2011 National Electrical CodeTHE CITY OF
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Adoption of the 2011 National Electrical Code
DATE: January 5, 2012
Dubuque
knerd
All-America City
hill!
2007
Building Services Manager Rich Russell recommends City Council adoption of the 2011
edition of the National Electrical Code. The adoption the 2011 edition of the National
Electrical Code will keep the City of Dubuque's electrical ordinance consistent with the
State of Iowa's requirements. It will help maintain the standards for all applicable
electrical installations.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
ititih+- P;-si te9A-
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Rich Russell, Building Services Manager
THE CITY OF
Dui
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO Michael C Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM Rich Russell, Building Services Manager
DATE December 21,2011
SUBJECT Adoption of the 2011 National Electrical Code
Dubuque
had
All-America City
'I 1 1 I'
2007
INTRODUCTION
This memo requests the adoption of the 2011 National Electrical Code
BACKGROUND
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPP ) publishes an updated National Electrical Code every three years Their
most recent publication is the 2011 edition
DISCUSSION
The adoption the 2011 edition of the National Electrical Code will keep the City of Dubuque's electrical ordinance consistent
with the State of Iowa's requirements It will help maintain the standards for all applicable electrical installations It will also
provide a consistent set of guidelines to use when licensed electrical persons from other parts of the state come to Dubuque
to work
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend that the City Council adopt the 2011 edition of the National Electrical Code
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
I request that the City Manager recommend the adoption of the 2011 National Electrical Code to the city council
Prepared by
Rich Russell
cc
Corey Firzlaff, Inspector II
Crenna Brumwell, Assistant City Attorney
Prepared by: Crenna M. Brumwell, Esq. 300 Main Street Suite 330 Dubuque IA 52001 563 589 -4381
ORDINANCE NO. 3 12
AMENDING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLE 14 BUILDING AND
DEVELOPMENT, CHAPTER 1 BUILDING CODES, ARTICLE D ELECTRICAL CODE
BY REGULATING THE APPROVED APPLICATIONS AND USE OF NM CABLE
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. Section 14-1D-1 of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances is
amended to read as follows:
14-1D-1: NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE ADOPTED:
Except as hereinafter added to, deleted, modified or amended, there is hereby adopted
by reference as the electrical code of the city that certain electrical code known as the
national electrical code, 2011 edition, as prepared and edited by the National Fire
Protection Agency, Quincy, Massachusetts, and the provisions of such electrical code
shall be controlling in the supply of electricity and in the installation, maintenance and
use of all electrical conductors and equipment and installation of optical fiber cable
within the corporate limits of the city, and shall be known as the Dubuque electrical
code. A copy of the national electrical code, 2011 edition, as adopted, shall be on file in
the office of the city clerk for public inspection.
Section 2. 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:
82 -1. Permits Required.
(b) Exempt Work. An electrical permit shall not be required for the following:
(1) Portable motors or other portable appliances energized by means of a
cord or cable having an attachment plug end to be connected to an approved
receptacle when that cord or cable is permitted by this code;
(2) Repair or replacement of fixed motors, transformers, or fixed approved
appliances of the same type and rating in the same location;
(3) Temporary decorative lighting;
(4) Repair or replacement of current - carrying parts of any switch, contractor,
or control device;
(5)
Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, but not the outlets therefor;
(6) Repair or replacement of any overcurrent device of the required capacity
in the same location;
(7) Repair or replacement of electrodes or transformers of the same size and
capacity for signs or gas tube systems;
(8) Taping joints;
(9) Removal of electrical wiring;
(10) Temporary wiring for experimental purposes in suitable experimental
laboratories; or
(11) The wiring for temporary theater, motion picture, or television stage sets.
However, any such exempted work that is to be performed in other than a single - family
home by the qualifying homeowner shall be performed by or directly supervised by the
holder of a state of Iowa class "A" or "B" master or journeyman electrical license.
82 -2. Permit Process.
