EID Information Bulletin

Electrical Inspection Division
Informational Bulletin #2007-1 (Effective 1/01/08)

The 2007 Edition of the California Electrical Code (2005 NEC) with San Francisco Amendments will become effective on January 1, 2008.   The new 2007 San Francisco Electrical Code (SFEC) will supercede the 2004 California Electrical Code and its amendments.  Electrical work performed under permits obtained after December 31, 2007 will be subject to the requirements of the new Code, unless alternative provisions are made in advance.  The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection recommends that contractors and installers obtain a copy of the new SFEC and become familiar with the changes that are likely to affect their projects.

The following is a partial list of Code Section changes and is provided as general information only. Do not rely on this bulletin for your installation practices.  Refer to the relevant Code sections for the specific requirements.

210.8(A)(7) In dwelling units, receptacles installed within 6 ft of laundry, utility, and wet bar sinks shall be GFCI protected.

Section 210.8(B). GFCI Protection in Other than Dwelling Units

The requirement for GFCI protection for 125 volt single-phase 15 and 20 ampere receptacles has been extended to outdoor spaces accessible to the public.

210.52(C)(1) Exception.  The rules for kitchen countertop receptacles have been revised.  If the space behind kitchen sinks is greater than 12” deep, that space shall be considered counter top space for the application of the receptacle placement rule.  If the sink is installed at an inside corner, and the space between the back of the sink and the inside corner is greater than 18”, the receptacle placement rule also applies. See figure 210.52.

240.21(B) A new sentence clarifies that tap conductor ampacity shall be equal to or greater than the rating of the device(s) they supply.

240.86 In existing installations, series-rated combination devices may be selected by a licensed professional engineer who is engaged primarily in the design of electrical installations.  Stamped documentation shall be available to the inspector.

250.68(A) Exception, No. 2.  An exothermic or irreversible compression connection to fire-proofed structural metal shall not be required to be accessible after inspection.

250.122(G) The equipment grounding conductors for feeder taps shall not be smaller than required by 250.122, but shall not be required to be larger than the tap conductors.

250.142(B) Exception 2. It shall be permissible to ground meter enclosures by connection to the grounded circuit conductor on the load side of the service disconnect if “immediately adjacent” to the service disconnect.  See the applicable conditions.

250.146(A&B), Direct metal to metal contact between receptacle yoke and box shall be permitted for surface-mounted boxes provided at least one non-conductive washer is removed. This method is not permitted for flush boxes. Receptacles listed for self-grounding may be used in surface or flush-mounted boxes. Raised covers require other grounding methods.

300.6(C)(1) Nonmetallic raceways, cable trays, cablebus, auxiliary gutters, boxes, cables with a nonmetallic outer jacket, cable sheathing, cabinets, elbows, couplings, nipples fittings, supports, and support hardware exposed to sunlight shall be listed or identified as sunlight resistant.

310.8(D) Cables and conductors exposed to sunlight shall be listed, listed and marked, or covered with a listed insulating material.

310.10 FPN No. 2. Conductors installed in conduit exposed to direct sunlight in close proximity to rooftops have been shown to experience a significant temperature rise above ambient temperature.

Existing unchanged 310.15(B) requires ambient temperature to be considered when calculating ampacity, and where necessary conductors de-rated using the Table 310.16 Correction Factors.

314.6(B)(1) For box fill calculations, continuous looped conductors in boxes shall be counted twice if the loop is more than twice the minimum length required for free conductors.

314.23(B)(1) Screws shall not pass through boxes unless the threads are covered by approved means to avoid abrasion of conductor insulation.

314.30 Handhole enclosure covers shall have an identifying mark such as “electric”, and shall require the use of tools to open or weigh more than 100 pounds. Metal covers shall be bonded.

348.30(A) Exception, No. 2. At terminals where flexibility is required, 1.5” and 2.0” flexible metallic conduit shall be secured at internals not to exceed 4 feet.  2.5” or larger flex shall be secured at not to exceed 5 feet.

404.9(B) Exception.  Metal faceplates may be used with snap switches on circuits without grounding means if GFCI protected.

408.4 Panelboard circuit identification shall be clear, evident, and specific. The purpose of each circuit shall be distinguished from all others.

410.73(G) In indoor locations other than dwellings, luminaries that contain double ended lamps and ballasts that can be serviced in place, or ballasted luminaries that are supplied from multi-wire branch circuits and contain ballasts that can be serviced in place, shall have a disconnecting means that disconnects all supply conductors to the ballast. There are five exceptions.

422.16(GB)(4) Range hoods have been added to the list of appliances that shall be permitted to be cord-and-plug connected.

422.31(B) When the branch circuit breaker is used as a required appliance disconnect, and is not within sight of the appliance, the circuit breaker locking means shall be installed on the circuit breaker and shall remain in place with or without the lock installed.

422.51 Cord and plug connected vending machines shall have integral GFCI protection or be supplied from a receptacle that is GFCI protected.

525.11 Carnivals, Fairs, and Similar Events: Where multiple sources of power supply equipment separated by less than 12.0 feet, those power sources shall be bonded to the same grounding electrode system.

525.23 (Carnivals, Fairs, and Similar Events) GFCI protection is required for all non-locking type 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20 ampere receptacles, and for locking-type 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20 ampere receptacles accessible to the public.

605.6&7 Multi-wire branch circuits supplying power to wired partitions shall have identified handle-ties.

620.22(A) Elevator car lights shall not be connected to the load side of a GFCI.

680.26 Where the reinforcing steel for pool shells or coping stones and deck are encapsulated with nonconductive materials, alternative means shall be used to create the required equipotential bonding grid.

680.74 Hydromassage bathtub bonding requirements revised to “All metal piping systems and all grounded metal parts in contact with the circulating water shall be bonded together….”

700.27 & 701.18 Emergency and Legally Required Stand-by system over current devices shall be selectively coordinated with all supply side over current devices.