Our Goal is FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO
HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT with us
and that together we keep people and
structures safe and economically viable
to serve the needs of our community.
We strive for:
EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE!
And QUALITY INSPECTIONS!
NOV. 13th, 2015
OUR NEXT MEETING IS DECEMBER 9th.
I. Consistency Questions
1) Please provide assistance, I have been failed on
three inspections, two for defects not corrected, for
recessed light fixtures in contact with insulation.
The fixtures are marked not to be in contact with
thermal insulation, Non-IC, however the ceiling tile
is constructed of acoustical insulation. The LED
driver and recessed portions are above the frame
kit and no heat is being trapped by insulation, and
the ceiling is open space above. How does this
violate the NEC requirements in 410.116? - BARNES
Our policy for many years is not to consider this
tile any different than the compressed fiber type.
Please contact your inspection supervisor to
correct the records as we were in error. When we
inspect behind others it would benefit us to
communicate with the previous inspector.
2) I used the “pop up” style receptacles for kitchen
counter top requirements and was turned down
because they plugged into receptacles under the
cabinets. What is the code issue? - DELLINGER
210.52 C 5 states that the outlets are to be on or
above the countertop. Per NCOSFM, Mr. Ron
Chilton, pop up (or any other) receptacles must be
hardwired to count as the code required outlet.
https://www.hafele.com/INTERSHOP/web/WFS/Ha
efele-HAC-Site/en_US/-/USD/StaticView/pdfcatalog/en_US/TCH_Furniture_Cabinetry_
Hardware_2015/index.html?startpage=5.50
3) I wired a home with a den/library. I did not
install receptacles at the built in cabinetry per
210.52 A 2 and was turned down on the inspection.
What reason was I turned down for? - HARTMAN
Evidently the inspector was not aware of the
NCOSFM interpretation of 210.52 A 2 1 (fixed
cabinets). Where millwork is fastened in place or
built in to the wall space the linear footprint is not
counted as wall space.
4) Can romex be exposed unprotected under the
roof of the screen porch? - KING
334.12 B 4 states it may not be used in damp
locations. Article 100 lists roofed open porches as
a damp location.
5) When I install a GEC per article 225 for a
detached building, where do I connect it? To the
ground bar or neutral bar? - RAINS
Per 250.32 B 1 to the grounding conductor bar.
250.32 D 1 states connection to the grounded
conductor shall not be made.
On existing 3 wire feeders we have an exception.
6) a) Is a service rated switch for a swimming pool
panel required if the panel is mounted on the same
building it is fed from? - SIMPSON
b) Is it required when mounted and fed from a
detached garage?
c) What if it is on a detached garage, but fed from
the house?
a) No
b) No
c) Yes
If the pool and panel is a separate structure,
remote from the buildings, free standing, it
requires its own service rated disconnect per
225.31, 32, 36 and grounding per 250.32.
7) Please explain when a wet location switch cover
is required on a screen porch or covered patio. WEST
Our interpretation has been the “45 degree rule”.
If the outlet falls in the lower half of plain
designated by a 45 degree angle from the roof the
area would be wet. If not the area is damp. The
cover must be rated for the area it is installed in.
8) When I run PVC on grade to a construction
trailer, does it have to be schedule 80? How often
should it be staked down? - MULLIS
Subject: Burial Depth On Temporary
Construction Trailers
Code Chapter Reference:
Effective Date:
Policy
Immediately
Problem: Shallow burial depth on temporary
construction trailers.
Solution:
The depth of conduit on a
temporary construction trailer
will be left up to the inspector’s
discretion depending on the
conditions of the site,
(driveways, areas of storage,
proximity to construction and
possibilities of physical
damage). When conduit is
allowed to be ran on top of
ground, such as under trailers
and other areas not subject to
damage, it shall be staked down
to prevent movement. Direct
burial cable shall meet NEC
requirements.