(a) Application For Permit. The applicant for an electrical permit must be one of the
following:
(1)
The homeowner as defined elsewhere in this ordinance; or,
(2) Registered with the state of Iowa as a class "A" master electrical license
and affiliated with an electrical contracting firm or business that is also licensed
by and registered with the state of Iowa.
83 -1. Definitions. For use within this article, the following words and phrases are
defined:
Electrical equipment means all electrical materials, wiring, conductors, fittings, devices,
appliances, fixtures, signs, and apparatus or parts thereof.
Electrical work means all installations, alterations, repairs, removals, renewals,
replacements, connections, disconnections, and maintenance of all electrical equipment
except as otherwise noted.
Homeowner means the owner of property that is the owner's principal place of
residence, if such residence is an existing dwelling rather than new construction and is
not larger than a single family dwelling or farm property and shall qualify for the
homestead tax exemption.
Licensed means licensed under this article or Iowa Code section 103.2, except as
otherwise specified.
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.
Registered, under this article, means a copy of the licensed person's license and current
contact information has been provided to the city of Dubuque building services
department on forms provided by building services department, except as otherwise
specified.
83 -2. Registration Required; Exceptions.
(a) No person, firm, or corporation shall perform any electrical work as an electrical
contractor, master electrician, journeyman electrician, apprentice electrician,
unclassified person, or maintenance electrician in the city of Dubuque unless registered
as provided in this article.
(b) No electrical contractor or electrical maintenance electrician shall employ any
apprentice or unclassified person to perform any electrical work unless said apprentice
or unclassified person is under the direct personal on- the -job supervision of a state
master electrician or state journeyman electrician. The ratio of apprentice electricians or
unclassified persons to holders of state of Iowa master or journeyman electrical licenses
or electrical maintenance licenses at any time shall not exceed the ratios given in
subsection 83 -2(f).
83 -3. Classes Of Dubuque Electrical License.
(b) One (1) class of license is hereby established and certificates thereof shall be
renewed only upon the direction of the Dubuque electrical code board. This class shall
be designated respectively as:
Electrical maintenance license shall entitle the holder thereof to undertake, within
the corporate limits of the city of Dubuque, the work of installing, servicing,
maintaining, altering, and repairing electrical devices, appliances, and equipment
within the confines of property owned or controlled by the firm, business, or
company employing such registration holder or within the confines of property
owned by an individual.
83 -7. Fees For Licenses. Before an electrical maintenance license is granted to any
applicant under this article and before an expiring electrical license issued by the city of
Dubuque is renewed, the applicant shall pay to the city a fee as specified in table no.
13 -B.
TABLE NO. 13 -B
Electrical Examination, License Fees
1. Initial fee for electrical maintenance license
$120.00
2. Renewal fee for electrical maintenance license
60.00
Examination fees are set by the testing agency.
83 -12. Display Of License. Every holder of a state of Iowa electrical license shall be
able to produce their current license when on the job site or when making application for
an electrical permit.
334.10 Uses Permitted
Type NM, Type NMC, and Type NMS cables shall be permitted to be used in the
following:
(1) One- and two - family dwellings
This section was revised for the 2011 Code to clarify that the requirements for
the use of nonmetallic- sheathed cable in garages of one- and two - family
dwellings apply regardless of whether the garage is attached or detached. The
same requirements also apply to detached sheds or storage buildings associated
with one- and two - family dwellings.
(2) Multifamily dwellings, two (2) stories or less in height, permitted to be
of Types III, IV, and V construction except as prohibited in 334.12.
(3) Other residential or accessory structures, two (2) stories or less in height,
permitted to be of Types III, IV, and V construction except as prohibited in
334.12. Cables shall be concealed within walls, floors, or ceilings that provide a
thermal barrier of material that has at least a fifteen (15) minute finish rating as
indentified in listings of fire -rated assemblies.
(4) Manufactured buildings as defined and regulated in Article 545 of the
National Electrical Code. Manufactured buildings must comply with the provisions
of Article 545.
