HomeMy WebLinkAbout1948 ,~AN ~RDINANCE relating to electricity, prOViding regulations and stapJards for
the %nstallation, alteration, extension and use of electric: wire apparatus and fixtures
iu th~ City of Bremerton, Washington, and for the inspection of the sm~e; providing
for th~ issuance of permits and work to be done and setting a schedule of fees for permits
and ins~ction; providing for the issuance of licenses and s~,~tting fees therefor, and
providin~for board of explainers; providing penalties for the violation of sa~d ordinance;
repealing\Ordinances 11%3, 1222, and 127~ and all other ordinances or parts of
ordinances ~n conflict therewith.
THE CITY\OF B~E~g~TON DOES 0~DA!N:
SECTION ~. ~,~ DUTIES OF INSPECTOR: The Inspector shall inspect the ins~allation
of vgres to conve~y electric current or electric apparatus to be operated by such
current and raceways a~i enclosm-es, or any chm~ge, addition or alteration tl~reto
required by this ordinance.
2. ~The Inspector or his assistants shall have the right to enter
any building at any re~asonable time for the p~urpose of making inspections, and
it shall be unlawftul for., any person to ~mevent such inspector from so doing.
3. The l~spector shall answer any relevant questions concerning,
or give any desired i~-form~tion in respect to, the meaning, intent, or .application
of the provisions of this or'~inance or any rules adopted in connection therewith.
The Inst-~ctor i~not, however,~empowered to, and shall not, lay out work or act in
the capacity of consulting engineer for contractors, electricians or owners. The
Electrical Inspector shall be a member of the examining boated for journeyman electricians.
SECTION II. 1. I~spection ~n._d Certificate. When any part of a wiring installation,
for which a peri, it has been issued Or is re~iuired, is to be hidden from view by the
permanent placement of parts of the b~ilding, the _rermittee shall notify the Electrical
Inspector and such parts of the wiring~ installations shall not be concealed until
they have been inspected and approved ~r ~uatil twenty-four ho~rs shall have
elapsed from ti~.~e of such notification, '~xcl~ing Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, providing
that on large installations where conceai~ment of parts of the wiring proceed continuously
the pern~ittee shall give the Electrical Inspector due notice and he shall make periodical
inspection during the progress of the work.~
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2. A prelimina~y Certificat$~ of Inspection may be issued authoriz~n~
the connection and use of certain portions of a~ incompleted installation. Such
prelimina~'y certificate may be revoked for cause.
3. Upon completion of the work Wkich has been authorized by the
issuance of a permit, it shall be the duty of the ~F.mittee to notii[y the Electrical
Inspector who shall inspect the installation within t~wenty-four hoo~-~6f the t~ne
such notice is given, or as soon thereafter as is practicable, exclusive of Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays. A ~ritten certificate au'thorizi~g the connection for
Power C~pany v~ll be left on the j ob.
~. If, upon f~al inspection~ it is found that the installation is
not in accordance v~th the provisions of this Ordinance, the Electrical Inspector shall
notify in writing, the pe~m~ittee, s-bating the defects ~d~ich 8~ist and must be
corrected before Certificate of Inspection is issued.
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~. "When 't~e Electrical Inspector has issued a ~ertificate of
Inspection authorizing the. connection ar~i use of temporsa-y work, auch Certificate
s~hall expire at the time s-~,ated therein and shall be revocable for~'~ause.
SECTION III. 1. Defects to be Corrected. It shall be unlawf~ for any person,
firm, or corporation to make connections to a source of electrical energy or to supply
electric service to any electric ~riring, device, appliances or equipment until defects
found by the Electrical Inspector have been corrected. The Electrical Inspector may
insi~ct all wirimg installations within the City of Bremerton~ and where he finds any
wiring installation dangerous to the safety of life and property~ or the same constitutes
a fire hazard, he shall serve vmitten notice upon the consumer, owner or lessee of the
property of the dangerous condition of such wiring installations and order tH'e immediate
alteratd, ons, repairs or changes necess~'y to co~form to the t~,rovisions of this~.Ordi~ance.
If the consumer, owner or lessee fails, neglects or refuses to comply with such~,~?rder
within five (5) days, the Electrical Inspector shall disconnect such installation.
cause it to be disconnected from its source of supply until such wiri~ and im. st ai'-~ati on
is made to conform to the provisions of this Ordinance.
ORDinANCE NO. 1948 (CONT)
2. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or core, oration to
reconnect to any source of electric energy any electric wiring, devices~ appliances, or
equipment which has been disconnected or ordered disconnected, or the use of which has been or~
discontinued, until a Certificate of Inspection has been issued authorizing the reconnection
and use of such %tiring, device~r equipment~ including electric signs.
