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HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-1948-363 e e - ORDI NANCE NO. ~6?; AN OF.DI.NA.l~CE ADOPTING REGULATORY MEASURES PER'l'AINING TO ELEC TRICAL WORK IN THE CI'l'Y uF LA PORTE, CREATING AN ELEliTRICAL BOARJJ; PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THE MEMBERS; PROVIDING FOR Tlili ISSUANCE OF LICENSES TO MASTER ELECTRICIA~S; PROVIDING FOR FEES, BONDS, THE KEEPING OF RECORDS, THE REVOCATION OF LICENSES; PROVID- ING FOR AN .APPEAL FROlIII ACTIONS OF THE lSLECTRICAL BOARD; CREATING OJ;t'FICE OF C rry EL1!;CTRICAL INSPECTOR AND PROVIDIl'JG THE DUTIES OF SAID UFFIUER; PROVIDING FuR TH~ ISSUANCE OF PERlJIITS FOR ELECTRICAL WORK AND THE INSPECTION THEREOF; FIXING INSPECTION FEl:!:S; PROMULGAT ING RULES AND REGULATIONS TO GOVERN AND TO BE OBSERVED 'IN ALL ELl:!:(; THICAL WIRING, CON::sTRUCTIUN, INSTALLATION, REPAIR, ALTERATIO~,' OPERATING AND MAIN'l'ENANCE OF ELEC'l'RICAL WIRlNG, APPARATUS AND FIX- TURES; PROVIDI.NG A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND RE.t'JiiALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CO.NFLICT HEREWI~H. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIuNERS OF 'l'HE CIT:t OF LA PORTE, T:EX:AS: Section 1. ELECTRICAL BOARD. There is hereby createa an ~lecur1cal 3o~rd, which shall consist of three m~mbers. The Ci~y Super1m.eu.denu of Public Wozoks shall be a member of such Electri- cal Board a~d shall be Chairman thereof. The remaining two mem- bers of the Board shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Board of Commissioners. Each of said two positions shall be numberedo Each of them shall have been residents of the City of La Porte~ Texas, for the two years immediately next preceding said appointment. I ",-, e ........--- "0 Position No. 1 shall be filled. by an electrical engineer in the employ of a Public Utlli~y Compamy. Position No. 2 shall be filled by a member of the Board of Commissioners of tho City of La Porte, Toxas. :e The firs~ appointmvn~s ~o the Electrical Board created here- by shall be made immediately after the final passage hereof and each such person shall serve until May 1st next or until his suc- cessor has been appointed and qualified, and appointments there- after shall be made on or after May 1st of each year and shall take effect from the date of appointments. All appointments ex- cept ~he first shall be for the period until May 1st next, but each member of the Board shall serve until his successor has been appoin~ed and qualified. Any member or the Boara shall be subject to removal at the will and pleasure of the Board of Commissioners. The members of the Board shall not receive compensation for their services. .--- --'. .' Section 210 ELECTRICAL \"lORK TO BE DONE ONLY BY OR UNDER LICENSED MASTER ELECTRICIAN. Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful for any person to do electrical work uithin the City unless such person is a master electrician licensed under the provisions of this chapter, or unless such person doad such elec~ trical work under the supervls1.on, direction and control of a mas- ter electrician licensed under the provisions of this chapter. By the term "electrical work", as used in this section 1s meant the installing, maintaining, altering, repairing or erectlng of any electrical wiring, apparatus, devices, appliances, fixtures or equipment fo~ which a permit is required under the terms and pro- visions of this chapter. (e Seotion 3. APPLICATIONS FOR EXAMINATION FOR W-ASTER ELEC- TRICIAN'S LICENSE; ~jINATION; PASSING GRADE; BOND; ~UOR~i OF ELECTRICAL BOARD; RECORDS OF EXAMINATIONS. Application for a license as a master electrician shall be made in writing to the electrical board, stating the name and address of the applicant, a statement as to the active and practical experience of the ap- plicant and such other relevant information as may be rsquired by the electrical board. All applicantions shall be sworn to before an office of the state authorized to administer oaths, end of- ficially certified to by such officer under his seal ~f offico. Each applicant, before he shall be entitled to take the ex~ina- tion provided for herein, shall have had six years' experience, e e -2.. " e, active and practical, during which six year period he shall have devoted not less than two-thirds of his t~e, exclusive of normal periods of rest and recreation, to electrical work in general as the term "electrical work" is defined in Section 2. For the pur- pose of thig requirement, a ~egree or a diploma from a school of electrical engineering shall be considered as the equivalent of two years' active and practical experience. An oral or written examination shall be given such applicant by the electrical board, in the discTetion of the board. Those applying for said license shall be given a reasonable examination as to their qualifications to install, repair, alter and maintain electrical appliances) wiring, apparatus, devices, fixtures or equipment, for which a permit ~s required under the terms and conditions of this article, and as to their qualifica- tion to plan installations of electrical wiring and equipment, to plan Changes, to prepare plans and specifications, to interpret plans and specifications and to supervise various types of electri cal installations for which a permit is required in this article. Each applicnnt for such license shall give the bond hereinafter required. ,....----." e The board shall grant licenses applied for and shall issue certificates therefor to each applicant who shall make a grade of 70% or better on the examination given him; providing that 1n no case shall ~ license be granted until after payment by the appli- cant of the fee provided for in Section 16; and provided further that all work previously performed by an applicant for renewal of license shall have been done in accordance with the provisions of this article, and should any master electric1an,refuse to complete any work in accordance with the provisions of this article, it shall be the duty of the City Electrical Inspector to report such said fact to the owner of the premises and to the Mayor and Board of Commissioners. Until such work has been completed in complianc with this article, it shall be the dut, of the City Electrical In- spector to refuse further permits to said master electrician until such time as said work has been properly done. Two (2) members of the Board present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for the granting and revocation of licenses a for the transaction of all other business of said Board, and a ma- jority vote of the three (3) members of the Board at any meetings thereof shall prevail. The Board shall give written examinations for master e1ectri cians' licenses and either written or oral examinations for main- tenance electricians' licenses. A complete record of the examina- tion given, consisting of the questions, answers, grades and final results shall be kept 1n a permanent record book of the Board for a period of not less than one year. The applicants shall have the right at any time during regular ottice hours to inspect such re- cord book as to his examination in the presence of the Secretary of the Electrical Board of any member of said Board. A complete record of the examination given, the applicant's answers, the grading and the result thereof, shall be kept by the electrical board in its permanent record book for a period of not less than one year, and such records shall be open for inspection at any meeting of the board and under the supervision of the Board Section 4. MASTER ELECTRICIAN DEFINED: The holders of the licenses provided tor in Sections 2 and 3 shall be known as master electricians$ ,,--........ e . ,. --., Ie Section 5. JOURNEDiAN ELECTRICIAN DEFINED: Except as other wise provide~ herein, those persons undertaking the uork of instal - lng, maintaining and repairing electric wiring, apparatus, devices, app11~ces, fixtures and requipment, for which a permit is requir- ed under the terms and conditions of this article, under the super vision, direction and control of a master electrician and who have e e -3- - been properly registered with the Electrical Board as provided in this article, shall be known as Journeyman Electricians. The term "journeyman electrician", however, shall not include an "apprentic " and nothing herein shall be constued as prohibiting an apprentice from doing electrical work under the direct, constant, personal supervision and control of either a master electrician or journey~ man electrician. ~-, - Section 6. REGISTRATION OF JOURNEYMEN ELECTRICIANS: No per son shall undertake any work as a journeyman electrician, as that term is defined in Section 5, unless such person shall have first registered with the electrical board and received his certificate from said board as a journeyman electrician. Applieat~ons for sue certificates shall be made in writing DO the electrical board, stating the name and address of the applicant, a statement as to the active and practical experience of the applicant and such othe relevant information as may be required by the Electrical Board. All applicantions shall be sworn to before an officar of this state authorized to administer oaths, and officially cortified to by such officer under his seal of office. Each person seeking such certificate shall furnish the Board two pictures of himself, one and one-half by two inches. One of such pictures of the ln~ divldual reoeiving the certificate shall be placed on the certi- ficate issued to him, and the other of such p!ctures shall be re- tained by the Board. Each certificate issued to a journeyman elec trician shall specify the name and address of the person to whom the certificate is issued and the date of the issuance thereof. Each applicant before he shall be entitled to registration and the issuance of a certificate to him, shall have had four year v active and practical experience, during which four-year period he shall have devoted not less than two-thirds of his time, exclusive of normal periods of rest and recreation, to electrical wo~k in general as the term "electrical work" is defined in Section 2. For the purposes of this requirement, a degree or diploma ~om a school of electrical engineering shall be considered as the equivalent of two years' active and practical experience. Every holder of such certificate shall wear his certificate upon or about his person while performing the act which such certi- ficate entitles him to perform. Before a registration certificate is granted to any applicant and before any expiring registration certificate is renewed, the applicant shall pay to the assessor and collector of taxes of the City a fee of $1.00. """''''_._''~ ..'---..... e e Registration certificates shall expire on December 31st, tol- owing the d~te of issuance. Such registration certificates shall e renewed by the Electrical Board upon application and payment of he required fee. The f'ee for "the remainder of' the year for all certificates hall be pro-rated for 'a fraction of the year, 1n such proportion s the period the certificate is to be in force bears to the fee or the entire year, but the total fee shall never be less than ne-quarter of the annual fee. ,,""-~... Section. 7. MAINTENANCE ELECTRICIAN DEFINED: Electric ians egularly employed on a permanent basis by any person, and who per- orms work only in the confine of the building or in or on the pre- ises where they are regularly employed on a permanent basis, and ho do "electl'>1cal' maintenance work", as defined in Section 8, aha1 e knoun as maintenance electricians. Section 8. DEFINITION OF "ELECTRICAL P,rAIlIlTENANCE T."JORKfI: Electrical maintenance work" shall mean the keeping in safe repair f any and a1] electrical installations, apparatus and equipment, d the keeping in safe repair or moving and relocating of electr1- al equipment ui~h1n a building or in or on the premises uhere the intenance electrician, as defined in Section 7, is regularly em- loyed on a permanent basis, for whid1work a permit is required un- e . -4... e der the terms and provisio~s of this article, but does not includ the installation of new and additional electrical work, electrical equipment o~ electrical ~pparatus. Section 9. AUTOMATIC ISSUANCE OF LICENSE TO I\'1A.IHTENANCE ELECTRICIANS. Maintenance Electricians who were regularly employ- ed on a pe~~anent basis on October 1, 1948, and ~ho had ~orked as maintenance electricians for a period or four years prior thereto, tuo-thirds of such t~e actively, shall be issued a license to do ma1ntenanc~ work upon the payment of a license fee of $5.00 with- out taking an examination. For the purpose of this requirement, a degree or diploma from a school of elec~rical engineering shall be conside~@d as the equivalent of two years' active and practica experience. . Maintanance electricians entitled to a license under this section must obtain such license within sixty days from and after October 1, 1948. Section 10; EL~CTRICAL MAIN'!'ENANCE WORK TO BE DONE BY LI- CENSED MAINTENANCE ELl!.'CTRICIANS; EXCEPTIONS: It sha+l be unlawful for any person to do any electrical maintenance work, as defined in Section B, within the City, unless such person is a maintenanc electrician licensed under the provisions of this article; provid ed, however, that this section shall not prohibit a journeyman electrician employed not on a permanent basis, but temporarily, from doing such electrical maintenance ~ork under the supervision, direction and control of a maintenance electrician licensed under the provisions of this article without said journeyman electricia having to obtain a license as a maintenance electrician; provided, further, that should the holder of a journeyman electrician's certificate at any time bring himselfwithin the definition of a maintenance electrician by becoming employed on a permanent basis and in general as provided for in Section 7, such journeyman electrician shall be required to obtain a license as a malntena!ce electrician, in addition to his journeyman electricians'certifica . Nothing in this section shall be construed ~o limit the right of a master electrician to perform such electrical mainten- ance work, or to limit such work being performed by a journeyman electrician under the supervision, direction or control of a master electrician. ,,.