A well - established means of codifying fire protection and fire safety requirements is to
classify buildings by types of construction, based on materials used for the structural
elements and the degree of fire resistance afforded by each element. The five
fundamental construction types used by the model building codes are Type I (fire
resistive), Type II (noncombustible), Type III (combination of combustible and
noncombustible), Type IV (heavy timber), and Type V (wood frame). Types I and II
basically require all structural elements to be noncombustible, whereas Types III, IV,
and V allow some or all of the structural elements to be combustible (wood).
The selection of building construction types is regulated by the local building code,
based on the occupancy, height, and area of the building. When a building of a selected
height (in feet or stories above grade) and area is permitted to be built of combustible
construction (i.e., Types III, IV, or V), the installation of nonmetallic- sheathed cable is
permitted. The common areas (corridors) and incidental and subordinate uses (laundry
rooms, lounge rooms, etc.) that serve a multifamily dwelling occupancy are also
considered part of the multifamily occupancy, thereby allowing the use of nonmetallic -
sheathed cable in those areas.
If a building is to be of noncombustible construction (i.e., Type I or II) by the owner's
choice, even though the building code would permit combustible construction, the
building is allowed to be wired with nonmetallic- sheathed cable. In such an instance,
nonmetallic- sheathed cable may be installed in the noncombustible building because
the Code would have permitted the building to be of combustible construction.
Section 334.10(5), which was previously in 334.10(A)(1), Exception, permits Type NM,
nonmetallic- sheathed cables to be installed in Type I and Type II construction if the
cables are within permitted raceways. A raceway is only permitted to be used if it
complies with the article for the raceway and its use does not violate another article in
the code.
(A) Type NM. Type NM cable shall be permitted as follows:
(1) For both exposed and concealed work in normally dry locations except as
prohibited in 334.10(3)
(2) To be installed or fished in air voids in masonry block or tile walls
(B) Type NMC. Type NMC cable shall be permitted as follows:
(1) For both exposed and concealed work in dry, moist, damp, or corrosive
locations, except as prohibited by 334.10(3)
(2) In outside and inside walls of masonry block or tile
(3) In a shallow chase in masonry, concrete, or adobe protected against nails
or screws by a steel plate at least 1.59 mm (1/16 in.) thick and covered with
plaster, adobe, or similar finish
(C) Type NMS. Type NMS cable shall be permitted as follows:
(1) For both exposed and concealed work in normally dry locations except as
prohibited by 334.10(3)
(2) To be installed or fished in air voids in masonry block or tile walls
Section 3. This Ordinance takes effect upon publication.
Passed, approved and adopted the 17thday of January
Attest:
Kevin S. Firnstahl, City Clerk
I
Ric W. J• ►es, Mayor Pro -Tem
, 2012.
OFFICIAL.
PUBLICATION
ORDINANCE NO. 342
AMENDING CITY OF
DUBUQUE CODE OF
ORDINANCES TITLE
14 BUILDING AND DE-
VELOPMENT, CHAP-
TER 1 BUILDING CO-
DES, ARTICLE D ELEC-
TRICAL CODE BY
REGULATING THE AP-
PROVED APPLICA-
TIONS AND USE OF
NM CABLE
NOW, THEREFORE, BE
IT ORDAINED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DUBUQUE, 10-
WA:
Section 1. Section 14-
1D-1 of the City of Du-
buque Code of Ordi-
nances is amended to
read as follows:
14 -10 -1: NATIONAL
ELECTRICAL CODE
ApOPTED:
Except as hereinafter
added to, deleted,
,nn,11Fln,1 n....,,,...,l.,.+
there is hereby adopt-
ed by reference as the
electrical code of the
city that certain elec-
trical code known as
the national electrical
code, 2011 edition, as
prepared and edited by
the National Fire Pro -
tection Agency,
Quincy, Massachu-
setts, and the provi-
sions of such electrical
code shall be control-
ling in the supply of
electricity and In the
Installation, • mainte-
nance and use of all
electrical conductors
and equipment and In-
stallation of optical fi-
ber cable within the
corporate limits of the
city, and shall be
known as the Dubuque
electrical code. A copy
of the national electri-
cal code, 2011 edition,
as adopted, shall be on
file in the office of the
city clerk for public in-
spection.
