§ 1117-43. Illumination and Electrical Work.

1117-43.1 Illumination: All portions of residential buildings, including attics, basements and cellars, shall be provided with approved electrical illumination adequate for the intended use of such area.

1117-43.2 Electrical work: All electrical installations, wire, apparatus and appliances for furnishing light, heat, power, or for other purposes which are deemed to be hazards as defined in § 1117-43.4 shall be corrected as set forth in Section 1117-43.5.2 through 1117-43.5.7 CBC, inclusive or discontinued as set forth in Section 1117-43.6 CBC.

1117-43.3 Existing Hazardous Wiring.

1117-43.3.1 General: When the wiring of an existing building is found to constitute a serious safety hazard, the director of buildings and inspections shall order the owner or person in control of such building or structure to bring all wiring into substantial compliance with the minimum requirements of this code as set forth in 1117-43.5 CBC.

1117-43.4 Hazards Defined.

1117-43.4.1 General: For the purposes of this Chapter, serious safety hazards shall include, but not be limited to the following:

(1)

Over fusing (installation of overcurrent protective devices which exceed the approved circuit carrying capacity of the conductors), or bridging of required fuses:

(2)

Unapproved splices;

(3)

Overloaded services, feeder or branch circuits;

(4)

Extension cord abuse (extension cords used as permanent wiring);

(5)

Unprotected knife switches or other dangerous electrical equipment;

(6)

Defective permanent wiring;

(7)

Lighting fixtures with pull chain switches mounted above plumbing fixtures:

(8)

Brass shell sockets within reach of grounded surfaces.

1117-43.5 Minimum Facilities for Existing Structures.

1117-43.5.1 General: The conditions listed in 1117-43.5.2 through 1117-43.5.7 CBC shall be deemed to be the minimum facilities acceptable under this Code to correct hazardous conditions in existing buildings or other structures.

1117-43.5.2 Receptacle outlets: Every existing habitable room shall be provided with a minimum of one duplex receptacle outlet for each 55 square feet of floor area or fraction thereof. Required outlets shall not be spaced closer than 12 feet measured around the perimeter of the room.

1117-43.5.3 Appliance circuit: In existing residential occupancies, at least one appliance circuit of not less than 20 ampere capacity shall be installed as separate circuit in the area where cooking facilities have been installed when any new outlets are added in that area.

1117-43.5.4 Circuits related to floor area: In existing residential occupancies, there shall be at least one 15-ampere rated lighting circuit for each 575 square feet of floor area or one 20-ampere rated lighting circuit for each 765 square feet of floor area.

1117-43.5.5 Service equipment: Such equipment shall be of approved size for the load with a minimum of 60-ampere capacity.

1117-43.5.6 Overload protection: All lighting and appliance circuits of 30 amperes or less shall be protected by nontamperable fuses or circuit breakers of approved size.

1117-43.5.7 Hazardous wiring and devices: All wiring and electrical devices shall be of such nature as to be safe under normal conditions of use and free from all hazards apt to result in injury or fire. All hazardous wiring or equipment, as determined by the director of buildings and inspections, shall be removed.

1117-43.5.8 Fused panels: Existing fused panels, load centers and disconnects within medium base fuse holders shall have a non-removable insert installed that shall allow only the proper amperage fuse to be installed as sized for the branch wiring that is protected by that fuse.

1117-43.6 Service Supply for Existing Buildings or Other Structures.

1117-43.6.1 General: In existing buildings or other structures, when any unsafe wiring conditions as hereinafter described shall not have been corrected as ordered within the time given in the notice, the director of buildings and inspections may direct the person, firm or corporation supplying the electric service to the building to discontinue the service. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to continue such service or to restore same until furnished with a copy of a certificate of approval from the electrical inspection agency, or a directive of the director of buildings and inspections certifying that an inspection has been made, that all hazardous conditions have been corrected and that all wiring, apparatus, and feeders have been brought into substantial compliance with the minimum requirements of this code as set forth in Section 1117-43.5 CBC.

1117-43.7 Extensions to Power or Lighting Wiring.

1117-43.7.1 Existing buildings or structures: In existing buildings or other structures, the wiring may be extended within the same room or area in the type of wiring which the building was originally wired, provided that neither the existing wiring nor the additions thereto shall constitute a serious safety hazard. If there are no visible unsafe defects in the existing wiring, such existing wiring shall not be required to be changed, even if new service lines are required.

(Ordained by Ord. No. 67-1996, eff. Apr. 5, 1996; a. Ord. No. 357-1998, eff. Oct. 16, 1998; a. Ord. No. 418-2010, § 32, eff. Nov. 24, 2010)