OR 2007-1166 Adopting the National Electrical Code
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO.2007-1166
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING
CHAPTER 15 ARTICLE 15-2 TO ADOPT THE NATIONAL
ELECTRICAL CODE, 2005 EDITION, AS THE CITY OF
COPPELL ELECTRICAL CODE; PROVIDING AMENDMENTS
TO THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, 2005 EDITION
AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS; PROVIDING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A REPEALING
CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING A
PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF THIS ORDINANCE NOT TO
EXCEED THE SUM OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00)
FOR EACH OFFENSE; EXCEPT HOWEVER, WHERE A
DIFFERENT PENALTY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY STATE
LAW FOR SUCH OFFENSE WHICH IS A VIOLATION OF ANY
PROVISION OF LAW THAT GOVERNS FIRE SAFETY,
ZONING, OR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION,
INCLUDING DUMPING OF REFUSE, THE PENALTY SHALL
BE A FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF TWO THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($2,000.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COPPELL, TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
That the City of Coppell Code of Ordinances be, and
the same is, hereby amended by amending Chapter 15, Article 15-2, in part to
adopt the National Electrical Code, 2005 Edition, with amendments to read as
follows:
“CHAPTER 15-2. NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
Sec. 15-2-1. National Electrical Code – Adopted.
There is hereby adopted by the City of Coppell, Texas, the National Electrical
Code, 2005 Edition, and made a part hereof for all purposes, the same as if
fully copied in full herein, with the exception of such sections hereof, which
are hereafter deleted, modified or amended.
Sec. 15-2-2. Amendments.
The following sections of the National Electrical Code, 2005 Edition, and
administrative provisions for the National Electrical Code, 2005 edition, are
hereby amended to read as follows:
1. Section 101, shall be amended to read as follows:
101. Administrative Provisions.
2. Amend Article 80, to read as follows:
Article 80 - General
80-1. Application
The provisions of this article shall apply to all activity involving the
installation, servicing, repair, replacement, additions, modification, and/or
maintenance of electrical systems, conductors, equipment, fittings, devices,
motors, appliances, fixtures, signs and all other electrical equipment within
or on public or private buildings and premises, except as otherwise provided
in this article. The provisions of this article shall not apply to installations
used by electricity supply, electric railway or communications agencies in
the generation, transmission or distribution of electrical power or for the
operation of street railways, signals or the transmission of intelligence data
when located within or on public thoroughfares; provided, however, that
such agencies are operating under a franchise agreement with the city.
80-2. Application to Existing Electrical Systems and Equipment.
(a) Additions, alterations or repairs. Additions, alterations or repairs may be
made to any electrical system and equipment without requiring the existing
electrical system and equipment to comply with all the requirements of this
Code, provided that addition, alteration or repair conforms to that required
for a new electrical system and equipment and provided further that no
hazard to life, health or safety will be created by such additions, alterations
or repairs. Minor additions, alterations and repairs to existing electrical
system and equipment may be made in accordance with the law in effect at
the time the original installation was made, when approved by the building
official.
(b) Existing installations. Electrical systems and equipment lawfully in
existence at the time of the adoption of this Code may have their use,
maintenance or repair continued if the use, maintenance or repair is in
accordance with the original design and no hazard to life, health or property
has been created by such electrical system and equipment.
(c) Change in building occupancy. Electrical systems and equipment which
are a part of any building or structure undergoing a change in use or
occupancy, as defined in the Building Code, shall comply with the
requirements of this Code which are applicable to the new use or occupancy.
(d) Maintenance. All electrical systems and equipment, both existing and
new, and all parts thereof shall be maintained in a proper operating
condition in accordance with the original design and in a safe and hazard-
free condition. All devices or safeguards which are required by this Code
shall be maintained in conformance with this Code. The owner or his
designated agent shall be responsible for the maintenance of the electrical
system. To determine compliance with this subsection, the building official
may cause any electrical system to be reinspected.
(e) Moved building. Electrical systems and equipment which are a part of
buildings or structures moved into or within the City of Coppell shall
comply with the provisions of this Code for new installations.
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, 1986, shall
be considered as providing ordinarily accepted meanings. Words used in the
singular include the plural and the plural the singular. Words used in the
masculine gender include feminine and the feminine the masculine.
Approved,
as to materials, equipment and method of construction, refers to
approval by the building official as the result of investigation and tests
conducted by him, or by reason of accepted principles or tests by recognized
authorities, technical or scientific organizations.