Consistency Team
Prepared by:
FEB/2006
Approved by:
Joe Weathers Electrical Code
Administrator
9) Is the NSF label on kitchen equipment acceptable
as a 3rd party label? - BARNES
See NCDOI list, YES.
http://www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/Engineering_and_C
odes/Documents/Code_Enforcement_Resources/E
lectricalMechanicalEquipmentLabeling.pdf
10) Are cu/al wirenuts and CO/ALR devices required
for copper clad aluminum wire? - DELLINGER
We must use products per their listing, NEC 110.3
B, UL references are below:
ZMVV – Wire Connectors
Marking
For use with
CU
copper wire only
AL
aluminum wire only
AL-CU or CU-AL
copper to copper,
Aluminum, to aluminum, copper to aluminum but
not intermixed or in direct physical contact, copper
clad aluminum to copper clad aluminum, aluminum
to copper clad aluminum but not intermixed or in
direct physical contact
AL-CU (intermixed–dry locations) Copper to copper,
Aluminum to aluminum, Copper to aluminum
intermixed and in direct physical contact, Copper
clad aluminum to copper clad aluminum, Copper to
copper clad aluminum, Aluminum to copper clad
aluminum in direct physical contact
Except as otherwise noted on or in the
shipping carton, aluminum conductors are not
intended to be used in direct physical contact
with copper and copper-clad aluminum
conductors in the same connector. A wire
connector for securing an aluminum wire in
combination with a copper or copper-clad
aluminum conductor, where physical contact
occurs between the wires of different metals, is
limited to dry locations only and is marked
‘‘AL-CU (intermixed – dry locations).’’
WJKR – SNAP SWITCHES
Snap Switch Terminals of 15 A and 20 A switches not
marked ‘‘CO/ALR’’ are intended for use with copper and
copper-clad aluminum conductors only. Terminals
marked ‘‘CO/ALR’’ are for use with aluminum, copper
and copper-clad aluminum conductors.
RTRT - RECEPTACLES
Terminals of 15 and 20 A receptacles not marked
‘CO/ALR’’ are for use with copper and copper-clad
aluminum conductors only.
Terminals marked ‘‘CO/ALR’’ are for use with
aluminum, copper and copper-clad aluminum conductors.
Terminals of receptacles rated 30 A and above not
marked ‘‘AL-CU’’ are for use with copper conductors
only.
Terminals of receptacles rated 30 A and above marked
‘‘AL-CU’’ are for use with aluminum, copper and
copper-clad aluminum conductors.
11) What is the difference between a combination
AFCI Breaker and a dual function AFCI Breaker? HARTMAN
A combination breaker reads both parallel and
series circuits.
A Dual Function senses both Arc Fault and Ground
Fault.
12) Are residential coach lights mounted on the
exterior of single family dwellings permitted to be
mounted to plastic boxes? - KING
Yes if listed for the purpose. See 410.36 A, 314.23,
and 314.27.
13) (a) Can you support MC cable from light to light
(daisy chained) in a drop ceiling, using the ceiling
support wires? - RAINS
YES, per policy. The wires are supporting the
fixtures in most cases. We allow this in non-fire
rated assemblies for whips and switch legs. 300.11
says no unless the manufacturer rates the ceiling
for it.
(b) Also, can you support F/A cables, if just one or
two from the ceiling support wires?
YES, per policy above.
14) If a homeowner changes out an ungrounded
two prong receptacle, like for like, does he have to
arc fault that receptacle? - SIMPSON
Yes, see 406.4 D. Will change per BCC proposal.
15) For IED strip lighting in coves is the sticky back
tape ok for its only means of support in lieu of
straps or screw thru mounting hole. No installation
instructions provided. - WEST
You must secure per 410.30 which says securely
supported. You need the manufacturer’s sheet to
qualify this. Products must be installed per the
manufacturer’s instructions.
16) I built my own control cabinet. I used all UL
listed components. Do I have to get the panel listed
as an assembly? - MULLIS
No if it meets the NEC. If not it has to be a listed
assembly.
17) Can I run my fiber optic in the same raceway
with the power? - BARNES
Maybe. Is it conductive or not? See 770.133 A.
18) I installed a customer owned high voltage
transformer. The inspector turned me down for not
lashing the conductors per manufacturer’s
instructions. Can she enforce this? I've never been
made to do this before. - DELLINGER
Yes. See 110.3. Products must be used per their
listing and installation instructions.
19) I need to know how a residence that is moved
will be looked at by the Code Enforcement
Department in its new location. Please advise. HARTMAN
Subject: Move on Single Family Residences
Submitted By: Electrical Department
Effective Date: Immediately 01/06/10
Problem: What is required for a relocated Single
Family Dwelling?
Solution: All of the following must be met:
 Service must meet current NEC
 Attic and crawl space must meet current
NEC
 All open junction boxes must be covered, all
damaged wiring must be repaired
 All new or replacement fixtures must be
approved for location
 Existing reduced ground circuits shall not
be extended
 For remodels see Remodel Jobs 13.9 of
interpretations
 All bathroom outlets must be GFCI
protected
 Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide
detectors must be installed to meet
current State Code
 All outside outlets and equipment must
meet current NEC
 Other interior existing conditions that met
NEC when they were installed
may be left as is
Prepared by: Consistency Team
Approved by: Joe Weathers Electrical Code
Administrator
---------------------------------------------------------------R/C
20) How do you calculate the overcurrent
requirements for commercial cooking equipment?
