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Home My WebLink AboutOrdinance 6619 ORDINANCE NO . � { AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 1971 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE AND AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 6245 OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, WHICH ORDINANCE ADOPTED THE 1968 NATION- AL ELECTRICAL CODE (WITH CERTAIN AMENDMENTS) AS THE ELECTRICAL CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, WHICH SAID AMENDMENTS ARE INCLUDED IN EXHIBIT "B " ATTACHED TO SAID ORDINANCE NO. 6245, BY PRESCRIBING CLEARANCES BETWEEN SWIMMING POOLS AND ELECTRICAL WIRING OR OUT- LETS ; BY PROVIDING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR INSTALLA- TION OF EXPOSED RACEWAYS AND CABLES ; BY PRESCRIBING HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS FOR LIGHTING AND APPLIANCE BRANCH CIRCUIT PANEL BOARDS ; BY PRESCRIBING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES FOR OCCU- PANCIES OTHER THAN RESIDENCES ; BY REQUIRING LIGHTING IN MECHANICAL ROOMS AND AREAS ; PROVIDING A SEVERABIL- ITY CLAUSE; MAKING THIS ORDINANCE CUMULATIVE OF OTHER ORDINANCES AND PROVISIONS OF THE CITY CODE; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PROVISIONS OF THE CITY CODE IN CON- FLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING A PENALTY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE . BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS : SECTION 1. 1971 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE ADOPTED. The Electrical Code of the City of Fort Worth is hereby revised and amended to con- form to the 1971 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 said 1971 National Electrical Code with corrections, marked "Exhibit A", are expressly incorporated herein by refer- ence and have been filed in the office of the City Secretary for permanent record and inspection. SECTION 2 . That Chapter 10 - Licensing of Exhibit "B" attached to and incorporated by reference in Ordinance No. 6245 of the City of Fort Worth is hereby amended by adding thereto Section 1014 (1) reading as follows : "SECTION 1014 (1) . Agencies of any federal, state or local government shall be exempt from the payment of licensing fees in cases where the elec- trician performing the work is an employee of such agency and the work is to be performed on premises owned or controlled by such agency. This exemption shall not void the requirements of the other sec- tions of Ordinance No. 6245, the 1971 National Elec- trical Code or this ordinance. " SECTION 3 . That Chapter 16 - General Wiring Methods and Materials of Exhibit "B " attached to and incorporated by reference in Ordi- nance No. 6245 of the City of Fort Worth is hereby amended by adding thereto Section 1604 reading as follows : "SECTION 1604. Exposed Raceways and cables shall be run parallel or at right angles to build- ing lines and securely fastened to structural parts of buildings . " SECTION 4. That Chapter 20 - Over Current and Breaker Devices and Cir- cuits of Exhibit "B " attached to and incorporated by reference in Ordinance No. 6245 of the City of Fort Worth is hereby amended by adding to said Chapter 20 an additional Section No. 2007 reading as follows : "SECTION 2007 . The height above the floor to the center of lighting and appliance branch circuit panel boards shall be not less than four (4) feet or more than six (6) feet. " SECTION 5 . That Chapter 21 - Lighting and Appliances of Exhibit "B " attached to and incorporated by reference in Ordinance No. 6245 of the City of Fort Worth is hereby amended by adding to said Chapter 21 an additional Section No. 2108 reading as follows : "SECTION 2108. In all occupancies, recepta- cles shall be installed in compliance with this code and any national code incorporated by refer- ence herein; provided, however, that in all areas - 2 - in which electric signs or similar devices are likely to be placed and on wall areas over work repair benches or behind bars or serving counters, not less than one duplex receptacle shall be in- stalled for each six linear feet or fraction thereof measured around the wall space of the room. In all such areas, at the ceiling line duplex receptacles shall be installed in suffi- cient number that no point on any such ceiling shall be at a distance greater than ten feet from at least one receptacle. " SECTION 6. That Chapter 21 - Lighting and Appliances of Exhibit "B" attached to and incorporated by reference in Ordinance No. 6245 of the City of Fort Worth is hereby further amended by adding to said Chapter 21 an additional Section No. 2109 reading as follows : "SECTION 2109. The mechanical areas in all types of occupancies shall be adequately lighted. The areas in attics and under floors where warm air furnaces are installed shall have a permanent electric outlet and lighting fixture at or near the furnace, controlled by a switch located at the required passageway opening. " SECTION 7 . That Chapter 22 - Hazardous and Special Installation of Exhibit "B " attached to and incorporated by reference in Ordi- nance No. 6245 of the City of Fort Worth is hereby amended by adding