§ 22-164. Adoption of the National Electrical Code 2017, with amendments.

(a)

Incorporated by reference. There is hereby adopted by the City of Ottawa for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the utilization of materials, construction, installation and alteration of all electrical work placed in or utilized in connection with any building or structure within the City of Ottawa, a certain electrical code known as the National Electrical Code of the National Fire Protection Association, particularly the 2017 Edition thereof, with specific additions, deletions, insertions, modifications and amendments (which said Code as so amended is in this Chapter referred to as the National Electrical Code), not less than one copy of which with the specific additions, deletions, insertions, modifications and amendments has been and now filed in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Ottawa. The provisions of said code are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length and the provisions thereof as added, deleted, inserted, modified and amended shall be controlling in regard to all buildings and structures within the corporate limits of the city.

(b)

Additions, deletions, insertions, modifications and amendments to the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70.2017.

1)

210.12 Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection (AFCI)

Exception #1: Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection shall not be required in one or two family dwelling units where a fire sprinkler system has been installed per the requirements of NFPA 13D (Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes).

Exception #2: Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection shall not be required in multifamily dwelling units of four stories or less in height where a fire sprinkler system has been installed per the requirements of NFPA 13R (Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to and Including Four Stories in Height)

2)

Storage Space Lighting Control

210.70(A)(3) Storage or Equipment Spaces For attics, under floor spaces, utility rooms, and basements, at least one lighting outlet controlled by a wall switch shall be installed where these spaces are used for storage or contain equipment requiring servicing. The wall switch shall be located at the usual point of entry to these spaces. The lighting outlet shall be provided at or near the equipment requiring servicing.

3)

Service Wiring Methods, 1,000 Volts or Less

230.43 Wiring Methods for 1,000 Volts, Nominal, or Less

Service-entrance conductors shall be installed in accordance with the applicable requirements of this Code covering the type of wiring method used and shall be limited to the following methods:

(1)

Rigid metal conduit

(2)

Intermediate metal conduit

(3)

Wireways

(4)

Busways

(5)

Auxiliary gutters

(6)

Cablebus

(7)

Type MC cable

(8)

Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride Conduit (PVC) in underground locations only.

(9)

High density polyethylene conduit (HDPE) in underground locations only.

(10)

Reinforced thermosetting resin conduit (RTRC) in underground locations only.

Informational Note: Utility rules may require the use of nonmetallic cables above 2.5 m (8 ft.) on their poles.

4)

Service Disconnect Location

230.70(A)(1) Readily Accessible Location The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either outside of a building or structure or inside within 3.0 m (10 ft.) of the point of entrance of the service conductors.

5)

Service Wiring Methods, Over 600 Volts

230.202(B) Wiring Methods

Aboveground conductors shall be installed in rigid metal conduit, in intermediate metal conduit, in electrical metallic tubing, in cable trays, as busways, as cablebus, or as exposed runs of metal-clad cable suitable for the use and purpose. In locations accessible to qualified persons only, exposed runs of Type MV cables, bare conductors, and bare busbars shall also be permitted. Busbars shall be permitted to be either copper or aluminum. Underground conductors shall be identified for the voltage and conditions under which they are installed. Underground conductors shall be permitted to be installed in any raceway that is approved for underground use. Where the underground raceway is nonmetallic it shall be encased in not less than 50 mm (2 in.) of concrete. Direct burial cables shall comply with the provisions of 310.7. Underground cables shall be installed in accordance with 300.50(A)(1) or (A)(2), and the installation shall meet the depth requirements of Table 300.50.

Exception: Approved nonmetallic conduits shall be permitted to be used 2.5m (8 ft.) above grade where installed on poles.

Informational Note: Utility rules may require the use of nonmetallic cables above 2.5 m (8 ft.) on their poles.

6)

314.27 Outlet Boxes.

(A)(2) Ceiling Outlets. At every outlet used exclusively for lighting, the box shall be designed so that a luminaire or lampholder may be attached. Boxes shall be required to support a luminaire weighing a minimum of 23 kg (50 lb). A luminaire that weighs more than 23 kg (50 lb) shall be supported independently of the outlet box, unless the outlet box is listed and marked on the interior of the box to indicate the maximum weight the box shall be permitted to support.

Outlet boxes installed in dwelling unit ceilings that are 900 mm (3 ft.) or more from the nearest wall shall be listed and marked as suitable for the support of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan.