The units are listed and provide only maximum
wattage and voltage on the name plate, such as
6000w 208v single phase? - KING
We use 422.10 to size the conductors and 422.10 E
to size the OCP. 6K/208=28.84a for wire size is a
10 cu and 28.84 at the next standard is 30a OCP.
The OCP can be 45a as 28.84x1.5=43.26a but then
the wire would need to be an 8 per 240.4 and
310.15.
21) The inspector turned me down, saying all
counter top receptacles in a break room in an office
building are required to be GFCI. What section of
the code requires this? Also he said that the
refrigerator needs to be on GFCI citing Article
422.51 and that it couldn't be located behind the
refrigerator that it’s not readily accessible. This
article refers to vending machines, the refrigerator
has wheels on it, as almost all made today do and
can easily be moved to reset the device. - RAINS
210.8 B gives the requirements for GFCI in other
than dwellings. The possible requirements are 1)
the room meets the definition for a kitchen, 2) the
outlets are within 6’ of a sink, or 3) the area is a
wet location.
422.51 would not be applicable to an office
refrigerator.
Required GFCI receptacles are required to be
readily accessible per 210.8. As described the
outlet would not be readily accessible.
22) Are there specific requirements for labeling
when the emergency system is a genset feeder and
not a separately derived system? - SIMPSON
225.52 F requires signage for more than one
service, feeder or branch circuit. 700.7 requires
signage in A and B.
23) I installed a GFCI receptacle in a commercial
water cooler, this cooler has the hand hole in the
bottom to access GFCI device. The inspector turned
me down, he said my customer wasn't required to
have to lay down on the floor to reset the device
requiring me to install a GFCI breaker at a cost of
$150.00 for the bolt in breaker. What part of
readily accessible does the device in not meet?
Was he wrong? - WEST
422.52 requires the GFCI. It would need to be
accessible, NOT Readily Accessible as in 210.8.
We made the wrong call on this one.
24) I am wiring a billboard sign. The steel pole is
buried in the ground 16’. Can I use the pole as the
grounding electrode by drilling and tapping a
1/4X20 bolt hole and attaching a lug for
connection? - MULLIS
Per 250.52 A 2 1 would allow us to use the steel
pole in contact with the earth. The electrode
connection would need to comply with 250.8 and
250.70.
25) Section 220.56 allows demand reductions for
kitchen equipment but specifies it does not apply to
space-heating, ventilating, or air conditioning
equipment. When I see heat lamps taking the
demand it makes me uncomfortable. The device is
clearly a lamp, does not work intermittently, and is
not thermostatically controlled. It is my opinion we
should not allow a reduction for this load. - BARNES
The lamp is not limited to intermittent use and
would need to be calculated as continuous duty.
See 215.2 A 1.
26) When installing underground conduits at a fuel
dispensing island and I apply NEC 514.8 exception
No.2 which allows the use of PVC where buried a
min. of 24 in. and changed over to RMC or IMC for
the last 2 feet of the underground run to the point
of emergence or seal off fitting. When installing this
type of installation, is it acceptable to run the
Gasoline piping in the same trench as the PVC? DELLINGER
Nothing in the NEC prohibits this.
27) When using the application above, and running
underground conduits 24 in. below the hazardous
location from dispenser to dispenser, would I be
required to seal the conduit when it leaves a
dispenser and seal again where it enters the next
dispenser, even though it is still within the
boundaries of the classified area? - HARTMAN
Yes per 514.9 A.
28) If a contractor retrofit’s a sign, which basically
requires rewiring in the field, does it void the
listing? - KING
Currently it would be acceptable if the kit is listed
for that purpose. See 110.3 B
See 2014 NEC Art. 100 for Retrofit Kit, 600.3, and
600.3(E). The Retrofit Kit is required to be listed
and installed per installation instructions.
So no, if done correctly.
29) I am installing a 480 to 120/208 transformer. I
have no building steel available. I have metal water
pipe close by. Can I connect my GEC there or do I
have connect to it within 5 feet of where it enters
the building? - RAINS
250.30 begins this answer and specifically
250.30.A.4 addresses the GE requirements in (1).
250.52 A 1 give us the underground water pipe,
250.68 C provides for the GEC connection and C 1
states in 5’ of entrance with an exception.