Approved Agency
is an established and recognized agency regularly
engaged in conducting tests or furnishing inspection services, when such
agency has been approved by the building official.
Board of Appeals
shall be the Building and Standards Commission as
appointed by the City Council of the City of Coppell.
Building Code
is the International Building Code, 2000 edition, as adopted
by the City of Coppell.
Chief Building Official(Building Official)
is the officer charged with the
administration and enforcement of this Code, or his duly authorized
representative, and is the authority having jurisdiction for this Code.
Chief Electrical Inspector or Electrical Inspector
shall be the person
providing expertise for the building official in the area of electrical
regulations.
Code Enforcement Agency
is the department, division or agency of the
City of Coppell charged with the function of Code Enforcement and shall be
under the administration and operational control of the building official.
Electrical Contractor
is any person, firm, or corporation to whom a valid,
current electrical contractor's registration has been issued by the City of
Coppell.
Electrical Code
is the National Electrical Code, 1999 edition promulgated
by the National Fire Protection Association, as adopted by the City of
Coppell.
Firewall
is the same as an area separation wall as used in the Building
Code.
Journeyman Electrician
is a person to whom a valid, current journeyman
electrician's registration has been issued by the City of Coppell.
Master Electrician
is a person to whom a valid, current master electrician's
registration has been issued by the City of Coppell.
Multiple Occupancy Building
is a building having more than one tenant
and may be of single or mixed use groups as classified by the Building
Code.
Occupancy
is the purpose for which a building, or part thereof, is used or
intended to be used.
80-4. Conflicting Provisions.
Where, in any specific case, different sections of this Code specify different
materials, methods of construction or other requirements, the most
restrictive shall govern.
80-5. Alternate Materials and Methods of Construction.
(a) The provisions of this Code are not intended to prevent the use of any
material or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this Code,
provided any alternate has been approved and its use authorized by the
building official.
(b) The building official may approve any alternate, provided he finds that
the proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the provisions of this
Code and that the material, method or work offered is, for the purpose
intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this Code in suitability,
strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability and safety.
(c) The building official shall require that sufficient evidence or proof be
submitted to substantiate any claims regarding the use of alternates.
Provided, however, that the approval or authorization of any alternate shall
not be construed as warranting or representing the safety of any approved
alternate.
80-6. Modifications.
Whenever there are practical difficulties involved in carrying out the
provisions of this Code, the building official may grant modifications for
individual cases, provided he shall first find that a special individual reason
makes the strict letter of this Code impractical and the modification is in
conformity with the intent and purpose of this Code, and that such
modification does not lessen health, life and fire safety requirements.
80-7. Tests.
(a) Whenever there is insufficient evidence of compliance with any of the
provisions of this Code or evidence that materials or construction do not
conform to the requirements of this Code, the building official may require
tests as evidence of compliance to be made at the sole expense of the person
providing such materials or performing such construction.
(b) Test methods shall be as specified by this Code or by other recognized
test standards. In the absence of recognized and accepted test methods for
the proposed alternate, the building official may determine test procedures.
(c) All tests shall be made by an approved agency. The building official
shall retain reports of such tests for a period deemed appropriate by the
building official.
80-8. Unsafe Electrical Systems or Equipment.
All electrical systems or equipment regulated by this Code which are unsafe,
or which constitute a fire hazard, or are otherwise dangerous to human life
are, for the purpose of this section, unsafe. Any use of electrical systems or
equipment regulated by this Code constituting a hazard to safety, health or
public welfare by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation,
obsolescence, fire hazard, disaster, damage or abandonment is, for the
purpose of this section, an unsafe use. All such unsafe electrical systems or
equipment are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be abated by
repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal in accordance with the
procedures set forth as prescribed by the City of Coppell Neighborhood
Integrity Ordinance regarding abatement of dangerous buildings or such
alternate procedure as may be adopted by this jurisdiction. As an alternative,
the building official or other employee or official of the City as designated
by the governing body may institute any other appropriate action to prevent,
restrain, correct or abate the violation.
80-9. Violations.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct,
enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish, equip,
use or maintain any electrical system or equipment or cause or permit the
same to be done in violation of this Code. The issuance or granting of a
permit or approval of plans and specifications or the completion or approval
of an inspection shall not be deemed or construed to be a permit for, or an
approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of this Code. No permit
presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this Code
shall be valid, except insofar as the work or use which is authorized is
lawful.
