Issue No. 1

Current News -- Fall 2008

Code Alert:  Georgia, 30 July 2008

The following information was just released by NEMA

http://www.nema.org/stds/fieldreps/codealerts/20080730ga.cfm

On July 24, 2008, the Georgia State Codes Advisory Committee voted unanimously to recommend adoption of the 2008 edition of the National Electrical Code^® with the following amendments: 

1)      Delete Section 406.11, ‘Tamper-Resistant Receptacles in Dwelling Units’ without substitution.

406.11 Tamper-Resistant Receptacles in Dwelling Units.

This section of the 2008 NEC currently reads, “In all areas specified in 210.52, all 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles shall be listed tamper-resistant receptacles.” 

2)      Revise Item (2) of Subsection (A) ‘Dwelling Units’ of Section 210.8, ‘Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection for Personnel’ to add exception as follows:

Exception No. 1 to (2): Receptacles supplying an overhead garage door operator shall not be required to have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection.

Exception No. 2 to (2): A single receptacle or a duplex receptacle for two appliances located within dedicated space for each appliance that, in normal use, is not easily moved from one place to another and that is cord-and-plug connected in accordance with 400.7(A)(6), (A)(7), or (A)(8).  Receptacles installed under the exceptions to 210.8(A)(5) shall not be considered as meeting the requirements of 210.52(G). All non-GFCI protected receptacles shall be clearly marked.

3)      Revise Item (5)(a) of Subsection (B) ‘Not Covered’ of Section 90.2 ‘Scope’ as follows:

b. Are located in legally established easements, or rights-of-way, or by other agreements either designated by or recognized by public service commissions, utility commissions, or other regulatory agencies having jurisdiction for such installations, or

4)      Revise 210.12(B) ‘Dwelling Units’ of 210.12  on a time dated amendment as follows: 

Delete 2008 NEC, Section 210.8(B)

All 120-volt, single phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets installed in dwelling unit family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, or similar rooms or areas shall be protected by a listed arc-fault circuit interrupter, combination-type, installed to provide protection of the branch circuit.

Add 2005 NEC language from Section 210.8(B)

All 120-volt, single phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets installed in dwelling unit bedrooms shall be protected by a listed arc-fault circuit interrupter, combination type installed to provide protection of the branch circuit.

The provisions of 210.12(B) of the 2005 edition of the National Electrical Code^® shall be permitted to be used to meet the requirements of 210.12(B) of the 2008 edition of the National Electrical Code^® until January 1, 2010.

The first three recommended amendments 1) ‘Tamper Resistant Receptacles in Dwelling Units’, 2) ‘Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection for Personnel’, and 3) ‘Not Covered’ of Section 90.2 ‘Scope’ were suggested by a Task Force appointed by the Chairman of the State Codes Advisory Committee (SCAC), William Duck, Building Official from the City of Columbus, GA.  Members of the Task Force included:

• William Duck, Jr., Chairman - Building Official for Columbus, GA – Code Enforcement Officials

• Morgan Wheeler, Vice Chairman – Building Official for Walton County – Code Enforcement Officials

• Thomas J. Carty, Secretary – Building official for Peachtree City – Code Enforcement Officials

• Gregory Anderson – Building Official for Chatham County – Code Enforcement Officials

• Dwayne Garriss – State Fire Marshal’s Office – Georgia Fire Safety Commissioner

• Mr. Iby George – Local Fire Officials

• David Adams – Local Fire Officials

• Windell Peters – AGL Resources - Commissioner of Community Affairs

• Tom Collins - Industrialized Building Industry

• William Lusk – General Contracting Industry

• Rex Pless – Structural Engineering Profession

• Gregg Johnson – Mechanical Engineering Profession

• James Vaseff – Architectural Engineering Professional

• Danny Lundstrom – Electrical Engineering Profession

• Roy Dailey – Manufactured Homes Industry

• Mike Bean – Electrical Contracting Industry

• Robert Magbee – Building Material Industry

• William Guinade – Plumbing Contracting Industry

• Barry Abernathy – Conditioned Air Contractors Industry

• Tim Williams – Home Building Contractors Industry

• Paul Tuggle – Human Resources Commissioner

The reasons given by SCAC in supporting the recommended amendment deleting ‘Tamper Resistant Receptacles in Dwelling Units’  were cost, availability of product, the uncertainty of where the receptacles would be required, requirements for receptacles in areas not easily reached by children, and the question of usability by older people. One SCAC building official member stated he had been quoted a price of over $5 for a tamper resistant receptacle at a home improvements store even though he is one of the most electrically knowledgeable members of the SCAC and had to have known he was pricing a hospital grade tamper resistant receptacle and not a residential grad receptacle. Even though each of these issues was thoroughly answered by electrical industry representatives in attendance at the meeting, SCAC officials approved the amendment on a raised hand vote of 11-6.

There was no discussion of the second recommended amendment, Section 210.8, ‘Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection for Personnel’, to add exceptions that would prohibit enforcement of GFCI protection.  The vote to support this amendment was a voice vote of 16-1.

There was no discussion of the third recommended amendment, item (5)(a) of Subsection (B) ‘Not Covered’ of Section 90.2 ‘Scope’, and only one clarifying statement being offered by an audience member as to the reason for the revision to the 2008 NEC that is amended by this amendment.

The fourth amendment came from a motion on SCAC member Thomas Carty, Building Official for Peachtree City, GA and current President of the Georgia Building officials Association.  It should be noted that Mr. Carty is one of the more electrically knowledgeable people on SCAC.  It appeared the main issues concerned the inability of Georgia electrical contractors and their people to perform troubleshooting procedures where AFCI protected devices trip for apparently unknown and unfound reasons, and the cost of the devices which was as always greatly inflated on estimates given by a home builder association’s representative.  The vote on this amendment was 12-5 in favor.

In all very little testimony came from the majority of the SCAC members with most comments supporting the deletion of 406.11, the revisions to 210.8(A) Exceptions, and the hold placed on implementation of the expansion of AFCI in dwelling units being lead by the SCAC Code Enforcement Officials members, plus the DCA Commissioner’s representative and the home builder’s representative.  For the most part except for one self-identified electrical contractor and a representative of the Greater Atlanta’s Homebuilders Association, the comments from the audience were in opposition to the amendments with one Georgia building official speaking in opposition to the amendments restricting AFCI and tamper resistant receptacles.   It was also interesting to note that the State Fire Marshal’s office that has a member, Dwayne Garriss, on this important committee, was not represented at this SCAC meeting thus the State Fire Marshal’s Office seemed to choose not to go on record concerning these important issues.

This issue next goes to a review hearing that is tentatively scheduled for September 24, 2008 and then to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Board meeting scheduled for November 5, 2008 in Atlanta.

Contact:  John Minick:  john.minick@nema.org

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