Section 2. Section 14-
1D-2 of the City of Du-
buque Code of Ordi-
nances Is amended to
read as follows:
14 -1D -2: NATIONAL
ELECTRICAL CODE
AMENDMENTS:
The national electrical
code adopted by sec-
tion 14 -1D -1 of this arti-
cle Is hereby amended
as follows:
82 -1. Permits Re-
quired.
(b) Exempt Work. An
electrical permit shall
not be required for the
following:
(1) Portable motors
or other portable appli-
ances energized by
means of a cord or ca-
ble having an attach-
ment plug end to be
connected to an ap-
proved receptacle
when that cord or ca-
ble is permitted by this
code; .
(2) Reair or replace-
ment of fixed motors,
transformers, or fixed
approved appliances
of the same type and
rating in the same lo-
cation;
(3) Temporary deco-
rative lighting;
(4) Repair or replace-
ment of current -
carrying parts of any
switch contractor, or
control device;
(5) Reinstallation of
attachment plug recep-
tacles, but not the out-
lets therefor;
(6) Repair or replace-
ment of any over -
current device of the
required capacity In
the same location;
(7) Repair.or replace-
ment of electrodes or
transformers of the
same size and capaci-
ty for signs or gas tube
systems; -
(8) Taping joints;
(9) Removal of elec-
trical wiring;
(10) Temporary wir-
ing for experimental
ourooses Iruessuitable
experimental labora-
tories; or
(11) The wiring for
temporary theater, mo-
tion picture, or televi-
sion stage sets.
However, any such
exempted work that is
to be performed in oth-
er than a single - family
home by the qualifying
homeowner shall . be
performed by or direct-
ly supervised by the
holder of a. state of Io-
wa class "A" or "B"
master or Journeyman
electrical license.
82 -2. Permit Process.
(a) Applrcatlon Fpr
Permit. The applicant
for an electrical permit
must be one of the fol-
lowing:
(1) The homeowner
as defined elsewhere
in this ordinance; or
(2) Registered with
the state of Iowa as a
class "A" master elec-
trical license and af-
filiated with an electri-
cal contracting firm or
business that Is also li-
censed by and regis-
tered with the state of
.Iowa.
83 -1 Definitions. For
use within thls article,
the following words
and phrases are de-
fined:
Electrical equipment
means all electrical
materials, wiring, con-
ductors, fittings, devi-
ces, appliances, fix-
tures, signs, and 'appa-
ratus or parts thereof.
Electrical work means
all installations; altera-
tions, repairs, remo-
vals, renewals, re-
placements, connec-
tions, disconnections,
and maintenance of all
electrical equipment
except as otherwise
noted. •
Homeowner means
the owner of prbperty
that is the owner's
principal place of, resi-
dence, If such resi-
dence is an existing
dwelling rather than
new construction and
is not larger than a sin-
gle family dwelling or
farm property and
shall qualify for the
homestead tax exemp-
tion.
Licensed means li-
censed under this arti-
cle or Iowa Code sec-
tion 103.2, except as
otherwise specified.
Maintenance electri-
cian means a person
who has the necessary
training, experience,
and technical knowl-
edge to undertake the
work of servicing,
maintaining, and re-
pairing electrical devi-
ces, appliances, and
equipment within the
stipulated confines of
property owned or con-
trolled 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 re-
. pairing electrical devi-
ces, appliances, and
equipment only within
the, confines of the
property owned, by
such individual for use
or application to such
property.
Registered, under this
article, means a copy
of the licensed per-
son's license, and cur-
' rent contact informa-
tion has been provided
to the city of Dubuque
building services de-
partnient on forms pro-
vided by building serv-
ices department, ex-
cept. as otherwise
specified.
83 -2, Registration Re-
quired: Exceptions.