3. Amend Article 85, to read as follows:
Article 85 - Organization and Enforcement
85-1. Powers and Duties of Building Official.
1. General. The Building Official is hereby authorized to enforce all the
provisions of this Code. He shall cause a record to be kept of all permits
issued and inspections made.
2. Deputies. In accordance with prescribed procedures and with the approval
of the appointing authority, the building official may appoint a Chief
Electrical Inspector and other related technical officers and inspectors and
other employees as shall be authorized from time to time. Reference to the
"Inspector" and "Electrical Inspector" in this Code shall mean the Chief
Electrical Inspector or other Electrical Inspectors.
3. Right of entry. Whenever necessary to make an inspection to enforce any
of the provisions of this Code, or whenever the building official or his
authorized representative has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in
any building or upon any premises any condition or violation which makes
such building or premises unsafe, dangerous or hazardous, the building
official or his authorized representative may enter such building or premises
at all reasonable times to inspect the same or to perform any duty imposed
upon the building official by such Codes, provided that if such building or
premises be occupied, he shall first present proper credentials and request
entry. If such building or premises is unoccupied, he shall first make a
reasonable effort to locate the owner or other persons having charge or
control of the building or premises and request entry. If entry be refused, the
building official or his authorized representative shall have recourse to every
remedy provided by law to secure entry. When the building official or his
authorized representative shall have first obtained a proper inspection
warrant or other remedy provided by law to secure entry, no owner or
occupant or any other persons having charge, care or control of any building
or premises shall fail or neglect, after proper request is made as herein
provided, to promptly permit entry therein by the building official or his
authorized representative for the purpose of inspection and examination
pursuant to this Code.
4. Notice. When any order or notice is issued pursuant to the provisions of
this Code to any person who cannot be found after a reasonable search, such
order or notice may be served by posting it in a conspicuous place upon the
premises occupied by him or upon the premises where the defects are
alleged to exist. Such posting of the notice shall be considered equivalent to
personal service of such order or notice. An order sent by mail in a sealed
envelope with postage prepaid and directed to the address of the electrical
contractor, owner, lessee, or occupant of the premises shall be equivalent to
personal service of such order. Electrical Inspectors are hereby empowered
to attach to the nearest electrical cabinet or equipment feeding defective or
hazardous wiring, any official notice or seal to prevent use of electricity in
that area, and it shall be unlawful for any other person to place or attach
such seal, or to break, change, destroy, tear, mutilate, cover or otherwise
deface or injure any such official notice or seal posted by an Electrical
Inspector.
5. Stop orders. Whenever any work is being done contrary to the provisions
of this Code, the building official may order the work stopped by notice in
writing served on any persons engaged in the doing or causing such work to
be done, and any such persons shall forthwith stop such work until
authorized by the building official to proceed with the work.
6. Authority to disconnect utilities in emergencies. The building official or
his authorized representative shall have the authority to disconnect any
electric power or energy service supplied to the building, structure or
building service equipment therein regulated by this Code in case of
emergency where necessary to eliminate an immediate hazard to life or
property, or, where there is a violation of the temporary electric connection
per section 85-6(b). The building official shall whenever possible notify the
serving utility, the owner and occupant of the building, structure or building
service equipment, in writing, of such disconnection immediately thereafter.
7. Authority to condemn electrical system and equipment. Whenever the
building official ascertains that any electrical system or equipment regulated
in this Code has become hazardous to life, health or property, he may order
in writing that such electrical system or equipment either be removed or
restored to a safe condition, whichever is appropriate. The written notice
itself shall fix a time limit for compliance with such order. No person shall
use or maintain defective electrical system or equipment after receiving such
notice. When such equipment or installation is to be disconnected, a written
notice of such disconnection and causes therefor shall be given within 24
hours of the order to disconnect to the serving utility, the owner and
occupant of such building, structure or premises. When any electrical
system or equipment is maintained in violation of this Code and in violation
of any notice issued pursuant to the provisions of this section, the building
official shall institute any appropriate action to prevent, restrain, correct or
abate the violation.
8. Connection after order to disconnect. No person shall make connections
from any energy or power supply nor supply power to any electrical system
or equipment which has been disconnected or ordered to be disconnected by
the building official or the use of which has been ordered to be discontinued
by the building official until the Building Official authorizes the
reconnection and use of such electrical system or equipment.
