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Home My WebLink AboutOrdinance 6110 ORDINANCE NO. Co / + AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING GENERAL ELECTRICAL WIRING METHODS AND MATERIALS TO BE USED WITHIN OR ON ALL BUILDINGS TO BE ERECTED IN THE CITY OF FORT WORTH OR TO BE USED IN OR ON ALL ALTER- ATIONS OR ADDITIONS TO EXISTING BUILDINGS IN THE CITY OF FORT WORTH BY AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH CODE BY DELETING SECTIONS 14-74(1) and 14-74(2) AND BY ADDING NEW SECTIONS 14-74(l) and 14-74(2) ; CREATING EXCEPTIONS TO THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AS HERE- IN ESTABLISHED; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; MAKING THIS ORDINANCE CUMULATIVE OF EXISTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING A PENALTY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR PUB- LICATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH: Section 1 That Chapter 14 of the City of Fort Worth Code be and the same is hereby amended by deleting sections 14-74(1) and 14-74(2) therefrom and by adding thereto sections 14-74(1) and 14-74(2), which new sections shall hereafter read as follows: Section 14-74(1) . All electrical wiring methods used within or on all buildings to be erected and all alterations in and additions to such wiring in or on buildings now existing, including all buildings used as a combination of living quarters and business, commercial, or industrial establishments shall be: (a) Type MI cable; (b) approved metal raceway system or approved multi-outlet assemblies; (c) aluminum sheathed cable systems; (d) interlocking ar- mored power cable for feeder circuits in ac- cessible locations is permitted, provided the cable is not subject to mechanical injury, the cable is 41/0 or larger and is supported by and securely fastened to a suitable metal rack or tray which is designed for such purposes and which is made electrically continuous through- out its length and properly grounded at the source end. SPECIAL EXCEPTION: Such methods and materi- als shall not apply to private residences, duplex apartment buildings and type V apartment build- ings which are not located in fire zone 1 or fire zone 2 as such fire zones are now designated and defined in the Building Code of the City of Fort Worth. Section 14-74(2) . Flexible metal conduit shall not be used in exposed locations where rigid raceways can be installed except where flexibility is required because of vibration or adjustment needs and then only in sections not greater than needed and in no case shall such sections be greater than six feet in length except by special permission of the Chief Elec- trical Inspector. Section 2 Should any section, clause or provision of this ordi- nance be declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect any other portions of this ordinance other than the section, clause or provision so declared to be unconstitutional. Section 3 That this ordinance shall repeal the provisions of Chap- ter 14 of the Code of the City of Fort Worth which are in conflict herewith, but only insofar as those provisions of Chapter 14 of the Code of the City of Fort Worth are in con- flict, and as to all other provisions of Chapter 14 of the Code of the City of Fort Worth not in direct conflict here- with, this ordinance shall be and is hereby made cumulative except as to such provisions as are expressly repealed hereby. -2- Section 4 That any person or the agent, servant, or employee of any person who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or re- fuses to comply with any provision of this ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) , and that each day a violation exists is hereby declared to be a distinct and separate offense. Section 5 That this ordinance constitutes a revision of Chapter 14 of the Code of the City of Fort Worth as provided by Section 2, Chapter XXVI of the Charter of the City of Fort Worth, and the City Secretary is hereby directed to publish this ordinance in pamphlet form for general distribution among the public, and this ordinance, as so published in pamphlet form, shall be admissible as evidence as provided by Section 3 of Chapter XXVI of the Charter of the City of Fort Worth. That in addition the City Secretary shall cause the caption hereof and Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 to be pub- lished in the official newspaper of the City of Fort Worth for 5 days. Section 6 That this ordinance shall become effective and be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publica- tion as required by law, and it is so ordained. -3- MWAH" City of Fort Worth, Texas LINE Mayor and Council ncil Communication MORPHM R.