3. When the Electrical Inspector finds extrahazardous conditions to exist,
he is authorized to immediately disconnect or order the immediate disconnection of electric
service.
4. In the case, on exist~lg installations~ where the cost of alterations or
additions to the wiring system exceeds ~0% of the total value of the electrical installation,
the entire system must be revised to comply ¥~th the provisions of this ordinance.
SECTION IV. 1. Permits The inspector may issue a permit to the oyster o£ any
building used and occupied by him or who is purchasing under a bona fide real estate
contract, or who is building the sa~e to occupy as his residence, for vhich a permit
is required by this Ordinance, if said work actually shall be done by the owner or a
member of his immediate family and the applicant therefor shall furnish a sworn statement
to that effect. The home ovmer shall appear before the electrical inst;~ctor and show
by questioning, his ability to perform work specified in the permit. Provided, however,
no permit sha3_l be issued to the owner of any building to do his own wiring if the
building for v~ich the permit is required is used as a place of business, apartment hous%
rental unit or as a house offered for resale.
2. The Inspector may issue a permit to a school~ church, public building: o~
or occupant of a commercial or industrial building regularly employing a qualified
electrician or maintenance engineer for the repair and replacement of wiring, apparatus or
fixtures in any such building.
5. It shall be unlawful for any person~ firm or corporation to place
or dnstall, or to cause or permit to be placed or installed, in, on or about any building
or structure any v~_ring apparatu~6r fixtures for the use of electricity for heating,
lighting or power purposes or co~unicatin~ purposes when the voltage exceeds 50 Volts,
or to make, or cause or permit to be made any alterations or change in or addition to any
wiring, apparatu~or fixt~%res for such use without first obtaining from the Building
Departn~nt of the City of Bremerton a v~itten permit so to do, with the following
exceptions:
a. No permit shall be required for minor repair work, replacement
of lamps, installation of meter, or the cor~ection of portable devices
to suitable receptacles which have been permanently installed.
b. No ~rmit shall be required for the installation~ alteration
or repair of wiring, devices, appliances or ~quipment for the operation
of signals or the transmission of intelligence, where such wiring,
devices, appliances or equipment operate at a voltage not to exceed
~O Volts between conductors and does not include generating or
transforming eq~utpment capable of supplying ~0 ~atts of energy, ~r less.
c. No permit shall be required for the installation, alteration,
or repair of electric wiring, devices~ appliances and equipment installed
by or for an electrical service corporation for the use of such
corporation in the generation, transmission, distribution or metering
of electrical energy, or for the use of such a corporation in operation of
signals or the transmission of intelligence.
d. No permit shall be reqz~red from a public s~rvice compar~y far
the installation of temporary wlring for testing electrical apparatus
or equipment.
4. Every permit issued by the Building Depar~tment under the provisions
of this Code shall expire by limitation and become null and void, if the building or
work authorized by such permit is not commenced ~vithin sixty days from the date of such
permit, or if the building or work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at
any t~ae after the w~k is commenced for a period of sixty days. Before such work can
be recommenced a new permit shall be first obtained so to do, and the fee therefor shall
be one-half t~ amount requi~'ed for a new permit, provided no changes have been made in
the original plans and specil~ications for such w~rk; and provided~ further, t hat such
suspension or abandorm~nt has not exceeded one year.
NO. lgh8 (CONT)
SECTION V. 1. Permit Fees for Residential ~irin~.
20 outlets or less~ switches included $1.O0
Outlets over 20~ each
New service, meter or change in location
of service 1.00
Temporary wiring and service 1o00
Electric stoves~ water heaters, dryers,
garbage disposals, electric space heaters,
over 1500 watts, ceramic ovens~ oil
burners employing electric motors~ and
motors from ~ h.p. to 1 h.po each 1.00
Electric motors over 1 h.p., 2~ per h.p.
up to 5 h.p. but including $1.00 for the
first h.p. Motors over ~ h.p. 10~ per
h.p. but including ~2.OO for first ~ h.p.
Minimum fee for permit 1.O0
2. An inspection fee of $2.00 per residence v~ll be charged for
inspections for appraisal pu~oses or other than routine work of the electrical inspector.
~. Permit Fees for Co~mmercial, Industrial and Public Buildings~ such
as rooming houses~ hospitals, churches, theatres, dance halls, etc. Fees to be based
on contractors bid price including f~xtures and equipment permanently connected.
$1.OO to $100.OO 1.OO
lO1.OO to $300.00 5.O0
01.oo to $Soo.0o
501.00 to $1,000.00 6.S0
1,OO1.OO to ~1~500.00 8.00
1,501.OO to $2,000.00 10.OO
2,001.00 and up~ $2.00 per thousand or fraction
thereof, including ~lO.OO for first i~2,O00.OO
Electric 'signs, for wiring each circuit 1.OO
· (Signs not to be included in cost of wiring
building).