(a) No person, firm,
or corporation shall
perform any electrical
work as an electrical
contractor, • master
electrician, - journey-
man electrician, ap-
prentice • electrician,
unclassified person, or
maintenance electri-
cian in the city of Du-
buque unless 'regis -,
tered as. provided in
this article. - .
(b) No electrical con-
tractor or electrical
maintenance - electri -
clan shall employ any
apprentice or unclassi-
fied person to perform
any electrical work un-
less-said apprentice or
unclassified person is
under the direct. per-
sonal on- the -Job super-
vision of a state master
electrician or state
journeyman electri-
cian. The ratio of ap-
prentice electricians or
unclassified persons to
holders of state of Io-
wa master or journey-
man electrical licenses
or electrical mainte-
nance licenses at any
time shall not exceed
the ratios given In sub-
section 83 -2(f). '
83 -3. Classes Of Dubu-
que Electrical License.
(b) One (1) class of II-
cense is hereby estab-
fished and certificates
thereof shall be re-
newed only, upon the
direction of the Dubu-
que electrical . code
board. This class, shall
be designated respec-
tivelyes:
Il(i Electrical, - rtfainte-
'tance IIqG ei e,shall en-
I title tfie'holder thereof
( to ,undertake, within
the corporate limits of
the city of Dubuque,
the work of installing,
servicing, maintain-
' ing, altering, and re-
pairing electrical devi-
ces, appliances, and
' equipment within the
confines, of property
owned or control) by
the firm, busineor
company emp oying
such registratlo hold-
; er or within ttll■ con-
fines of property own-
ed by an Individual.
83 -7. Feesdor Licens-
es. Before a1`electrical
maintenance license Is
granted to any appli-
cant under this article
and before an expiring
electrical license is-
sued by the city of Du-
buque Is renewed, the
appji ant shall pay to
the- city,a fee as speci-
fied in table no. 13-13.
TABLE NO. 13-B
Electrical Examina-
tion, License Fees
1.. Initial fee for elec-
trical maintenance li-
cense,$120.00
2. Renewal fee for
electrical maintenance
license, 60.00
Examination fees are
set by the testing
agency.
83-12. Display Of Li-
cense. Every, holder of
a state of Iowa electri-
cal license shall be
able to produce their
current license when
on the job site or when
making application for
an electrical permit.
334.10 Uses Permitted
• Type NM, Type, NMC,
and Type NMS cables
shall be permitted to
be used In the follow -
ing:
(1) One- and two -
family dwellings
• This section was re-
vised for the 2011 Code
to clarify that the re-
quirements for the
use of nonmetallic-
sheathed cable in ga-
rages of one- and two-
family dwellings ap-
ply regardless of
whether the garage is
attached or detached.
The same require-
ments also apply to de -.
tached sheds or stor-
age buildings associat-
ed with one- and two -
family dwellings.
(2) Multifamily dwell-
ings, two (2) stories or
less In height, permit-
ted to be of Types 111,
IV, and V construction_
except as prohibited in
334.12.
(3) Other residential
or accessory struc-
tures, two (2) stories or
less In height, permit-
ted to be of Types III,
IV, and V construction
except as prohibited in
334.12. Cables shall be
concealed within walls,
floors, or ceilings that
provide a thermal bar-
rier of material that
has at least a fifteen
(15) minute finish rat-
ing as indentified in
listings of fire -rated as-
semblies. •
(4) Manufactured
buildings as defined
and regulated in Article
545 of the •' National
Electrical Code. Manu-
factured buildings
must comply with the
provisions of Article
545.
A well - established
means of codifying fire
protection and fire
safety requirements is
to classify buildings by
types of construction,
based on materials
used for the structural
elements and the de-
gree of fire resistance
afforded by each ele-
ment. The five funda-
mental construction
types used by the mod-
el building codes are
Type I (fire resistive),
Type II (noncombusti-
ble), Type 111 (combina-
tion of combustible
and noncombustible),
Type, IV (heavy tim-
ber), and Type V (wood
frame), Types 1 and 11
basically require all
structural elements to
be noncombustible,
whereas Types 111, IV,
and V allow some or all
of the structural ele-
ments to be combust) -.
ble (Wood).
