The National Electrical Code, being particularly the 2020 National Electrical Code, and all revisions thereto, save and except such portions as may hereinafter be amended, of which a copy has been and is now filed at the offices of the city, are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set forth at length herein, and from the date on which this section shall take effect, the provisions therein shall be controlling within the area of jurisdiction of the city.
(Ordinance O-24-019 adopted 8/15/2024)
The following local amendments are made to the National Electrical Code, 2020 edition, as adopted by the city:
(1) 
Article 110 is hereby amended by adding Section 110.80 to read as follows:
110.80 Distribution system limitation. For the purpose of this article, the distribution system of any person furnishing electric power shall not extend to any property which such person does not own in fee simple or control by easement.
(2) 
Article 110 is hereby amended by adding Section 110.81 to read as follows:
110.81 Tampering with fuses, circuit breakers. It shall be unlawful for any person:
(A) 
To bridge, tamper with or change from its original installation (except upon the approval of the building official, 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;
(B) 
To alter or change circuit breakers so that the original calibration will be affected; or
(C) 
To tie down or secure any circuit breaker so that it will not function properly.
(3) 
Article 110 is hereby amended by adding Section 110.82 to read as follows:
110.82 Grounding, GFCIs, etc.
(A) 
Supplemental grounding.
On any new service or change-out service there must be a supplemental grounding electrode as specified in article 250.52(A) of the NEC, with the grounding electrode conductor sized per table 250.66 of the NEC.
(B) 
Certain GFCIs.
The ground-fault circuit-interrupter required for a hydro-massage shall not be located under such a bathtub and must be readily accessible as specified in 680.71.
(4) 
Section 210.52 is hereby amended by adding subsection (E)(4) to read as follows:
Switches and equipment installed on the outside of the building in a recess in the outside wall and covered by a door as part of the building structure shall be considered as being on the exterior of the building and exposed to the weather.
(5) 
Section 230.42 is hereby amended by adding subsection (D) to read as follows:
(D) 
Service entrance conductors.
In any residence, apartment, apartment house, commercial building or other building of whatsoever character now existing or to be constructed within the city, all service entrance conductors, including underground conductors, shall have a minimum current-carrying capacity of 150 amperes. On buildings with existing service, this requirement shall apply when:
1) 
Load is added or modified;
2) 
An existing service is found to be inadequate for demand; or
3) 
An unsafe condition exists.
4) 
When replacing main service panel, all-service disconnect, service riser, or service underground lateral.
Exception: Existing dwellings with a framed area of less than 1,500 square feet may have conductors with a minimum current-carrying capacity of 125 amperes.
(6) 
Article 230 is hereby amended by adding Section 230.70(D) to read as follows:
230.70(D) All-service disconnect. In every building now existing or to be constructed within the city, there must be an "all-service disconnect" accessible on the outside of the building and located as close as practicable to the meter. It shall consist of one switch or circuit breaker having a continuous current rating of no less than 150 amperes. On buildings with existing service, this requirement shall apply when load is added or modified or whenever an unsafe condition exists or when replacing main service panel, all-service disconnect, service riser or service underground lateral. Exception: Existing dwellings with a framed area of less than 1,500 square feet may have a main "all-service disconnect" with a minimum continuous current rating of 125 amperes.
(7) 
Article 300 is hereby amended by adding Section 300.51 to read as follows:
300.51 Wires, cables, conductors and circuits.
(A) 
Wires, cables and conductors.
Notwithstanding any other code provision or ordinance to the contrary, it shall be unlawful for any person to install or use any of the following in connection with electrical work for any structure in the city:
1) 
Any wire other than solid or stranded copper;
Exception: The use of other wire, cable, or conductor materials approved by the 2020 NEC will be approved by the City of Brenham after the following:
a) 
The NEC articles allowing the proposed material to be used shall be included on the submitted electrical plans; and
b) 
A letter from both the device manufacturer and wire nut manufacturer stating their devices and wire nuts are compatible with the proposed wire, cable, or conductor material;
2) 
Any wire without a separate ground, either in the same cable or in the same conduit;
3) 
Armored cable, type A/C;
4) 
MC Cable, unless the exterior armor is color-coded its entire length by the manufacturer to distinguish it from other flexible metallic conduit systems;
5) 
Nonmetallic sheathed cables, as listed in article 334 of the NEC, but this prohibition only applies to multifamily dwellings with more than one floor above grade; or
6) 
Nonmetallic sheathed cables, as listed in article 334 of the NEC, except in buildings used and occupied exclusively for residential purposes (without any nonresidential occupancies or mixed uses, even if only accessory or incidental).
