as are necessary to provide such minimum
clearance A service drop attachment shall be
installed for each service cable Each attach-
ment shall be of sufficient strength to support
the cable but shall not be smaller than a 1/2
inch galvanized steel eyebolt
Location of SECTION 1805 The point of entrance of
Entrance electrical service wires on underground services
Conductors and the point of landing of electrical service
drops on overhead services shall be designated by
the electricity supply agency and approved by the
Chief Electrical Inspector
Entrance SECTION 1806 (a) All electrical service
Conductors entrance conductors within or on any and all
Installation buildings hereafter erected and within or on all
existing buildings hereafter altered, extended
revised or remodeled, or in or on which the
electrical wiring is altered, extended revised,
or remodeled shall be installed in
1 A rigid metal raceway
2 Or in electrical metallic tubing
3 Or a metal enclosed bus duct
4 Or mineral insulated metal sheathed '
cable Type MI of equivalent sizes
Service (b) Such raceways bus ducts, or MI cable
Sized shall extend from the service head to the service
entrance switch or switches and shall be of
sufficient size for the connected load but in no
case shall such raceways be smaller than
1 For individual occupancies
SIZE TRADE SIZE
Under b00 square feet -------------- 1
600 to 1200 square feet ---------1-1/4
Over 1200 square feet -------------- 2
SECTIONS
1807-1811
53
2 For billboards --------- 1 trade size
3 For temporary service
construction poles ---- 3/4 trade size
SECTION 1807 Minimum Ampacity See Page
(a) Residential occupancy with 10 KW
furnace 150 Ampere
(b) Residential occupancy with 15 KW
furnace 175 Ampere
(c) Residential occupancy with 20 KW
furnace 200 Ampere
(d) Residential occupancy with 25 KW
furnace 225 Ampere
(e) Residential occupancy with 30 KW
furnace 250 Ampere
(f) Residential occupancy with 35 KW
furnace 275 Ampere
Enlarged or SECTION 1808 When the service is enlarged
Changed or changed in residences in existence prior to
Service the adoption of this Ordinance, the requirements
for receptacles shall comply with Chapter 21 of
this Code
Network SECTION 1809 Electrical services in the
Services network zone shall be connected to the under-
ground network system All permanent installa-
tions having more than two (2) two-wire circuits
shall be supplied with a three-wire service All
installations having more than eight (8) two-wire
circuits or four (4) three-wire circuits and
served from a wye source shall be connected with
a four-wire service
Located SECTION 1810 Service entrance conductors
Inside shall not be run at a distance greater than
Buildings twenty (20) feet within the hollow spaces of
combustible frame buildings, unless provided with
automatic over-current protection at their outer
ends
Entrance SECTION 1811 On buildings where the elec-
Installation tricity supply agency sets a transformer and
Multi- extends from their transformer a number of
Occupancy connection boxes for customer convenience or
where the electricity supply agency designates a
location for their meters with approval of Chief
Electrical Inspector, from these locations, the
service conductors to each individual occupancy
shall be run either (1) under the slab, (2)
outside of building (3) on roof and when
conductors emerge into occupancy shall extend no
more than twenty (20) feet to service equipment
unless they have overcurrent protection at their
outer end but in no case can unfused service
conductors feed through one single occupancy to
another
SECTIONS SECTION 1812 Service for mobile homes
1812-1814 shall be not less than one hundred (100) ampere
capacity
SECTION 1813 Grounding electrode conduc-
tors shall be copper
SECTION 1814 Supplementary grounding when
using water as a grounding electrode will not be
required if there is twenty feet or more of rigid
metal piping or copper piping buried in the earth
underneath the foundation steel
SECTIONS CHAPTER 20 - OVERCURRENT AND BREAKER
2001-2004 DEVICES AND CIRCUITS
Service SECTION 2001 Service entrance switches or
Equipment any service equipment shall not be installed
Location within a bathroom, toilet room, closet, or
cabinet Such equipment may be installed in
utility rooms machinery rooms or storage rooms,
provided such installation is accessible and is
in compliance with the requirements of this
Code Overcurrent devices shall not be installed
within a clothes closet cabinet toilet room,
bathroom, or near easily ignitable material
Overcurrent devices shall be readily accessible
Accessibility SECTION 2002 Service switches meters
overcurrent devices and all other service equip-
ment shall be so installed that there shall be
sufficient clearance to permit ready access to
such equipment and in no case shall this clear-
ance be less than the following amount from a
point one foot on each side and one foot above
the highest point of such equipment down to the
finished grade the clearance shall extend