----- . . ----.. ,e Secti:ln 11. APPLICATION FOR }J1AINfENANCE ELECTRICIAN'S LI- CgNSE; EXAMINATION PASSING GRADE; NO'l'ICE OF CHANGE Ofc1 E\iPLOYMENI': An application for a maintenance electriCian's license shall be made in writing to the electrical board, stating tho name and the address of the applicant and a statement as to the active and practical experience of the applicant. All applications shall be sworn to before an officer of the state au~horized to administer oa~hs, and officially oertiried to by such officer under his sea~ of office. Those applying for such licenses shall be given a reasonabl written exa~ination as to their qualifications only to perform maintenance work as defined in Section 8. -- The b~ard shall grant licenses applied for and shall issue certificates tnerefor to each appliant who shall make a grade of seventy. per cent. or be~ter on the examination given him; provid- ed, that in no Case shall a license be granted until after pay- ment by the applicant of the fee prOVided for in Section 16.. A complete record of the examination given, the applican~'s answers, the grade a:nd the result thereof, shall be kept by the electrical board in i1l9 permanent record book for a period of not le ss than one year, and such record shall be open for inspection at any meeting of the board and under its supervision. Each person seeking such maintenance electrician's license shall furnish the board two pictures of hiwself, ono and one-half inches by two inches. One of such pictures of the individual re- "",-'--' e e ~ ---.. -5... e ceiving the license shall be placed on the license certificate is~ sued to himp and the other of such pictures shall be re~ained by the board. Each such certificate issued to a maintenance" electric ian shall specify the name and address of the person to whom the certificate is issued, the location of the premises in or on which the maintenance work is to oe done, and the date of the issuance thereof. '- Every holder of a maintenance electrician's license shall notify the Electrical In~pe,ct_Q.r immediately when such holder makes any change in his employment; giving in such nO,tice the name of his new employer and the location of the premises in or on which he is to be employed to perform maintenance electrical work. Every holder of such maintenance electrician's license shall wear his certificate upon or about his person while performing the acts which su~h license entitles him to perform. Section 12. ANNUAL PERMIT OF EMPLOYER OF MAINTENANCE ELb.'C- TRICIAN; PKf{~IT FOR MOVING AND RELOCA1'ING EQUIPMENT: An annual permit shall, upon application therefor, be issued to any person employing a m~intenance electrician, as that term is defined in Section 8, for the keeping in safe repair of any and all electri- cal installation, apparatus and eqUipment within the confines of the building or in or on the premises where he is employed. The application for this annual permit shall be made in writing to the City Elec~r1cal Inspector and shall contain a description of the premises on which work is to be done under the permit and in- formation concerning the type of work to be done on such premises under such permit. The fee for said annual permit shall be $12.00 and shall ex- pire on December 31st of the year in which said permit is issued; and the fee for the remainder of the year shall be prorated in like manner as provided for license fees in this article. For all moving and relocating of electrical equipment author ized to be done under the terms and conditions of this article by a maintenance electrician, such main~enance electrician shall be required to obtain a permit in accordance with the other provision of this article pertaining to permits and inspections. Section 13. APPRENTICE DEFINED: Except as otherwise pro- vided herein, those persons undertaking the work of installing, maintaining and repairing electrical wiring, apparatus, devices, appliances, fixtures and eqUipment and electrical work in general for which a permit is required under the provisions of this articl , under the direct, constant, personal supervision and control of either a master electrician or a journeyman electrician, and who have properly registered with the electrical Board, as hereinafter provided, shall be known as "apprentices". Section 14. REGISTRATION OF APPRE~~ICES: No person shall undertake any work as an apprentice, as that term has been defined in Section 13, unless such person shall have first registered with the Elec~r1cal Board and received his certificate from said Board as an "apprentice". Applications for such certificates shall be made in writing to the Electrical Board, stating the name and ad- dress of the applicant, and such other relevant information as may be require~ by the Electrical Board. Each person seeking such a certificate shall furnish the Board two pictures of himself, one and one-half by two inches. One of such pictures of the individ- ual receiving the certificates shall be placed on the certificate issued to him, and the other of such pictures shall be retained by the Board. Each certificate isaued to an apprentice shall specify the name and address of the person to whom the certificate 1s is- sued, and the date of the issuance thereof. e. ...-........ e e e e -6- -- Every holder of such apprentice's cer~ificate shall wear his certificate upon or about his person while performing the act whic such certificate entitles him to perform. e Before a registration certificate is granted to any appli- cant as an apprentice, and before any expiring registration certi- ficate as an apprentice is renewed, the applicant shall pay to the assessor and collector of taxes of the City, a fee of fifty cents. Apprentice registration certificates shall expire on Decem- ber 31st follOWing the date of issuance. Such registration certi- ficate ~ill be renewed by the Electrical Board upon application and payment of the required fee. Section 15. EXAMINATIONS AND FEES THEREFOR: Regular e~am- inations for master electriCians' licenses and maintenance elec- tricians' licenses shall be held quarterly. Any and all appli- cants for a master and/or maintenance electricians' license fail- ing on the first examination shall be given an opportunity of tak- ing another examination within forty-five (45) days after the date of the first examination, provided a written request therefor be made by such applicant to the Electrical Board within ten (10) days after receiving written notice of his grade and all appli- cants failing the second examination shall have the right and authority to take further examinations as and when the regular examinations are conducted. An examination fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00) sh~ll be charged each applicant taking an examination for either a master electrician's license or a maintenance elec- trician's license and such fee shall be paid for each and every examination taken. ,:2 \f~' )..! ! ~",f> ,'-'" ,I tJ <f.