HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2000ELECTRICAL COMMISION MINUTES
Thursday March 16, 2000
Room 2404
Members Present: Zeno Ivy (Electrical Engineer), Brian Lamberg (Electrical Contractor), John
Wilkinson (Fire Chief), Jeff Zich (Chief Electrical Inspector and Chair).
Members Absent: James Walker (Electrician)
J. Zich. ( chair) determined a quorum existed and began meeting at 7:00 p_m.
First Items for consideration
Delete these articles in their entirety.
Article 352-(b) Surface Nonmetallic Raceways
Article 362-(b) Nonmetallic Wireways
J. Zich= We are here to determine if we should delete articles 352-b and 362-b.in their entirety
As we all know these wireways and raceways are not electrically continuous and should not be allowed tta
be used for line voltage electric.
Also these raceways are made of A.V.C. plastic type material that when exposed to fur or intense heat
emits a poisonous smoke.
• B. Lamberg. Don't they have to pass some kind of tests?
J. Zich. They all get tested, but the testis limited to certain widths and lengft of material, in most cases
the quantity of material installed on a typical job exceeds the amount of material used for testing.
J. Wilkinson . I agree, it creates a trap for fireman and people that could be caught in afire situation.
Z. Ivy. I believe all wire ways should be installed in some kind of metal raceway, the city of Chicago
has been doing this for years.
J. Zich. I motion to recommend the city delete art. 352-B and 362-B in their entirety.
J. Wilkinson . I second
Committee approved the motion.
Second Item for consideration
Amend Article 4I0-16 ( c )
J. Zich_ At this time the N.E.0 requires that fixtures installed in a suspended ceiling shall be fastened
framing members of the ceiling.
I believe in case of fire or any other reason the ceiling might come down. The best way to secure fixft=
should be to the structure by means of pencil rod type wire or threaded rod.
J. Wilkinson . I never could under stand why it was done that way.
J. Zich. I think in some areas the possibility of earth quacks exists and of course the code is national.
B. Lamberg. That's probably right. going to the structure is not mucus mom work and it would be safi r •
Z. Ivy. I agree.
J. Zich. I motion to recommend the city amend an 410-16 (c) to suM-tn fixtures it) the uructure.
Z. ivy. 1 second
Committee approved the motion
Third Item for consideration
Implementation of Home Owners Electrical Exam
J. Zich Because of the number of homeowners doing their own electrical work 1 believe we need some
kind of test to qualify them. The number of jobs that don't pass and the amount of work that's being done
that the electrical inspectors basically have to engineer for them is getting out of hand. We are not supposed
to do the work for them because at this time they sign an affidavit stating they arc qualified to do the work.
J. Wilkinson It's about time we started something like this after all electricity kills, and in the case of fire
the next door nieghbors will be involved for no reason other than a unqualified person did the work.
B. Lamberg I had to work very hard to get my license and invest years of work to become qualified to
do electrical work, so I believe a test is the least we should require.
Z. Ivy. All trades require years of work and education before they arc allowed to work unsupervised so I
think a test is not asking too much.
J. Wilkinson We should include a disclaimer stating this is not a license and allows them to do only.the •
work listed on the permit they are applying for.
J. Zich. I think that would be a good idea, we could make it good for one year.
B. I.amberg. One year would be more than enough.
J. Zich. I motion to recommend we start giving the home owners electrical test with disclaimer.
B. Lamberg. 1 second.
Committee approved motion.
J. Zich. 1 motion to adjourn
J. Wilkinson I second
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted
effre R Zich
Chief Electrical Inspector