straight out for a distance of four feet In the
case of switchboards requiring access to the rear
side a clearance of four feet shall be main-
tained both in back and front of such switch-
boards Service equipment other than switch-
boards may have less than one foot clearance to
blank walls and blank ceilings, provided that a
clearance of four feet is maintained directly in
front of such equipment
Circuit SECTION 2003 Tie-bars used to connect
Breaker circuit breakers together shall be of a type
Tie-Bars designed for and approved for such purpose
Nails wires, and similar improvisions shall not
be used in lieu of approved bars
Overcurrent SECTION 2004 Devices intended to break
And Breaker current shall Have an interrupting capacity
Equipment sufficient for the voltage employed and for the
current which must be interrupted and for
service disconnecting means and service over-
current protective devices, and shall be capable
of interrupting safely a current of not less than
ten thousand amperes at the rated voltage when
connected to the underground network
SECTIONS
2005-2008
SECTION 2005 Temperature sensitive cut-out
Temperature switches shall be mounted near the floor, in the
Sensing return air, in all ventilating and air condition-
Breakers ing ducts and in the air stream in the attic fan
and forced draft installations Such switch
shall be so designed to open the power circuit to
the blower when the actuating air reaches a
temperature of 194 F (or 90 C ) and remain in
the open-circuit position until manually reset
Gas-fired heating units Such cut-out
switch shall be connected in the circuit
that feeds the unit
Electrical heating units Such cut-out
switch shall be connected in the circuit
ahead of the control transformer
EXCEPTIONS (1) Unit serving single rooms
(2) Commercial cafe and restaurant range
hood
Class One SECTION 2006 (a) Class One circuits, as
Circuits defined by the National Electrical Code shall be
installed in properly supported and grounded
rigid conduit electrical metallic tubing or
Type IM cable
(b) All areas where electrical conduit is
installed within twenty feet of gasoline feeder
lines shall be classified as Class One Division
Two as defined by the National Electrical Code
Height of SECTION 2007 The height above the floor to
Panel Board the center of lighting and appliance branch
circuit panel boards shall not be less than four
(4) feet or more than six (6) feet
High Leg SECTION 2008 The high leg of 120/240 Volt
3 phase 4 wire service shall not be terminated in
the same panel board with single phase lighting
and power
SECTIONS CHAPTER 22 - HAZARDOUS AND SPECIAL
2201-2202 INSTALLATION
Outside SECTION 2201 All electrical wiring
Building installed on the outside surface of any building
Wiring within the Corporate City limits, including
private residences shall be
1 Run in an approved and properly
grounded metal raceway
2 Or Type MI cable
SECTION 2202 (a) Conduits boxes and
other enclosures designed to be used exposed to
the weather when properly equipped with gaskets
and covers shall be so equipped with such
approved gaskets and covers when so used Tape
or other improvisations shall not be used in lieu
of approved gaskets
(b) Equipment installed out-of-doors shall
be approved for the location
SECTION 2203 SECTION 2203 (a) All swimming pools and
diving platforms or other pool structures over 12
Swimming feet in height shall be located at least 10 feet
Pool from the nearest utility easement, alley or prop-
erty and if any overhead wiring shall be in
existence over a proposed swimming pool site, the
owner who proposes to construct such swimming
pool shall make arrangements with the appropriate
electricity supply agency for the relocation of
such overhead wiring before a permit will be
issued for the construction of such swimming
pool
(b) Underground wiring shall not be permit-
ted under the pool or under the area extending 5
feet horizontally from the inside wall of the
pool
SECTIONS CHAPTER 23 - TEMPORARY WIRING
2301-2304 INSTALLATIONS
Temporary SECTION 2301 All temporary construction
Construction sites shall be installed as per following
Sites diagrams The disconnects on the poles shall be
either an approved enclosure, or an approved
disconnecting means feeding receptacles under the
disconnect Weatherproof enclosure shall be used
to mount devices All receptacles shall be wired
to meet N E C requirements and all grounding
conductors shall be green The green grounding
conductor shall be connected to all the devices
Grounding through metal conduit shall not be
allowed
G F C I SECTION 2302 A11 employees using power
Requirement from all 120 volt single phase 15 and 20 ampere
receptacles on construction sites shall furnish
their own ground-fault circuit interrupters,
connected to cords receiving energy from the
temporary pole to protect them from electrical
shock or C F C I breakers must be installed at
the temporary pole
Large Area SECTION 2303 A11 apartment construction
G F C I sites that cover a large area and all large con-
