18551ORDINANCE NO. 18,551
s
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 8 OF LITTLE
ROCK, ARKANSAS REVISED CODE (1988) CONCERNING
ELECTRICAL CODE REQUIREMENTS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, the Building Codes staff has met on numerous occasions to review and
discuss the current provisions of the Electrical Code as they relate to new and existing conditions
in structures and other related electrical installations, and
WHEREAS, the Building Codes staff has developed the following set of amendments to
the Electrical Code which are recommended for adoption by the Little Rock Board of Directors
in order to strengthen and clarify standards of code compliance for all electrical installations in
the City, and
WHEREAS, such amendments are appropriate and necessary for the health, safety and
welfare of our citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.
SECTION 1. — DIVISION 2.
LRC Section 8 -102 is hereby deleted in its entirety.
Section 8- 102 -120. Reserved
LRC Section 8 -121 is hereby amended by deleting the following phrase "There is hereby
established a Board of Electrical Code Appeals" and the following language substituted
therefore: Electrical Code appeals refer to Section 8 -30.1 of the city code.
Sections 8- 122 -145. Reserved
LRC Section 8 -148 is hereby amended by deleting this section and the following
language substituted therefore:
Section 8 -148. Rough Inspection
Before any electrical wiring shall be concealed from view, or in the case the wiring is in
conduit, before the conduits shall be concealed from view, the person installing same
shall give notice to the Electrical Inspections Supervisor, or his authorized assistant, who
0 •
shall as soon as possible after the receipt of such notice, inspect the work. No such work
shall be concealed from view before the expiration of forty -eight (48) hours from the
receipt of the notice, not including weekends or holidays, unless the Electrical Inspection
Supervisor or his authorized assistant shall make his inspection and approve the work
before the expiration of the forty -eight (48) hours, not including weekends or holidays.
No job shall be considered as being completely roughed in until all joints have been made
with approved connections and pigtails provided for hanging of fixtures.
LRC Section 8- 147(b) is hereby amended by deleting this section and the following
language substituted therefore:
(b) A permit may be issued to a property owner to do work to his own home provided
he has a current State of Arkansas master or journeyman electrician's license or is
capable of successfully passing an examination prepared, conducted and held by
the Electrical Inspection Supervisor. An applicant desiring to take the
examination to be eligible for a permit must show proof that they own the home
and resides or will reside in the structure after completion. The applicant shall do
all the electrical work. Prior to taking an examination and being issued and
electrical permit, the applicant must submit in writing a statement containing his
name, current address, telephone number and agreement to comply with the
applicable provisions of the Code. The Electrical Inspection Supervisor will
assess a fee of thirty -five dollars ($35.00) to each applicant applying for a
certification.
LRC Section 8 -150 is hereby amended by deleting this section and the following
language substituted therefore:
Section 8 -150. Final Clearance
It shall be unlawful for any electrical utility company or any person to furnish current to
any new building, tent structure or outdoor wiring of any kind, nature or description,
without first obtaining a clearance from the Electrical Inspection Supervisor or his
authorized designate.
LRC Section 8- 151(4) is hereby amended by deleting the section and the following
language substituted therefore:
(4) Examinations:
Specialist sign electrician .................. ..............................$ 35.00
Homeowner.................................. ............................... 35.00
Renewal
Specialist sign electrician .................. ............................... 25.00
2
0
•
LRC Section 8- 151(b) is hereby amended by separating the first sentence and placing the
rest of the paragraph in a new section- Section 8- 151(c).
LRC Section 8 -31 II is hereby amended by adding a new paragraph with the following
language:
I. All new buildings in the City of Little Rock shall be provided with a concrete
encased electrode, as defined and installed in strict accordance with the guidelines
of the National Electrical Code. This grounding electrode conductor shall be
made readily accessible and available in close proximity to the electrical service
of sufficient length to be continuous without splice or joint. This requirement
shall be part of the slab or footing inspection conducted by the building inspector.
