§ 5-151. Wiring design and protection.

(a)

The maximum number of outlets per fifteen (15) twenty-ampere circuit(s) on all commercial or residential buildings shall be ten (10) light outlets or six (6) receptacle outlets, or a combination of not more than five (5) receptacle outlets and three (3) light outlets. This shall apply to one hundred twenty and two hundred forty volt (120/240V) circuits only. National Electrical Code maximum loadings apply for other ampacity circuits.

(b)

Masts for supporting service drops and service entrance conductors shall be a minimum of two (2) inch rigid steel conduit or with proper support.

(c)

For residential dwellings, a main service fused disconnect or circuit breaker of one hundred (100) Amp minimum shall be installed with a metering device on the outside wall of the building. For commercial buildings, the main shall be installed on the outside of the building and as near the point of service entrance wiring as possible. The determination of this main service location shall consider the building occupancy, fire safety accessibility, and other safety reasons for opening the service switch and disconnecting the power from the building. Upon special application to the building official, approval may be granted for the meter and service mains to be installed inside the building if they are available for meter reading and a shunt trip main breaker is provided.

(d)

Reserved.

(e)

Aluminum or copper-clad aluminum shall not be used for service grounding conductors. The service grounding conductor for construction services shall conform to the National Electrical Code. All other services shall use or employ at a minimum, a no. four (4) bare copper conductor and shall conform to the National Electrical Code. Two (2) approved, driven ground rods, spaced a minimum of six (6) feet apart and next to the meter location, shall be used as the grounding electrode. A copper equipment grounding conductor shall be installed with all electrical wiring placed in the conduit.

(f)

Approved rigid metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing (EMT), surface metal raceways, cast-in-place raceways, wireways, and busways shall be required for all wiring used to conduct electric current for any purpose in: a) any apartment or similar dwelling unit connected to or above any commercial, manufacturing, or business establishment, and b) above suspended ceiling systems. Garages having over three (3) vehicle spaces shall be wired in rigid metal conduit except that EMT may be permitted for wiring of garages (except Class I, II, and III hazardous locations). Places of assembly, as defined in the National Electrical Code, and theaters or similar locations, shall be wired in metal raceways or nonmetallic raceways encased in not less than two (2) inches concrete. All underground wiring supplying branch circuits shall be in approved conduit.

(g)

Inhibitor (or suitable approved reduction agent) shall be applied to all aluminum conductors at connections.

(h)

Reserved.

(i)

Attic access openings shall have a light with a wall switch at the point of entry. A pull chain switch shall not be used in lieu of a wall switch. In commercial buildings with suspended ceiling systems a wall mounted switch shall be located as near as possible to concealed equipment requiring service, replacement, or maintenance. The switch shall have a label identifying the equipment.

(j)

Hangar wires supporting suspended grid ceiling systems shall not be used as support for electrical equipment.

(k)

Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) shall not be encased in concrete or installed underground.

(l)

Reserved.

(m)

Swimming pool reinforced steel, accessories, and equipment, shall be bonded with a no. 8, insulated solid copper wire. The bond wire shall be continuous and unbroken from the point of beginning to the termination at the pool equipment. Any splices in this wire shall be made by approved exothermic welding.

(n)

Reserved.

(o)

Reserved.

(p)

All swimming pool or underwater lights shall employ a twelve (12) volt transformer, or approved fiber optic lighting systems.

(q)

Range circuit wiring shall be no smaller than no. 6 copper or no. 4 aluminum.

(r)

All water heaters shall be wired with not less than no. 10 copper.

(s)

All electric furnaces or electric strip heat shall have a disconnect switch within site of the unit.

(t)

All service entrance conductors supplying electrical current to any building or structure, whether for underground or overhead connections, shall be installed in approved raceways. Solid conductors shall not be used for service entrance wiring.

(u)

Reserved.

(v)

Reserved.

(w)

All makeup or dressing areas with a vanity shall have a duplex receptacle located adjacent to the vanity.

(x)

Junction boxes shall not be installed in attic spaces unless there is an eighteen (18) inch wide walkway or crawl way leading to each junction box or each group of junction boxes.

(y)

Permanent electrical services, other than services mounted on building walls, shall be mounted on poles or posts with a minimum cross sectional top area of not less than nineteen (19) square inches. Poles or posts shall be set a minimum of five (5) feet into solid ground and shall be properly supported to withstand the loads placed upon it. Wood posts shall be treated for ground contact.

(z)

There shall not be more than one (1) electrical service point to any address except buildings or structures that meet the exceptions listed in Article 230 (Services) of the National Electrical Code.

(aa)

Any electrical work serving any type of utilization equipment, with or without a meter, shall have an approved disconnecting means and shall be installed by a licensed electrical contractor except as exempted by Chapter 489, Part II, Florida Statutes.

(Ord. No. 71-4, § 21; Ord. No. 79-4, § 10; Ord. No. 96-14, § 4; Ord. No. 97-21, § 2, 11-24-97)