16.20.150 - Amendments to the National Electrical Code.
A. Article 100 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by deleting the definition of Authority Having Jurisdiction and substituting the following:
Authority Having Jurisdiction - The Director of the Metropolitan Department of Codes Administration or his designee.
B. Article 110.12 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by adding the following:
For residential and commercial buildings, electrical power shall be supplied to the building in order for inspector to perform final inspection.
C. Article 110.14(D) of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by deleting Article 110.14(D) and substituting with the following:
Terminal Torque Confirmation
Where tightening torque is indicated as a numeric value on equipment or in installation instructions provided by the manufacture, a calibrated torque tool shall be used to achieve the indicated torque value, unless the equipment manufacture has provided installation instructions for an alternative method of achieving the required torque. It shall be the responsibility of the installer to ensure all terminations have been properly torqued. For service conductor and feeder terminations, upon torque confirmation and prior to inspection, the installer shall mark across the terminal, lug or screw with a permeant mark to verify proper torque has been applied.
D. Article 210 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by adding the following:
Wiring in Barns, Outbuilding & Haymows
All lighting fixtures in barns and other outbuildings shall be of the non-conductor type directly fastened to the outlet box.
Drop lights shall not be installed in barns or other buildings, unless specifically approved for the purpose used.
All convenience receptacles in outbuildings shall be at least three (3) feet above floor level. Wiring in hay mows shall be installed in conduit or otherwise protected against mechanical injury.
E. Article 210.12(A), 210.12(B), 210.12(C), 210.12(D), and 210.12(E) of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by adding the following exceptions:
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters - Where Optional
Exception 1: Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) shall be optional for laundry areas and unfinished basements, which are portions or areas of the basement not intended as habitable rooms and limited to storage, work or similar area, and for branch circuits dedicated to supplying refrigeration equipment. [st]
Exception 2: Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) breakers shall be optional where existing service equipment or load centers are directly replaced.
Exception 3: Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) breakers shall be optional where existing service equipment or load centers are relocated, provided the extension of existing conductors is not more than 6 feet and does not include any additional outlets or devices.
F. Article 210.52(A)(2) of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by adding the following exception:
Wall Space
Any wall space that is 2 feet (610 mm) or more in width, (including space measured around corners), and that is unbroken at the floor line by doorways, fireplaces, and similar openings.
Exception: Receptacles shall not be required in the wall space behind doors which may be opened fully against a wall surface. Wall measurement shall begin at the edge of the door when fully opened.
G. Article 210.52(C)(2)(3) of the 2023 National Electrical Code is hereby amended by deleting Section Article 210.52(C)(2)(3) and substituting the following:
Countertop and Peninsular Receptacles. The installation of receptacles for island counter spaces and peninsular counter spaces below the countertop shall be optional.
H. Article 210.52 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by adding the following new Article 210.52(J):
210.52 Smoke Detectors
New construction
Dwelling Units and Sleeping Rooms: Approved single-station or multiple-station smoke detectors shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 72, Chapter 2, within every dwelling and every dwelling unit within an apartment house, condominium or townhouse, and every guest or sleeping room in a motel, hotel, dormitory, and sleeping rooms in residential care/assisted living occupancies. Where more than one detector is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit, the detectors shall be interconnected, either by hardwire or listed wireless detectors, in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will actuate all the alarms in the individual unit.
Locations Within Structures: In dwelling, dwelling units, dormitories, and sleeping rooms in residential care/assisted living occupancies smoke detectors shall be installed in each sleeping room, outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, on each additional story of the dwelling, in basements, cellars and attached garages but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. Smoke alarms shall be installed not less than 3 feet horizontally from the door or opening of a bathroom that contains a bathtub or shower unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm required by this section.
Additional Split-Level Requirements: Within every dwelling and every dwelling unit within an apartment house, condominium or townhouse, and every guest or sleeping room in a motel, hotel, dormitory, and sleeping rooms in residential care/assisted living occupancies, with split levels, a smoke detector needs to be installed only on the upper level, provided the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level, except that if there is a door between levels, then a detector is required on each level. All detectors shall be interconnected such that actuation of one alarm will actuate all the alarms in the individual unit and shall provide an alarm, which will be audible in all sleeping areas.
Installation Near Cooking Appliances: Smoke alarms shall not be installed in the following locations unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm in a location required by Section 314.3.
(1) Ionization smoke alarms shall not be installed less than 20 feet horizontally from a permanently installed cooking appliance.
(2) Ionization smoke alarms with an alarm-silencing switch shall not be installed less than 10 feet horizontally from a permanently installed cooking appliance.
(3) Photoelectric smoke alarms shall not be installed less than 6 feet horizontally from a permanently installed cooking equipment.
Power source: Each smoke alarm shall receive their primary power from the building wiring when such wiring is served from a commercial source, and when primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent protection.
Exception 1: Smoke alarms shall be permitted to be battery operated when installed in buildings without commercial power.