& B. DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: Proposed Amendment to Fort PAGE NUMBER Worth Electrical Code GRAHAM 6/2/69 G-1380 i of 2 BUILDING On July 1, 1968, the City Council appointed three construction code review s committees comprised of city and industrial leaders to review available `{ model codes and to recommend possible revisions to the City's Building, Fire, Electrical and Plumbing Codes (M&C G-1255). This step was taken in an effort to encourage optimum community development by updating construction codes to reflect new developments in the building industry. The Fort Worth Electrical Code is based on the National Electrical Code, a model code promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association with some local amendments. One of the local amendments concerns the use of rigid metal raceways for electrical wiring in apartment projects. Letter from Electrical Code Review Committee In reviewing and editing the Fort Worth Electrical Code, there is one signi- ficant item on which the Electrical Code Review Committee could not reach a unanimous decision. Forrest B. Adams, Chairman of the Electrical Code Review Committee, has written a letter to the City Manager stating a majority and minority opinion on the use of non-metallic sheath cable (Romex) in type V apartments in lieu of rigid metal raceways (conduit) , should be submitted for a determination by the City Council (See attached letter) . The National Electrical Code states that all electrical wiring used within all buildings shall be either type MI cable; approved metal raceway system; aluminum sheath cable system; or interlocking armor power cable for feeder circuits, with the exception of private residences, duplex apartment buildings and type V apartments, which are not located in fire zone 1 or fire zone 2. The present Fort Worth Electrical Code has amended this provision to delete type V apart- ments from the exceptions. Type V apartments are wood frame apartments of construction similar to most residences. They are limited to two stories in height and may not contain more than 4,000 square feet above the first floor unless 100 per cent of the building has a one hour fire rated construction. If the entire building has one hour fire rated construction, 7,900 square feet of floor space may be permitted above the first floor. Type V apartments are commonly referred to as garden apartments. The Recommendation of the Electrical Code Review Committee The majority of the Electrical Code Review Committee has recommended that the present local amendment to the National Electrical Code be retained, ie - all apartments with more than two units shall have wiring installed in conduit. Duplexes and private residences may be wired with Romex non-metallic sheath cable. A minority of the Electrical Code Review Committee concurs with the Building Code Review Committee's recommendation to delete the more restrictive local amendment and permit non-metallic sheath cable (Romex) in type V garden apartments. P DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: Proposed Amendment to Fort PAGE NUMBE6/2/69 G-1380 Worth Electrical Code 2 of 2 Recommendation of the Building Code Review Committee On March 18, 1969, the Building Code Review Committee addressed a letter to the Electrical Code Review Committee in which it recommended that the use of Romex be extended to two-story apartments of type V construction, (a copy of letter is attached). Approval of Other Governmental Agencies for Use of Non-Metallic Sheath Cable (Romex) in Type V Garden Apartments Other major cities in Texas which approve the use of Romex wiring in garden apartments , in accordance with the National Electrical Code, include Dallas , Houston, and San Antonio. In the ten county North Central Texas Council of Governments area 27 cities have adopted the National Electrical Code in its entirety, (which permits Romex in apartments) . These include Dallas, Arlington (condominium apartments only) , Grand Prairie, Haltom City, Richland Hills, Bedford, and White Settlement. The Federal Housing Administration recommends the use of Romex in garden type apartments. The U. S. Corps of Engineers requires that Romex be used in military multi-family construction and the Department of Defense permits it in the guide specifications for military family housing (DOD 4270.21—Spec.). Recommendation I is the recommendation of the staff that the minority report of the Electri- c 1 Code Review Committee be adopted by the City Council and that an ordinance b adopted permitting the use of non-metallic sheath cable (Romex) in private r sidences, duplex apartment buildings, and type V apartment buildings which are not located in fire zone 1 or fire zone 2. HDM:ms Attach. SUBMITTED BY: DISPOSITI BY COUNCIL: PROCESSED BY APPROVED ❑ OTHER (DESCRIBE) !G! C14 S"RA DATE CITY MANAGER