(B) 
Circuits. Notwithstanding any other code provision or ordinance to the contrary, it shall be unlawful for any person to install or use more than ten openings (outlets or fixtures) on any single electrical circuit for any structure in the city.
(8) 
Section 422.40 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
422.40 Polarity in Cord-and Plug-Connected Appliances.
(A) 
If the appliance is provided with a manually operated, line-connected, single-pole switch for appliance on-off operation, or a 15- or 20-ampere receptacle, on-off operation disconnect must be readily accessible.
(B) 
Window air conditioners. All window air conditioning units, whether to be operated on 110 vac or 220 vac current, shall be installed with and bonded to a polarized plug, and Number 10 AWG wire minimum for 220 vac shall be used in bonding said air conditioning unit to the said polarized plug.
(Ordinance O-24-019 adopted 8/15/2024)
The building official or his duly authorized assistant shall have the right to enter any building, in accordance with applicable legal requirements, during reasonable hours in the discharge of his official duties and shall have the authority to cause the disconnection of any wiring or equipment, which such wiring or equipment in his judgment is dangerous to life or property or may interfere with the work of the fire department.
(Ordinance O-24-019 adopted 8/15/2024)
The National Electrical Code, being particularly the 2020 National Electrical Code, save and except such portions as may hereinafter be amended and the meter loop specifications of the municipal light and power system of the city, are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set forth at length herein, and from the date on which this section shall take effect, the provisions therein shall be controlling for all electrical work within the area of jurisdiction of the city. A copy of said National Electrical Code, and meter loop specifications of the municipal light and power system of the city, shall be filed in the office of the building official of the city.
(Ordinance O-24-019 adopted 8/15/2024)
Any requirement deemed by the inspector necessary for safeguarding the hazards from fire and to life in connection with any electrical installation not specially covered by this article shall be determined by the inspector, subject to appeal to the board of appeals in the manner prescribed in section 6-5.
(Ordinance O-24-019 adopted 8/15/2024)
It shall be unlawful to manufacture, sell or use any electrical materials, devices, appliances or apparatus which are not approved by the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, anywhere or anytime within the city.
(Ordinance O-24-019 adopted 8/15/2024)
(a) 
In order to protect the lives of the citizens and the property of the citizens from the dangers incident to defective wiring of buildings and structures, it shall be unlawful for any person to allow any electrical current used for the purpose of producing light, heat or power in buildings or structures belonging to such person, to be turned on without first having had an inspection made of the wiring by the inspector and having received from the inspector a certificate of occupancy approving the wiring of such building, unless otherwise provided in this article.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the business of selling electricity to furnish any electrical current for use for light, heat or power purposes in any building or structure of any person, unless the building or structure has first been inspected by the inspector and a certificate of occupancy given as hereinafter provided, unless otherwise authorized in this article.
(Ordinance O-24-019 adopted 8/15/2024)
(a) 
Whenever the service wires of a so-called knob and tube system are disconnected or electrical services disconnected to and in any commercial building or any building in the first fire district which has been vacated for any period in excess of thirty (30) days, the service shall not again be connected until same has been wired so as to conform to this article, subject to any special conditions as approved by the electrical inspector.
(b) 
All switches or fuse cabinets mounted on the exterior of any buildings must be of an approved weatherproof type.
(c) 
Whenever old work is found in the following instances, the building official may refuse or disconnect permanent electric service until compliance with the 2020 National Electrical Code is completed. The instances shall be when:
(1) 
Wiring smaller than gauge 12 AWG is found;
(2) 
Wire lacking a separate ground is found; or
(3) 
Any structure having more than ten (10) openings on a single circuit.
(Ordinance O-24-019 adopted 8/15/2024)