~. An inspection fee of not less than $2.00 nor more than $~.00 for a
commercial building will be charged for appraisal purposes or other than routine work
of the Electrical Inspector.
SECTION VF.. 1. All applicant~'or an Electrical Contractor,s license must have a
Washington State Electrical Contractor,s license and bond in good standing prior to
application to the City Clerk of Bremerton.
2. A journeyman electrician or maintenance electrician doing electrical
work in the City of Bremerton, shall have a competency card, which shall be issued by
the City of Bremerton and v~ich shall be renewed each year.
SECTi'ON VII. 1. License Fees The license fee for m~ electrical contractor shall be
the sum of $1~O.00 per year; for journeyman electrician, $2.00 per yes~-; for electrical
maintenance ~lO.O0 per year; a~d for electrical appliance dealers, I~.OO per year~ all
license fees payable in advance.
Renewal licenses for an electrics~ contractor shall be the s~m~ of ~O.OO ~er yem~ and
all other licenses herein set out may be renewed upon a fee equal to the initia~ fee. All
licenses shall be for a fiscal year begirn~ing on the 1st day of July in each year and
terminating on the 3Oth day of June following. 'Where licenses are obtained after January
1st in any year~ the fee shall be one-half of the full year fee.
2. Suspension of licenses. No further permit shall be issued to any
contractor who shall, at any one time~ have five or ~,ore l'~er~ts t~der ~,.c_h~ for a
of 30 days or more, corrections ha~,~e not 'bee~'t made or co~-,tpl~,~ted, so as to render the'work
in accordance with this code.
For the additional work of any inspection a fee of ~.,;O, shall attach v~tenever five
such uncorrected installations shall have been pending for a per. iod of ~O days, and no
further permits shall be issued to such contractor tmtil such fee shs2.1 have been paid
and corrections made so that no more than four such uncorrected installations shall have
existed for su~t period of 30 days.
~. The license of a registered electrician may be revoked~if, at, any time,
the affidavit filed is sho~rn to be false or if 'the person licensed, refuses ~' neglects to
NO. 1948
comply with any of the provisions of this ordinance. If such license has been revoked
no renewal of said license shall be allowed for a period o£ three months thereafter.
SECTION VIII. 1. Electrical Examining Board £or Journe~nnan Electrician. The
Co~uissioner of Public Works and Utilities, with the approwal of the City Cou~cm-fl, shall
appoint an exa~i~ing board consisting of the City Electrical Inspector, one of£icial member
of a recognized electrical ¥~remsn~s organization, one electrical contractor and one
jourr~yman electrician not employed in the shop ~ich the contractor represents. Such
ex~ination shall be held once each month a~i a £ee of i~lO.O0 for 'taking the examination
shall be paid to the City Treasurer crier to any applicant taking the exs~aination.
2. Competency ca~ds shall be issued by the Examining Board upon
due proof of qualification therefor by certification o£ completion o£ a satis£actory £ou~
year apprenticeship or equal experience. I£ an applicant is unable to show competency
'to the satisfaction o£ the ex, mining board, he must pass an ex~nination to be given by
the examining bo~d.
3. Electrical contractors licensed by the City o£ Bre~mr%on must
employ quali£ied journeymen electricans ~o do work ~thin the City o£ Bremerton. Any
electrical contractor working on Ygring must be a qualified journe~ electrician.
A qualified electrician is de£ined as~ne ~ao has completed a satisfactory and certified
£ou~ year apprenticeship or the equivalent thereof. Only quali£ied journeymen and maintenance
electricians may do wiring within 'the City o£ Bremerton, except as herein provided.
h. A~0eals to City Council. Any applicant for any license provided
£or herein who shall £eel aggrieved at the decision of the Electrical Inspector or the
examining board, may appeal such grievance to the City Cooncil by requesting a heari~lg before
said Council. Upon receipt o£ such protest or r~quest £or .hearing~ the Council shall
set a day certaLn not less than £ive days nor more than 15 dams £rom the date said
application is received, a~ which hearing the applicm~t or aggrieved person may have a £ull
hearing .thereon. The decision of the City Council shall be final and subject only to
review by appropriate court action.
SECTION IX. 1. Exceptions to State m~d National Electrical Code. Ail new electric
wiring~ apparatus~ and fixtures, in~ on or about buildings and other structu~es~ within the
provisions o£ this ordinance in the City o~ Bremerton~ shall be governed by and conform
to the rules and reg~lations as laid down by the latest edition o£ the Nat ional and
State Electrical Codes except where specifically modified by this Ordinance, and shaJ.1
be £iled with the City Clerk of the city of Bre~erton. Ail such electric wiring, apparatus
and fixtures shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of this Ordinance.
