CONSISTENCY MEETING
Date: 11/12/2014
DEPARTMENTAL GOALS:
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85 - 90 % 1 DAY TURN AROUND
80 - 85 % CONTRACTOR PASS RATE
QUALITY INSPECTIONS!
EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE!
SAFETY ISSUES:
REMEMBER COUNTY CELL PHONE POLICY, USE ALL APPROVED SAFETY
EQUIPMENT ISSUED TO YOU. (i.e. HARDHAT, SAFETY GLASSES, SAFETY SHOES,
PPE)
Q: WHY ARE WE HERE? A: TO SERVE THE CUSTOMER
1. Can I use a receptacle located in the crawlspace to serve as my service receptacle if it's located within
25 feet of the air-conditioning unit outside? (Craig S)
No, it must be outside, can’t go through a door or crawlspace access. This is also true when dealing with
an attic.
2. If I replace the non-grounding type receptacles with non-grounding type receptacles do they have to
be tamper resistant and do they have to be AFCI protected? (Joe W)
Part D – Final Adoption
The following Petitions for Rulemaking have been granted by the Council. Notice of Rulemaking
proceedings and Public Hearing has been made. The Public Hearings were held June 10, 2014. The Final
Adoption meeting took place on September 9, 2014. The Council will give no further consideration to
Petitions that are disapproved. Petitions that are approved will proceed through the Rulemaking
process.
Item D – 1 Request by Stuart Laney, representing New Hanover Division – NC Association of Electrical
Contractors, to amend the 2011 NEC, Section 250-50 & Code Council Amendment. The proposed
amendment is as follows:
Exception No. 1: If a single, rod, pipe, or plate grounding electrode has a resistance to earth of 25 ohms
or less, the supplemental electrode shall not be required.
Exception No. 2: The supplemental ground electrode shall not be required at temporary electrical
service installation (saw service pole) at construction site provided the temporary electrical service does
not exceed 150 volts to ground or 100A.
Motion – Wade White/Second – Al Bass/Adopted as amended with an effective date of January 1, 2016.
Item D – 2 Request by Terry Cromer, representing the NC Association of Electrical Contractors, to amend
the 2012 NC NEC, Section 406.4. The proposed amendment is as follows:
406.4(D) (4) Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection. Where a receptacle outlet is supplied by a branch
circuit that requires arc-fault circuit interrupter protection as specified elsewhere in this Code, a
replacement receptacle at this outlet shall be one of the following:
(1) A listed outlet branch circuit type arc-fault circuit interrupter receptacle
(2) A receptacle protected by a listed outlet branch circuit type arc-fault circuit interrupter type
receptacle
(3) A receptacle protected by a listed combination type arc-fault circuit interrupter type circuit breaker
Exception: Non-grounding type receptacle(s)
Motion – Cindy Register/Second – Leah Faile/Adopted with an effective date of January 1, 2016.
Item D – 3 Request by Terry Cromer, representing the NC Association of Electrical Contractors, to amend
the 2012 NC NEC, Section 680.42. The proposed amendment is as follows:
680.42(B) Bonding. Bonding by metal-to-metal mounting on a common frame or base shall be
permitted. The metal bands or hoops used to secure wooden staves shall not be required to be bonded
as required in 680.26.
Equipotential bonding of perimeter surfaces in accordance with 680.26(B) (2) shall not be required to be
provided for spas and hot tubs where all of the following conditions apply:
(1) The spa or hot tub shall be listed as a self-contained spa for aboveground use.
(2) The spa or hot tub shall not be identified as suitable only for indoor use.
(3) The installation shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and shall be located on
or above grade.
(4) The top rim of the spa or hot tub shall be at least 710 mm (28 in.) above all perimeter surfaces that
are within 760 mm (30 in.), measured horizontally from the spa or hot tub. The height of nonconductive
external steps for entry to or exit from the self-contained spa shall not be used to reduce or increase this
rim height measurement.
Motion – Cindy Register/Second – Tim Fowler/Adopted with an effective date of January 1, 2016.
Ad Hoc Committee Reports
-Cindy Register reported that the Electrical Ad Hoc/Standing Committee met every Thursday in August
and the first Thursday in September. The committee used the 2014 NEC as their base document and
developed proposals to make NC amendments to the base document.
3. How many wires are permitted in a split bolt connector? (Gary M)
Basically we have to follow the manufacturer’s instructions like for wire nuts. The UL White Book
(ZMVV) states:
Wire connectors are intended for use in installations covered by ANSI/NFPA 70, ‘National
Electrical Code’’ (NEC), and should be installed using the prescribed manufacturer’s installation
instructions. Stacking of connectors multiple connectors assembled using a single bolt, nut and washers)
may be permitted where mechanical interference is reduced or eliminated with the use of offset tangs,
stacking adapters, and the like. The surface contact area of the mounting tang should make complete
contact with the mounting surface or the previously stacked connector tang.
