HOUSE CONSISTENCY MEETING
Date: 4-12-2013
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. What is the minimum height of an overhead saw service pole and the minimum height of the
weather head on an overhead saw service?
230.24(A) and (B) gives clearances for service conductors but does not address the height of the
pole a saw service may be mounted on. The requirements of Duke-Energy for the height of the
pole can be found on their website in the builders and contractors handbook at:
http://www.duke-energy.com/pdfs/builders-handbook.pdf
According to their handbook the pole should be 12’ high.
2. I had a kitchen remodel. They took the old kitchen/dining room and made it into a new living
room. Then took the old living room and made it into a new kitchen. The E/C left the old #14 in
the outside walls, which is now going to be the new kitchen/dining room. They didn't remove
the sheetrock on the outside walls. He was told by someone that this was 'grandfathered in'
because the sheetrock wasn't removed. I turned the job down because you changed the
integrity of the room, (old living room into new kitchen), therefore you have got to meet the
intent of the code and wire the receptacles in #12. Who is correct?
The inspector in this case is correct, there is no ”grandfathering” here and the explanation is
otherwise explained in the text of the question. A new room was created and must be wired to
meet current Code.
3. Define a reliable source of power.
The determination of whether the serving electric utility is a reliable source of power is an issue
for the authority having jurisdiction. Section A.9.3.2 in Annex A of NFPA 20-2010, Standard for
the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection, elaborates on several key characteristics
of a reliable power supply.
Excerpt from Annex A of NFPA 20-2010, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for
Fire Protection
A.9.3.2 A reliable power source possesses the following characteristics:
(1) The source power plant has not experienced any shutdowns of longer than 4 continuous
hours in the year prior to plan submittal. NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and
Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, requires special undertakings (i.e., fire
watches) when a water-based fire protection system is taken out of service for longer than 4
hours. If the normal source power plant has been intentionally shut down for longer than 4
hours in the past, it is reasonable to require a backup source of power.
(2) No power outages have been experienced in the area of the protected facility caused by
failures in the power grid that were not due to natural disasters or electric grid management
failure. The standard does not require that the normal source of power is infallible. NFPA 20
does not intend to require a back-up source of power for every installation using an electric
motor–driven fire pump. Should the normal source of power fail due to a natural disaster
(hurricane) or due to a problem with electric grid management (regional blackout), the fire
protection system could be supplied through the fire department connection. However, if the
power grid is known to have had problems in the past (i.e., switch failures or animals shorting a
substation), it is reasonable to require a backup source of power.
(3) The normal source of power is not supplied by overhead conductors outside the protected
facility. Fire departments responding to an incident at the protected facility will not operate
aerial apparatus near live overhead power lines, without exception. A backup source of power is
required in case this scenario occurs and the normal source of power must be shut off.
Additionally, many utility providers will remove power to the protected facility by physically
cutting the overhead conductors. If the normal source of power is provided by overhead
conductors, which will not be identified, the utility provider could mistakenly cut the overhead
conductor supplying the fire pump.
(4) Only the disconnect switches and over current protection devices permitted by 9.2.3 are
installed in the normal source of power. Power disconnection and activated over current
protection should only occur in the fire pump controller. The provisions of 9.2.2 for the
disconnect switch and over current protection essentially require disconnection and over
current protection to occur in the fire pump controller. If unanticipated disconnect switches or
over current protection devices are installed in the normal source of power that do not meet
the requirements of 9.2.2, the normal source of power must be considered not reliable and a
back-up source of power is necessary.
Performance requirements for the alternate source of electric power can be found in NFPA 110,
Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems.
For an on-site power production facility to be considered a reliable power source for an electric
motor–driven fire pump(s), fire protection measures must be in place to protect the source and
maintain a reliable power supply. In many cases, on-site power production sources are electric
generating stations dedicated to a particular facility or to a particular facility's campus-style
distribution system. Information on fire protection systems for on-site generating stations can
be found in NFPA 850-2010, Recommended Practice for Fire Protection for Electric Generating
Plants and High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations. The requirements for fire protection
of the fire pump supply conductors are located in 695.6(A) and (B)
4. Can I cord-and-plug connect my security system that have required smoke alarms on the
system?
No. Per R314.4 of the Residential Bldg Code; Smoke alarms shall receive their primary power
from the building wiring when such wiring is served from a commercial source, and when
primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery. Wiring shall be permanent and
without a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent protection. Smoke
alarms shall be interconnected. Per Ron Chilton of DOI, a cord-and-plug is considered as a form
of disconnecting switch.
5. How are we checking bonding requirements for swimming pools at the final?
Bonding shall be thoroughly checked and rung out at all points in the system before the pool
installation can be finaled.
6. What is the policy for work that has been truly accidentally covered?
See the complete policy online at:
http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/CodeEnforcement/Electrical/Document
s/RoughInspection.pdf