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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Electrical Advisory Board - 12/04/2008 - Special Minutes of the Electrical Advisory Board RECEIVED Special Meeting DEC 2 2 2008 Thursday,December 4,2008 Fire Department Conference Room,3r 1 Floor CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE Frost Bank Building Call to Order The meeting was called to order at approximately 1:15 p.m. II. Roll Call Board members present include: Lee Montgomery P.E., Tino Vasquez, Craig Loving, Michael Riley, Don Fretwell, Billy Ashcral and Jared Merdes P.E., Board members absent: Daniel Dibble, Bhasker Patel, and David Schury City Staff present include: Doug Maples, David Lewis, Jay Reining, and Rose lrigoyen III. Approval of Minutes—November 14,2008 Mr. Tino Vasquez made a motion to postpone the Minutes for the November 14, 2008, Motion was second by Mr. Craig Loving. Motion carried unanimously. IV. Review, Discuss and Make Recommendations on Board Membership; Section(14- 225B)(2B) Mr. Maples advised the board that this board has eleven members and seven of those members have expired terms at the end of the year. Six of those members have confirmed that they want to continue their membership. Mr. Daniel Dibble has announced that he would like to withdraw from the board The board recognized that the position required a Hotnebuilder. V. Review, Discuss and Take Action on 2009 Electrical Meeting Schedule; Section (14- 226B)(4C) Mr. Reining mentioned that the Electrical Advisory Board needs to meet once a month but the Council does not have a formal meeting day assigned for this Advisory Board Mr. Reining mentioned the code required the Electrical Advisory Board to meet the fourth Thursday of the month. Mr. Craig Loving motions to designate the fourth Thursday of the month as the Electrical Advisory Board meeting and include it as part of a City Ordinance. Motion second by Mr. Jared Merdes and motion carried unanimously. VI. Review of 2008 National Electrical Code and Amendments > Mr. Lewis quickly briefed the board on their past meetings. Mr. Lewis advised that staff was not recommending any change in the 2008 National Electric Codes. > Mr. Montgomery mentioned that he would present the board with additional research regarding selective coordination that reflects a city ordinance amendment from the National Electrical Code(NEC). > The board discussed NEC Articles 110, 210, 215, 230, 240, 250, 310, 404, 408, 430, 450 and Article 620. The board considered manufactures cost, space requirements, and the completeness prior to bids. SCANNED Minutes of the Electrical Advisory Board Special Meeting December 4,2008 Page 2 D Mr. Montgomery added that the timing would be too strict. Time delay was an important issue to consider for selective coordination Si. The board reviewed NEC 700.9b5b: Wiring from an emergency source to supply any combination of emergency, legally required, or optional loads in accordance with (a), (b), and(c). D Mr. Maples clarified that if the jurisdiction decides that the time delay needed to be one secong that would be the component, that needs to be addressed Mr. Maples added that the cost verses the margin of safety is very significant. D Mr. Lewis had a concern on the affects of life endangerment. D The board agreed to reengage discussion in selective coordination in the next board meeting. D Mr. Montgomery commented that the board has not identified the need for revisions to City Ordinances based on their review of the 2008 NEC Codes. VII. Review,Discuss and take Action on the International Existing Building Code D Mr. Maples introduced the board to the International Existing Building Code Manual. He mentioned that this manual does not pertain directly to the Electrical Code. D He added that the IEBC is part of the code family. D The intent of the IEBC is for its utilization on existing buildings such as: repairs, alterations, change of occupancy, additions, relocated buildings, and historical buildings. D This Code Manual was put together to combine four of the existing Code Manuals such as: The Building Conservation Code, the Abatement of Dangerous Building Codes, and the Historical Building Codes. D Mr. Maples added that the city of Corpus Christi had not adopted the International Existing Building Code Manual but he asked the board to review its contents. D The board questioned whether it had been adopted by the State and requested research on this topic. VIII. Review,Discuss and Take Action on Local City Amendment 230.70D: Location of Main Disconnect D The board had discussed the Means of Disconnect on the previous board meeting and they reconvened discussion Mr. Montgomery added that the main disconnect should be readily accessible. D The board discussed Knox boxes, the Fire departments accessibility and over current protection. D Mr. Lewis mentioned that readily accessible does not specify placement of inside or outside of any building. D