> ~ Section 16. LICENSE FEES: Before a master electrican's li- cense is granted to any applicant, and before any expiring license is renewed, the applicant shall pay to the assessor and collector of taxes of the City, a fee of $25.00. Before a maintenance eleca tric1an's license is granted to any applicant, the a~plicant shall pay to the assessor and collector of taxes a fee of ~.OO, and be- fore anl such license is renewed, the applicant sha~l pay a newa1 fee of ~l.OO. Master electriCian's licenses and maintenance elec- trician's licenses shall expire on December 31st following the date of issuance. .: . ;:' \~ \. ."'_..-........ e The fee for the remainder of a year for all licenses shall be pro-rated for a fraction of the year, in such proportion as the period the license is to be enforced bears to the fee for the en- tire year, but the total fee shall never be less than one-fourth of the annual fee. Master electrician's licenses and maintenance electrician's licenses shall be renewed by the Electrical Board upon application and payment or the required fee; provided, how- ever, that no license which shall have elapsed for as much as six months shall be renewed except upon re-examination upon the same terms and conditions as provided ~or herein in the case of ori- ginal examinations. ....- .....~ Section 17. WHEN BOARD SHALL ISSUE LICENSES AND CERTIFICATE: if.hen an applicant for a license or certificate has complied with the provisions ~t this article, the Board shall issue a license or certificate to such applicant forthwith. ,.-- - Section 18. LICENSES AND CERTI'lICATES NON-ASSIGNABLE: No master electrician's or maintenance electriCian's license, or journeyman electrician's certificate or "apprentice" certificate issued in accordance with the provisions of this artic1@ shall be assignable o~ transrerrable. e Section 19. REVOCATION OF LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES; SUS- PENSION OF MASTER ELECTRICIAN'S LICENSE: Any license or certifi- cate provided for in this article may. after hearing ~y the Elec- trical Board, be by it suspended or revoked upon its finding that the person h6lding such license or certificate has wilfUlly, ma- e e -7- e liciously, or by reason of incomptence, violated on more than one occasion this article or any amendment thereto. --. .' " . , ,e, Section 20. APP~ FROM ACTION OF THE ELECTRICAL BOARD: Any person dissatisfied with a decision of the Electrical Boar~ shall have the right to appeal to the Board of Comm1ssi~ners from any action of the Electrical Board within ten (10) days from the action appealed from, which appeal shall be perfected by address- ing a letter to the said Board of Commissioners stating that an appeal from the ruling of the Electrical Board is desired within ten (IO) days after the action appealed from. Upon receipt of notice of such appeal, the Board of Commissioners shall set same down for hearing and shall notify the appellant and also the Chairman of the Electrical Board of the date of such hearing. The Electrical Board, as well as the appellant, shall have the right to be heard at the appeals above providet for. Furthermore, the Board of Commissioners shall have the right to affirm, modify or reverse the action and/or decision complained of. The action of the Board of Commissioners shall be final. If no appeal be taken within the time and in the manner hereinabove provided, the ruling of the Electrical Board shall be final. The action of the Elec- trical Board shall be finalo The action of the Electrical Board sh~ll be in all things effective unless and/or until reversed or modified as provided for herein. r~"'--.""'" Section 21. DUTIES OF ELECTHICAL INSPECTORS; ENGAGING IN BUSI~~SS: The electrical inspectors shallg upon appl~ca~10n, cause to be issue~ permits for the installation and alteration of electrical uiring, devices, appliances, fixtures, apparatus and equipment, and certificates of final approval therefor, and shall be responsible for inspection of all new electrical installations and re-inspections of all electrical installations, all as provid- ed in this chapter. They shall keep complete records of all per- mits issued, inspections and re-inspections made, and other of- ficial work performed in accordance with the provision of this article. They shall also main~ain up to date a file of listed inspected electrical appliance cards issued by or for Unuerwriter' laboratorian, Inc., which file shall be accessible for publiC re- ference during regular office hours. e, Section 22. AUTHORITY GRA~'l'ED TO ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS AND ASS1S~ANTS; POLICE ~O\VER: The electrical inspec10rs auQ any of ~neir assls~ants shall have tne right from 8:00 A. M. to b:Ou P. M. to enter any building in ~he di~charge of tne1r orficial dutles or for the purpose of making any inspection, re-inspect1on or ~est of tne installat10n of electric '\firing, apparatus, d.evices, ap- pliances, fixtures, and elec~rical equipment contained ther~in, and shall h~~e the authority to cause the turning off of all el~c- trlcal currents and to cut or disconnect in cases of emergency any wire where such electrical currents are dangerous to life and property or where such wires may interfere with the work of the fire department. The electr1cal inspector is hereby empo~ered in emergencies to disconnect and to order the discontinuance of elec- trical service to any elec~ric wiring, appara~us, device, appli- ance, fixture or equipment found to be dangerous to life or pro- perty becau~e of its being defective or defec~ively installed or otherwise not in conformity with the provisions of this article until such n1rtng, apparatus, device, appliance, fixtures and eqlipment ard their installation have been made safe as directed by him 1n conformity with this article. The electrical inspectors of the City shall have and are hereby given the powers and duties of special policemen while in the actual discharge of their official duties, and shall be authorized to wear badges as special policement; prOVided, that before being permitted. to wear such badges they shall apply to th Chief of Police for such badge, and shall make and have approved the bond required of all police officers of the City ~d said bon shall be paid by the City. ~""'-"._'" ..