SECTION 2 — DIVISION 3
LRC Section 8- 171(a) is hereby deleted and the following language substituted therefore
(a) All electrical work for light, heat, power or other purposes placed in or on any
building, structure or premises within the City of Little Rock shall be installed in
conformity with the rules and regulations as outlined in the current adopted edition of
the National Electrical Code and the 2000 Residential Code, ever which code is the
most stringent, and in conformity with the additional rules and regulations as set forth
in this chapter. Where local rules and regulations are set forth in this Chapter, they
shall take preference over any rules conflicting therewith.
LRC Section 8 -172 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted therefore:
Section 8 -172. Codes - Adopted.
The current adopted edition of the "National Electrical Code" and the "2000 International
Residential Code" is adopted by reference. In the event of a conflict between such
publications and the provisions of this article, the provisions of this article shall take
preference.
LRC Section 8 -173 is hereby deleted in its entirety.
Section 8 -173. Reserved
LRC Section 8- 176(a) is hereby deleted and the following language substituted therefore
(a) Communication systems, low voltage fire alarm systems, signal circuits and all
electrical current carrying conductors operating at a difference of potential of
thirty (30) volts or less shall be governed by the National Electrical Code. All
others shall be installed by one (1) of the following approved methods, i.e., rigid
metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, flexible conduit, metal molding, steel
• i
tube, approved metal duct, approved electrical nonmetallic tubing, approved
nonmetallic conduit, flexible steel armored cable, nonmetallic sheathed cable, or
other wiring methods as approved by the Electrical Inspection Supervisor.
LRC Section 8- 176(b) is hereby amended by deleting the phrase "all apartments
exceeding three (3) stories in height (basement not used as residence excluded) ".
LRC Section 8- 176(c) is hereby amended by deleting this paragraph and the following
language substituted therefore:
(c) All wiring in non - residential buildings shall be done with wire having a minimum
ampacity of twenty -(20) amperes. The load on receptacle circuits and /or circuits
that include receptacle outlets shall not be greater than sixty - percent (60 %) of the
circuit rating or twelve -(12) amps on a twenty -(20) amp circuit. Lighting loads
shall not exceed seventy - percent (70 %) of the circuit rating or fourteen -(14)
amperes on a twenty -(20) amp circuit. These restrictions refer to general
receptacle and lighting loads only. All other loads shall be governed by the
National Electrical Code.
LRC Section 8- 176(d) is hereby amended by deleting the paragraph and the following
language substituted therefore:
(d) All wiring for dwellings as defined by the National Electrical Code shall be wired
throughout with wire having a minimum ampacity of twenty -(20) amperes and a
minimum conductor size of number twelve -(12) wire. A maximum of seventy-
five-(75%) load factor per circuit shall be allowed.
Exception: Fourteen (14) gauge wire can be utilized for lighting circuits only
and shall be fused with a fifteen -(15) amp breaker and in strict accordance with
the guidelines of the National Electrical Code; furthermore, no more than eight
(8) lighting outlets per circuit with a maximum of seventy -five per cent (75 %)
load factor per circuit shall be allowed. All fifteen hundred (1500) watt circuits
required by the National Electrical Code in kitchens, laundry rooms and breakfast
areas (in the absence of a breakfast area -the dining room) shall not exceed fifty
percent (50 %) of the circuit rating.
LRC Section 8- 176(e)(2) is hereby amended by deleting only the sentence; "Split type
units consisting of an oven and countertop shall have a separate circuit to each according to the
load and may be directly connected to the circuit conductors ".
LRC Section 8- 176(e)(3) is hereby amended by deleting the paragraph and the following
language substituted therefore:
(3) The circuit supplying a refrigerator shall he a separate circuit.
LRC Section 8- 176(e)(4) is hereby deleted in its entirety.
H
•
LRC Section 8- 176(e)(5) is hereby amended by moving it to Section 8- 176(e)(4).
LRC Section 8- 176(f) is hereby amended by deleting this section and the following
language substituted therefore:
(e) Grounding electrode conductors in dwellings shall be installed by one of the
following means: securely supported until they are connected to the nearest point
of ground, installed in approved nonmetallic conduit, installed in rigid metal
conduit or steel tube with an approved bonding connection that bonds the metal
pipe to the grounding electrode conductor at the end nearest the point of ground.