4. Can a standard copper split bolt be used to connect solid copper to rebar? For example in swimming
pool, or in a light pole base, or a UFER ground. Or does it have to be listed for direct burial in concrete.
(Gary M.)
Manufacturer’s instruction and listing
5. How do you apply Article 250.30(A) (1) Exception # 2? Would this picture be acceptable? (Matt K)
Maybe, 250.30(A)(1) Exception states:
Exception No. 2: If a separately derived system originates in listed equipment suitable as service
equipment, the grounding electrode conductor from the service or feeder equipment to the
grounding electrode shall be permitted as the grounding electrode conductor for the separately
derived system, provided the grounding electrode conductor is of suffıcient size for the separately
derived system. If the equipment grounding bus internal to the equipment is not smaller than the
required grounding electrode conductor for the separately derived system, the grounding
electrode connection for the separately derived system shall be permitted to be made to the bus.
6. Distilleries. (Joe W)
Most distilleries, depending on the process, are going to create a classified area(s) within the
building. We need to be aware in plan review and the field to ask questions about these areas
pertaining to any vapors, combustibles, and dusts that may accumulate and how are wiring
methods etc., comply with code.
7. Website (Joe W)
Update all on the changes to the website and show example of how to navigate to find different
references
8. What size wire is used to support devices mounted in or on a suspended ceiling? (Gerald B)
The code references for this topic are as follows, 300.11(A)(1) & (2); 314.23(D)(1) & (2);
314.27(A)(2); 410.36(A) & (B). Because of the different building aspects taken into account for
the ceiling support such as seismic, fire rating, etc., and as a way to be consistent throughout
our jurisdiction we use the following interpretation now updated on line to size these support
wires, or we will also accept an Engineer’s sealed letter to validate a given support wire.
"Lay-in fixtures shall be secured at all four corners either by support wires or fastening to main
runners. Support wires shall be sized per the manufacturer’s instructions for hanging the ceiling
grid (typically #9 wire). The trapeze configurations below shall be acceptable for 2x4 (left) and
2x2 (right) luminaires.”
9. Are all 120V 15 and 20 amp receptacles, installed in an elevator pit for an oil recovery pump required
to be on GFCI? (David R)
Maybe: Article 620.85 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.
Each 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-amperereceptacle installed in pits, in hoist ways, on elevator car
tops, and in escalator and moving walk well ways shall be of the ground-fault circuit- interrupter type.
All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in machine rooms and machinery
spaces shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. A single receptacle supplying
a permanently installed sump pump shall not require ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection.
10. The inspector turned me down for not having clearances at my power supply for a sign. He also
required me to increase my access opening, add a walkway and light. I have never had to do this before.
Is the inspector correct? (Chris D)
The inspector is ALWAYS correct. First of all, ballast, transformers and electronic power supplies
shall be located where accessible Per 600.21(A) and when the ballast, transformer or electronic
power supply is not installed in the sign, a working space of 3 foot high 3 foot wide and 3 foot
deep shall be provided as stated in 600.21(D). If it is located in an attic or soffit, the following
shall be provided, an access door that is a minimum 36 x 22.5 inches, with a passageway of at
least 3 feet high 2 foot wide with a suitable permanent walkway at least 12 inches wide
extending from the point of entry to each component. At least one lighting outlet shall be
provided at or near equipment requiring service controlled by a switch located at the point of
entry. That code reference is 600.21(E)
11. We're doing a partial remodel on a hotel. Do I have to use tamper-resistant receptacles and do they
need to be AFCI protected? (John W)
Where new devices are added or installed they would must be of the tamper resistant type. See
406.4(D) (5) and 406.13. AFCI protection will be required if the hotel rooms fall under 210.12,
otherwise it is not required but recommended.
12. Now that we have a method of applying sufficiently large to a multi-family dwelling to
determine the maximum number of services, how do we apply when we have mixed use such
as retail on first floor and multi-family on second thru 4th floor?(Joe W)
Use the multi-family interpretation for the multi-family floors and 230.2 for the first floor is one
way of doing it
13. When we look at 250.66(A) & (B) we see the term “sole connection”; what does sole
connection mean? (Gerald B)
The term sole connection means that the grounding electrode conductor does not serve or
connect to more than one type of grounding electrode. For example, a grounding electrode is
not connected to a concrete-encased electrode and then extended to building steel or
underground metal water pipe. In this case a grounding electrode conductor larger than #4 may
be require for the water pipe electrode based on the size of the service-entrance conductors.
NEXT MEETING:
Contractors – Wednesday March 12, 2015
Inspectors – December November 10, 2014