--'" , , e' .e /"'"--''', e ,...-..-.... - ~..-~...-. e, e e -8- o Section 23. PERvlITS: No wiring, poles, duct line, guy an- chors, apparatus, devices, appliance, fixtures o~ equipment for the transmiasion, distribution or utilization of electrical energy for any purpose shall be installed within the City limits of the City, nor shall any lateration or addition be made in any such existing wiring, poles, duct lines, guy archors, apparatus, device , appliances, fixtures or equipment ~ithout first securing a permit therefor from the chief electrical inspector, except as stated in the following paragraphs numbered 1 to 5, inclusive. (1) No permit shall be required for replaCing tuses or lamps or the connection of portable devices to suitable receptacle ~hich have been permanently installed or for repairs to portable appliancese (2) No permit shall be required for minor repair work, such as repairine or replacing flush and snap switches, receptacles and lamp sockets, or minor repairs on permanently connected electric apparatus, eppliances, fixtures or equipment, or the installation of light glObes. (3) J.~ permit shall be required for the install~tions, maintenance or alteration of wiring, apparatus, devices, appliance or equipment for telegraphJ telephone, signal service or central station protective service used in conveying signals or intelli- gence, except where electrical work is done on the primary side of the source of power from the power company at a voltage over 50 volts and which generates more than 500 watts of energy. (4) No permits shall be required except for poles and guy anchors, for the installation, maintenance or alteration of elec- tric wiring, apparatus, devices, appliances or equipment to be in- stalled by an electric publiC service corporation for the use of such corporation in the generation, transmission, distribution, sale or utilization of electrical energy. However, an electric public servf.ce corporation shall not do any w::lr1Dg on a customer's premises other than wiring which is part of the company's distri- bution system, nor shall any of its employees do any work other than that done for the said company as hereinbefore provided for, by virtue of this exemption. (5) lJo permit shall be required for the installation of temporary wiring, apparatus, devices, appliances or equipment used by. a recognized school in teaching electricity. (6) It shall be unlawful for any person to bridge, tamper with or change from its original installation except upon the ap- proval of the chief electrical' inspector, and then only after a proper permit for alteration has been issued, any fuse of the plug, cartridge type or link type, installed in panel boards, main switches or switchboards, or to alter or change circuit breakers so that the original calibration will be affected or to tie down or secure any circuit breaker so that it will not function pro- perlyo No such permit shall be issued to any person who is not the holder of a master electrician's license or a maintenance electri- cian U s license. \~ere no permit is required for the installation or repair of wiring, apparatus, devices or equipment for the transmission, distribution or utilization of electrical energy for any purpose, the wiring, apparatus, devices or eqUipment shall be installed or repaired in conformity with the provisions of this articlee The application for a permit shall describe the work to be done and shall be made in writing by a person Holding a master electrician's license, or a maintenance electrician's license. The permit when issued shall be issued to such applicant to cover such work as described and detailed. Any changes or additions e e -9- . must be covored by additional permits at the time changes are made The application shallbe accompanied by such plans, specifications and schedules as may be necessary to determine whether the install tion as described will be in conforming with the requirements of this articl~G1 No such plans, specifications and schedule shall be submit- ted and no such plans, specifications and schedule will be examin- ed under the provisions of this article, unless the same are sub- mitted by the holder of a master electric ian's license or main... tenance electrician's license. If it is found that the installa- tion as described will in general conform to the requi~ements of this article, and if the applicant has complied with all provision of the ordinances of the City, a permit for such installation shal be issued; provided, however, that the issuance of a permit will not be taken as permission or as a license to violate any of the requirements of this chapter or any other ordinance of the City. On all new installations the permit for electrical ~ork shall be displayed in a readily accessible location, as directed by the City Electrical Inspector, throughout the time such instal- lation as is covered by the permit is being installed. On all installations where wiring, apparatus, devices, ap- pliances, fixtures or equipment are added to previous installa- tions, or w~ere changes are made on wiring apparatus, devices, ap- pliances, fixtures or equipment, the permit for such installations or changes shall bedelivered to the one person for whom the in- stallation is to be made or posted on the building or structure as directed by the City Electrical Inspector before the installation or change is started~ The City Electrical Inspector may issue and enforce any rules or regulations he may deem necessary cover- ing the granting of emergency permits, where real emergencies exist. e ,..---. ,4t e Section 24. FRANCHISE TO INSTALL EQUIPMENf OF OR IN STREETS ETC: No person or public service company that does not operate under a franchise granted by the City shall have the right to in- stall any electrical conduit, wires, ducts, poles or equipment of any charactel' for the transmission, d.istribution or utilization of electrical energy, or for the operation of signals or the transmission of intelligence on, over or under the streets, in the City, without first obtaining from the Board of Commissioners a franchise right or grant for the particular installation so desir- ed to be made, and any such installation so made under such fran- chise or grant shall be in strict conformity with all rules and regulations and ordinances of the CitYe Any inBtallation of duct tube, conduit or wires under the public streets shall be in accordance with this chapter and other city ordinances covering the use of public places and streets. Section 25. IN8PJ!:C'l.'ION AND CERTIFICA'l.'E8 OF APPROVAL: When any part or a wiring installation is to be hidden from view by the permanent placement of parts of a building, the master electrician or maintenance electrician to whom the permit has been issued