In all other buildings the grounding electrode conductors shall be installed in rigid
metal conduit or steel tube from the main line switch to the point of ground with
an approved bonding connection that bonds the metal pipe to the grounding
electrode conductor at the end nearest the point of ground.
LRC Section 8- 176(g)(I) is hereby deleted in its entirety.
LRC Section 8- 176(i) is hereby amended by deleting the first sentence of the section.
LRC Section 8- 176(i) is hereby amended by deleting this section and replacing it as
Section 8- 176(1)(1).
Section 8- 176(i) is hereby amended by adding the following:
(2) All building construction will require the size of the service wire and the
service entrance switch to be calculated according to the provisions found
in Article 220 of the National Electrical Code. For one and two family
construction, the calculations shall be submitted in writing at the time the
electrical permit is issued. For other types of construction calculations
must be included as part of the plan submittal and reviewed prior to the
issuance of permits.
(3) Neutrals in dwellings shall not be derated. Neutrals in non - residential
buildings may be derated, if calculations allow, and be reduced by only
one wire size.
LRC Section 8- 176(k)(2) is hereby amended by adding the following sentence at the end
of the section: "Special permission may be granted to permit a shunt trip breaker with an outside
switch used as the means of disconnect only when the unfused service entrance conductors and
the shunt trip switch conductors comply with Article 230 -6 of the National Electrical Code ".
LRC Section 8- 176(k)(3) is hereby amended by deleting this section and substituting the
following language therefore:
5
•
(3) Service from the meter to the point of service entrance shall be installed in
rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit or rigid nonmetallic
conduit. In one and two family dwellings only, SE cable with approved
cable seals, weatherheads and lock -over clips may be installed as service
risers. The feeders from the main disconnect to the branch circuit panels
shall be installed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit,
electrical metallic tubing, flexible metal conduit, rigid nonmetallic conduit
or approved nonmetallic cable. Where nonmetallic rigid conduit is
exposed on the outside of commercial buildings as service laterals, and is
subject to damage, schedule 80 (minimum) shall be installed. On multi-
unit structures, nonmetallic cable shall not cross apartments or units other
than the one in which it terminates unless the cable is readily accessible
for its entire length where it crosses units other than the one in which it
terminates.
LRC Section 8- 176(m) is hereby amended by deleting this paragraph and replacing it
with the following language:
(m) In one and two family dwellings, for new construction, smoke detectors shall be
hard -wired (AC) type with a battery (DC) back -up installed on each level of the
structure, in each bedroom, the outside hallway and be interconnected. In existing
homes, when a rewire of the electrical system is required, smoke detectors shall
be installed in accordance with the standards for new construction.
LRC Section 8- 176(n) is hereby amended by deleting this paragraph and replacing it with
the following language:
(n) All buildings shall have provisions for illumination on the exterior side of outdoor
entrances or exits. Overhead doors shall not be considered as an outdoors
entrance or exit.
LRC Section 8 -176 is hereby amended by adding paragraph (o) to the section with the
following language:
(o) In addition to the requirements found in the National Electrical Code section 210-
63, for receptacle outlets utilized for servicing heating, air - conditioning, and
refrigeration equipment, a 125 -volt, single - phase, 20- ampere -rated receptacle
outlet shall be installed for all outside units within 25 ft and on the same level of
the equipment.
SECTION 3- DIVISION 4
LRC Section 8 -198 is hereby amended by deleting the language of this section and the
following language substituted therefore:
• 0
Section 8 -198. Examinations and Licenses; issuance
(a) Every person desiring to engage in the electrical business in the City of Little
Rock shall before engaging in such business successfully pass an examination
held by the Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas. Every person
must present a valid license when requested by the Electrical Inspection
Supervisor, or his assistant, while in the performance of such work.
Exception # 1. HVACR work
Any individual licensed or registered to perform HVACR work by the HVACR
Licensing Board of the State of Arkansas may perform electrical connections to
the heating and air - conditioning units without obtaining any other license to
perform the work, so long as the connection is made to a disconnecting means
suitable in capacity for the equipment to be served and is provided by others
within ten (10) feet of the unit.
