510-RICR-00-00-5. RISBC-5 Rhode Island Electrical Code (version Amendment, 07/23/2002 to 01/01/2006)

RHODE ISLAND STATE BUILDING CODE Electrical Code Regulation SBC-5 AUGUST 1, 2002 Replaces Regulation SBC-5-98 Revised April 1, 1998 STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS Department of Administration BUILDING CODE STANDARDS COMMITTEE One Capitol Hill Providence, Rhode Island 02908-5859 (401) 222-3033 FAX NO (401) 222-2599 State Electrical Code Regulation SBC-5 AUGUST 1, 2002 The Building Code Standards Committee, in accordance with the rule making authority of Title 23, Chapter 23-27.3, Section 109.1, paragraph a through c inclusive hereby adopts the provisions of the National Electrical Code, 2002 edition, as published by the National Fire Protection Association, as the Rhode Island Electrical Code, together with the amendments thereto hereinafter set forth to the chapters and sections of said code: GENERAL Delete all references to IEC and substitute Rhode Island Electrical Code SBC-5. Delete all reference to any other International Code (IBC, IRC, IMC, etc.) and refer to appropriate SBC regulations. (See Amendment 2701.6). NFPA 70-02 may also be referenced as NEC 02 and are one and the same document. Article 80 of NFPA 70-02 is specifically not adopted. ARTICLE 90 90.1 Add the following to 90.1. E) The installation of all work shall be accomplished by persons licensed by the State of Rhode Island, Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation of Electricians, Title 5, Chapter 6, and Telecommunications Chapter 5-70 of the General Laws of the State of Rhode Island. 90.4 Delete 90.4 and substitute the following: 90.4 Enforcement. This Code is intended to be suitable for mandatory application by governmental bodies that exercise legal jurisdiction over electrical installations and for use by insurance inspectors. The Committee shall have the responsibility for deciding upon the approval of New Materials and Methods of Construction in accordance with SBC-12. The Commissioner shall have the responsibility to issue official interpretations in accordance with SBC-10. The authority having jurisdiction will have the responsibility for granting special permission contemplated in a number of the rules. The authority having jurisdiction may waive specific requirements in this Code or permit alternate methods where it is assured that equivalent objectives can be achieved by establishing and maintaining effective safety. This Code may require new products, constructions, or materials that may not yet be available at the time the Code is adopted. In such event, the authority having jurisdiction may permit the use of the products, constructions, or materials that comply with the most recent previous edition of this Code adopted by the jurisdiction. 90.6 Delete 90.6 and substitute the following: 90.6 Formal Interpretations. To promote uniformity of interpretation and application of the provisions of this Code, formal interpretation procedures have been established and are found in the NFPA Regulations Governing Committee Projects. Formal interpretations issued by the NFPA are advisory in nature and are not binding on the local authority having jurisdiction unless reissued as a formal opinion by the Commissioner. 90.10 Add the following new Article 90.10: 90.10 Other Provisions. The provisions of Chapter 27 of SBC-1-2002 are herein incorporated by reference and are considered part of this code. Enclosed herein is Article 27 effective this date. See SBC-1-2002 for any future amendments. 110.2 Add the following new paragraph after the FPN: Except as modified by the authority enforcing this Code, plans, specifications, schedules and calculations in sufficient detail shall be filed with the authority enforcing this Code, showing the location, and capacity of all lighting facilities, and all electrically operated equipment including power circuits required for all electrical service equipment of the building or structure. Details shall include available fault current at each protective device. Details shall include showing all raceways, cables and or circuiting on plans. The following revisions are to Chapter 27 of SBC-1-98: Delete existing Chapter 27 in its entirety and substitute the following: 2701.1 Scope. This chapter governs the electrical components, equipment and systems used in buildings and structures covered by this code. Electrical components, equipment and systems shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of SBC-5-2002. 2701.2 Permits. Electrical wiring including elevators and other conveyances as regulated by the Department of Labor and Training, or data, telecommunications, video and sound installations, shall not be installed in a building or structure, nor shall alteration of an existing electrical wiring system be made until a permit has been issued therefor as required in Section GL 23-27.3-113.3.1. Exception: Work not covered in SBC-5-2002 section 90.2(b) 1-5 inclusive. As used in section 4 & 5 a “utility” is a company or business regulated and/or licensed by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission. Subcontractors employed by a utility are not exempt from permit requirements unless the proposed work is being performed in the public right-of-way or within public utility easements. It shall be unlawful to use or allow the use of, or to supply current for, an electrical system in a building or structure, or to allow the use of, or to supply current for data, telecommunications, video or audio installations unless the required permits have been issued and approved by the authority having jurisdiction. 