thereto Section 2204 reading as follows : "SECTION 2204. All swimming pools and diving platforms or other pool structures over 12 feet in height shall be located at least 10 feet from the nearest utility easement, alley or property, and if any overhead wiring shall be in existence over a proposed swimming pool site, the owner who pro- poses to construct such swimming pool shall make arrangements with the appropriate electricity sup- ply agency for the relocation of such overhead wiring before a permit will be issued for the con- struction of such swimming pool. " - 3 - SECTION 8. That if any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance, and all of the remainder of this ordinance not so held to be unconstitutional shall continue to be in full force and effect. SECTION 9. That this ordinance shall be and is hereby declared to be cumulative of the provisions of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, and amendments thereto, regulating the performance of electrical work for which a license is required and the grant- ing of electrician's licenses, except in those instances where the provisions of this ordinance are in direct conflict with such Code, in which instances said conflicting provisions of such Code are hereby repealed. SECTION 10. That any person, firm, association of persons , company or corporation or their agents, servants or employees who violate, disobey, omit, neglect or refuse to comply with any provision of this ordinance shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) and each day that a violation exists is hereby declared to be a distinct and separate offense and punishable as such, all as provided for in Section 1-5 of Chapter I of the Code of the City of Fort Worth (1964) as amended. 4 - SECTION 11. That this ordinance shall become effective and be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as required by law, and it is so ordained. APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY : City Attorney ADOPTED EFFECTIVE 5 - City of Fort Worth, Texas UNI Mayor and Council Communication MAtrON ®®daa DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: Adoption of 1971 Electrical Code PAGE NUMBER OMklAM 1- 4 G-1900 Requirements and Other Amendments to the 2 Worth Electrirnj Code PAIGE The Fort Worth Electrical Code presently in effect is the 1968 edition of the National Electrical Code, with local amendments as adopted oil February 16, 1970. Following the policy of regularly updating the City's building codes, the Electrical Appeals Board has reviewed the 1971 edition of the National Electrical Code and recommends that it be adopted, with certain amendments, as the electrical code of the City of Fort Worth. Proposed Amendments The amendments recommended by the Board include all those adopted on February 16, 1970, and currently in effect, as well as six new amendments which are as follows: 1) The requirement that exposed raceways and cables shall be run parallel or at right angles to building lines and securely fastened to structural parts of buildings to protect them from physical damage. 2) The requirement that panel boards be located at a standardized height above the floor, out of the reach of small children. 3) The requirement that sufficient electrical connections be provided for temporary signs, clocks, and other display media in commercial installations where such devices are likely to be placed, so that circuits will not be overloaded. 4) The exemption from payment of electricians' licensing fees for employees of governmental agencies. 5) The requirement that adequate lighting and electrical outlets be provided in attic or underfloor areas where warm air furnaces or other mechanical equipment is installed. This amendment brings the electrical code in conformance with the mechanical and plumbing codes in this respect. 6) The requirement that all overhead wiring in proximity to a swimming pool be eliminated and that the owner of the pool be responsible for assuring its elimination. k DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: Adoption of 1971 Electrical Code PAGE NUMBER Requirements and Other Amendments to the 2 of 2 1/24/72 G-1900 Fgrt Discussion The 1971 National Electrical Code contains many changes from the 1968 edition of this code. These revisions and the six proposed local amendments to the existing Fort Worth Code provide increased protection to the public. The costs of these changes for residential construction are off-setting in the average residential unit. In the case of all-electric residences, the effect will be a net increase' of approximately $25 to $50 per average residence. In the case of average commercial construction the net effect will result in practically no change in cost due to the compensating effect of the proposed changes. Recommendation It is recommended that the ordinance as amended and incorporated herein adopting the provisions of the 1971 National Electrical Code and the six proposed amendments be approved as the Electrical Code of the City of Fort Worth. RNL:mj SUBMITTED BY: DISPOSITION BY COUNCIL: PRO ESSED BY 214APPROVED c ❑ OTHER (DESCRIBE) u ��J CITY SECRETARY DATE CITY MANAGER