9. Liability. The Building Official, or his authorized representative charged
with the enforcement of this Code, acting in good faith and without malice
in the discharge of his duties, shall not thereby render himself personally
liable for any damage that may accrue to persons or property as a result of
any act or by reason of any act or omission in the discharge of his duties.
Any suit brought against the Building Official or employee because of such
act or omission performed by him in the enforcement of any provision of
this Code shall be defended by legal counsel provided by this jurisdiction
until final termination of such proceedings. This Code shall not be construed
to relieve from or lessen the responsibility of any person owning, operating
or controlling any building, structure or building service equipment therein
for any damages to persons or property caused by defects, nor shall the
Code enforcement agency or its parent jurisdiction be held as assuming any
such liability by reason of the inspections authorized by the Code or
approvals issued under this Code.
10. Cooperation of other officials and officers. The building official may
request, and shall receive so far as is required in the discharge of his duties,
the assistance and cooperation of other officials of this jurisdiction.
11.Appeals. Any person, firm or corporation may file an appeal with the
Chairman of the Building and Standards Commission for review of any
decision of the Building Official, provided that such appeal is made in
writing within (5) days after notification by the electrical inspector. The
Building and Standards Commission shall meet within a reasonable time
following receipt of such appeal to hear the appeal and render a decision and
findings in writing to the appellant with a duplicate copy to the building
official.
85-2. Electrical License and Registration.
1. Registration required. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or
corporation who is not registered as a qualified electrician in the City of
Coppell to engage in work regulated by this code. Prior to the approval
of any permit to do work regulated by this code, the applicant for such
permit must first register in person with the Building Inspection
Department.
2. Classifications of Electrician Licenses:
1. Master Electrician. Means a person possessing the necessary
qualifications, training and technical knowledge to plan, layout, and supervise
the installation, maintenance and extension of electrical conductors and
equipment. This person shall have the authority to order the correction of
defects or non-complying work installed in violation of this code.
2. Master Sign Electrician. Means a person possessing the equivalent
qualifications as a master electrician, but limited to installation of signs only –
no work may be undertaken on the premises’ wiring system by this person,
other than the sole connection of a sign to an existing branch circuit or feeder.
3. Journeyman Electrician. Means a person possessing the necessary
qualifications, training and technical knowledge to install, maintain and extend
electrical conductors and equipment and capable of doing this work in
accordance with prepared plans and specifications and under the supervision of
a master electrician.
4. Journeyman Sign Electrician. Means a person possessing the
equivalent qualifications as a journeyman electrician, but limited to the
installation of signs only, under the supervision of a master sign electrician.
No work may be undertaken on the premises’ wiring system by this person,
other than the sole connection of a sign to an existing branch circuit or feeder.
5. Maintenance Electrician. Means a person engaged in the trade of
maintaining the electrical system on premises owned and operated by the
maintenance electrician’s employer.
6. Residential Electrician. Means a person possessing the necessary
qualifications, training, and technical knowledge to install, maintain and extend
electrical conductors and equipment and capable of doing this work in
accordance with prepared plans and specifications and under the supervision of
a master electrician. The scope of work allowed by this license is limited to
residential premises wiring systems of 225 Amperes or less.
7. Electrical Contractor. Means a person engaged in the business of
installing, maintaining or extending, by contract, electrical conductors and
equipment. This person shall be a master electrician. An electrical contractor
is the only registered electrician that is allowed to acquire a permit.
8. Other license classifications may be recognized if approved by the
Building Official.
3. Application for Registration. A person, firm, or corporation who desires
to register as an electrician, as classified in Sec. 85-2 (b), in the City of
Coppell shall complete the appropriate application and provide the following
information:
1. A current electrical license issued by a municipality and
accompanied by a reciprocal letter or provide evidence of satisfactory
performance on an electrician's certification conducted by the Southern
Building Code Conference International in conjunction with the North Central
Texas Council of Governments.
2. A form of picture identification.
3. Business identification to include the business name, business
owner(s), address, and telephone number.
4. Issuance and Term of Registration. Upon satisfactory completion of
the requirements of Sec. 85-2 and payment of applicable fees as specified by
the City of Coppell Master Fee Schedule for registration as an electrician, as
classified in Sec. 85-2 (b), the Building Official may approve such registration.
An approved registration is valid for a period of not more than one (1) year and
shall terminate at the end of each calendar year.
