O2157
City Council Meeting
June 14,2005 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2157 (CCS)
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
AMENDING CHAPTER 8.24 OF THE SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL CODE
TO ADOPT THE 2004 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE
AND LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO THE CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE
WHEREAS, on October 8, 2002, the City Council adopted Ordinance Number 2054
(CCS), which adopted by reference certain Technical Codes, the Santa Monica local
amendments to these Technical Codes and the California Building Standards Code; and
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 18938 provides that the triennial
edition of the California Building Standards Code establishes building standards for all
occupancies throughout the State and requires that these standards incorporate the latest
editions of the Technical Codes with necessary California amendments; and
WHEREAS, in February of 2005, the State Building Standards Commission
approved and published the 2004 edition of the California Electrical Code, which
incorporated the 2002 edition of the National Electrical Code by reference with necessary
California amendments; and
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Sections 18938 and 17958 make the California
Building Standards Code applicable to all cities and counties throughout California,
including the City of Santa Monica, 180 days after publication by the State Building
Standards Commission, which is August 1, 2005; and
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WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 18941.5 provides that the City may
establish more restrictive building standards if they are reasonably necessary due to local
climatic, geological or topographical conditions; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered the 2004 edition of the California
Electrical Code, which incorporates by reference the 2002 edition ofthe National Electrical
Code, and all of the referenced standards, tables, matrices and appendices of this code;
and
WHEREAS, based upon the findings contained in the Resolution adopted
concurrently with this Ordinance, the City Council has found that certain modifications and
additions to the California Electrical Code are reasonably necessary based upon local
climatic, topographical and geological conditions;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 8.24 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code is hereby amended
to read as follows:
Chapter 8.24 Electrical Code.
8.24.010 Adoption
That certain document entitled "California Electrical Code, 2004
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Edition," as published by the California Building Standards Commission and
the National Fire Protection Association, which adopts by reference the
National Electrical Code, 2002 Edition, and the local amendments of this
Chapter, is hereby adopted as the Electrical Code of the City of Santa
Monica.
8.24.020 Local Amendments to the California Electrical Code.
Notwithstanding any provisions of the California Electrical Code, or
other codes adopted by any Chapter in Article VIII of the Municipal Code to
the contrary, the following local amendments shall apply.
8.24.030 Wiring.
(a) Wiring methods permitted by the California Electrical Code may be
installed provided that any wiring not having metal protection over the
conductors shall be entirely concealed within the building structure to prevent
and inhibit tampering.
(b) Conductors for general wiring made of aluminum alloys containing
more than 50% aluminum base metal shall not be permitted in diameters
smaller than NO.6.
(c) Nonmetallic sheathed cable may only be used in single and
multifamily dwellings not exceeding three floors above grade.
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8.24.040 Electrical Appliances, Devices, Materials and Equipment
Regulations.
(a) Use of Approved Materials. No person, firm or corporation shall
use any electrical material, device, appliance or equipment, designed or
intended for attachment, directly or indirectly, to any electrical system, circuit
or electrical service for light, heat or power in the City unless such electrical
material, device, appliance or equipment complies with the provisions of this
Chapter. The Building Officer is hereby empowered to enforce the provisions
of this Chapter.
(b) Rating. All electrical materials, devices, appliances, or equipment
designed or intended for attachment, directly or indirectly, to any electrical
system, circuit or electrical service for light, heat or power, shall be only those
wAiGR that conform with the requirements of this Chapter. Each such article
shall bear or contain the maker's name, trademark or identification symbol,
together with such rating by the manufacturer as may be necessary to
determine the intended use. The correct operating voltage, amperage and
total watts shall be stated and no person shall remove, alter, deface or
obliterate any such marking.
(c) Approvals. All electrical materials, devices, .appliances, or
equipment covered by and intended to be regulated by this Chapter shall
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conform to the published National Safety Standards for such materials,
devices, appliances or equipment on file in the office of the United States
Bureau of Standards. Copies of these standards are on file in the office of
the Building Officer and shall be open to inspection by the public. Listing or
labeling by the Underwriter's Laboratories, Inc., or other recognized testing
laboratory whose standards are on file with the United States Bureau of
Standards shall be prima facie evidence of conformity with these required
standards. Where no such standards exist for any material, device,
appliance or equipment, the Building Officer may designate a standard for
each article submitted, which shall specify the tests necessary to provide the
degree of safety to life and property as is generally required by the National
Standards for approved materials, devices, appliances and equipment of
similar or related character or nature.
