Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

TO:	Electrical Code Board of Appeals
FROM:	Adrian Jones, Ex-Officio, Senior Plan Examiner Development Services
C:	Barry Walthall, Building Codes Manager, Kurt Schroeder, Asst. Director of Planning & Development, Development Services
Date:	March 28, 2017
RE:	Electrical Code Board of Appeals Recommendation of Amendment Request

David Everhart, engineer with Latimer Sommer & Associates, has proposed an amendment to City Code Section 5-417. Currently, City Code Section 5-417 amends 2014 National Electrical Code (NEC) Article 334.12, Uses Not Permitted for Types NM, NMC and NMS cable, to disallow such cables in any dwelling or structure exceeding three (3) stories. Mr. Everhart has proposed removing the restriction on use of type NM, NMC and NMS cable in residential occupancies and dwellings or structures exceeding three (3) stories. Mr. Everhart has also proposed an amendment to City Code Section 5-406. Currently, City Code Section 5-406 amends 2014 NEC Article 210.12, Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection. Mr. Everhart has proposed removal of the local amendment requiring AFCI protection only for bedrooms of dwelling units.

The 2014 National Electrical Code was formally adopted on March 4, 2016, with an effective date of July 1, 2016, to regulate the design and installation of electrical wiring and systems within the City of Lawrence. Article 334.12(A) was amended to restrict the use of type NM, NMC and NMS cable in any dwelling or structure exceeding three (3) stories.

An amendment to restrict the use of NM, NMC and NMS cable was first introduced into the City Code upon adoption of the 1999 NEC on June 20, 2000. The 1999 NEC did not permit the use of Type NM cable in dwellings or structures over three stories. The code was amended to add an additional restriction to use in only Group R residential occupancies. The intent of the amendment was to provide additional protection for the downtown fire district and to improve safety and reliability of electrical systems.

The restriction on the use on NM cable in structures exceeding three (3) stories was deleted from the 2002 NEC. However, the Electrical Code Board of Appeals (ECBA) chose to amend Article 334 to retain the restriction on use of NM, NMC and NMS cable in dwellings or structures exceeding three (3) stories. This local amendment was carried forward in subsequent adoptions of the 2005 NEC, 2008 NEC, 2011 NEC and the currently adopted 2014 NEC.

Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) were first introduced in the 1999 NEC code cycle. In the 1999 NEC, AFCIs were only required for bedroom circuits. The adopted 2005 NEC amended Article 210.12 (B) by deleting the option for metallic sheath cable as a wiring method (the ECBA felt that metallic cable did not offer adequate protection).

The 2008 NEC required AFCI protection throughout dwelling units (not just for bedroom circuits). However, the 2008 NEC, 2011 NEC and 2014 NEC were all amended to require AFCI protection for bedrooms circuits only (primarily due to concerns regarding AFCI reliability and nuisance tripping)

Building Safety Division Staff supports the request by Mr. Everhart for a code modification to City Code Section 5-417. It is the opinion of Staff that added protection offered by increased use of fire sprinkler and alarm systems, together with expanded fire resistant construction methods required since the 1999 NEC code cycle, offer adequate protection in Group R-1 and Group R-2 residential structures and structures over three (3) stories.

Building Safety Division Staff also supports the request to modify City Code Section 5-406. AFCI devices have been included in the NEC since first introduced in the 1999 NEC. The improved reliability of the devices, work by appliance manufacturers to make appliances more compatible with AFCI devices and increased knowledge of installation practices and wiring methods by electrical contractors have greatly reduced tripping occurrences. Empirical data indicates that increased ACFI protection in dwellings will help reduce many known and potential causes for fire.

Attachments:

1. Code Modification request from David Everhart

2. ECBA minutes for February 1, 2006 meeting discussion of 2008 NEC AFCI amendment

3. ECBA minutes for May 7, 2008 meeting discussion of 2008 NEC AFCI amendment

4. ECBA minutes for May 6, 2009 meeting discussion of 2008 NEC AFCI amendment

5. ECBA minutes for June 3, 2009 meeting discussion of 2008 NEC AFCI amendment

6. ECBA minutes for April 11, 2012 meeting discussion of 2011 NEC AFCI amendment

7. ECBA minutes for April 30, 2015 meeting discussion of 2014 NEC AFCI amendment