CC MIN 1970 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

•o He concluded with the request that Council notify the County that it did not support the recommended use of nonmetallic sheath cable. He noted that the County had delayed the hearing to a date late in March, and felt this would provide Council additional time for studying the proposal. Council directed questions to Mr. Ceverha pertaining to comparative safety, and relative costs. It was determined also that the matter had not been discussed with the Fire Department by the Ordinance Review Committee, but that the Chief Building Official had attempted to obtain statistical evidence in terms of fire hazard. However, since the Romex has not been used in the County, no records are available, and in contacts with other Fire Departments in the area the responses were _ inconclusive. Wayne Thomas, 154 Buckthorn, Menlo Park, Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local #617, advised that the electrical workers support a strong code, since they are aware of the hazards; that much of the work done involves existing systems, so would not come under the code. He felt that in addition to a good safety code, good inspection is needed. He added the Brother- hood of Electrical Workers opposes use of Romex and consider metal raceways the safest, particularly in densely populated areas. Responding to a question regarding the origin of the name, it was explained that Romex evolved over a period of time to mean any non-metallic cable. Ernie Hills, 3378 Shasta Drive, San Mateo, a Construction Electrician, advised he had been City Electrician in Burlingame, Electrical Inspector at College of San Mateo, and was now teaching a part- time apprentice program. He felt that local conditions are unique, noting the Redwood Shores and Foster City areas, where underground installation of corrosion-resistent material is needed, and stating that steel conduit would not work in these areas. He felt methods and materials should be adapted to local environment; that Romex was unsuited to these conditions and _ use of metallic flexible conduit permits simpler replacement of corroded or otherwise damaged wiring easily and at minimal cost. With the use of Romex, it would be necessary to tear out walls to replace wiring. He concluded that flexible metallic conduit, in his opinion, was possible to install at lower cost and resulting in greater safety. A number of questions were directed to the Chief Building Official, and he indicated his recommendation was based upon minimum safety standards established at national level and recognized by the State; that personal preference would be rigid steel tubing, but that he can only respond as Building Official in terms of safety standards. The basis for his recommendation is that the materials have been successfully used in many communities in the United States. He added the amendments as proposed are more restrictive than if the recommendation was to accept the minimum requirements of the State Electrical Code. His recommendation to support the amendments was conditioned on the premise that all other public agencies in the County also support them. However, if the majority do not support the amendments, his concern was to maintain a uniform code. He noted that several other cities were also considering the matter currently. Mr. Gordan Blackley, Executive Vice President, Peninsula Building Industry Association, San Mateo, commented on the present difficulties in his field due to inflation, but that there were also other problems, one of which is the multiplicity of building codes, which he felt were inhibiting to the home buying public. His presentation