ahal notify the City Electrical Inspector, providing that on suc~ in- stallation a, the concealment of parts of the wiring must, in the discretion or the City Electrical Inspector, or his assistant, ne- cessarily proceed continuously, the master electrician or mainten- ance electrician to whom the permit has been issued shall five the Ci~y Electrical Inspector due notice and inspection shall be made periodically during the progress of the work, and where, in the discretion of the City Electrical Inspector or his assistant, it is necessary, he shall post notice upon the premises stating that work is approved and may be covered, or is not approved and may not be covered, until such further inspection as is necessary has been madeo Any, person removing, destroying, altering or defacing said notice 71thout the consent o~ the City Electrical Inspector, or his assistant, shall be deemed guilty of an offense under this section, and any work described in said notice shall be stayed pending the further necessary inspection. Upon the completion of the work which has been authozied by the issuance of a permit, it ..-._~..... 'e e e -10- shall be the duty of the master electrician or maintenance electri cian to whom the permit has been issued to immediately notify the City Electrical Inspector, who shall inspect such installation within three days, exclusive of Sundays and Holidays, of the time such notice is given. If the wor~ is found to be in compliance with the provisions of this article, the City Electrical Inspector, subject to the other applicable provisions of this article, shall issue a final certificate of approval to the publiC utility corporation furnish- ing the electrical service or the person supplying the energy, nhich certification shall authorize connection of such approved work to the source of energy of the electrical service, the turn- ing on of current and the use of the installation. No connection shall be made until such authorization and final certificate is issued. e Section 26. SCHhTIULE OF FEES FOR INSPECTION: The holder of a master electrician's or maintenance electrician's license, mak- ing or superVising the installation or alteration of electric wir- ing, apparatus, devices, appliances, fixtures or equipment, shall pay to the City a fee in such amount as .specified beloug ."..- .. - Services: All services - - - - - - - - - - - - - - All meter loops- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Outlets: First four lighting outlets are included in service and meter loop fees. Over four to twenty-five inslusive - - - Allover twenty-five - - - - - - - - - - $0050 each 0050 each $OQ15 each 0010 each All light, switch and receptacle openings are classed as out lets, also bell ringing transformers. Lighting Fixtures: ......-- Fixtures of one circuit or under and combina- tion ceiling fan and lights - - - Each additional circuit, per fixture - - e $0010 each 0,,25 each Any current-consuming device permanently attached to an out- let for 1ll~minating purposes shall be classed as a fixture. Motors: Up to but not inclUding 1/2 H. P.d - - - - - 11ft Hi P. and less than 2 H.' P. - - - - 2-H. P. and less than 10 H. P. - - - - - 10 H. P. and less than 25 H. P.- - - - - - - 25 H. P. and less than 100 H. P. - - 100 Ho P. and less than 150 H. P.- - 150 He ,. and over - - - - - - - - $0.25 each 1.0'0 each 1.50 each 2.00 each 4.00 each 5.00 each .05 per HP The foe of four cents per horse-power applied to individual mo~ors ratac1 150 H. P. and over. Motor control equipment is in- . eluded in motor fees. When future motor outlets are installed , they shall ue charged for at one-half the regular moto~ rates ap- plying. Th~ other one-hald shall be paid at the time the motors a,re installod. e Miscellaneous: Motion picture ,machines- - - - - - - - - - - Sound equipment, up to 10 watts output - - - Sound equipment, 10 watts to 15 watts output Sound equ1pment~ over 15 watts outpur- - - - Electr.1c ranges not over 12,000 ~atts- - - - Electric water heaters - - - - - - - - - - - $1.00 each 5,,00 each 7.50 each 10lilOO each .50 each .50 each e e -11- ."r-_...... 'e X-ray machines - - - - - - Incandescent electric signs- Gas or vacuum tube signs - - - - - $1,,50 each - - - 1000 per" cire - - - 1.00 per trans former - - - 0.25 each Poles~ anchors and guy stubs Permanently connected electric appliances and equipment of any nature not otherwise specified shall be charged for as follows Up to KVl, inclusive- - - - - - - - - - Allover 1 KW, to 10 KVif- - - - - - - - - - Allover 10 KW to 50 KW- - - - - - - - Allover 50 KW to 100 KW - - - - - - - Allover 100 KW, 100 KW @ 0.10, excess KW @ *~o. 25 each 0.20 per KIN 0.15 per KW 0010 per KW o .02 per lGl'J e Temporary installations, such as nood saws, floor-surfacing machines, pBint-spraying apparatus and the like shall be charged for at the rate of $1.00 per installation, plus the regular servic and meter loop charge. Temporary lighting installations shall be charged for at the rate of $1.00 per installation, plus the regular service and meter loop chargeo Additions to old work shall be charged for at the same rate as nevI worko .... ........ The minimum inspection fee shall be fifty cents. Oft moving and re-locating of electrical equipment authorized to be done by a maintenance electrician and a master elec~rician for uhich a permit fee isnot otherwise provided for in this sec- tion, the m1.nimum inspection fee snaIl apply. No feo shall be charged for routine re-lnspections of elec- trical installations. e Section 27. FAILURE TO PAY INSP~CTION FEES: Upon the fail- ure of ~he holder of a master electrician's or maintenance elec- triCian's license, within ten days after the final certificate of approval is granted on the installation or alteration of electric wiring, apparatus, devices, appliances, fixtures or equipment, to pay the Ci~y in full, the fees provided for in Section 26, the li- cense of such master electrician or maintenance electrician so failing shall be automatically suspended without action on ths part of the Electrical Board, and shall be of no force and effect, and said license shall remain suspended and nullified until such time as such fees are paid in full; provided, that no license whic shall have been suspended under tne terms and provisions of this section for as much as six months' time shall be renewed, except upon re-examination upon the same terms and conditions as provide for in the case of original examination. ,....