Electrical Code Update_September 2011Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Electrical Code Update
DATE: September 13, 2011
Dubuque
kerd
AA- America City
2007
Building Services Manager Rich Russell recommends City Council approval of
amendments to the City of Dubuque's Electrical Code that have been recommended by
the Electrical Board of Appeals. The changes clarify the definition of maintenance
electrician, eliminate the surety bond requirement for electrical contractors and removes
a requirement for grounding of the electrical system to the gas pipe.
The Electrical Board felt the original wording for maintenance work was too broad. The
Board felt it could be interpreted that a maintenance electrical could install and alter any
electrical equipment or system.
The surety bonding was a licensing requirement. The State of Iowa is now the licensing
authority for electricians. This eliminates the need for a locally- required surety bond.
The current ordinance requires electricians to install a clamp on the iron gas pipe with a
ground wire connected to the grounding electrode system. This is a local amendment to
the National Electrical Code (NEC). The Electrical Board now feels this could be a
liability to the contractor and the City. The Electrical Board recommends that Section
250.104 (B) of the National Electric Code, as published, be used for grounding
requirements.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
ichael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Rich Russell, Building Services Manager
2
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
September 1, 2011
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Rich Russell, Building Services Manager
SUBJECT: Electrical Code Update
Dubuque
htall
n1- anaicaCity
IIIir
2007
The Electrical Board of Appeals is recommending amendments to the City of Dubuque's
Electrical Code.
The first change clarifies the definition of maintenance electrician. The second change
eliminates the surety bond requirement for electrical contractors. The third change
removes a requirement for grounding of the electrical system to the gas piping.
The Electrical Board felt the original wording for maintenance work was too broad. The
Board felt it could be interpreted that a maintenance electrical could install and alter any
electrical equipment or system.
The surety bonding was a licensing requirement. The State of Iowa is now the licensing
authority for electricians. This eliminates the need for a locally- required surety bond.
The current ordinance requires electricians to install a clamp on the iron gas pipe with a
ground wire connected to the grounding electrode system. This is a local amendment to
the National Electrical Code (NEC). The Electrical Board now feels this could be a
liability to the contractor and the City. The Electrical Board recommends that Section
250.104 (B) of the National Electric Code, as published, be used for grounding
requirements.
I have attached the ordinance for the City Council's review and approval.
I concur with the Electrical Board of Appeals recommendations and request City Council
approval.
Prepared by: Crenna M. Brumwell, Esq. 300 Main Street Suite 330 Dubuque IA 52001 563 589 -4381
ORDINANCE NO. 47 -11
AMENDING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLE 14 BUILDING AND
DEVELOPMENT, CHAPTER 1 BUILDING CODES, SECTION 14-1D-2 NATIONAL
ELECTRICAL CODE AMENDMENTS BY REMOVING REPLACEMENT,
INSTALLATION, AND ALTERATION FROM ACTIVITIES ALLOWED AS ROUTINE
MAINTENANCE AND PERFORMED BY A MAINTENANCE ELECTRICIAN AND BY
REMOVING SECTION 83 -8 BONDING, ARTICLE 250.104(B) OTHER METAL
PIPING, AND ARTICLE 250.104(E) GAS PIPING SYSTEM BONDING
REQUIREMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. Section 14-1D-2 of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances is
amended to read as follows:
14 -1 D -2: NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE AMENDMENTS:
The national electrical code adopted by section 14-1D-1 of this article is hereby
amended as follows:
80 -3. Definitions, General. For the purpose of these provisions, certain terms, phrases,
words, and their derivatives shall be construed as specified in this section. Where terms
are not defined, they shall have their ordinarily accepted meanings within the context
with which they are used. Webster's third new international dictionary of the English
language, unabridged, copyright 1981, shall be considered as providing ordinarily
accepted meanings. Words used in the singular include the plural and the plural the
singular. Words used in masculine gender include the feminine and the feminine the
masculine.
Routine maintenance means the servicing, maintaining, or repairing of existing electrical
apparatus or equipment for which no changes in wiring are made.
83 -1. Definitions. For use within this article, the following words and phrases are
defined:
Maintenance electrician means a person who has the necessary training, experience,
and technical knowledge to undertake the work of servicing, maintaining, and repairing
electrical devices, appliances, and equipment within the stipulated confines of property
owned or controlled by the firm, business, or company by whom employed. An electrical
maintenance certificate of competency may be issued to an individual and will entitle the
holder thereof to undertake the work of servicing, maintaining, and repairing electrical
devices, appliances, and equipment only within the confines of the property owned by
such individual for use or application to such property.
Attest:
Kevin . Firnstahl, . ity Clerk
Section 2. This Ordinance takes effect upon publication.
Passed, approved and adopted the 19thday of September
, 2011.
n V. Sutton, Mayor Pro -Tem
OFFICIAL -
PUBUCATION
ORDINANCE NO. 47-11
AMENDING CITY OF
DUBUQUE CODE OF
ORDINANCES TITLE -include the feminine
14 BUILDING AND and the feminine the
DEVELOPMENT, masculine.
