New York City Considers Amendments to Electrical Code

The New York City Council Committee on Housing & Buildings held a public committee hearing on September 8, 2004 to hear public comment on Intro Bill 407, a proposed amendment to the 2002 NYC Electrical Code. This hearing is part of the legislative process where public testimony is heard and the committee debates proposed bills.

Intro Bill 407 was passed in committee and will be sent to the full Council for further debate and a final vote. If the bill is successful in the Council, it will be sent to the Mayor, who will also hold a public hearing before deciding to sign or veto the bill.

Intro Bill 407 will add two amendments that were inadvertently left out of the NYC Electrical Code when it was previously approved by the City Council. The amendments are long standing restrictions on the use of rigid nonmetallic conduit. Intro Bill 407 reads as follows:

 Int. No. 407

 By Council Members Provenzano, Comrie, Nelson, Reed, Seabrook, Stewart and Weprin (by request of the Mayor)

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the electrical code.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Section 27-3025 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding the following New York city amendments, 352.10(I) and 352.12(G), to the list of New York city amendments to the 2002 NEC to read as follows:

2002 NEC       New York City Amendment

352.10 (I)      Add a new subsection 352.10(I) to read as follows:

(I) In any residential building or dwelling unit not exceeding three floors above grade.

352.12 (G)       Add a new subsection 352.12(G) to read as follows:

(G) In any nonresidential building, rigid nonmetallic conduit shall be concealed within non-plenum walls, floors and ceilings where the walls, floors and ceilings provide a thermal barrier of material that has at least a one hour rated assembly as identified in listings of fire-rated assemblies.