Only standard parts and materials approved by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., National Electrical Safety Code, or electrical provisions of other safety codes, which have been approved by the American National Standards Institute, shall be prima facie evidence that such installations are reasonably safe to persons and property.
(Ordinance 1165, § 2(Exh. A, Art. VII, § 7-1), 10-18-00)
Due to climatic conditions prevailing in and about the Rockport area, certain special rules covering electrical wiring and equipment installations are set forth herein, and certain exceptions are taken to the rules and regulations of the National Electrical Code to raise the safety level of electrical installations and to prevent the rapid deterioration of electrical materials and equipment from severe atmospheric and underground corrosive action; all of which exceptions are set forth in this code.
(Ordinance 1165, § 2(Exh. A, Art. VII, § 7-2), 10-18-00)
The installation of aluminum wire for general wiring methods is prohibited, except for:
(1) 
Temporary services (T-poles, T-posts);
(2) 
Permanent services when installed from the line side of the meter to the service drop tap or splices, or when installed from the line side of the meter to the point of connection of an underground service lateral; or
(3) 
Sub-feeders in non-residential applications when sized #2 AWG or larger.
(Ordinance 1165, § 2(Exh. A, Art. VII, § 7-3), 10-18-00; Ordinance 1306, § 5, 9-28-04; Ordinance 1381, § 4, 5-8-07)
Electrical metallic tubing (EMT) shall not be installed in any exposed outside location, or underground. All circuits using electrical metallic tubing as a raceway without compression connectors shall have an equipment grounding conductor run with the other conductors.
(Ordinance 1165, § 2(Exh. A, Art. VII, § 7-4), 10-18-00; Ordinance 1306, § 5, 9-28-04)
There shall be installed at least one spare raceway from the service panel(s), sub-panel(s) or both, to an accessible location (i.e.: attic, crawl space, etc.). Such spare raceway shall be sized no less than one inch in diameter with the end taped or sealed.
Exception: Panels, which are surface mounted and or are fully accessible.
(Ordinance 1165, § 2(Exh. A, Art. VII, § 7-5), 10-18-00)
Editor’s note—Ord. No. 1306, § 5, adopted Sept. 28, 2004, repealed § 22-146 which pertained to wiring in concrete and derived from Ord. No. 1165, § 2(Exh. A, Art. IV, § 7-6), adopted Oct. 18, 2000.
Made electrodes shall be rod electrodes and shall be made of brass, copper, or copper clad steel and shall be at least five-eights-inches in diameter and eight feet long.
(Ordinance 1165, § 2(Exh. A, Art. VII, § 7-7), 10-18-00; Ordinance 1306, § 5, 9-28-04)
An equipment grounding conductor shall be included in each installation of flexible conduit, liquid tight or other such flexible raceway when the grounding of equipment is necessary.
(Ordinance 1165, § 2(Exh. A, Art. VII, § 7-8), 10-18-00)
The installation of meters and meter loops shall be in accordance with the electrical provider's specifications as outlined in their publication for meter installation standards and to include the following:
(1) 
Meter loops shall include an approved means of disconnect located at an accessible place outside the building or structure that will effectively disconnect each ungrounded conductor before it shall enter the building or structure.
(2) 
Where two or more meter outlets are grouped or are on the same building, each meter outlet shall be neatly and permanently marked to show the location it services.
(Ordinance 1165, § 2(Exh. A, Art. VII, § 7-9), 10-18-00; Ordinance 1306, § 5, 9-28-04)
All temporary services and circuits at construction sites shall be installed to meet N.E.C. requirements and all grounding conductors shall be either green, bare or marked as such. The grounding conductor shall be connected to all devices. Grounding through metal conduit or metal enclosures shall not be allowed.
(Ordinance 1165, § 2(Exh. A, Art. VII, § 7-10), 10-18-00; Ordinance 1381, § 5, 5-8-07)
The following types of occupancies as defined in the latest adopted editions of the city's building code may use any wiring method recognized as suitable by this code, except those methods provided by article 320, Opening Wiring on Insulators, and article 324, Concealed Knob-and-Tube Wiring:
(1) 
Group R-3 occupancies (one- and two-family dwellings and their accessory uses).
(2) 
Group R-2 occupancies (multiple dwellings, not transient, and their accessory uses) that are not more than three stories tall.
The following types of occupancies as defined in the latest adopted editions of the city's building code may use any wiring method recognized as suitable by this code, except those methods provided by article 320, Open Wiring on Insulators; article 324, Concealed Knob-and-Tube Wiring; article 336, Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable; article 338, Service Entrance Cable; and article 339, Underground Feeder and Branch-Circuit Cable:
(1)
Group B occupancies (Business).
(2)
Group F occupancies (Factory-Industrial).
(3)
Group M occupancies (Mercantile).
(4)
Group R-1 occupancies (Residential, transient).
(5)
Group S occupancies (Storage).
If approved by the electrical inspector and conducted in compliance with any conditions imposed, minor repairs and extensions of not more than 15 percent of the existing wiring methods may be made to the aforementioned five types of occupancies, with the same wiring methods existing at the time of construction.
The following occupancies as defined in the latest adopted editions of the city's building code may use any wiring method recognized as suitable by this code, except those methods provided by article 320, Open Wiring on Insulators; article 324, Concealed Knob-and-Tube Wiring; article 332, Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing; article 336, Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable; article 338, Service Entrance Cable; and article 339, Underground Feeder and Branch-Circuit Cable:
(1)
Group A occupancies (Assembly).
(2)
Group E occupancies (Educational).
(3)
Group H occupancies (Hazardous).
(4)
Group I occupancies (Institutional).
If approved by the electrical inspector and conducted in compliance with any conditions imposed, minor repairs and extensions of not more than 15 percent of the existing wiring methods may be made to the aforementioned four types of occupancies, with the same wiring methods existing at the time of construction.
(Ordinance 1165, § 2(Exh. A, Art. VII, § 7-11), 10-18-00)
Whenever the meter has been removed by the electrical provider or the drop has been cut, a service inspection is required. Whenever a service inspection is required, a permit shall first be obtained by a City of Rockport registered electrician.
Exceptions:
(1) 
By homeowners as defined in section 22-87.
(2) 
When an electrician inspects the service and no work is necessary the electrician shall inform the electrical inspector and furnish the necessary information for the service release. No permit is required.
(Ordinance 1165, § 2(Exh. A, Art. VII, § 7-13), 10-18-00; Ordinance 1306, § 5, 9-28-04)
The electrical inspector shall approve for such use electrical equipment, materials, conductors, apparatus or appliances as are reasonably safe to persons and property. Conformity of such equipment and materials with the standards of the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. shall be prima facie evidence that such equipment is reasonably safe to persons and property.
(Ordinance 1165, § 2(Exh. A, Art. VII, § 7-13), 10-18-00)