(d) Revocation. Any approval granted by the Building Officer may be
revoked if the electrical material, device, appliance, or equipment is found to
be hazardous, unsuitable for the purpose used or intended, or does not
conform with the standards under which it was approved for use.
(e) Exceptions. The provisions of this Chapter shall not be deemed to
apply to:
(1) Safe, substantial, used or second-hand devices or appliances,
provided that all parts or equipments used in rebuilding or reconstruction
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shall conform in all particulars with the National Standards for such article,
and provided further, that such articles shall have the same degree of safety
to life and property as may then be required in a new article of the same type.
(2) Electrical materials, devices, appliances and equipment which are
safe and suitable for the purpose used or intended, provided such materials,
devices, appliances and equipment are already fully covered and regulated
by existing laws and ordinances now in effect.
(3) Vehicles or motor vehicle equipment.
(4) Industrial or commercial appliances which are to be used in a
specific location, and which have been submitted to a recognized laboratory
for approval as conforming to the standards required hereof but on which
final approval is still pending; provided, however, that exemption from the
provisions of this Code shall be granted separately for each appliance only
when satisfactory written evidence has been filed that laboratory approval
has been applied for, and shall continue in force only during such time as the
Building Officer has reason to believe that the testing laboratory will grant
final approval certifying compliance to the prescribed standards.
(5) Generating, transforming or converting devices or appliances, nor
any device or appliance for measuring or recording current voltage or power.
.
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8.24.050 Used Materials.
Previously used materials shall not be re-used in any work without the
advance approval of the Building Officer.
8.24.060 Temporary Service Poles and Associated Feeder Poles.
(a) The minimum size of a wood pole used to support service
equipment, distribution equipment and/or conductors shall be 6 inches by 6
inches (nominal) if square, or have a top diameter of at least 5 inches if
round, and be of sufficient length to maintain all required overhead
clearances as specified in the California Electrical Code, Section 225-18, but
in any case, shall not be less than 20 feet long. The lower end shall be
embedded not less than 4 feet in the ground. An approved self-supporting
pole of a material other than wood, if of equivalent strength, may be used.
See Electrical Service Requirements of the Serving Agency or Serving Utility
for poles exceeding more than 16 feet above grade.
Exception: A 4-inch by 4-inch (nominal) wood pole, or equivalent,
embedded 4 feet in the ground, shall be permitted for distribution poles used
to support temporary wiring for other than construction power in confonnance
with Article 305 of the Califomia Electrical Code and located in areas
accessible to pedestrians only,
(b) Provisions for Temporary Services.
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(1) Service Equipment. The service equipment including meter
enclosures shall be properly identified for the intended use.
(2) Wiring Methods. Raceways on temporary service poles shall be
rigid metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing or schedule 80 rigid nonmetallic
conduit. The raceways shall be supported at intervals not to exceed 3 feet.
Metallic raceways shall be enclosed by wood molding or nonmetallic conduit
not less than 8 feet below the service head.
(3) Protective Wood Block. A 4-inch by 4-inch protective wood block
shall be through-bolted to wooden poles immediately above metallic service
heads or open non-insulated grounded conductors. The block shall be
placed in a }'2-inch gain on round wood poles.
(4) Receptacle Outlets. 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere
receptacle outlets shall have ground-fault interrupters for personnel
protection. Receptacles of different voltage and current ratings shall not be
interchangeable.
See the California Electrical Code, Article 240 for Overcurrent
Protection of Conductors and Article 250 for Grounding and Bonding
requirements.
If a made pipe or rod electrode is used for grounding, it shall be driven
at least 8 feet into the earth and spaced at least 18 inches from the pole.
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8.24.070 Underground Concrete Vaults and Handholes.
(a) Scope: The following requirements apply to the use of specially
constructed underground concrete vaults and to hand holes.
(b) Definitions:
(1) Vault. A chamber in an underground conduit distribution system
containing sufficient working space and an entrance for personnel.
