Electrical Commission

1 APPROVED 2 MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ELECTRICAL COMMISSION 3 VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK 4 COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS 5 October 24, 2013 6 7 Commissioners Present (4) 8 Richard A. Jamerson, Chairperson 9 Robert Boiko 10 Bernard Petchenik 11 Dennis Lauer 12 13 Ex Officio Commissioners Present (2) 14 Kevin Frangiamore, Director, Fire Prevention Bureau, Village of Northbrook 15 Tom Poupard, Director, Development and Planning Services, Village of Northbrook 16 17 Ex Officio Commissioners Absent (1) 18 Mark Nolan, Fire Chief, Village of Northbrook 19 20 Other Village Staff Present 21 Jamie Clar, Electrical Inspector 22 Corey Friedman, Electrical/Mechanical Inspector and Electrical Commission Staff Liaison 23 Gale Cerabona, Recorder 24 25 1. Call to Order 26 Chairperson Jamerson called the meeting to order, in the Development & Planning Services Conference 27 Room of Village Hall, 1225 Cedar Lane, at 5:29 p.m. A quorum was present. 28 29 2. Review of Minutes 30 Commissioner Boiko moved, seconded by Commissioner Lauer, to approve minutes of the April 4, 2013, 31 Electrical Commission meeting. Inspector Friedman amended the motion to include four revisions of the 32 minutes. Commissioners Boiko and Lauer accepted the amendment. On a voice vote, the motion 33 unanimously carried. 34 35 3. Work Performed by Soyfer Electric (agenda item from April 4, 2013, EC meeting) 36 Discussion took place about Soyfer Electric. Commissioner Lauer asked if the EC could prevent a 37 contractor from subcontracting his work. Chairperson Jamerson stated it would be very difficult. 38 Inspector Friedman advised a service inspection would have to take place and if said contractors were 39 repeat offenders, then the manpower burden would be prohibitive. It was stated this subject could be 40 further discussed. 41 42 Inspector Clar informed that some areas (Skokie, Wilmette, and DuPage County) require a photo to be 43 indicated on the license. This could deter others from obtaining business licenses. 44 45 Commissioner Petchenik arrived at 5:40 p.m. 46 47 48 4. Public Comments  Page 2 Minutes of the October 24, 2013 Electrical Commission Meeting 1 There were no comments from the public. 2 3 5. Interpretation of 2011 NEC 250.53 Grounding Electrode System Installation 4  The need for two (2) ground rods to supplement the water main ground 5 6 Inspector Friedman reported he and another inspector, from a different municipality, discussed that the 7 code may be interpreted incorrectly…….i.e. cold water needs to be supplemented. Comments were: 8  Fire Director Frangiamore 9 o If a ground rod is supplemented, another rod must be supplemented 10  Commissioner Boiko 11 o This is crucial to ground rod usage. Documents from “Streamline” were distributed. It 12 was reminded that we can no longer assume coated copper pipes are metallic. 13  Chairperson Jamerson 14 o In some cases, it’s PVC 15  Commissioner Boiko 16 o Identified studies where this was killing cows and animals where cement was wet 17  Commissioner Lauer 18 o The Village has a lot of PVC water pipes. Chairperson Jamerson responded that the 19 school is not in the Village. 20 21 Inspector Friedman thanked Commissioner Boiko for the helpful documentation. Commissioner Boiko 22 advised that the State is in discussions and is aware. Chairperson Jamerson noted that what’s indicated 23 in blue in Article 250, Grounding and Bonding, is not in the code i.e. “In other words, a single rod, pipe, 24 or plate electrode being used to supplement a metal underground water pipe type electrode is itself 25 required to be provided with a supplemental electrode unless the condition of 250.53(A)(2) Exception can 26 be met.” 27 28 Commissioner Lauer asked Inspector Friedman if the code was being challenged. Inspector Friedman 29 advised – no. Inspector Friedman stated GPS technology is now being used for pipes. Fire Director 30 Frangiamore reread the above (italicized) comment stated in blue in Article 250, Grounding and 31 Bonding. Inspector Friedman agreed, and stated he read the document countless times but hadn’t 32 noticed this statement. He is now aware and the issue is resolved. 33 34 6. Briefing on Miscellaneous Projects 35 Inspector Friedman shared recent jobs/inspections that were conducted (and related to the packet): 36  Meadow Ridge 37 o Missing neutrals at a private home 38  Home Addition 39 o Relocating temporary service; involved ComEd/OSHA 40  Private Home 41 o In soffit lighting, flimsy zip cord; codes were not followed 42 43 44 45 46 7. New Business  Page 3 Minutes of the October 24, 2013 Electrical Commission Meeting 1 1. Inspector Friedman asked for input regarding: 2  North Shore Sports Center, on Old Willow Road – AstroTurf is on the soccer field inside the 3 building. 480 feeders are slated then 12 inches of gravel. The electrician is inquiring as to if 4 there’s a problem with 480 feeders being under the AstroTurf. It may be a concern as 5 children will be present. 6 7 Commissioners responded: 8 o Chairperson Jamerson 9  Running a ground wire is suggested 10 o Fire Director Frangiamore 11  It’s a rubber field 12 o Commissioner Boiko 13  Asked if a trench could be made 14 15 Chairperson Jamerson concluded that with gravel being 12 inches down, there is no concern. He 16 also stated he has a hard time believing there won’t be a moisture barrier. Commissioner 17 Petchenik suggested PVC. Commissioner Boiko provided the NEC 2014 book. Chairperson 18 Jamerson read excerpts from same and concluded this would be considered a wet location. The 19 recommendation is to place the feeders at the subgrade or below (not in the gravel). 20 21 2. Commissioner Boiko stated that the Village provides a list of every registered contractor. It is 22 suggested to make the public aware of this list. Inspector Friedman shared that this list is on the 23 Village web site. Village Director Poupard advised the list is updated weekly. 24 25 3. Village Director Poupard stated there will be a new bathroom at Sportsmen’s Golf Course where 26 they will be running electric. Inspector Friedman advised PVC has been selected, and it would 27 cost $35,000 more if steel conduit is used. Chairperson Jamerson asked if HDPE is allowed by 28 code and if so, that or galvanized conduit is recommended. Inspector Friedman advised that it is 29 allowed. Chairperson Jamerson reminded that PVC is acceptable but may not be cheaper. 30 31 8. Old Business 32 There was no old business. 33 34 9. Adjournment 35 There being no further business, Commissioner Petchenik moved, seconded by Commissioner Lauer, to 36 adjourn the meeting. On a voice vote, the motion unanimously carried. Chairperson Jamerson 37 adjourned the meeting at 6:26 p.m. 38 39 Respectfully submitted, 40 41 42 Gale Cerabona 43 Recorder