The selection of build-
ing construction types
is regulated by the lo-
cal building code,
based on the occupan-
cy, height, and area of
the building. When a
building of a selected
height (in feet or sto-
ries above grade) and
area is permitted to be
built of combustible
construction (i.e.,
Types III, IV, or V), the
Installation of
nonmetallic-sheathed
cable Is permitted. The
common areas (corri-
dors) and incidental
and subordinate uses
(laundry rooms, lounge
rooms, etc.) that serve
a multifamily dwelling
occupancy are also
considered part of the
multifamily occupancy,
thereby allowing the
use of nonmetallic -
sheathed cable in
those areas.
If a building is to be of
noncombustible con-
struction (i.e., Type 1 or
11) by the owner's
choice, even though
the building code
would permit combus-
tible construction, the
building - is allowed to
be wired with
Nonmetallic- sheathed
cable. In such an in-
stance, nonmetallic -
sheathed cable may be
installed in the non-
combustible building
because the .Code
would have permitted
the building to be of
combustible construc-
tion.
Section 334.10(5),
which was previously
In 334.10(A)(1), Excep-
tiop, permits Type NM,
nonmetallic- sheathed
cables to be installed
in Type 1 and Type 11
construction If the ca-
bles are within permit-
ted raceways. A race-
way Is only permitted
to be used if it com-
plies with the article
for the raceway and its
use does not violate
another article in the
code.
(A) Type NM. Type
NM cable shall be per-
mitted as follows:
(1) For both exposed
and concealed work In
normally dry locations
except as prohibited
In 334.10(3)
(2) To be Installed or
fished In air voids in
masonry block or tile
walls
(B) Type NMC. Type
NMC cable shall be
permitted as follows:
(1) For both exposed
and concealed work In
dry, moist, damp, or
corrosive locations,
except as prohibited by
334.10(3) '
(2) In outside and In-
side walls of masonry
block or tile
(3) In a shallow chase
In masonry, concrete,
or adobe protected
against nails or screws
by a steel. plate at least
1.59 mm (1/16 In) thick
and covered with
plaster, adobe, or simi-
lar finish
(C) Type NM,S, Type •
NMS cable >shall : be
permitted as follows:
(1) For both exposed
and concealed work In
normally dry locations
except as prohibited
by 334.10(3)
(2) To be installed or
fished in air voids' in
masonry block or tile
walls
Section 3: This Ordi-
nance takes ° effect
uporr publication.
Passed, approved and
adopted the •17th day
of January, 2012.
/s /Ric W. Jones,
Mayor Pro -Tem
Attest /s /Kevin S.
Firnstahl, City Clerk
Published officially in
the Telegraph Herald •
Newspaper on the 20th
day of January 2012.
/s /Kevin S. Firnstahl,
City Clerk
it 1/20
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: January 20, 2012, and for which the charge is $121.30.
Subscribed to before �; otary Public in and for Dubuque County, Iowa,
this c:: 4 day of
,20 /t .
Notary Public in and for Dubuque County, Iowa.
K. WES I ERi, `
fir Y;l ,
'MARY
Commission Number 1541
' 11701:
EFFECT OF AMENDMENT
14 -1 D -1: NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE ADOPTED:
Except as hereinafter added to, deleted, modified or amended, there is hereby adopted
by reference as the electrical code of the city that certain electrical code known as the
national electrical code, 2011 edition, as prepared and edited by the National Fire
Protection Agency, Quincy, Massachusetts, and the provisions of such electrical code
shall be controlling in the supply of electricity and in the installation, maintenance and
use of all electrical conductors and equipment and installation of optical fiber cable
within the corporate limits of the city, and shall be known as the Dubuque electrical
code. A copy of the national electrical code, 2011 edition, as adopted, shall be on file in
the office of the city clerk for public inspection.
14 -1 D -2: NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE AMENDMENTS:
The national electrical code adopted by section 14 -1 D -1 of this article is hereby
amended as follows:
82 -1. Permits Required.
