[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Union 7-17-1985
by L.L. No. 8-1985. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention and building construction — See Ch.
118.
This chapter shall be known as the "Electrical Code of the Town of Union."
Since there is danger to life and property inherent in the use of electrical
energy, this chapter is enacted to regulate the installation and the alteration
of wiring for electrical light, heat or power and signal systems operating
on 50 volts or more in or on all real property within the Town of Union, outside
the corporate limits of the Villages of Johnson City and Endicott.
All electrical installations heretofore mentioned shall be made in conformity
with the requirements of the National Electrical Code except where the provisions
of this chapter or any local law, ordinance or the New York State Uniform
Fire Prevention and Building Code (the "Building Code") shall differently
prescribe, in which event compliance with the provisions of such local law,
ordinance or code shall be recognized as proper compliance with this chapter.
The requirements of the National Electrical Code shall be those known as "National
Fire Protection Association Pamphlet No. 70," as approved and adopted by the
American Standards Association.
The New York Board of Fire Underwriters or other authorized agency is
hereby empowered to provide one or more electrical inspectors, as required,
to make inspections and reinspections of all new installations and of all
existing installations as provided for in this chapter. All such appointments
will be subject to approval by the Town Board of the Town of Union.
A.
Authority granted to electrical inspector. The inspector
or his authorized deputy shall have the right during reasonable hours to enter
any building in the discharge of his official duties or for the purpose of
making any inspection or test of the installation of electrical wiring, electrical
material or apparatus, fixtures or appliances contained therein.
B.
It shall be unlawful for electrical inspectors to engage
in the business of the sale, installation or maintenance of electrical wiring,
electrical devices or electrical equipment, either directly or indirectly,
and they shall have no financial interest in any concern engaged in any such
business in the Town of Union or elsewhere.
C.
In no event will the cost or expense of such inspections
and reinspections be a charge against the Town of Union.
D.
Upon the completion of the installation of the electrical
wiring, devices and equipment, it shall be the duty of the person, firm or
corporation installing the same to notify the New York Board of Fire Underwriters
or other authorized agency, whose inspector shall inspect the installation
promptly after such notice is given. If it is found to be fully in compliance
with the provisions of this chapter, he shall issue the certificate of the
authorized agency to such person, firm or corporation as a final approval
authorizing connection to the electrical service and/or the turning on of
the current and the use of the installation. He shall send written notice
of the authorization to the public utility corporation furnishing the electrical
service. When a certificate is issued authorizing the connection and the use
of temporary work, such a certificate shall be issued to expire at a stated
time and shall be revocable by the inspector at his discretion.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person, firm or corporation
to install or cause to be installed or to alter electrical wiring for light,
heat or power in or on properties in the Town of Union outside the corporate
limits of the Villages of Johnson City and Endicott until an application for
inspection has been filed with an agency approved to conduct electrical inspections.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for a person, firm or corporation
to connect or cause to be connected electrical wiring in or on properties
for light, heat or power to any source of electrical energy supply prior to
the issuance of a temporary certificate or a certificate of compliance by
the inspection agency.
A.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision
of any section of this chapter or who or which shall violate or fail to comply
with any order made thereunder or who or which shall falsify plans or statements
filed thereunder or who or which shall continue to work upon any building
after having received written notice from the Building Official to cease work
shall be guilty of an offense and punishable by a fine not to exceed $250
or imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15 days, or both. However, for
the purpose of conferring jurisdiction upon the courts and judicial officers
generally, violations of this chapter shall be deemed misdemeanors, and for
such purpose only all provisions of law relating to misdemeanors shall apply
to such violations.[1]
B.
Each week's continued violation shall constitute
a separate, additional violation. Notice of violation shall be sufficient
if directed to such owner, the agent of such owner or the contractor and left
at the person's last known place of residence or business.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the electrical installations
in mines, ships, railway cars or automotive equipment or the installations
or equipment employed by a railway, electrical or communications utility in
the exercise of its function as a utility and located outdoors or in buildings
used exclusively for that purpose. This chapter shall not apply to any work
involved in the manufacture, assembly, test or repair of electrical machinery,
apparatus, materials and equipment by a person, firm or corporation engaged
in electrical manufacturing as his or its principal business. This chapter
shall not apply to any building which is owned or leased in its entirety by
the government of the United States or the State of New York.
This chapter shall not be construed to relieve from or lessen the responsibility
of any person owning, operating, controlling or installing any electrical
wiring, devices, appliances or equipment for loss of life or damage to person
or property caused by any defect therein, nor shall the Town of Union or its
duly authorized inspectors be deemed to have assumed any such liability by
reason of any inspection made pursuant to this chapter.
This chapter shall not apply to any person, firm or corporation engaged
in the conduct of manufacturing in or on properties in the Town of Union,
outside the corporate limits of the Villages of Johnson City and Endicott,
who or which hires or employs one or more electricians whose principal duties
are installation, maintenance and repair of electrical machinery, appliances
or electrical distribution (hereinafter called "electrical work"). The term
"electrician" shall mean a person who has completed an apprentice course or
received equivalent training or had equivalent experience of at least three
years in electrical work and is deemed qualified by reason that his work performance
is acceptable by the various codes and inspections that said person, firm
or corporation is subject to. By January 1 of each year, a list of such electricians
shall be submitted to the Building Official of the Town of Union in order
that the person, firm or corporation shall be released from or not subject
to the provisions as set forth in this chapter pertaining to the filing of
applications or the penalties for noncompliance. There shall be no assessments
or fees in connection with the filing of this certificate for electricians.