5. Transfer of registration. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or
corporation to lend, rent, or transfer an electrical registration issued by the City
of Coppell to another other person firm, or corporation for any purpose.
6. Revocation of registration. An electrical registration issued by the
City of Coppell may be revoked by the building official for the following:
1. Falsification of any portion of an application for registration
with intent to defraud.
2. Revocation of an electrical license by a municipality with
which the City of Coppell holds a letter of reciprocity.
3. Any person, firm or corporation who, after being found guilty
in municipal court of violations of this code, is unwilling to make
appropriate corrections to the satisfaction of the building official or his
designee shall be denied registration as an electrician, as classified in
section 85-2 (b).
4. Transfer of registration as stipulated in Section 85-2 (e) of
this code.
7. Notice of revocation of electrical registration. The Building Official
shall provide proper notice in writing to the person, firm or corporation holding
a defective
electrical registration of the decision to revoke an electrical registration.
Notice shall be deemed effective on the post date of certified mail and/or
acceptance by hand delivery.
8. Appeal of revocation. In the event that any person, firm or
corporation shall appeal the decision of the building official to revoke an
electrical registration, a request for a public hearing of the matter shall be made
in writing to the Chairman of the Building and Standards Commission within
five (5) days of receipt of notice of revocation as specified in Section 85-3 (f).
The Building and Standards Commission shall meet to consider an appeal of
revocation within a reasonable time of receipt of a written request.
9. False Representation as to Registration Unlawful. It shall be
unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to represent himself or a business
as an electrician or electrical contractor in the City of Coppell without having
first properly registered with the Building Inspection Department.
10. Electrical Company Vehicles to Be Marked. All electrical
contractors vehicles engaged in doing work in the City of Coppell shall have
signs permanently affixed to both sides of the vehicle indicating the company
name of the electrical contractor.
11. Supervision. The actual work of installing, maintaining, altering, or
repairing of electrical work for which a permit is required by this Code shall
have supervision by a licensed master or journeyman electrician as provided by
this Code. In the event the owner of electrical contracting business is not a
licensed master electrician, a master electrician shall be designated by the
owner of such place of business to the building official as the person
responsible for, and supervising, the electrical work done by such electrical
contractor. Such designated master electrician shall be the supervisory
electrician for only one (1) electrical contractor within the city at any one time.
Should such supervision not be constantly provided, the Electrical Inspector
may order the work being done by such electrical contractor to be discontinued
until proper supervision and control has been provided and the name of the
new master electrician disclosed to building official.
12. License display. Each holder of a master, journeyman or specialist
license shall carry evidence of proper license on his person at all times while
doing electrical work and shall produce and exhibit same when requested by an
Inspector or officer of the City.
85-3. Exception from Licensing and Registration.
Persons who are not registered electricians may carry out the following classes
of work:
1. The replacement of lamps, fuses and the connection of portable devices to
suitable receptacles which have been permanently installed.
2. The installation, alteration, or repairing of any wiring, devices, or equipment
for signaling, remote control, or the transmission of information, provided
such are inherently power limited and have a maximum nameplate rating not
exceeding one volt-ampere.
3. The installation, alteration or repair of the electric wiring, devices,
appliances and equipment installed by or for an electrical public service
corporation legally operating in the city when for the use of such
corporation in the generation, transmission, distribution or metering of the
electrical energy or for the use of such a corporation in the operation of
street railways, signals or the transmission of information.
4. Any work involved in the manufacture or test of electrical materials,
devices, appliances or apparatus, but not including any installation of wiring
other than that required for testing purposes unless such equipment as
complete is approved by the Electrical Inspector before it is installed or
used.
5. Electrical work done by a property owner in a building owned and occupied
by him and classified as his homestead. Where the electrical work done by
property owner is deemed by the building official to be hazardous to persons
or property, and repairable beyond the skills and electrical knowledge of the
property owner by the building official, or his authorized representative, the
building official may void the permit or validation obtained by the
homeowner. In such an event, the electrical work shall only be completed by
a Licensed Electrical Contractor, registered with the City of Coppell.
85-4. Permits.
1. Permits required. Except as specified in Subsection (1) of this section, no
electrical system regulated by this Code shall be installed, altered, repaired,
replaced or remodeled unless a separate electrical permit for each building
or structure has first been obtained from the building official. It shall be
unlawful for any person, firm or corporation who is not registered by the
City as an electrical contractor to secure permits except as provided in
Section 85-3. It shall be unlawful for any person to lend, rent, or transfer an
electrical permit, or permit a person without proper license or registration to
do the work, or for any person to make use of any such permit which is not
actually his own, and any such permit obtained or submitted under these
conditions shall be null and void.