7)

Type AC Cable Uses

320.12 Uses Not Permitted

Type AC cable shall not be used as follows:

(1)

Where subject to physical damage

(2)

In damp or wet locations

(3)

In air voids of masonry block or tile walls where such walls are exposed or subject to excessive moisture or dampness

(4)

Where exposed to corrosive conditions

(5)

Embedded in plaster finish on brick or other masonry in damp or wet locations

(6)

In multifamily dwelling units of more than two stories above grade

(7)

In multifamily dwelling units where there are more than six units in a single building

(8)

In commercial occupancies

Exception to 6, 7 and 8: Type AC cable shall be permitted to be fished into concealed spaces in existing buildings in lengths not to exceed 3.7 m (12 ft).

Exception to 8: Manufactured wiring systems constructed from AC cable shall be permitted for use with lighting systems.

8)

Type MC Cable Uses

330.12 Uses Not Permitted

Type MC cable shall not be used under the following conditions:

(1)

Where subject to physical damage

(2)

Where exposed to any of the destructive corrosive conditions in (a) or (b), unless the metallic sheath or armor is resistant to the conditions or is protected by material resistant to the conditions:

a.

Direct buried in the earth or embedded in concrete unless identified for direct burial

b.

Exposed to cinder fills, strong chlorides, caustic alkalis, or vapors of chlorine or of hydrochloric acids

(3)

In multifamily dwelling units of more than two stories above grade

(4)

In multifamily dwelling units where there are more than six units in a single building

(5)

In commercial occupancies

Exception to 3, 4 and 5: Type MC cable shall be permitted to be fished into concealed spaces in existing buildings in lengths not to exceed 3.7 m (12 ft).

Exception to 5: Manufactured wiring systems constructed from MC cable shall be permitted for use with lighting systems.

9)

Type NM (romex) Cable Uses

334.12 Uses Not Permitted

(A) Types NM, NMC, and NMS Types NM, NMC, and NMS cables shall not be permitted as follows:

(1)

In any dwelling or structure not specifically permitted in 334.10(1), (2), and (3)

(2)

Exposed in dropped or suspended ceilings in other than one- and two-family and multifamily dwellings

(3)

In hoistways or on elevators or escalators

(4)

Embedded in poured cement, concrete, or aggregate

(5)

In multifamily dwelling units of more than two stories above grade

(6)

In multifamily dwelling units where there are more than six units in a single building

(7)

In commercial occupancies

(8)

In industrial occupancies

10)

Type UF Cable Uses

340.12 Uses Not Permitted

Type UF cable shall not be used as follows:

(1)

In multifamily dwelling units of more than two stories above grade

(2)

In multifamily dwelling units where there are more than six units in a single building

(3)

In commercial occupancies

(4)

In industrial occupancies

(5)

Embedded in poured cement, concrete, or aggregate, except where embedded in plaster as nonheating leads where permitted in 424.43

(6)

Where exposed to direct rays of the sun, unless identified as sunlight resistant

(7)

Where subject to physical damage

(8)

As overhead cable, except where installed as messenger-supported wiring in accordance with Part II of Article 396

11)

Type ENT conduit

362.10 Uses permitted

Type ENT conduit shall be permitted to be used in the following:

(1)

One- and two-family dwellings and their attached or detached garages, and their storage buildings.

(2)

Multi-family dwellings permitted to be of Types III, IV, and V construction.

(3)

As a raceway for systems operating at 50 volts or less in any occupancy.

362.12 Uses Not Permitted

Type ENT conduit shall not be used in the following:

(1)

In any hazardous (classified) location, except as permitted by other articles in this code.

(2)

For the support of luminaries and other equipment.

(3)

Where subject to ambient temperatures in excess of 50°C (122°F) unless listed otherwise.

(4)

For conductors or cables operating at a temperature higher than the ENT listed temperature rating.

Exception to (4): Conductors or cables rated at a temperature higher than the ENT listed temperature rating shall be permitted to be installed in ENT, provided they are not operated at a temperature higher than the ENT listed temperature rating.

(5)

For direct earth burial.

(6)

Where the voltage is over 600 volts.

(7)

In theaters and similar locations, except as provided in 518.4 and 520.5.

(8)

Where exposed to the direct rays of the sun, unless identified as sunlight resistant.

(9)

Where subject to physical damage.

(10)

In any location not specifically permitted by 362.10.

12)

Electrical Datum Plane

555.2(2) and 682.2(3)

The Electrical Datum Plane shall be 606 mm (2 ft.) above the 100 year flood elevation as determined by FEMA as shown on the latest edition Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for the project area.

(Ord. No. O13-2008, § 2, 4-1-2008; Ord. No. O23-2009, § 1, 3-17-2009; Ord. No. O80-2009, § 2, 11-3-2009; Ord. No. O13-2011, § 1, 5-3-2011; Ord. No. O19-2014, § 1, 5-6-2014; Ord. No. O15-2017, § 1, 4-18-2017)