2. New Wiring in lst~. 2n~d~. and 5rd Fire Districts. All new wiring
for heat, light or power with~m the first three fire districts of the City of ~remerton
shall be encasdd in rigid metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, cast-in-place raceways
or under floor ducts~ except in the following cases:
a. Three feet of flexible metal conduit for motor connections.
b. Surface metal raceways wlthin a single room.
c..Flexible metal conduit for short runs by special permission to fish in hollow
spaces of a building.
d. The use of BX wiring, sez~zice entrance cable and ~luminum conductors is
prohibited in the City of Bremerton.
e. All service entrance conductors shall be installed in rigid conduit.
f. Plywood shall not be used a~'backing £or service equipment..~.~ ~~ ~
g. Branch '~ircuitsi in Residences. Duplex convenience outlets shall be wired in not
, .'~ :.~ l~se: 'tH~n #12 wi~e,- ~Zo-t more than 8 outlets shall comprise one circuit. One
appliance circuit shall be installed for kitchen and dining rooms. At least
one appliance outlet must be ~nstalled in each livable room. Whenever light
and convenience o~tlets are combined on a circ~uit, #12 must be used az~l not
more than l0 outlets shall comprise the combination circuit. #14 wJ~'e may be
used on lighting circuits not to exceed l0 outlets per circuit.
h. Oil b~ning f~naces using electricity ehall be on a separate circuit of #12
s~td terminate in disconnect switch within five feet of such furnaces.
i. All residential clothes .dryers shall have #lO wire with ~0 ~pere 5-wire receptacle
ORDINANCE NO. 19~8 (CONT)
3. In schools, theatres, churches, hospitals, assembly halls, and
public buildings; hotels, motels, apartments larger than a duplex and residences
housing three or more paying guests any~here in-the City of Bremerton~ the wiring
shall be encased in rigid metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, cast-in-place
raceways or under floor ducts. For classifications of buildings, the deecriptions
and types will be found in the current zoning ordinance of 'the City of Bre:~rt~t.
SECTION X. 1. Alternate ~aterials and Construction. The provisions of this
Ordinance are not 'Lutended to prevent -the use of types of construction or materials offered
as an alternate for the types of construction or materials requi~d by tkis Ordinance,
but such alternate types of construction or materials to be given considerat:lon shall
be offered for approval as specified in this section. Corresponding materials or
types of co~mtz~action referred to in this Ordin~mace, the use of which is the same as is
intended for the new material of construction, and approved, shall be considered as
standards of quality and strength if no specii'ication is provided.
2. Any person desiring to use types of construction or materials
not specifically mentioned in this Ordinance shall file with the Electrical Inspector
authentic proof in support of claims that may be made regarding 'the sufficiency of
such types of construction and materials and request approval and pen'~utssion for their
3. All electrical installations and equ-lpment must be ir~stalled to
conform to all requirements as laid dovaa by the Building, Fire, and plumbing Code affecting
the installation of electrical equipment.
SECTIon' XI. 1. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this ordinance shall~
for any reason, be adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such judgment shall not
effect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this o~'dinance~ but shall be confined in
its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph or part thereof directly involved
in the controversy in v~ich such judgment shall have been rendered.
SECTION XII. Penalty. Every person, firm or corporation violating any of the
provisions of this ordinance or who shall refuse to comply therewith shall be dee:~md
guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine n~%
exceeding $300.00 or by imprisomnent ~ the City Jail for a period of not exceeding
90 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.
SECTION XiII. 1. This Ordinance shall not be construed to relieve or lessen 'the
responsibility of any person owning, operating or instmlling any electrical equipment,
for damages or for injury to any person or property by any defect thereof~ nor shall
the City, nor any agent tt~reof be held as assuming any such liability by reason
of the inspection authorized herein or under the certificate of inspection issued
by the Inspector.
SECTION XIV. 1. Ordinances Repealed. Ordinances 1153, 1222, 127~ and all other
ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herev~Lth be and the s~e hereby are repealed.
SECTION XV. 1. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect
on the let day of January, 19~2.
APPROVED on first reading the 12th day of September, 19~l, by the City Council of
the City of Bremerton.
PASSED on second reading the lOth day of October, 19~l, by the City Council of the
City of Bren~rton, signed by the ~ayor and attested by the City Clerk in authentication of
such passage.
ATTEST:
State of Washington )
Co~n!y of Ki~ap S.S.
City of E~erne~on
t~~,~__ l, ~h~ u,~d,~r~ne~, do h~re by certify that
City Clerk t~ ab ,ye aqd fo;~;,,,:; g i: a ',ru9 and correct
CO)y O~ O~dmarce f'~'Z~_~.~.ef lhe City o[
~ h~ ~n pubi;~h~d according 1o law,
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