2. 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,
contactor or control device.
5. Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, but not the outlets
therefore.
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.
11.Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment
operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more
than 50 watts of energy.
12.Low-energy power, controls and signal circuits of Classes II and III
as defined in this Code.
13.A permit shall not be required for the installation, alteration or repair
of electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment or the generation,
transmission, distribution or metering of electrical energy or in the
operation of signals or the transmission of intelligence by a public or
private utility in the exercise of its function as a serving utility.
Exemption from the permit requirements of this Code shall not be
deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in violation
of the provisions of this Code or any other laws or ordinances.
3. Application for permit. To obtain a permit, the applicant shall first file an
application therefore in writing on a form furnished by the City agency for
that purpose. Every such application shall:
1. Identify and describe the work to be covered by the permit for which
application is made.
2. Describe the land on which the proposed work is to be done by legal
description, street address or similar description that will readily
identify and definitely locate the proposed building or work.
3. Indicate the use or occupancy for which the proposed work is
intended.
4. Be accompanied by plans, diagrams, computations and specifications
and other data as required in Subsection (D) of this section.
5. Be signed by permittee, or his authorized agent.
6. Give such other data and information as may be required by the
Building Official.
4. Plans and specifications. With each application for a permit, and where
required by the building official for enforcement of any provision of this
Code, plans, specifications and calculations shall be submitted in the
quantity deemed necessary by the building official. When deemed necessary
by the building official to ensure code compliance, the Building Official
may require plans and specifications to be prepared and designed by an
engineer licensed by the State of Texas. All drawings, specifications and
accompanying data involved with the practice of engineering, such as
structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, fire, life
and safety systems, shall comply with state and local laws governing the
practice of engineering as required by Article 3271a, Vernon's Annotated
Texas Statutes.
5. Information on plans and specifications. Plans and specifications shall be
drawn to scale upon substantial paper or cloth or otherwise submitted as
electronic media files as may be approved and shall be of sufficient clarity
to indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed and show in
detail that it will conform to the provisions of this Code and all relevant
laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
6. Permits issuance. The applications, plans and specifications, and other data,
filed by an applicant for permit may be reviewed by other departments of
the City to determine compliance with any applicable laws under their
jurisdiction. If the work described in an application for a permit and the
plans, specifications and other data filed therewith conforms to the
requirements of this Code and other pertinent laws and ordinances, and the
fees specified by the City of Coppell Master Fee Schedule been paid, the
Building Official may issue a permit therefore to the applicant. When the
Building Official issues the permit where plans are required, he shall
endorse in writing or stamp the plans and specifications "APPROVED."
Such approved plans and specifications shall not be changed, modified or
altered without authorizations from the Building Official, and all work shall
be done in accordance with the approved plans. The Building Official may
issue a permit for the construction of part of an electrical system before the
entire plans and specifications for the whole system have been submitted or
approved, provided adequate information and detailed statements have been
filed complying with all pertinent requirements of this Code. The holder of
such permit shall proceed at his own risk without assurance that the permit
for the entire building, structure or building service will be granted.
7. Retention of plans. One set of approved plans and specifications shall be
returned to the applicant and shall be kept on the site of the building or work
at all times during which the work authorized thereby is in progress. One set
of approved plans, specifications and computations shall be retained by the
Building Official until final approval of the work.
8. Validity of permit. The issuance of a permit or approval of plans and
specifications shall not be construed to be a permit for, or an approval of,
any violation of any of the provisions of this Code, or of any other ordinance
of the City, nor shall the issuance of a permit or approval of plans be
construed as representing or warranting the safety or lack of defects of any
electrical work described therein. No permit presuming to give authority to
violate or cancel the provisions of these Codes shall be valid. The issuance
of a permit based upon plans, specifications and other data shall not prevent
the building official from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in said
plans, specifications and other data, or from preventing building operations
being carried on thereunder when in violation of these Codes or of any other
ordinances of the City.
