Los Angeles County Municipal Code Art. 83 Requirements for Installation—methods and Materials

All electrical installation shall be in conformity with the provisions of this Code, and shall be in conformity with approved standards for safety to life and property. Where no specific type or class of material, or no specific standards are prescribed by this Code, or by the California Electrical Code, conformity with a standard designated by the Chief Electrical Inspector shall be prima facie evidence of conformity with an approved standard for safety to life and property.

(Ord. 99-0041 § 10, 1999.)

All electrical materials, devices, appliances and equipment shall be in conformity with the provision of this Code, shall comply with nationally recognized standards, and shall be certified by a recognized testing laboratory as acceptable to the Chief Electrical Inspector.

(Ord. 2002-0077 § 21, 2002; Ord. 99-0041 § 11, 1999; Ord. 95-0067 § 6, 1995; Ord. 92-0004 § 14, 1992; Ord. 82-0210 § 2, 1982.)

(a)

Alternate Materials and Methods of Construction. The provisions of this Code are not intended to prevent the use of any material, appliance, installation, device, arrangement method, design, or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this Code, provided any such alternate has been approved by the Chief Electrical Inspector.

The Chief Electrical Inspector shall have the authority to approve on a case-by-case basis any such alternate that is found to be satisfactory and does not lessen provisions for safety or health required by this Code.

Such approval shall be based upon submittal of substantiating data, including, but not limited to, performance characteristics, measurements, calculations, diagrams, equipment and construction factors, where applicable.

A written application for the use of an alternate material, design or method of construction shall be submitted by the owner or owner's agent together with the filing fee specified in Section 82-8(a), item 21.

(b)

Modifications. Whenever there are practical difficulties involved in carrying out the provisions of this Code, the Chief Electrical Inspector shall have the authority to grant minor modifications on a case-by-case basis, provided the Chief Electrical Inspector shall first find that a special individual reason makes the strict letter of this Code impractical and that the modification is in conformity with the spirit and purpose of this Code and that such modification does not lessen any health, fire-protection, or other life-safety related requirements. The details of any action granting modifications shall be recorded and entered in the files of the code enforcement agency.

A written application for a modification shall be submitted by the owner or owner's agent together with the filing fee specified in Section 82-8(a), item 21.

(Ord. 2016-0054 § 3, 2016; Ord. 2013-0049 § 5, 2013; Ord. 2010-0054 § 4, 2010.)

Previously used construction materials shall not be reused in any work without special permission.

Previously used industrial apparatus and processing equipment may be reinstalled provided it complies with all applicable provisions of this Code and with prior approval of the Chief Electrical Inspector.

(Ord. 99-0041 § 12, 1999.)

No provision of this Code shall be deemed to require a change in any portion of electrical systems or any other work regulated by this Code in or on an existing building or lot when such work was installed and is maintained in accordance with law in effect prior to the effective date of this Code, except when any such electrical systems or other work regulated by this Code is determined by the Chief Electrical Inspector to be in fact dangerous, unsafe, or a nuisance, and a menace to life, health or property.

Additions, alterations, renewals and repairs to existing installations shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this Code.

EXCEPTION: Minor additions, alterations, renewals and repairs to existing installations when approved by the Chief Electrical Inspector may be installed in accordance with the law in effect prior to the effective date of this Code.

Electrical testing certifications will be accepted as complying with the requirements of this Code only when such certifications are issued in accordance with this Code and nationally recognized standards by electrical testing laboratories which have been accredited by the Chief Electrical Inspector.

The Chief Electrical Inspector recognizes three types of electrical testing laboratories:

• Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories;

• Field Evaluation Organization Laboratories; and

• Calibration Laboratories.

(Ord. 2013-0049 § 6, 2013; Ord. 2005-0065 § 5, 2005; Ord. 92-0004 § 15 (part), 1992.)

(a)

Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories. A Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) accreditation issued by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is accepted by the Chief Electrical Inspector as meeting the accreditation requirements of this Code for listing and labeling testing laboratories.

(b)

Field Evaluation Organization Laboratories. Field Evaluation Organization laboratories shall be a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) which received its accreditation from the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration and must apply to and be approved by the Chief Electrical Inspector to perform field evaluation on required electrical equipment. These laboratories must have a professional electrical engineer registered in California pursuant to the Professional Engineer's Act (California Business and Professions Code section 6700, et seq.) on their permanent full-time staff. For each individual project, test reports shall be submitted for approval by the Chief Electrical Inspector and shall bear the professional electrical engineer's signature as required by the State of California Regulations.

(c)

Calibration Laboratories. Calibration laboratories must apply to and be approved by the Chief Electrical Inspector. These laboratories must have a professional electrical engineer registered in California pursuant to the Professional Engineer's Act (California Business and Professions Code section 6700, et seq.) on their permanent full-time staff.

(Ord. 2013-0049 § 7, 2013; Ord. 2005-0065 § 7, 2005; Ord. 99-0041 § 13, 1999; Ord. 95-0067 § 7, 1995; Ord. 92-0004 § 15 (part), 1992.)