(b) Exempt Work. An electrical permit shall not be required for the following:
(1) Portable motors or other portable appliances energized by means of a
cord or cable having an attachment plug end to be connected to an approved
receptacle when that cord or cable is permitted by this code;
(2) Repair or replacement of fixed motors, transformers, or fixed approved
appliances of the same type and rating in the same location;
(3)
Temporary decorative lighting;
(4) Repair or replacement of current - carrying parts of any switch, contractor,
or control device;
(5)
Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, but not the outlets therefor;
(6) Repair or replacement of any overcurrent device of the required capacity
in the same location;
(7) Repair or replacement of electrodes or transformers of the same size and
capacity for signs or gas tube systems;
(8) Taping joints;
(9) Removal of electrical wiring;
(10) Temporary wiring for experimental purposes in suitable experimental
laboratories; or
(11) The wiring for temporary theater, motion picture, or television stage sets.
However, any such exempted work that is to be performed in other than a single - family
home by the qualifying homeowner shall be performed by or directly supervised by the
holder of a state of Iowa class "A" or "B" master or journeyman electrical license.
82 -2. Permit Process.
(a) Application For Permit. The applicant for an electrical permit must be one of the
following:
(1) The homeowner as defined elsewhere in this ordinance; or,
(2) Registered with the state of Iowa as a class "A" master electrical license
and affiliated with an electrical contracting firm or business that is also licensed by
and registered with the state of Iowa.
83 -1. Definitions. For use within this article, the following words and phrases are
defined:
Electrical equipment means all electrical materials, wiring, conductors, fittings, devices,
appliances, fixtures, signs, and apparatus or parts thereof.
Electrical work means all installations, alterations, repairs, removals, renewals,
replacements, connections, disconnections, and maintenance of all electrical equipment
except as otherwise noted.
Homeowner means the owner of property that is the owner's principal place of
residence, if such residence is an existing dwelling rather than new construction and is
not larger than a single family dwelling or farm property and shall qualify for the
homestead tax exemption.
Licensed means licensed under this article or Iowa Code section 103.2, except as
otherwise specified.
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.
Registered, under this article, means a copy of the licensed person's license and current
contact information has been provided to the city of Dubuque building services
department on forms provided by building services department, except as otherwise
specified.
83 -2. Registration Required; Exceptions.
(a) No person, firm, or corporation shall perform any electrical work as an electrical
contractor, master electrician, journeyman electrician, apprentice electrician,
unclassified person, or maintenance electrician in the city of Dubuque unless registered
as provided in this article.
(b) No electrical contractor or electrical maintenance electrician shall employ any
apprentice or unclassified person to perform any electrical work unless said apprentice
or unclassified person is under the direct personal on- the -job supervision of a state
master electrician or state journeyman electrician. The ratio of apprentice electricians or
unclassified persons to holders of state of Iowa master or journeyman electrical licenses
or electrical maintenance licenses at any time shall not exceed the ratios given in
subsection 83 -2(f).
83 -3. Classes Of Dubuque Electrical License.
(b) One (1) class of license is hereby established and certificates thereof shall be
renewed only upon the direction of the Dubuque electrical code board. This class shall
be designated respectively as:
Electrical maintenance license shall entitle the holder thereof to undertake, within
the corporate limits of the city of Dubuque, the work of installing, servicing,
maintaining, altering, and repairing electrical devices, appliances, and equipment
within the confines of property owned or controlled by the firm, business, or
company employing such registration holder or within the confines of property
owned by an individual.
83 -7. Fees For Licenses. Before an electrical maintenance license is granted to any
applicant under this article and before an expiring electrical license issued by the city of
Dubuque is renewed, the applicant shall pay to the city a fee as specified in table no.
13-B.
TABLE NO. 13 -B
Electrical Examination, License Fees
1. Initial fee for electrical maintenance license
$120 .00
2. Renewal fee for electrical maintenance license
60 .00 1
Examination fees are set by the testing agency.