9. Expiration. Every permit issued by the building official under the provisions
of this Code shall expire by limitation and become null and void, if the
building or work authorized by such permit is not commenced within 180
days from the date of such permit, or if the building or work authorized by
such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is
commenced for a period of 180 days or more. Before such work can be
recommenced, a new permit shall be first obtained and the fee therefore
shall be one-half the amount required for a new permit for such work,
provided no changes have been made or will be made in the original plans
and specifications for such work; and provided further that such suspension
or abandonment has not exceeded one year. In order to renew action on a
permit after expiration, the permittee shall pay a new full permit fee. Any
permittee holding an unexpired permit may apply for an extension of the
time within which he may commence work under that permit when he is
unable to commence work within the time required by this section for good
and satisfactory reasons. The building official may extend the time for
action by the permittee for a period not exceeding 180 days upon written
request by the permittee showing that circumstances beyond the control of
the permittee have prevented action from being taken. No permit shall be
extended more than once.
10. Suspension or revocation. The Building Official may, in writing, suspend
or revoke a permit issued under the provisions of this Code whenever the
permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect information supplied,
or in violation of any ordinance or regulation of the City.
11. Fees. Permit fees shall be levied in the amounts specified by the City of
Coppell, Master Fee Schedule.
85-5. Inspections.
1. General. All electrical systems and equipment for which a permit is required
by this Code shall be subject to inspection by the Building Official. No
portion of any electrical system intended to be concealed shall be concealed
until inspected and approved. Neither the Building Official nor the City
shall be liable for expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any
material necessary to allow inspection. When the installation of an electrical
system and equipment is complete, an additional and final inspection shall
be made. Electrical systems and equipment regulated by this Code shall not
be connected to the energy source until authorized by the Building Official.
2. Inspection requests. It shall be the duty of the person doing the work
authorized by a permit to notify the Building Official that such work is
ready for inspection. The Building Official may require that every request
for inspection is filed at least one working day before such inspection is
desired. Such request may be in writing or by telephone at the option of the
building official. It shall be the duty of the person requesting inspections
required by this Code to provide access to and means for proper inspection
of such work.
3. Operation of electrical equipment. The requirements of this section shall not
be construed to prohibit the operation of any electrical system or equipment
installed to replace existing equipment. The request for inspection of such
equipment must have been filed with the Building Official not more than 48
hours after such replacement work is completed and before any permanent
portion of the building conceals any portion of such electrical system.
4. Other inspections. In addition to the called inspections required by this
Code, the Building Official may make or require other inspections of any
work to ascertain compliance with the provisions of this Code and other
laws which are enforced by the Code enforcement agency.
5. Reinspections. A reinspection fee may be assessed for each inspection or
reinspection when such portion of work for which inspection is called is not
complete or when required corrections are not made. This provision is not to
be interpreted as requiring reinspection fees the first time a job is rejected
for failure to comply with the requirements of this Code, but as controlling
the practice of calling for inspections before the job is ready for such
inspection or reinspection or when required corrections are not made.
Reinspection fees may be assessed when the approved plans are not readily
available to the Inspector, for failure to provide access on the date for which
inspection is requested, or for deviating from plans requiring the approval of
the Building Official. In instances where reinspection fees have been
assessed, no additional inspection of the work will be performed until the
required fees have been paid.
85-6. Service Connections.
1. Connection approval. An electrical system or equipment regulated by this
Code for which a permit is required shall not be connected to a source of
energy or power until approved by the building official.
2. Temporary connections. The Building official may authorize the temporary
connection of the electrical system or equipment to the source of energy or
power for the purpose of testing the equipment, or for the use under a
temporary Certificate of Occupancy.
3. Authorized connection. When new electrical meters are installed or existing
electrical meters are to be relocated, the disconnection, connection or
reconnection to the meter shall be made only by authorized employees of
the Texas Utilities Electric Company. Only authorized employees of TXU
Electric Company shall be permitted to make connection between the
customer's service entrance conductors and TXU Electric Company lines.
4. Amend Section 210-12, to read as follows:
Arc-fault Circuit Interrupter Protection.
(b) … (change last sentence)
5. Amend Section 230-2(a), to add a sixth special condition.
Sec. 230-2.
Number of Services.A building or other structure served shall
be supplied by only one service unless permitted in (a) through (d). For the
purpose…(text unchanged)…shall be considered as supplying one service.
(a) Special conditions.Additional services shall be permitted to supply.
(1)Fire pumps.
