For the purpose of this article, the words and phrases used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary.

(a)   Approved shall mean approved by the chief building official, the electrical inspector or his or her designee.

(b)   Authorized Person shall mean any individual, firm or corporation who or which is licensed under the provisions of this article to do the work as permitted under the specified provisions of this article.

(c)   City shall mean the territory within the corporate limits of this city.

(d)   Conductor shall mean a wire or cable or other form of metal suitable for carrying the electric current or potential.

(e)   Electrical Construction or Installation shall mean and include all work and materials used in installing, maintaining or extending a system of electrical wiring and all appurtenances, apparatus or equipment used in connection therewith, inside or attached to any building, structure, lot or premises, except industrial plants where fulltime maintenance is provided and other agencies providing inspections of installations and facilities. Electrical construction shall not be held to mean or include any of the following:

(1)   The replacement of lamps, fuses, bulbs or the connection of portable electrical equipment to suitable permanently installed receptacles and replacement of receptacles and switches, lighting fixtures and apparatus where no changes or alterations are made to the wiring;

(2)   Any work involved in the manufacturing, repair or testing of any electrical equipment or apparatus, but not including any permanent wiring; or

(3)   Any work in industrial establishments where inspections come under the scope of other inspection agencies.

(f)   Equipment shall mean conductors, materials, fittings, devices, appliances, fixtures, apparatus, motors and the like, used as a part of or in connection with an electrical installation.

(g)   Inspector shall mean the chief building official or any individual who has been applied by the city as electrical inspector.

(h)   Person shall mean a natural person, his or her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, and also includes a firm, partnership or corporation, its or their successors, assigns, or the agent of any of the aforesaid.

(i)    Special Permission shall mean the written consent of the chief building official or the electrical inspector.

(j)    Special Ruling shall mean a written ruling filed in the office of the chief building official or the electrical inspector.

(Code 1988)

The following sections of this article are in addition to the provisions of the standard code incorporated by reference in section 4-102.

(Code 1988)

(a)   When any electric equipment is to be hidden from view by the permanent placement of parts of the building, the person, firm or corporation installing the equipment shall notify the building inspector and such equipment shall not be concealed until it has been inspected, approved or authorized by the electrical inspector or until 24 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, shall have elapsed from the time of such notification.  On large installations, where the concealment of equipment proceeds continuously, the person, firm or corporation installing the electrical equipment shall give the electrical inspector due notice and inspections shall be made periodically during the progress of the work.

(b)   The electrical inspector shall have the authority to require building contractors to open such work which, in any manner, conceals electrical wiring that has been closed without his or her knowledge or permission, and in no case shall the inspector issue a certificate of approval until satisfied that the work is in accordance with the provisions of this article.  The inspector shall also have the right to refuse to issue a certificate of approval on any wiring, that is concealed in such manner that it cannot be fully determined that it has been done in accordance with this article. 

(Code 1988)

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to make connection to a supply of electricity to any building or electrical equipment for which an inspection is required, or which has been disconnected by the order of the electrical inspector, until a certificate of approval has been issued by the electrical inspector authorizing the connection and use of such electric supply. The electrical inspector may, at his or her discretion, authorize a temporary connection.

(Code 1988)

The electrical inspector shall periodically reinspect existing installations of electrical conductors and equipment. When the installation of any conductors or equipment is found to be in a dangerous or unsafe condition, the person, firm, or corporation owning, using, or operating the installation shall be notified in writing and shall make the necessary repairs or changes required to place the conductors or equipment in safe condition and have the work completed within the period specified by the electrical inspector.

(Code 1988)

(a)   If in the judgment of the electrical inspector, after an inspection, any electrical conductors, appliances or equipment in any building are unsafe or dangerous to person or property, the inspector shall have the power to cause the wires or appliances to be disconnected from the source of electrical energy supplying these conductors or equipment, and may, at his or her discretion, seal the control switches for the same in an open or disconnected position, whereupon he or she shall give notice to the owner, or his or her agent, or by posting such notice at the site and shall also notify the utilities serving the premises. Thereafter, it shall be unlawful for any person to cause or permit electric current to be supplied to the electrical conductors, appliances or equipment so sealed until they shall have been made safe and the inspector shall have issued a certificate of approval to that effect.

(b)   It shall be the duty of the electrical inspector to cause all dead wires, unused poles or electric apparatus on the outside of the buildings or in streets or alleys to be removed at the expense of the owners thereof by giving the owners written notice.

(c)   When the electrical inspector condemns all or part of any electrical installation, the owner may, within 10 days after receiving written notice thereof, file a petition in writing for review of the action of the building inspector by the governing body, upon the receipt of which the governing body shall at once proceed to determine the facts, and within 10 days from receiving the petition make a decision in accordance with their findings.

(Code 1988)

It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to, in any manner, change or alter electrical conductors or equipment in or on any building. If in the course of the erection of a building or structure, electrical conductors or equipment are in such position as to interfere with the erection or completion of the structure, notice shall be immediately given the authorized person or firm installing the electrical conductors or equipment, and the needed change shall be made by such authorized person or firm.

(Code 1988)

No electric materials for wiring of appliances or equipment shall be installed in the city unless they are in conformity with the provisions of this article and with the approved standards of construction for safety to life and property. Conformity of materials for wiring appliances and equipment to the standards of the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. shall be prima facie evidence that the materials, devices, appliances, and equipment comply with the requirements of this article.

(Code 1988)