Exception 2: Smoke alarms installed during alterations, repairs and additions shall be permitted to be battery powered.
Alterations, Repairs, Additions and Reconnections to Existing Electrical Services
Alterations, Repairs, Additions and Reconnections to Existing Electrical Services: When interior alterations, repairs, additions requiring a permit occur, or when electrical reconnections to an existing service requiring a permit occur, or when one or more sleeping rooms are added or created, or where interior service equipment is replaced or upgraded under non-emergency conditions in existing dwellings, the individual dwelling unit shall be equipped with interconnected smoke alarms located as required for new dwellings. For the purpose of this section, the smoke alarms shall be permitted to be wirelessly interconnected and shall be permitted to be battery powered.
Exception 1: Work involving the exterior surfaces of dwellings, such as the replacement of roofing or siding, or the addition or replacement of windows or doors, or the addition of a porch or deck, are exempt from the requirements of this section.
Exception 2: Installation, alteration or repairs of plumbing or mechanical systems are exempt from the requirements of this section.
Exception 3: Work involving service entrance repairs made under emergency conditions are exempt from the requirements of this section.
Alterations, repairs and additions shall be defined as the following:
Alteration — Any construction, retrofit or renovation to an existing structure other than repair or addition that requires a permit. Also, a change in the building, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system that involves an extension, addition or change to the arraignment, type or purpose of the original installation that requires a permit.
Repair — The reconstruction, replacement or renewal of any part of an existing building for the purpose of its maintenance or to correct damage.
Addition — An extension or increase in floor area, number of stories or height of a building or structure.
I. Article 210.70(C) of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is hereby amended by adding the following:
Light fixtures in crawl spaces shall have guarded covers.
J. Article 220.55 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is hereby amended by deleting Article 220.55 and substituting the following:
220.55 Branch Circuit Load for Ranges and Cooking Appliances. Where installed as separate units, ovens and cooktop units shall be served by individual circuits
K. Article 230.1 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by adding the following:
Meter Location.
The power supplier will determine the physical location of the meter base. For multi-occupancy structures, metering equipment shall be identified to indicate the occupancy serviced.
L. Article 230.43 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by adding the following:
Service entrance conductors shall be installed in conduit where such conductors serve a structure with exterior walls of brick, stone, masonry, metal or metal-clad.
M. Article 230.70(A)(1) of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by deleting 230.70(A)(1) and inserting the following:
(1) Readily Accessible Location. The main service disconnecting means shall not be located more than five (5) feet from the point where the service conductors leave the load side of a meter base and enter a building or other structure.
N. Article 240.8 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by adding the following:
Overcurrent Protection Handle Ties. Circuit breakers used as overcurrent protection for circuits serving devices not requiring a grounded (neutral) conductor, such as a 240V water heater, shall be multipole breakers. Single pole breakers with tie handles shall not be approved for this purpose.
O. Article 250.50 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by deleting Article 250.50 and substituting the following:
Grounding Electrode System
All grounding electrodes as described in 250.52(A)(1) through (A)(6) that are present at each building or structure served shall be bonded together to form the grounding electrode system. Where none of these grounding electrodes exist, one or more of the grounding electrodes specified in 250.52(A)(4) through (A)(8) shall be installed and used. A minimum of one concrete encased electrode shall be in place and visible upon a service entrance inspection. The grounding electrode conductor or bonding jumper point of connection to the rebar shall be installed in an accessible interior location that is not subject to corrosion of the rebar.
Exception: Concrete-encased electrodes of existing buildings or structures shall not be required to be part of the grounding electrode system where the steel reinforcing bars or rods are not accessible for use without disturbing the concrete.
P. Article 300.21 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by deleting Article 300.21 and substituting the following:
300.21 Penetrations of Fire Rated Assemblies
Through Voids. Electrical installation in hollow spaces, vertical shafts, and ventilation or air-handling ducts shall be made so that the possible spread of fire or products of combustion will not be substantially increased.
Through Materials. Electrical penetration through fire-resistance-rated walls, partitions, floors or ceiling shall be protected by approved methods to maintain the fire-resistance rating of the element penetrated.
Openings for Outlet Boxes. Openings in fire-resistance-rated walls or floor/ceiling assemblies for metallic electrical outlet boxes not exceeding 16 square inches are permitted provided the area of such openings does not aggregate more than 100 square inches for any 100 square feet of fire resistant wall area or floor/ceiling area or shaft enclosure wall area. Outlet boxes on opposite sides of a fire resistance-rated wall or shaft enclosure shall be separated by a horizontal distance of not less than 24 inches (610 mm).
Exception: Openings for electrical outlet boxes of any material are permitted provided such boxes are listed for use in fire resistant assemblies and are installed in accordance with their listing.
Apparatus Exceeding 16 Square Inches. When walls, floors, ceilings and partitions are required to have a minimum 1-hour or greater fire resistance rating, service equipment, panels, panel boards, cabinets, switchboards and lighting fixtures that exceeds 16 square inches shall be so installed such that the required fire resistance will not be reduced.