Requirement struction sites, such as regional shopping
centers and high-rise buildings shall use either
the methods set out in Sections 2301 and 2302
and/or an assured grounding procedure
Assured SECTION 2304 Where a written procedure is
Grounding continuously enforced by a designated individual
Requirement at the construction site to indicate that equip-
ment grounding conductors for 120 volt, single
phase 15 and 20 ampere receptacles flexible
cord sets, and equipment connected by cord and
plug are installed and maintained in accordance
with requirements The procedure shall include
electrical continuity tests of all required
equipment grounding conductors and their connec-
tions These tests shall be conducted as
follows This can be done by letter or approved
by Area Inspector
(a) Fixed receptacles shall be tested where
there is evidence of damage
SECTIONS PART VII - LEGISLATIVE
9001-9005 CHAPTER 90 - LEGISLATIVE
SECTION 9001 If electrical equipment and
installation comply with the standards set forth
in the 1981 Edition of the National Electrical
Safety Code, and amendments thereto then it
shall be prima facie evidence that such electri-
cal equipment and installations are in safe
condition
SECTION 9002 It shall be unlawful for any
person to install alter or repair any electrical
equipment in the City or cause the same to be
done contrary to or in violation of any of the
provisions of this Code
Any person violating any of the provisions
of this Code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,
and each such person shall be deemed guilty of a
separate offense for each day or a portion there-
of during which any violation of the provisions
of this Code is committed continued or commit-
ted and each violation shall be punishable by a
fine not to exceed $200 00
SECTION 9003 If any section subsection
sentence clause or phrase of this Ordinance is,
for any reason held to be unconstitutional, such
decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this Ordinance The City
Council hereby declares that it would have passed
this Ordinance, 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
SECTION 9004 Ordinance No 7668 and all
Ordinances amendatory thereto are expressly
superseded by the terms of this Ordinance
Electrical Permits heretofore issued under
existing Ordinances shall be valid for the time
under which they are issued under the existing
Electrical Code, but upon expiration thereof the
same shall be void
All pending litigations and existing viola-
tions, both civil and criminal, whether pending
in court or not under the Electrical Code and
amendments thereto superseded by this Ordinance
shall not be affected by this Ordinance but may
be prosecuted until final disposition by the
courts
SECTION 9005 The fact that the present
Electrical Code is inadequate creates an urgency
and an emergency for the immediate preservation
of public peace health comfort safety and
general welfare, and requires that this Ordinance
shall take effect on July 1 1981 and that
publication as provided by law shall be had and
it is accordingly so ordained
SECTION 9006 SECTION 9006 This Ordinance constitutes a
digest and revision of the Electrical Code Ordi-
nances of the City of Fort Worth Texas as provi-
ded by Section 2 Chapter XXVI and Section 10,
Chapter XXVIII of the Charter of said City, and
the City Secretary is hereby directed to publish
this Ordinance in book or pamphlet form for
general distribution among the public, and this
Ordinance as so published in pamphlet form,
shall be admissible in evidence as provided in
Section 3, Chapter XXVI of the Charter
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
°C/LZiZC ~ LC~~~`~~-_
City Attorney
ATTEST
ty Secretary
pity ~f ' J~'®rt ~®r~h, ~e.~~s
1~ayor a~a.tl ~oadncal Corra..an.~.n.a,cata.o~a,
DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT Adoption of the Proposed 1981 pgGE
NUMBER National Electrical Code and 1
4/14/81
** G-4953
Ordinance
i °f
In keeping with the policy of regularly updating the building codes of the City
of Fort Worth attached is a copy of the proposed ordinance adopting the ;198.~:~~
National Electrical Code
The amendments presently in effect will not be changed and will be made part of
the current electrical. ordinance by amending Ordinance No 7668
On February 26, 1981, a public hearing was•held by the electrical-Appeals Board
No one appeared in objec tion the proposed ordinance therefore the Board has
recommended the adoption of the proposed 1981 National Electrical Code and.
attached ordinance
Recommendation
It is recommended that t he City Council adopt the attached ordinance amending the
Electrical Ordinance No 7668
GG plg
Attachment
APPRQVED BY
CITY COU€uCIL
AFR ~~ 1981
~~
Ci ecxeeary f t
j C of ~oxt Woxth, Texa,a
SUBMITTED fOit~ THE
EABY GER'S /~
AF
I OSITiON BY COUNCIL; PROCESSED BY
F
C ^ APPROVED
ORIOINATlNO
DEPARTMENT HEAD A DO
H ^ OTHER (DESCRIBE)
: o ~ CITY SECRETARY
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ~ ~Q
~ ~ /
CONTACT DATE