2701.3 Certification. Except for use group R (residential use), construction documents shall bear the seal of a Registered Professional Engineer who shall provide the services as required by 23-27.3-128.2.2, except as modified by the authority enforcing this Code. 2701.4 Re-inspection. An electrical installation from which an electrical service has been discontinued for a period of thirty (30) days or more shall not have service restored until the system has been re-inspected and a new certificate of inspection issued. Exception: Re-inspection of dwelling units shall only be required if the electrical service has been discontinued for a period of one year. 2701.5 The following section is taken directly from current R.I. General Laws (RIGL 42- 66.9-1): 2701.5 Emergency generators for Housing for the Elderly. All housing for the elderly complexes, as defined in § 42-66.1-2 which are serviced by one or more elevators and/or electrically powered chair lifts, and which include more than one hundred fifty (150) residential living units in a single building shall be equipped with emergency generators which shall provide sufficient power to provide emergency lighting to all common areas and a community room and power to operate the elevators and a refrigerator in a common area. Generator systems shall be in accordance with the national electric code and § 23-28.24-9. 2701.6 References. Where this code references other ICC codes, use the International Building Code, 2000 edition and SBC-5-2002 for the IEC. References to the International Fire Code (IFC) shall also refer to the R.I. State Fire Safety Code for enforcement as required by that authority having jurisdiction. 2701.7 Other Codes. The Rhode Island Fire Safety Code contains provisions for specific wiring methods for fire alarms, signaling systems, and other building fixtures such as exit signage, emergency lighting, and emergency and standby power systems among others. Refer to the latest editions of that code for the latest provisions. SECTION 2702 EMERGENCY AND STANDBY POWER SYSTEMS 2702.1 Installation. Emergency and standby power systems shall be installed in accordance with the ICC Electrical Code, NFPA 110 and NFPA 111. 2702.2 Where required. Emergency and standby power systems shall be provided where required by Sections 2702.2.1 through 2702.2.19. 2702.2.1 Group A Occupancies. Emergency power shall be provided for voice communication systems in Group A occupancies in accordance with Section 907.2.1.2. 2702.2.2 Smoke control systems. Standby power shall be provided for smoke control systems in accordance with Section 909.11. 2702.2.3 Exit signs. Emergency power shall be provided for exit signs in accordance with Section 1003.2.10.5. 2702.2.4 Means of egress illumination. Emergency power shall be provided for means of egress illumination in accordance with Section 1003.2.11.2. 2702.2.5 Accessible means of egress elevators. Standby power shall be provided for elevators that are part of an accessible means of egress in accordance with Section 1003.2.13.3. 2702.2.6 Horizontal sliding doors. Standby power shall be provided for horizontal sliding doors in accordance with Section 1003.3.1.3.3. 2702.2.7 Semiconductor fabrication facilities. Emergency power shall be provided for semiconductor fabrication facilities in accordance with Section 415.9.10. 2702.2.8 Membrane structures. Standby power shall be provided for auxiliary inflation systems in accordance with Section 3102.8.2. Emergency power shall be provided for exit signs in temporary tents and membrane structures in accordance with the International Fire Code. 2702.2.9 Hazardous materials. Emergency or standby power shall be provided in occupancies with hazardous materials in accordance with Section 414.5.4. 2702.2.10 Highly toxic and toxic materials. Emergency power shall be provided for occupancies with highly toxic to toxic materials in accordance with the International Fire Code. 2702.2.11 Organic peroxides. Standby power shall be provided for occupancies with organic peroxides in accordance with the International Fire Code. 2702.2.12 Pyrophoric materials. Emergency power shall be provided for occupancies with pyrophoric materials in accordance with the International Fire Code. 2702.2.13 Covered mall buildings. Covered mall buildings exceeding 50,000 square feet (4645 m2) shall be provided with standby power systems which are capable of operating the emergency voice/alarm communication. 2702.2.14 High rise buildings. Emergency and standby power shall be provided in high rise buildings in accordance with Chapter 27 and for the items listed below: 1. Fire command center. 2. Fire pumps. 3. Emergency voice/alarm communication systems. 4. Lighting for mechanical equipment rooms. 5. Elevators. 2702.2.15 Underground buildings. Emergency and standby power shall be provided in underground buildings in accordance with Sections 405.9 and 405.10. 2702.2.16 Group I-3 occupancies. Emergency power shall be provided for doors in Group I-3 occupancies in accordance with Section 408.4.2. 2702.2.17 Airport traffic control towers. Standby power shall be provided in airport traffic control towers in accordance with Section 412.1.5. 2702.2.18 Elevators. Standby power for elevators shall be provided as set forth in Section 3003.1. 2702.2.19 Smoke proof enclosures. Standby power shall be provided for smoke proof enclosures as required by Section 909.20. 2702.3 Maintenance. Emergency and standby power systems shall be maintained and tested in accordance with the International Fire Code.