- ---. tit Section 28. HE-INSPECTION; CORRECTION OF UNSAFE CONDITIONS: The City Electrical Inspector or his assistant electrical inspect- or shall make, upon information or belief that faulty conditions exis't, a thorough re-inspection of any elec~rioal \v1rirg, appara- tus, devices, appliances, fixtures and equipment now installed or that may ne~eatter be installed u1th the City and within the scop of this article, and when the installation of such wiring, appara- tus, devicsE, appliances, fixtures and equipment is f~und to be at varianoe ~ith the original permit issued, or to be in a dangerous or unsafe condition, or if it is found that the electrical measur- ing device has been tampered with so as to create a condition dan- geDOus to t~e con~inuity of the electrical service or to property, the person owning, using or operating the same shall be notified in ~riting and shall make the necessary repairs or changes requir- ed to place such wiring, apparatus, devices and equipment in safe condition so as to entirely relieve the hazards created by such unauthorized conditions, and shall have such work completed with- in fifteen cays or any reasonably longer period specified by the elec~rical inspection in said notice. ,~ e . o -12- e Section 29. CONNECTION TO INSTALLATIONS: It shall be un- lawful for any person ~o make connection from a 60urae ~f elec~ri- cal energy ~o any electrical wiring, apparatus, devioes, appliance 9 fixture and equipment for the installation of which ~ permit isre- quired until it shall have received, as hereinbefore pr~vided, and shall have r-e~ained, in its files available for 1nsp0ction, a cert ificate of approval issued by the Ci~y Elac~rical Inspector author izing such connection and the use of such wiring, apparatus, de- vices, appliances, fixtures and equipment. .'--....... It shall be unlawful for any person to make connection for a source of electrical energy to any elec~ric wiring, apparatus, ae- vices, appliances, fixtures and equipment which have been discon- nected by an electrical inspector or the use of which has been or- dered by an electrical inspec~or to be discon~inued until a certi- ficate of approval has been issued by the City Elect~ical Inspect- or as herein provided. e Section 30. IN1'ERFERENCE WITH Ort CHANGE OF Il'iSTALLATION: It shall be unlawful for any person, in any manner, to in~erfere 'tl'Jith any elA.otrical wiring installed or being installed in, or on, uithtn or without any structure or building. If in ~he course of erection of a building or structure ~he wiring is in such position as to interflere with the erection or completion of the building or structure as called for by the plans, no~ice shall immediately be given tho person installing the wiring and the needed change shall be made by such person. Section 31. REVIEVf OF DECI8IONS OF ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS: Any persons aggrieved by any action of an electrical inspector may within two days after such action file a petition in writing for review of said action of such elec~rical inspector with the Electrical Board by serving same upon ~he Superintendent of Public Works, or leaving same at his office, and thereupon the Electrical Board, within fifteen days after date of the filing of said peti- tion, shall hear and determine said appeal. The Board shall have . the right to sustain, modify or reverse the action of the electri- cal inspect?r; provided, however, that until such time as the elec trical insp0otor's action is reversed or modified by the Electrica Board, suoh action shall in all things be effective. The decision of the Elec~rical Board shall be subject to review by ~he Board of Commissioners as provided in Section 20 hereof. --, e Section 32. INSTALLATIONS TO BE IN STRICT CONFORMITY WITH LAW; SOLDERED CONNECTION; WOODEN HEADERS; FIXTURE STUDS; WIRI1\JG IN COLD STORAGE VAULTS: No certificate of approval shall be issued unless the installation is in strict conformity ~1th the provision of this article, the sta~utes of the State of Texas, and the rules and regulations issued by the indus~rial commission of the State of Texas under authority of the State statutes. All joints in or to branch lighting circuits shall have soldered co:nnections. All ceiling outlets in buildings not 'of concrete or steel construction shall be provided with a ~ooden header, two inches by four inches, securely fastened to studding with the four-inch side at right angles to the place of the light opening. All lighting outlets shall be equipped with 3/8 inch fixture studs except in closets, basements, garage and attic spaces. e In cold storage vaults, all wiring shall be lead covered and enoased in galvanized conduit. All lighting equipment shall be of the vaporproof type. Section 33. TYPE OF WIRING; SWITCHES; LOCATION OF ~iliTERS, ETC: Wi~h1n the City limi~s of the City of La PortG uiring method and materials conforming to the requirements of Chapter 3 of the 1947 National Electrical Code may be used. ,..,.. ----..., Surface ~ooden raceways, armored Type AC, or concen~r1c wir- ing system~ are not approved for use for wiring under any conditio . e e -13- e Open "~ir1ng is approved only for temporary work, and in cen.. tral stations, sub-stations, transformer vaults and at s~itchboard 0 Elsewhere than in central stations and sub-stations, all circuits operating at more than 600 volts shall enter buildings or struct- ures in conduit run underground. Surface extensions O~ installa- tions must have an appro~ed metal enclosure and the metal enclo.. sure shall not be used as one of the conductors of the circuit. ~' , r""--.' All sockets within reach of persons standing or otherwise touching tho earth or grounded surfaces, such as floors or con- ducting material, ba~hroom fixtures, kitchen sinks or other grounded s~~faces shall be controlled by a wall switch or wall switches which shall be fully insulated from the operator. All w~res exposed to weather must be weather proof type. All sGrvices and interior sub-feeders to distribution panels shall be installed in rigid metal conduit or electrical metallic tubing, excopt that within six feet of a building, measured hori- zontally, from which a sub-feeder originates>> will be considere~ "interior", as that term is sued in this paragraph. Wher~ condu1t fittings are used ahead of meter cabinets, same shall be sealable type. e Entrace switches, except on switchboard installations, must be of externally operable type, and on all distribution cabinets of more thBn four circuits installations must be of the dead front type with wiring space. All entrance switches and distribution cabinets rated at thirty amperes or ~ss, are to be equipped with automatic over current protective elements which are definite and cannot readily be changed from one rating to another. Where meters are installed in inaccessible places in houses or buildings and the electric public service company desires to relocate said meter loops for convenience in the rendering of its service, it ~ay, upon request to the City Electrical Inspector, have a master electrician reDinstall meter loops to a point where the same would be located if the house or building were having a new system of wiring installed, and all such work so done at the request of the electric public service company shall be performed ui~hout cost to the owner, unless said relocation is the result of said wiring having been condemned by the City Electrical Inspector for practices in violation of the ordinances of the City of La Porte" .