CHAPTER 1 BUILDING
" Routine Maintenance
1D-2
CODES, SECTION ELEC- means
Mons BY [NIOV- malntainin rrvreip aig
, TRICALCODEAMEND- ing
of existing elec-
ING REPLACEMENT, trical apparatus or
IINST equipment for which
ACTIVITIES ALL no chan'ge5. in wiring
AS ROUT MAIN- are made.
FENANCE AND PER- 83 -1. Defi p- itions. For
FORMED BY A use within this article,
MAINTENANCE ELEC- ; ;fie `fo44o! ing words
TRICIAN AND and ,.phrases are
REMOVING SECTION definedt
83-8 1/011RING:,
ARTICLE 250494(8) Maintenance electri-
OTHER METAL PIP` clan means a person
ING, AN1D ARTICLE, who has the necessary
250.104(E) 'N> `'''PIP` 1 training, experience,
ING SYSTEM BOND- and technical know -
ING REQUIREMENT ledge to undertake the
work of servicing,
maintaining, and
repairing electrical
devices, appliances,
and equipment within
the stipulated confines
of property owned or
controlled by the firm,
business, or company
by whom employed. An
electrical maintenance
certificate of compe-
tency may be issued to
an individual and will
entitle the holder
thereof to undertake
the work of servicing,
maintaining, and
repairing electrical
devices, appliances,
and equipment only
within the confines of
the property owned by
such individual for use
or application to such
property.
BE IT 'ORDAINED B
THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. Section 14-
1D-2 of the City of
Dubuque Code of
Ordinances is amended
to read as follows:
14 -1D -2: NATIONAL
ELECTRICAL CODE
AMENDMENTS:
The national electrical
code adopted by
section 14 -1D -1 of this
article is hereby
amended as follows:
80 -3. Definitions,
General. Rdr the
purpose of these
provisions, certain
terms, phrases, words,
and their derivatives
shall be construed as
specified in this
section. Where terms • • Section 2. This
are not defined, they Ordinance takes effect
shall have 'their upon publication.
ordinarily accepted,, Passed, approved and
meanings Within ' tiie adopted the 19th day
context with which of September, 2011.
they are used. /s /Lynn V. Sutton,
Webster's third new Mayor Pro-Tem
international dictionary :4test:
of the English Ian- 'PsYKevin S. Firnstahl,
guage, unabridged, king City Clerk
copyright 1981, shall-be ? Published officially in
considered as provid- the Telegraph- Herald
ing ordinarily accepted newspaper on the 23rd
meanings. Words used day of September,
in the singular include 2011.
the plural and the /s/Kevin 5. Firnstahl,
plural the singular. City Clerk
Words used in 1t9123
masculine gender
STATE OF IOWA {SS:
DUBUQUE COUNTY
CERTIFICATION OF PUBLICATION
I, Suzanne Pike, a Billing Clerk for Woodward Communications, Inc., an Iowa
corporation, publisher of the Telegraph Herald,a newspaper of general circulation
published in the City of Dubuque, County of Dubuque and State of Iowa; hereby
certify that the attached notice was published in said newspaper on the following
dates: September 23, 2011, and for which the charge is $30.64.
Subscribed to before me, a
this c ai.t day
tary Public in and for Dubuque County, Iowa,
20 /l .
277
Notary Public in and for Dubuque County, Iowa.
MARY K WESTERMEYL
zas, Cemmleelon Number 154:
i�Carlt� 2Q14
EFFECT OF AMENDMENT
14-1D-2: NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE AMENDMENTS:
The national electrical code adopted by section 14-1D-1 of this article is hereby
amended as follows:
80 -3. Definitions, General. For the purpose of these provisions, certain terms, phrases,
words, and their derivatives shall be construed as specified in this section. Where terms
are not defined, they shall have their ordinarily accepted meanings within the context
with which they are used. Webster's third new international dictionary of the English
language, unabridged, copyright 1981, shall be considered as providing ordinarily
accepted meanings. Words used in the singular include the plural and the plural the
singular. Words used in masculine gender include the feminine and the feminine the
masculine.
Routine maintenance means the servicing, maintaining, or repairing or replacem°^+ of
existing electrical apparatus or equipment of the same sizc and type for which no
changes in wiring are made.
83 -1. Definitions. For use within this article, the following words and phrases are
defined:
Maintenance electrician means a person who has the necessary training, experience,
and technical knowledge to undertake the work of installing, servicing, maintaining,
altering, and repairing electrical devices, appliances, and equipment within the
stipulated confines of property owned or controlled by the firm, business, or company by
whom employed. An electrical maintenance certificate of competency may be issued to
an individual and will entitle the holder thereof to undertake the work of installing,
servicing, maintaining, altering, and repairing electrical devices, appliances, and
equipment only within the confines of the property owned by such individual for use or
application to such property.
83 8. Bonding. Any person, company, or firm dcsiring to engage in the business of
within the city limits of Dubuque under the scope of the city of Dubuque code of
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