Exception: Fixtures, which are listed for such installation, are permitted.
Q. Article 334.15(C) of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by adding the following exception:
NM Cable Thru Bored Holes. Exception: Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable shall not be required to be run through bored holes in unfinished basements and crawl spaces with less than four feet (4') and six inches (6") of clearance.
R. Article 625.43 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by deleting Article 625.43 as written and substituting the following:
625.43 Disconnecting Means. EVSE and WPTE shall be provided with one or more disconnecting means in accordance with 625.43(A) and 625.43(8).
625.43(A) Equipment Disconnects. For fixed-in-place EVSE and WPTE rated more than 60 amperes or more than 150 volts to ground, the disconnecting means shall be provided and installed in a readily accessible location. If the disconnecting means is installed remote from the equipment, a plaque shall be installed on the equipment denoting the location of the disconnecting means. The disconnecting means shall be lockable open in accordance with 110.25. For portable and fastened-in-place equipment, the cord-and-plug-connection shall be permitted to serve as the disconnecting means.
625.43(8) Emergency Shutoff. For fixed-in-place eguipment supplying de power to the vehicle. one or more clearly identified emergency shutoff devices or electrical disconnects shall be provided and shall meet all of the following:
(1) Be installed in a readily accessible location in sight from the equipment
(2) Disconnect power to all electric vehicle power transfer system equipment on the premises
(3) Be marked "ELECTRIC VEHICLE EMERGENCY DISCONNECT"
(4) Require manual intervention in order to reset from an emergency shutoff condition
(5) Disconnect all ungrounded conductors of the circuits simultaneously from the source of supply
The disconnecting: means required in accordance with 625.43(A) shall be permitted to serve as the emergency disconnect if it complies with all the requirements of 625.43(B)
Exception: Emergency disconnects. other than that required in accordance with 230.85. shall not be required for EVSE and WPTE installed at one- and two-family dwelling units.
S. Article 680.14 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by adding the following exception:
Swimming Pools. Exception: Conductors serving swimming pools which originate at a dwelling unit service equipment or sub-panel located on the interior of the dwelling unit may be installed utilizing the appropriate wiring methods contained in Chapter 3 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code. The wiring method shall comply with Article 680, 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code regarding that portion of the installation on the exterior of the dwelling unit.
T. Article 700.5(A) of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by adding the following:
Installations Served by Multiple Sources. Transfer equipment associated with installations served by alternate sources of supply shall be equipped with the necessary equipment to prevent backfeed of power onto the power supplier's system when the power supplier's local system is not energized by its own source of power. Protective equipment and installation of equipment to prevent backfeed shall be approved by the power supplier.
U. Article 410.10 of the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code is amended by adding the following Section G:
Parking Lots - Open parking lots shall use luminaires with a "U" BUG rating (Backlight Uplighting Glare) of 0 without external shields. Luminaires shall have a Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) of 3000 Kelvin or below. Principal walkways and parking shall have a maintained minimum illuminance of 0.2 foot-candles at grade. The average light level is not to exceed the average lighting levels set forth in the table below, as related to the Transect Category for the site as designated in the Community Plans of NashvilleNext. Spill light at the property line shall not exceed 0.5 foot-candles measured at 3' above grade. Exception may be given for calculation points on the drive between the parking lot and roadway only. Luminaires shall be controlled by occupancy sensor or timers after business hours or between the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., at a minimum. Occupancy sensors or timers may turn lights off or dim by at least 30% during periods of no occupancy. Prior to installation, a photometric plan shall be reviewed by a certifying engineer with calculation points on a 10' × 10' grid.
Transect Category | Average Lighting Level
T1 Natural, T2 Rural | 0.8 foot-candles at grade
T-3 Suburban | 1.25 foot-candles at grade
T4 Urban, T-5 Center, T-6 Downtown | 1.5 foot-candles at grade
V. Exterior lighting design for buildings shall be consistent with the requirements of Section 17.28.100.
(Ord. BL2025-898 § 4, 2025; Amdts. 1, 2 to Ord. BL2020-535 § 1, 2021; Ord. BL2020-535 § 1, 2021; Ord. BL2020-458 § 4, 2020; Ord. BL2011-953 § 2, 2011; Ord. BL2009-435 § 2, 2009; Ord. BL2007-1373 § 9, 2007; Amdt. 1 to Ord. BL2005-796, 2005; Ord. BL2005-796 § 2, 2005; Ord. BL2002-1142 § 22, 2002; Ord. BL2001-703 § 11, 2001; Ord. BL2000-343 § 2, 2000; Ord. 98-1445 § 74, 1998; Ord. 96-321 §§ 8—13, 1996; Ord. 93-570 §§ 2—7, 1993; Ord. 92-118 § 13 (part), 1992; Ord. 90-1253 § 1 (part), 1990; Ord. 89-1002 § 2, 1989; prior code §§ 14-1-29.2, 19-1-41.1.2 (part))
