8.1 1999 NEC
CITY OF SALINA
REQUEST FOR CITY COMMISSION ACTION
DATE
02-24-03
TIME
4:00 P.M.
AGENDA SECTION:
NO.
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT:
APPROVED FOR
AGENDA:
8
BUILDING SERVICES
ITEM
NO.
1
BY: Michael W. Morgan
BY:~
ITEM:
Ordinance #03-10128 amending Chapter 8, Sections 8-67, 8-113 and 8-187
of the City of Salina Code.
BACKGROUND:
1999 National Electric Code (NEC)
The Building Advisory Board recently held hearings at three consecutive meetings to evaluate an
emerging technology that was included as a requirement in the 1999 NEC with a delayed enforcement
date. The specific technology is a device known as an "Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter". The Board reviewed
available data on the reliability of the devices and surveys by Staff and the local National Homebuilders
Association of other Kansas jurisdictions as to their enforcement policies regarding this provision. The
surveys indicated that due to the frequency of nuisance trips and the inability to field test the devices,
several jurisdictions had opted to remove the requirement from their codes. Other data submitted implied
that the devices did not always work to their intended purpose. Although convinced that the intent of this
provision is a worthwhile objective, the Board nevertheless voted at their January 14, 2003 meeting to
recommend that the requirement be deleted at the present time until the reliability of the equipment can
be improved. Their decision was tempered by the knowledge that they will soon be reviewing the 2002
edition of the NEC for adoption and will reconsider this matter at that time.
Added Exemption to Electrical Contractor Licensina
Several years ago, a previous Board rendered an interpretation that anyone in the employ of a licensed
Mechanical contractor could install disconnect switches for air conditioning equipment when the
equipment was replaced. The Board reviewed that decision at their December 10,2002 meeting and in
an effort to more precisely define what work could be done without an Electrical contractors' license
recommended a code change. The new exception would limit the work exclusively to the installation of
disconnecting means at air conditioner locations and only allow the work to be done by someone in the
employ of a licensed Mechanical contractor.
1997 Uniform Plumbina Code (UPC)
Staff recently identified a change to the UPC that created a contradiction with a previously approved local
amendment. After discussions were held with local plumbing contractors, a recommendation was made
to the Building Advisory Board to amend the new language to bring it into conformance with our local
adoption. The Board voted to recommend the change at their November 12, 2002 meeting.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Ordinance #03-10128 amending Chapter 8, Sections 8-67, 8-113 and 8-187 of the City of
Salina Code.
I