-......, e .e ' All meter loops and service conduits for the supplying of service ana the installation of electrical me1ers to measure the service rendered by the electric'public service compeny to domes- tic establishments and buildings combining domestic establishments with commercial or industrial usage, shall be installed where read 11y accessible on the extGrior of the building. Fire-proof meter cabinets shall be supplied by the electric public sergice company and installed by the electrician performing the work, said meter cabinets to ~e located so the cen~er of the opening for the meter dial shall be not less than five feet nor more than six feet above mean ground level, and to be readily accessible to the olectric public service company ser1Tice. On apartment building, where space limitations will not permit placing all meters at the same height, they may be arranged in two tiers, with the openings for the meter dials in the lower tier as near as practicable to five feet above mean ground level and second tier placed as near as practicable above the first. Vihere space limitations will not permit placing of meter cabinets as outlined above, the public ser vice companyv subject t.o the approval of the Oi ty Electrical In- spector, may determine the arrangement to be used. All service outlets shall be located so as to permit placing the electric pub- lic service company's service wires without passing over any building or oithout four (4) feet of any door or window, eXCluding the point of direct attachment and be on the wall of the building next to the oupply. The eloctric service company shall never require the placing .,.--~ . . ....., . t .. . e e ...14- e of meter on the front or street side of a building, without the uritten conDent of the ovmer, and where not pratical in the opin- ion of the City Electrical Inspector to place metering devices on ~he exterior of the buildings said location shall be at a point, or points, convenient to the electric public service company's service as de~ermined by the City Electrical Inspector. Section 34. MATER.LAL TO CONFORM TO LAW; IDENTIFICATION S~HBOL: No electrical materials, apparatus, devices, appliances, fixtures or equipment shall be sold or ins~alled in the Ci~y un- less they a~e in conformi~y with the provisions of this article, the statutes of the State of Texas and the rules and regula~ions issued by the industrial commission of the State of Texas under authority of the state statutes. The maker's name, trademark or otner identification symbol ahall be placed on all electrical materials, ~pparatus, devices, appliances, fixtures and equipment used or installed under this article. ,.' e Section 35. ADOP'rION OF NA'llIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE: The 1947 National El~ctrical Code, standard of the National Board of Fire UndertT.riters for electric wiring and apparatus as recomnended by the National Fire Protection Association, is hereby adopted as a part of this chapter as fully as if set out herein, and shall govern and be observed and followed in all electrical ~lring, and in the construction, installation, repair, alteration, operation and maintenance of electrical wiring, apparatus or fixtures, ex= cept in so far as it, may be in conflict with this chapter. Section 36. LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES: This article shall not be construed to relieve from or lessen the responsibility of any party owning, operating or controlling any elec~ric ~iring, ap- para~us, devices, appliances, fixtures or equipment for damages to person or property caused by any defect therein, nor shall the City be held as assuming by this article any such liability by reason of the inspec~ion au~horized herein, or the certificates of approval issued as herein provided, or otherwise. Section 37. VlIRES UNDER OR uVER SHED, ETC: No wires of telephone, telegraph, electric light or power company shall be al- lowed under or above sheds, gallery or awnings without the written consent of the director of public works. Section 38. US~ OF POLES OF ANOTHER: In case any person desired to place along or across any of the streets or public places of the City, wires, tubes or cables, he shall, with the ap- plication and plat herein proviaed for, file in the office of the City Clerk, the written consent of any telegraph or telephone company doing business in the City, to the placing of such wires, tubes or cables upon the poles of said telegraph or telephone company, situated in the streets or public place named in such applicationo The City Electrical Inspector is hereby authorized to grant a permit for such occupancy of the poles or such te~e- graph or ~elgphone company, with the restrictions, regulations and qualifications as may be prescribed by said Inspector. Section 39. CITY MAY CHANGE MODE OF CONDUCTING WI~S; Nothing contt\inecf in''this, ar'&icle shall be so construed as to in any manner affect the right"or the City in the future to prescribe any other mode of conducting ~ires over or under its thorough- fares. ..----... ----.......... e '- Seetio::l 40. PANELTY :;i'OR VIOLATION OF C1iAPTER: Any person or his agent violating any of the provisions o'~ this chapter shall upon conviction thereof, \'lhere no other penalty is provid.ed, be fined not leas than Ten Doliars ($10.00) nor more than One Hundre DolLars ($100.00) for each offense, an~ in case of willful and continuous violation of this chapter by any such person or his agent, the City snaIl have the power to revoke and r0peal any Ord~nance under which said person may be actlng, and to revoke and repeal all permits, privileges and franchises gran~ed to said person. ..--....... ."'-'- ...... e, ,...-.-..., e ,.. ~ , e ./.--" - . . -15- Section 41. If any sec~ion, sub-sec~ion, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be unconsti- tutional, such unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The Board of Com- missioners of the City of La Porte hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each section, sub-section, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that anyone or more sections, sub-section, sentence, clauses or phrases be de- clared unconstitutionale Section 42. As the City does not have any rule or Ordinance requiring Ordinances to be read at more than one meeting, or that same be passad on more than one reading, this Ordinance shall be- come effective on the 1st day of October, A. D. 1948, and shall be in full forca and effect on and after that date. Passed and approved this the 1L. th day of September A. D. 1948. , AT~U&L.. lJrs. Eula 3ndn hsst. City Clerk of La Forte, Texas. :1 ~ Porte, Texas. p: ~ -..-.-