Hereafter all electric light, heat and power wires, fixtures, appliances, conductors and apparatus and their supports placed or installed in or upon any building or other structure in the city shall be in conformity with the approved standards and methods of electrical construction for safety to life and property and in accordance with recognized standards of engineering practice pertaining to such construction and in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, which shall constitute the minimum standards for all such work.

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

That certain documents, three copies of which are on file and are open for inspection of the public in the office of the city clerk of the city, being marked and designated as “National Electrical Code” (2002 Edition) published by the National Fire Protection Association, is adopted as the code of the city regulating the installation of electric conductors and equipment and the installation of optical fiber cable in the city and each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions and terms of such “National Electrical Code, 2002” published by the National Fire Protection Association which is on file in the office of the city clerk is hereby referred to, adopted and made part hereof as if fully set out in this chapter.

(Ord. 972; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

No building or other structure shall be wired or equipped for the use of electrical current therein, nor rewired for any such purposes and no alterations or additions shall be made to the existing wiring of any such building or structure without applying to the office of the city clerk and securing a permit therefor. Applications for permits shall be made on blanks furnished by the city and shall set forth in detail the work to be done, class and location of building and the name of the owner and electrician; provided, that no permit shall be required for electrical work involving the maintenance of wiring or apparatus or the making of minor repairs not involving the rewiring of any building or structure. All permits shall be issued upon the payment of such fees as shall be hereafter required.

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

(a)   No permit shall be issued under the provisions of this chapter to any person, firm or corporation unless such person, firm or corporation shall have an electrician's license or is licensed as an electrical contractor. Licenses shall be issued by the city clerk upon an application made in writing, verified under oath, giving the name of the applicant, his age and address, and shall state in detail the educational qualifications or training of the applicant together with his previous training and experience as an electrician or in the performance of electrical work. Before issuing a license to such applicant, a designee of the city may cause such person to take and successfully pass a written and/or oral examination covering the common provisions of this chapter and the electrical code adopted thereby and tending to demonstrate the skill and knowledge of such applicant to do satisfactory electrical work. In all cases the city’s designee shall make an investigation of the skill and reputation of the applicant for the doing of satisfactory and workmanlike electrical work including a practical demonstration of the same if requested by the applicant. If said applicant is found to be qualified to do such work, the city clerk shall issue an electrician's license upon payment of the fee and providing proof of liability insurance as provided hereafter; provided, that if any applicant shall exhibit a certificate granted by the board of electrical examiners of any city of Kansas showing that the applicant has successfully passed an electrical examination, the city may issue a license upon the making of a satisfactory application showing the training and experience of such person: provided, further, that any firm or corporation may obtain an electrician's license under this chapter when one or more members or employees of the firm or corporation shall be licensed as an electrician in accordance with the provisions of this section, and upon payment of the license fee or fees for each electrician's license and the filing of proof of liability insurance by such firm or corporation as in the case of individuals.

(b)   Before any license shall be issued, each such person, firm or corporation shall file proof of liability insurance in the amount of $100,000 with the city clerk; provided, that the owners of property doing electrical work on their own property may be issued permits in their own names without filing the aforesaid proof of insurance, but any person or persons assisting such owner in doing electrical work shall be licensed and insured as provided in this section; provided, further, that persons, firms or corporations engaged in other business but doing their own electrical construction work and having in their employ a licensed electrician doing such work shall not be required to file any such proof of insurance.

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

An electrician's license shall be issued upon payment of an annual fee of twenty-five dollars. All such licenses shall expire at the end of a twelve month period. Those presently holding licenses will not be required to obtain a new license until their liability insurance expires.

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

(a)   All service wires entering buildings shall be installed in rigid metal conduit. All service switches shall be installed in standard metal cabinets of sufficient size not to permit crowding and so arranged as to permit the switch to be externally operated.

(b)   Circuit breakers and no fuses shall hereafter be installed in all circuits of less than thirty amperes in all new residential buildings, or new wiring and extensions in such buildings.

(c)   Wall switches for all electric lights shall be installed in all bathrooms and utility rooms.

(d)   Grounding cables or wires shall be grounded by making permanent connection by soldering or screw clamps to a copper ground rod driven not less than eight feet into the ground, except where the electrical inspector shall approve other grounding connections.

(e)   No service shall be smaller than one hundred amperes, two hundred twenty volt, three wire.

(f)    Each service shall be equipped with an external safety switch of not less than one hundred amperes and the city shall have the right to designate the placing and location of such safety switch and of all other metering equipment.

