Section 8-904 — ELECTRICAL

8-904.1 General. Electrical systems shall comply with the regular code unless otherwise permitted by this code, or approved by the authority having jurisdiction.

8-904.1.1 The provisions of the CHBC shall apply to the acceptance, location, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement or addition of any electrical system or portion thereof, the premise wiring, or equipment fixed in place as related to restoration within or attached to a qualified historical building or property.

8-904.1.2 Existing systems, wiring methods and electrical equipment which do not, in the opinion of the enforcing agency, constitute a safety hazard may remain in use.

8-904.1.3 The enforcing agency may approve any alternative to the CHBC which achieves equivalent safety.

8-904.1.4 Archaic methods that do not appear in present codes may remain and may be extended if, in the opinion of the enforcing agency, they constitute a safe installation.

8-904.2 Wiring methods.

8-904.2.1 Where existing branch circuits do not include an equipment grounding conductor and, in the opinion of the enforcing agency, it is impracticable to connect an equipment grounding conductor to the grounding electrode system, receptacle convenience outlets may remain the nongrounding type.

8-904.2.2 Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected receptacles shall be installed where replacements are made at receptacle outlets that are required to be so protected by the regular code in effect at the time of replacement. Metallic face plates shall either be grounded to the grounded metal outlet box or be grounded to the grounding-type device when used with devices supplied by branch circuits without equipment grounding conductors.

8-904.2.3 Grounding-type receptacles shall not be used without a grounding means in an existing receptacle outlet unless GFCI protected. Existing nongrounding receptacles shall be permitted to be replaced with nongrounding or grounding-type receptacles where supplied through a ground fault circuit interrupter.

8-904.2.4 Extensions of existing branch circuits without equipment-grounding conductors shall be permitted to supply grounding-type devices only when the equipment grounding conductor of the new extension is grounded to any accessible point on the grounding electrode system.

8-904.2.5 Receptacle outlet spacing and other related distance requirements shall be waived or modified if determined to be impracticable by the enforcing agency.

8-904.2.6 For the replacement of lighting fixtures on an existing nongrounding lighting outlet, or when extending an existing nongrounding lighting outlet, the following shall apply:

1. The exposed conductive parts of lighting fixtures shall be connected to any acceptable point on the grounding electrode system, or
2. The lighting fixtures shall be made of insulating material and shall have no exposed conductive parts. Exception: Lighting fixtures mounted on electrically nonconductive ceilings or walls where located not less than either 8 feet (2438 mm) vertically or 5 feet (1524 mm) horizontally from grounded surfaces.

ures shall be connected to any acceptable point on the grounding electrode system, or 2. The lighting fixtures shall be made of insulating material and shall have no exposed conductive parts. Exception: Lighting fixtures mounted on electrically nonconductive ceilings or walls where located not less than either 8 feet (2438 mm) vertically or 5 feet (1524 mm) horizontally from grounded surfaces.

8-904.2.7 Lighting load calculations for services and feeders may be based on actual loads as installed in lieu of the “watts per square foot” method.

8-904.2.8 Determination of existing loads may be based on maximum demand recordings in lieu of calculations, provided all of the following are met:

1. Recordings are provided by the serving agency.
2. The maximum demand data is available for a one-year period. Exception: If maximum demand data for a one-year period is not available, the maximum demand data shall be permitted to be based on the actual amperes continuously recorded over a minimum 30-day period by a recording ammeter connected to the highest loaded phase of the feeder or service. The recording should reflect the maximum demand when the building or space is occupied and include the measured or calculated load at the peak time of the year, including the larger of the heating or cooling equipment load.
3. There has been no change in occupancy or character of load during the previous 12 months.
4. The anticipated load will not change, or the existing demand load at 125 percent plus the new load does not exceed the ampacity of the feeder or rating of the service.

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

22 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.