Mr. Maples mentioned that the code states readily accessible location for service equipment to disconnect means. It can be either on the outside or inside of the building. Then it quantifies that it has to be clear of obstruction. D Mr. Lewis added that the Fire Captain recommended outside placement and as they further discussed placement several options were recommended The Fire Captain added that the main objective was not to bring any unprotected conductors into a 1rr Minutes of the Electrical Advisory Board Special Meeting December 4,2008 Page 3 building and if they are brought into a building they should be protected in such a way that they might be considered outside of the building. > Mr. Montgomery added that placement should be for safety, where power should be quickly shutoff. S. Mr. Reining added the commentary definition states: "The definition of readily accessible does not preclude the use of a lock door for service equipment or rooms containing service equipment provided those whom ready access is necessary have a key or combination or lock combination available." Mr. Billy Ashcroft motioned that the city require an external disconnect for residential and light commercial occupancies. Motion was second by Mr. Loving. Motion failed 2- 5. The board continued to discuss quick and ready access for disconnect. Mr. Montgomery addressed the board for open discussion. The board moved to accept the interpretation or enforcement of readily accessible. IX. Review, Discuss and Take Action on Adoption of Section I4-225(a) Licensing: Electricians Mr. Loving motioned that the City of Corpus Christi no longer issue any Electrician licenses or renewals. Mr. Reining recommended and Mr. Vasquez motioned to repeal section 144225a (Subsection I to through 5) of the City of Corpus Christi Technical Construction Codes, motion was second by Mr. Fretwell Mr. Montgomery recommended that prior to voting,the board should have an open discussion. The board discussed City and State requirements on licensing. The board discussed Masters, Journeyman's and apprentice licensing. It also discussed contractor affidavits. The board also discussed time of transition to State licensing. Mr. Loving made a motion to confirm the previous motion on the table to repeal section 14-1'225a subsections I through 5 of the City of Corpus Christi Technical Construction Codes. Mr. Vasquez seconds the reaffirmed motion. Motion carried unanimously. The board continued to discuss subsection (Supervision of and responsibility for work) 14-225a (6g) of the City of Corpus Christi Technical Construction Codes which reads: no more than 3 apprentices may be employed for each dually licensed Master or Journeyman Electrician on any one electrical installation. Mr. Loving made a motion to retainl4-225a (6g) of the CCTCC and Mr. Vasquez second the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Reining mentioned that all other provisions are covered through State Law. Mr. Maples proposed that Subsection (3f) (Maintenance electrician license) of 14-225a from the City of Corpus Christi Technical Construction Codes should be eliminated He also 4110 V Minutes of the Electrical Advisory Board Special Meeting December 4,2008 Page 4 advised identification of vehicles should be eliminated because the State of Texas already had it stipulated. . X. Identify items to be placed on next agenda Mr. Montgomery commented that board membership need to be placed on the next agenda. He also advised to leave The International Existing Building Code on for discussion. Mr. Reining advised to leave 14-225(a) Licensing: Electricians and add general discussion of administrative chapter of the Electrical construction code. XI. Building Official Report A. Department Update Mr. Maples mentioned that procedure on permit applications was being reviewed He added that a plan check list is being created to assist in what documents need submitting. A plan check list is also being implemented to provide assistance on which items need to be on the plan and this check list would be available on the website. This provides the applicant an opportunity to screen their own plans and provides better quality on in house plans. It also provides faster service. Our goal is to make the applicant successful. Implementing code and revised code interpretations on the website is also a goal . Soil reports are also going to be required B. Staff Issues The department is still utilizing contract employees. Our commercial plans portion of the building department has been in a triage condition. We have experienced significant code issues that were not identified or addressed from the past. The department is under significant pressures but we have a positive outlook for the future, and we are beginning to see the light at the end of tunnel. XII. Public Comments. No one addressed the board during public forum. XIII. Adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m. All 'Alla. . ; �si.ing t;ha r