Electrical Commission

APPROVED 1 MINUTES OF THE NORTHBROOK 2 ELECTRICAL COMMISSION MEETING 3 Terrace Room 4 October 29, 2015 5 6 Commissioners Present: 7 Rick Jamerson, Chairman 8 Robert Boiko, 9 Bernard Petchenik, 10 Chief Torres, NBK FD 11 Not Present: 12 Dennis Lauer 13 Staff Present: 14 Corey Friedman (NBK DPS Electrical Inspector), 15 Kevin Frangiamore (NBK Fire Dept. Fire Prevention) 16 Tom Poupard (NBK DPS Director) 17 Jamie Clar (NBK DPS temporary inspector) 18 Call to Order: 19 Chairman Jamerson called the meeting to order in the Terrace Room of Village Hall, 1225 20 Cedar Lane at 5:35 p.m. A quorum was present. 21 Review of Minutes: 22 Member Boiko identified a series of edits to the draft minutes of the April 16, 2015 meeting. 23 On a motion made by Bob Boiko and seconded by Chief Jose Torres, the minutes from the 24 April 16, 2015 meeting were approved as corrected. 25 Public Comment-Hear from the Audience-None 26 It was recommended to report back to the Village Trustees the following: 27 Possible Code Requirement - New Single Family Homes to Have Underground Electrical Service.  APPROVED 1 Director Poupard explained that the Board of Trustees is changing the code requirements for when 2 transmission lines need to be buried with new subdivisions. As part of that discussion, the Board asked 3 that staff study whether or not it should be a code requirement that all of the electrical service lines 4 feeding new homes be buried form the pole to the home. Director Poupard noted that it is a 5 requirement in Glenview. He displayed a series of aerial photographs taken in areas where there has 6 been a significant amount of teardown activity. In virtually all cases it appeared that the service lines 7 were buried, even if the transmission lines were still above ground on poles. Electrical inspector 8 Friedman and Fire Prevention Bureau Chief Frangiamore both noted that they very rarely see a service 9 line to the new home above ground. 10 The Commission discussed the difficulties that could be encountered if the pole is above ground, but 11 located in front of the home on the opposite side of the street. The Commission recommend that a local 12 amendment be drafted requiring underground electrical service for all new homes, with an exception 13 that can be granted by staff it would not be required if directional boring or similar was necessary to go 14 under a street. 15 Smoke alarm central system and other smoke alarm issues. 16 Electrical inspector Friedman briefed the Commission on the challenges confronted by staff when a final 17 inspection is performed and the only open item a missing smoke detector. Electrical commission 18 agreed that it would be reasonable and acceptable to receive notarized confirmation letters from 19 contractors/owners that slightly incomplete systems (i.e. missing a detector) will be completed within 20 30 days and no follow up inspections will be performed. Additionally, notarized letters could be 21 accepted by state licensed alarm contractors that central systems comply with all IRC and State of Illinois 22 codes (smoke and carbon monoxide acts) and the requirements of NFPA 72 and 720. 23 As part of smoke alarms it was discussed and agreed to change our code to no longer require smoke 24 alarms in furnace rooms for several reasons including not being required by codes or manufacturers, 25 causing confusion with contractors, problematic with combo alarms and recent calls to our FD with 26 sounding false alarms activated by detectors in furnace rooms. It was noted that this requirement had 27 been deleted from the amendments to International Residential Code, but a similar provision was still in 28 the Municipal Code in Chapter 12 Fire Prevention and Protection of the Municipal Code (Sec. 12-5). The 29 Commission suggested that this requirement be deleted.  APPROVED 1 Eliminating some of our PVC amendments restricting use. 2 Electrical inspector Friedman explained that the current provision in the local amendments to the 3 Section 352.10 of the National Electrical Code concerning Rigid Non-Metallic Conduit (RNC) have proven 4 problematic and waivers are often granted. The Electrical commission agreed that we should amend 5 our local amendments to Section 352.10 regarding the prohibited use of PVC conduits to allow more use 6 and applications. The language would be presented at a future meeting by electrical inspector. 7 Briefing on Northbrook Days & Recent Inspection Activity 8 Electrical inspector Friedman displayed a series of photographs depicting some of the issues that were 9 addressed during the 2015 Northbrook Days event. The members all agreed that significant progress 10 has been made in recent years, resulting in a much safer event. 11 Electrical inspector Friedman then briefed the commission on deficiencies, safety hazards and code 12 violations found on various construction sites in the past few months. 13 Old Business - none 14 No old business - None 15 Adjourn. 16 Member Torres moved, seconded by Member Boiko to adjourn. On voice vote the motion carried. 17 Meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m. 18 19 Thomas Poupard 20 Recording Secretary 21 22