Exception # 2. Specialist Sign Electrician
Any individual engaged in the business of maintaining and repairing electrically
illuminated or operated signs and gaseous tubing for illumination, making all
connection on the secondary side of transformers, and supply connections only
where there is an approved outlet of sufficient capacity within twenty -five (25)
feet of the sign to be connected shall successfully pass an examination prepared,
conducted and held by the Electrical Inspection Supervisor.
(1) A specialist sign electrician shall have had at least two (2) years
experience working for a licensed electrical contractor or a licensed
electrical sign contractor in the work of maintaining and repairing
electrically illuminated or operated signs and gaseous tubing for
illumination. The experience shall be within the past four (4) years.
(2) The examination fee and renewal fee for specialist sign electrical license
shall be as set forth in Section 8- 151(4).
(b) All applicants desiring to take an examination for a Specialist Sign Electrician
license shall apply in writing to the Electrical Inspection Supervisor and shall file
such information that is required, to determine the qualifications of said applicant.
The applicant shall pay to the city permit and records office an examination fee in
the sum required and shall exhibit a receipt for such fee to the Electrical
Inspection Supervisor before the applicant shall be allowed to undergo the
examination. The Electrical Inspection Supervisor shall affix the time and place
for the examination. If the Electrical Inspection Supervisor finds upon
examination that the applicant has a competent knowledge of electrical sign
installation, then the Electrical Inspection Supervisor shall issue to the applicant
the license for Specialist Sign Electrician.
7
r •
LRC Section 8 -199 is hereby amended by deleting the language of this section and the
following language substituted therefore:
Section 8 -199. Expiration and Renewal:
(a) The Specialist Sign Electrician license required by this division shall
expire on December 31 of the year indicated on the license. All licensed
persons who apply for such license within thirty -one (31) days after the
expiration day shall pay the required fee for renewal.
(b) If license renewal is not applied for on or before January 31 succeeding
the period of the license, a penalty of ten dollars ($10.00) will be assessed
in addition to the regular renewal fee. If the license is not renewed by
June 30, the applicant shall be reexamined and shall be required to pay the
required examination fee.
LRC Section 8 -200 is hereby amended by deleting the language of this section and the
following language substituted therefore:
Section 8 -200. Recognition of out -of -state
The Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas regulates the approval or
disapproval of out -of -state electrical license.
LRC Sections 8- 221 -229 are hereby deleted.
Sections 8- 221 -229. Reserved
LRC Section 8 -230 is hereby amended by deleting the language of this section and the
following substituted therefore:
Section 8 -230. Apprentices
(a) The definition of "Electrical Apprentice ", the requirements of supervision and the
licensing of apprentices shall be regulated and is the same as set forth by the
Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas.
(b) During investigation or inspection, an electrical company that is found no to be in
compliance with state regulations for apprentices; the Electrical Inspection
Supervisor, or his assistant shall issue a verbal and/or written stop work order.
Inspection and work may resume only when the company is found to be in
compliance and a reinspection fee is paid.
LRC Section 8- 231(a) is hereby deleted and the following language substituted therefore:
3
0 •
(a) The definition of "Electrical Contractor ", the requirements of supervision and
licensing of electrical contractors shall be regulated by and the same as that set
forth by the Contractors Licensing Board of the State of Arkansas.
LRC Section 8- 231(b), (c) and (d) are hereby deleted.
LRC Section 8- 231(e) is hereby amended by moving it to Section 8- 231(b) and by
deleting only the phrase "Electrical Inspection Supervisor" and the following language
substituted therefore: Permits & Records Office.
LRC Section 8- 231(f) is hereby amended by moving it to Section 8- 231(c).
LRC Sections 8- 232 -236 are hereby deleted.
Sections 8- 232 -255. Reserved
SECTION 4. These changes are recommended in order to properly permit and inspect
electrical installations, which are essential to the public health, safety and welfare of our citizens.
SECTION 5. The provisions of all technical codes, ordinances and codes of ordinances
in conflict with provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.
PASSED: september 4, 2001
ATTEST:
NANCY W OD
CITY CL RK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
THOMAS M. CARPENTE
CITY ATTORNEY
APPROVED:
JIM ILEY
MA R
W,
c