Electrical Commission

APPROVED 1 Minutes of the Northbrook 2 Electrical Commission Meeting Minutes 3 Terrace Room, Village Hall 4 June 30, 2016 5 6 Commissioners Present: 7 Rick Jamerson, Chairman 8 Robert Boiko 9 Dennis Lauer 10 Bernie Petchenik 11 Chief Torres, NBK Fire Department 12 13 Staff Present: 14 Thomas Poupard, DPS Director 15 Corey Friedman, DPS Electrical Inspector 16 Jamie Clar, DPS temporary inspector 17 Jackie Clawson, DPS building official 18 Kendra Kim, Recorder 19 20 Call to Order 21 22 Chairman Jamerson called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. in the Terrace Room of Village Hall. A 23 quorum was present. 24 25 Review of minutes from October 29, 2015 26 27 Member Boiko moved to approve minutes as presented. Chief Torres seconded and on a voice vote the 28 motion carried. 29 30 Hear from Audience 31 None 32 33 The Following Proposed Code Amendments were reviewed by the commission: 34 35 A. Electrical Code - Burial of Service Lines for New Single Family Homes 36 37 Electical Inspector Friedman outlined the proposed code addition to include Sec. 230.11 requiring all 38 residential construction to have underground service conductors. Exceptions may be granted by The 39 Director of Development and Planning Services in the event this requirement necessitates burying a 40 service conductor beneath a public or private street. The code addition will be added to the end of the 41 current general section.  APPROVED 42 43 Member Boiko inquired about any unforeseen reasons why an alternate method may be preferred, such 44 as how vegetation may interfere over time. 45 46 Chairman Jamerson noted that the Electrical Commission has the ability to make a determination at a 47 later date based on future conditions. 48 49 DPS Director Poupard added that the exception gives DPS latitude in the Department’s determination. 50 51 B. Use of PVC Pipe Outdoors 52 53 Electrical Inspector Friedman outlined the proposed amended language to Sec. 352.10 regarding the use 54 of PVC. He explained that there are many instances for exceptions to PVC, but that the language 55 presented addresses those limitations. He expressed reluctance in condoning the use of PVC as the 56 primary conduit for many indoor applications, but for underground use it is a good solution. Benefits 57 include eliminating bonding issues, limiting confusion surrounding grounding , and ease of use under 58 slab and for temporary electrical services. He explained that the department has already relaxed the 59 current requirements as the code currently requires a less effective, and more costly method. 60 61 Chairman Jamerson inquired about aluminum coming up through concrete and the problems that may 62 cause. Inspector Friedman agreed the language for the updated code should correct that error. 63 Chairman Jamerson relayed a recent project in which PVC-coated steel was utilized due to concerns 64 regarding condensation rusting it out at the floor level. 65 66 Member Boiko pointed out that the requirements for burying depth and may be deeper due to use of 67 PVC under certain surfaces, but that is a trade-off that must be determined by contractors. 68 69 Member Boiko distributed Federal Register/ Vol 81, No. 119/ Tuesday, June 21, 2016/Notice for the 70 commission’s review. The notice described an oil spill which was the result of a failure in a pro-PVC 71 metallic line. Member Boiko raised concerns regarding PVC exposure to organic solvents and other 72 corrosive materials, which PVC may come into contact with in above-ground applications. Chairman 73 Jamerson noted that PVC use is prohibited by code when in corrosive environments. 74 75 DPS Director Poupard pointed out that there is a section of code specifically regarding gas station 76 protocols. He added that the code amendment does not undo any previous code. 77 78 After further discussion, the Commission recommended the following edit to 352.10 (A)3: “For nominal 79 voltage systems of less than 600 volts, PVC shall not be permitted above grade except for stub ups, 12” 80 maximum, at which point it shall transition.” 81 82 Delete Requirement - Smoke Detector in Furnace Rooms  APPROVED 83 84 Inspector Friedman explained the proposed municipal amendment would clean up code which currently 85 contradicts manufacturer’s instructions. Instructions range from avoiding smoke detectors in furnace 86 rooms outright to a 10 foot distance from fuel burning due to the increased risk of false alarms. Several 87 instances of false alarms have come up in the Village due to poor smoke detector placement. 88 89 Chief Torres added that placing smoke detectors in an alternate room of the basement is an adequate 90 alternative to ensure safety measures. 91 92 Electrical Code - Add Requirement for pool lights to be low voltage 93 94 Inspector Friedman presented on the updated International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, which now 95 specifies low voltage and therefore makes the Village code redundant. The proposed changes would 96 eliminate the language requiring a limit on circuits over 150 volts between conductors. 97 98 Member Petchenik moved to approve all amendments, with the edits of Sec. 352.10, Member Lauer 99 seconded, on a voice vote the motions passed unanimously. 100 101 Update on Electrical Inspections 102 103 DPS Director Poupard and Inspector Friedman shared about the volume of work currently sustained in 104 the department. The department is very busy and encounters consistent errors with submissions from 105 engineers and planners, which results in re-submissions and wasted time. 106 107 Member Petchenik inquired as to whether we review the architect or engineer seal and whether time is 108 spent on site prior to submissions. DPS Official Clawson stated that the department reviews both and 109 on-site visits are typically made for larger jobs. Chief Torres noted that there is a fee for such visits, but 110 that it is relatively minimal. DPS Director Poupard noted that any such fees are often regarded as 111 punitive. 112 113 Official Clawson stated DPS would prefer a limit of two reviews, and that after three a fee is incurred. 114 DPS Director Poupard noted that a variety of problems prevent approval but that drawings must 115 represent due diligence, and while the department is often portrayed negatively, the reality is that they 116 are trying to ensure safety and compliance while working with contractors and builders as efficiently as 117 possible. 118 119 An example of a local car wash was cited as an ongoing offender, having butchered control boxes and 120 been asked to fix existing problems no less than four times. In this instance, the car wash is operable but 121 it is dangerous, and while Inspector Friedman wants to be useful, it is not appropriate for him to be 122 relied on as the engineer. That is not the job of the Village. Friedman emphasized the necessity that they 123 comply if they want to remain operational.  APPROVED 124 125 Member Boiko raised the concern regarding liability in the event of someone being electrocuted. DPS 126 Director Poupard stated that he will investigate legal responsibility for the Village and the inspector in 127 this instance. 128 129 The timeline for notice was discussed and Chief Torres commented that the problems will likely be fixed 130 upon receipt of notice. 131 132 Electircal Inspector Friedman then distributed a photo packet on electrical and other code violations 133 observed in the field. Violations included: defects and hazards, hacking up extension cords for garbage 134 disposal, LEDs under cabinets, lack of appropriate hospital grade receptacles, installation of A/C unit 135 directly next to gas meter, incorrect installation of hot water heater, the exhaust for a furnace routed 136 through an old chimney, and poor or non-existence of appropriate labeling for elbows on dryer vents. 137 138 Old Business 139 140 None 141 142 New Business 143 144 Member Boiko shared information regarding the Supreme Court Decision Fattah v. Bim, 2016 IL 119365 145 in which the builder was ultimately held responsible for property failings. 146 147 Member Lauer stated he’s been a resident for long long time and very proud with the level of 148 professionalism demanded by the DPS Department of Northbrook. He noted that the Village has not 149 sub-contracted out inspectors, as he has seen in neighboring communities. 150 151 Member Petchenik moved to adjourn the meeting, Member Boiko seconded, and the meeting was 152 adjourned at 6:50 p.m. 153