(2) Handhole. A chamber smaller than a vault in an underground
conduit distribution system having a removable cover and used in lieu of a
listed pull box.
(c) Concrete Vault Provisions:
(1) The inside dimensions of an underground concrete vault shall be
not less than 4 feet in width and 4 feet in length.
(2) The inside height shall be not less than 5 feet between the floor
and the top or ceiling.
(3) Circular access openings shall be not less than 26 inches in
diameter and rectangular access openings shall be not less than 24 inches
by 26 inches.
(4) Vaults shall be installed only in permanently accessible locations
outside of buildings.
(5) Where exposed to vehicular traffic, the enclosures and their related
covers shall be designed for that purpose.
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(6) Where subject to inundation or exposure to the elements, covers
shall be suitably sealed.
(7) Conduits shall enter the vault in a manner consistent with the type
of wiring method used in accordance with the following:
(A) Conduits shall enter the enclosure through the walls and be
terminated in a manner that provides suitable protection for the type of wiring
method used.
(8) Conduits entering the enclosure walls shall terminate not less than
2 inches from the bottom or one foot from the top.
(C) Direct burial conductors shall enter the enclosure by means of
conduit nipples which shall be suitably sealed.
(8) Suitable wall supports or racks shall be provided to secure open
conductors in a fixed position 2 inches or more above the floor.
(9) Walls and floors shall be made of concrete having a minimum
thickness of 6 inches. Ceilings shall be made of concrete having a minimum
thickness of 8 inches. Vault dimensions shall be not less than set forth in
Article 370 of the California Electrical Code.
(10) Exposed noncurrent-carrying metal parts of equipment, conductor
supports or racks, conduits and other metal appurtenances, including any
metal cover and its supporting ring, shall be bonded together and connected
to a common ground. The size of the grounding means shall be as
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prescribed in Section 250-95 of the California Electrical Code. Where the run
is exposed, the grounding conductor shall be not smaller than # 8 AWG.
(d) Handholes Provisions.
Except as modified by this Subsection, the provisions of Subsections
(c)-4 through (c)-10 for vaults shall apply to handholes.
(1) The handhold shall be so designed that the conductors may be
pulled, spliced or otherwise handled without requiring a person to enter the
enclosure.
(2) The minimum depth of handholes shall be 18 inches and the width
shall not be less than half the depth. Handholes shall not exceed three foot
in depth from finish grade to the bottom of the handhold.
(3) Covers for hand holes shall be full opening, made of carbon steel
floor plate or equivalent, and shall have a minimum thickness of 114-inch,
except when they are subjected to vehicular traffic.
(e) Prefabricated concrete boxes and their covers that are designed
for the purpose of hand holes, having dimensions less than set forth in
Subsections (c) and (d) ofthis Section, may be used as vaults and handholes
where specifically approved by the Building and Safety Division.
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8.24.080 Solar Photovoltaic Systems- Disconnecting Means
For Multiple Arrays
Where more than one array is combined to form a single output rated
more than 50 volts and/or 10 amperes, a disconnecting means rated for the
output shall be installed immediately adjacent to the combiner box on the
output side unless the combiner box is located adjacent to the inverter(s).
SECTION 2. This ordinance shall be effective on August 1, 2005.
SECTION 3. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or appendices
thereto, inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such
inconsistencies and no further, are hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to
effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. If any Section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court
of any competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this
Ordinance, and each and every Section, subsection; sentence, clause, or phrase not
declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the Ordinance
would be SUbsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
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SECTION 5. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of
this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause this ordinance, or a summary thereof to be
published once in the official newspaper within 15 days after its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
~~I~~
City Attorney
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Approved and adopted this 14th day of June, 2005.
State of California )
County of Los Angeles) ss.
City of Santa Monica )
I, Maria M. Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Ordinance No. 2157 (CCS) had its introduction on May 10, 2005, and was
adopted at the Santa Monica City Council meeting held on June 14, 2005, by the
following vote:
Ayes: Council members: Mayor O'Connor, Mayor Pro Tern Katz, Bloom,
Genser, Holbrook, McKeown, Shriver
Noes: Council members: None
Abstain: Council members: None
Absent: Council members: None
ATTEST:
...... ~.~ ~~
Maria M. Stewart, ity Clerk
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