6. In supplying electrical service to multi-family dwellings, two or more
laterals or overhead service drops shall be permitted to a building when both
of the following conditions are met:
1. The building has six or more individual gang meters and all meters are
grouped at the same location.
2. Each lateral or overhead service drop originates from the same point of
service.
7. In Section 230-71.a, add an exception.
Sec. 230-71.
Maximum number of disconnects.
(a) General.
The service disconnecting means for each service permitted
by Section 230-2, or for each set of service-entrance conductors permitted
by Section 230-40, Exception Nos. 1 or 3, shall consist of not more than six
switches or six circuit breakers mounted in a single enclosure, in a group of
separate enclosures, or on a switchboard. There shall be no more than six
disconnects per service grouped in any one location. For the purpose…(text
unchanged)…shall not be considered a service disconnecting means.
Exception: Multi-occupant buildings. Individual service disconnecting
means is limited to six for each occupant. The number of individual
disconnects at one location may exceed six.
8. In Section 250-50,add a second paragraph to read as follows:
250-5. Grounding Electrode System.
If available on the premises at each
building or structure served, each item (a) through (d), and any made
electrodes…(text unchanged)… interconnect electrodes that are part of the
grounding electrode system.
Exception: In industrial…(text unchanged)…conductor is exposed.
Where a metal underground water pipe, as described in item (a), is not
present, a method of grounding as specified in (b) through (d) below shall be
used.
(FPN): See sections…(text unchanged)…agriculture buildings.
9. In Section 250-140(b), amend to read as follows:
Sec. 250-140(b), Bonding of piping systems and exposed structural steel.
*(b) Metal gas piping.
Each interior portion of a metal gas piping system
upstream from the equipment shutoff valve shall be electrically continuous
and bonded to the grounding electrode system. The bonding jumper shall be
sized in accordance with Table 250-122 using the rating of the circuit that
may energize the gas piping.
10.Section 310-15(b)(6); shall be amended to read as follows:
310-15(b)(6). Ampacities for conductors rated 0-2000 volts.
(b) Tables.
11. 120/240-volt, 3-wire, single phase Dwelling Services and Feeders.For
dwelling units, conductors, as listed in Table 310-15(b)(6), shall be…(text
unchanged)…conductors. The grounded conductor shall be permitted to be
smaller than the ungrounded conductors, provided the requirements of
Sections 215-2, 220-22, and 230-42 are met. This Section shall not be used
in conjunction with Section 220-30.
12. Amend Section 336-5(a), to read as follows:
Sec. 336-5.
Uses Not Permitted.
(a) Types NM, NMC and NMS.
Types NM, NMC and NMS cables shall
not be used in the following:
(1) In any non-residential building or structure, or in any multi-family
dwelling or structure.
(2)As a service entrance cable.
13. Amend Section 22-13, to read as follows:
220-13.Optional Calculation – New restaurants.
(This specification shall apply to restaurants regarding new occupancy,
new buildings, change of occupancy in existing buildings, or upgrading
existing buildings to new electrical load requirements”
SECTION 2.
If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, phrase or
work in this ordinance, or application thereof to any person or circumstance is
held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not
affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance, and the City
Council of the City of Coppell, Texas hereby declares it would have enacted
such remaining portions despite any such invalidity.
SECTION 3.
That the repeal of any ordinance or any portion thereof
by the preceding sections shall not affect or impair any act done or right vested
or accrued or any proceeding, suit or prosecution had or commenced in any
cause before such repeal shall take effect; but every such act done, or right
vested or accrued, or proceedings, suit or prosecution had or commenced shall
remain in full force and effect to all intents or purposes as if such ordinance or
part thereof so repealed shall remain in force.
SECTION 4. That any person, firm or corporation violating any of
the provisions of this ordinance or the Code of Ordinances as amended hereby,
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction in the Municipal Court
of the City ofCoppell, Texas, shall be subject to a fine not to exceed the sum
of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each offense, except where a different
penalty has been established by State law for such offense, the penalty shall be
that fixed by State law, and for any offense which is a violation of any
provision of law that governs fire safety, zoning or public health and sanitation,
including dumping of refuse, the penalty shall be fine not to exceed the sum of
Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for each offense; and each and every day
such offense is continued shall constitute a new and separate offense.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall become effective immediately
from and after its passage and the publication of the caption, as the law and
charter in such cases provide.
DULY ~y the City Council of CoppeD, Texas, this the
day of t/ ' 2007.
'21-'1:6-
ATTEST: