§ 6-153. Wiring methods.

All electric wiring hereafter installed in or on any building, structure or premises located within the city shall be installed in accordance with the following:

(1)

Circuits installed under the floors of buildings where no basement exists shall be installed in conduit or electric-metallic tubing.

(2)

Only the following types of buildings may be wired using nonmetallic sheathed cable:

a.

One- and two-family dwellings and their attached or detached garages, and their storage buildings;

b.

Multi-family dwellings of three (3) stories or less, unless the multifamily or one- and two-family dwelling is located in the Fort Smith Fire District in which case metallic sheathed cable or conduit shall be used; and,

c.

Existing residential structures being converted to a business or mercantile occupancy use as defined by the fire codes may maintain the existing nonmetallic sheathed cable (romex) wiring system with a written certification by an state professional engineer stating the existing (romex) wiring system has been inspected and determined to be safe for the expected occupancy.

(3)

Service entrance conductors shall be carried in raceways specifically approved for the conditions of installation and use.

(4)

Overhead services to or between school buildings shall be prohibited, including new services provided for nursery schools, child care centers etc., where the playground is located under the overhead lines subject to storm damage.

(5)

All wiring must be done neat and in a workmanship like manner. Nonmetallic sheathed cable, known as romex, used in family dwellings shall be run straight and square and shall not be less than #12 wiring.

(6)

The minimum size of aluminum conductor inside a building shall be 4/0 awg wire.

(7)

All special appliances of one hundred twenty (120) volts shall be on a separate circuit to include the refrigerators, microwave oven, dishwasher, and the heating unit.

(8)

Residential wiring: The 20-ampere circuits shall have a maximum of ten (10) openings, (lights and receptacles).

(9)

Commercial wiring: The 20-ampere circuits shall have a maximum of eight (8) openings for receptacles and the lights per calculated load.

(10)

All conduit systems shall have an equipment grounding conductor, size as to table 250-122.

(11)

No rigid nonmetalic conduit (PVC) shall be run exposed outside of a structure, except for service down risers, without special permission from the city electrical inspector.

(12)

There shall be a main service disconnect as near as practical to the point of service on the building.

(Code 1976, § 11-105; Ord. No. 33-99, § 9, 5-18-99; Ord. No. 56-02, § 8, 9-17-02; Ord. No. 8-07, § 2, 1-16-07; Ord. No. 63-14, § 2, 11-18-14; Ord. No. 72-18, §§ 2, 3, 9-4-18)