83 -12. Display Of License. Every holder of a state of Iowa electrical license shall be
able to produce their current license when on the job site or when making application for
an electrical permit.
334.10 Uses Permitted
Type NM, Type NMC, and Type NMS cables shall be permitted to be used in the
following:
(1) One- and two - family dwellings
This section was revised for the 2011 Code to clarify that the requirements for
the use of nonmetallic- sheathed cable in garages of one- and two - family
dwellings apply regardless of whether the garage is attached or detached. The
same requirements also apply to detached sheds or storage buildings associated
with one- and two - family dwellings.
(2) Multifamily dwellings, two (2) stories or less in height, permitted to be
of Types III, IV, and V construction except as prohibited in 334.12.
(3) Other residential or accessory structures, two (2) stories or less in height,
permitted to be of Types III, IV, and V construction except as prohibited in
334.12. Cables shall be concealed within walls, floors, or ceilings that provide a
thermal barrier of material that has at least a fifteen (15) minute finish rating as
indentified in listings of fire -rated assemblies.
(4) Manufactured buildings as defined and regulated in Article 545 of the
National Electrical Code. Manufactured buildings must comply with the provisions
of Article 545.
A well - established means of codifying fire protection and fire safety requirements is to
classify buildings by types of construction, based on materials used for the structural
elements and the degree of fire resistance afforded by each element. The five
fundamental construction types used by the model building codes are Type I (fire
resistive), Type II (noncombustible), Type III (combination of combustible and
noncombustible), Type IV (heavy timber), and Type V (wood frame). Types I and II
basically require all structural elements to be noncombustible, whereas Types III, IV,
and V allow some or all of the structural elements to be combustible (wood).
The selection of building construction types is regulated by the local building code,
based on the occupancy, height, and area of the building. When a building of a selected
height On feet or stories above grade) and area is permitted to be built of combustible
construction (i.e., Types III, IV, or V), the installation of nonmetallic- sheathed cable is
permitted. The common areas (corridors) and incidental and subordinate uses (laundry
rooms, lounge rooms, etc.) that serve a multifamily dwelling occupancy are also
considered part of the multifamily occupancy, thereby allowing the use of nonmetallic -
sheathed cable in those areas.
If a building is to be of noncombustible construction (i.e., Type I or II) by the owner's
choice, even though the building code would permit combustible construction, the
building is allowed to be wired with nonmetallic- sheathed cable. In such an instance,
nonmetallic- sheathed cable may be installed in the noncombustible building because
the Code would have permitted the building to be of combustible construction.
Section 334.10(5), which was previously in 334.10(A)(1), Exception, permits Type NM,
nonmetallic- sheathed cables to be installed in Type I and Type II construction if the
cables are within permitted raceways. A raceway is only permitted to be used if it
complies with the article for the raceway and its use does not violate another article in
the code.
(A) Type NM. Type NM cable shall be permitted as follows:
(1) For both exposed and concealed work in normally dry locations except as
prohibited in 334.10(3)
(2) To be installed or fished in air voids in masonry block or tile walls
(B) Type NMC. Type NMC cable shall be permitted as follows:
(1) For both exposed and concealed work in dry, moist, damp, or corrosive
locations, except as prohibited by 334.10(3)
(2) In outside and inside walls of masonry block or tile
(3) In a shallow chase in masonry, concrete, or adobe protected against nails
or screws by a steel plate at least 1.59 mm (1/16 in.) thick and covered with
plaster, adobe, or similar finish
(C) Type NMS. Type NMS cable shall be permitted as follows:
(1) For both exposed and concealed work in normally dry locations except as
prohibited by 334.10(3)
(2) To be installed or fished in air voids in masonry block or tile walls
I move to receive and file the communications and further move that the requirement
that a proposed Ordinance be considered and voted on for passage at two Council
meetings prior to the meeting at which is to be finally passed be suspended. (Motion B)
Vote — Then
I move final consideration and passage of the Ordinance. (Motion A)
If Motion B does not pass:
I move to receive and file the communications and I move first (second or third)
consideration of the Ordinance. (Motion A)