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

Approved rigid metallic conduit or approved thin-wall conduit shall be installed for all electric lights, heat or power wires, in the wiring of shops, or business, commercial and manufacturing establishments anywhere in the city. Flexible conduit or flexible metallic cable may be used for short connections not in excess of three feet to connect equipment requiring flexibility or for fishing in concealed spaces; provided, that the electrical inspector may grant permission to use any other approved type of metallic construction for the foregoing purpose. Nonmetallic sheathed cable shall be required for all electric light, heat or power wires and the wiring of new buildings or structures, the rewiring of old buildings and the installation of new wires in old buildings or additions thereto in all cases not hereinbefore provided.

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

The mayor and council shall annually appoint some city official or employee as electrical inspector and may appoint an assistant inspector. The person appointed shall be experienced in electrical inspection work and well versed in rules and approved methods of electrical installation.

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

The electrical inspector or his authorized assistant shall inspect all electric light, heat and power wires, conductors and apparatus hereinafter installed in or upon any building or structure in the city and shall inspect all such installations and apparatus for conformity with the provisions of this chapter. He shall enforce or cause to be enforced the rules and regulations of the city pertaining to electrical wiring and for the purpose, he shall have the right, during reasonable business hours, to enter in or on any premises in the city for the purpose of making an inspection required.

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

The electrical inspector or his authorized assistant shall inspect all installations of electrical wiring, fixtures and other apparatus as required by this chapter within forty-eight hours, not including Sundays or legal holidays, on receipt of the notice that the same is ready for inspection. He shall leave a suitable and distinctive mark or inspection tag on or near the service cabinet which shall indicate that such work has been inspected and approved. No workman or other person shall cover or in any manner conceal any electrical wiring until such inspection shall have been made and the work approved. All plumbing, water, steam and gas pipes and furnace stacks and like work shall be in place before the electrical wiring shall be inspected and such wiring shall not be considered as completed until all such work is in place. It shall be the duty of the person installing the electric wiring and other work requiring inspection to notify the inspector promptly when the same is ready for inspection.

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

The electrical inspector shall have power and authority to condemn and cause the removal or necessary repair of any electric wiring, fixtures or supports in or upon any building or structure within the city which may be found dangerous to life or property. He shall have the authority for the cutting off of electrical current therefrom until such repairs or changes are made; provided, that before condemning any electrical construction work as unsafe or defective, or not in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the inspector shall at once notify the party or parties doing such work and the owner of the premises, and shall order him or them to change, rearrange, or remove the same. Upon the party's or parties' failure or refusal so to do within a reasonable time, such party or parties shall be deemed guilty of a violation of the provisions of this chapter. Each and every day which shall elapse after the expiration of the time specified in the notice to correct any unsafe, defective or unsatisfactory work in compliance with said order shall be considered a separate offense under this chapter.

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

The electrical inspector shall decide all questions not provided for in this chapter pertaining to the installation or use of electrical wires, appliances or apparatus. An appeal may be had from an order or decision of the electrical inspector to the mayor and council and a representative of an electrical firm of the city who shall be appointed by the mayor. The decision of the mayor and council shall be final and binding, and no appeal shall be had from any order or decision of the electrical inspector unless the same be taken within thirty days from date of such order or decision.

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

Upon completion of any work on which a permit has been issued under the provisions of this chapter, and, from time to time as may be necessary, it shall be the duty of the person installing same to notify the electrical inspector, after which such work shall be promptly inspected as provided in this chapter. If said work shall be found to comply with all the provisions of this chapter the electrical inspector shall then issue a certificate of satisfactory inspection. No electric current shall be turned on except for the purpose of testing, until such certificate shall be issued. No electric light or power wires or equipment shall be covered or concealed until it shall have been inspected and approved by the electrical inspector, and said inspector shall have authority to remove or cause to be removed, any lath plaster, or other finish which may interfere with the proper inspection thereof.

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

This chapter shall not be construed to remove or lessen the liability of any party owning, operating, controlling or installing any electrical equipment for damages to any person or property by any defect therein nor shall the city be held as assuming any such liability by reason of the inspection authorized in this chapter or certificate issued.

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)

The fee for a permit to install electric conductors and equipment within or on newly constructed or remodeled public and private buildings or other structures and for the installation of optical fiber cable in the city shall be determined as follows:

(Ord. 720; Code 1974, Chapter 15.08; Code 2014)