CHAPTER 7. ELECTRICITY AND LIGHTING

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

7-1. GENERAL. Project sites and buildings shall be consistent

with the MPS and have safe and efficient electrical systems

that provide the following:

a\. Safe distribution systems, equipment and related devices

that are not a potential source of electrical or material

combustion hazards;

b\. Capacities and wiring for the safe use of public and

domestic appliances as determined by current or proposed

project demands;

c\. Capacities of wiring for safe and efficient operation of

building systems, such as mechanical system controls,

ventilation fans, water pumps, and other needed

equipment;

d\. Illumination of sites and interior spaces for safe and

secure use;

e\. Continuous functioning of lighting systems;

f\. Equipment that is durable, dependable and maintainable

and does not create conditions hazardous to life or

property; and

g\. Operation with energy efficiency.

7-1 2/85

CHAPTER 7. ELECTRICITY AND LIGHTING

SECTION 1: MANDATORY STANDARDS

7-2. ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND WIRING. Electrical equipment shall

be in safe and sound condition, and used and installed as

required by labeling, listed instructions and relevant codes.

Equipment and wiring shall be fastened and protected from

overheating, fire, wire exposure or decay. Electrical

capacity shall prevent overloading. All systems shall be

free of potentially hazardous conditions due to equipment or

wiring that is missing, broken, deteriorated, corroded,

burnt, cracked, split, frayed or physically damaged.

Equipment shall not be dirty to a degree of preventing

efficient operation. Doors and panels to electrical panels,

fuse boxes or other equipment shall not be missing.

Electrical equipment and accessible panels not located in

controlled spaces shall have tamper-resistant covers.

Electrical systems shall be retrofitted with energy

conservation devices that are cost-effective, such as:

o Individual or check metering;

o Power factor correction;

o Load shedding; and

o Other.

7-3. CONVENIENCE OUTLETS/RECEPTACLES. Convenience outlets shall

be provided in dwelling units, management, and community

spaces as required by code. Outlets shall be located to

allow for convenient and safe use. Outlets in interior and

exterior locations shall be grounded and exterior receptacles

shall have ground fault protection. Outlet receptacles shall

be in safe and sound condition, firmly anchored to contact

devices, not subject to sparking and without evidence of

scorching. Outlets shall not have exposed wires or missing

cover plates.

a\. Habitable Rooms. Habitable rooms in dwelling units shall

have convenience outlets to allow for use of lighting,

clocks and other electrical items. Outlets shall be

located so that it is not necessary to use extension

cords

2/85 7-2

which cross room circulation or doorways. When

conditions require rewiring, grounded duplex receptacles

shall be installed in all habitable rooms and hallways in

accordance with relevant codes.

b\. Kitchens. Kitchens shall be provided with a minimum of 2

twenty ampere grounded duplex outlets to safely and

conveniently operate minor kitchen appliances. Outlets

shall not be located over sinks or ovens, or require

extension cords to hang freely on counters, near sinks or

other areas exposed to water, moisture or heat.

c\. Dwelling Unit Bathrooms. Each bathroom shall be provided

with a minimum of one ground fault circuit interrupter

(GFCI) outlet above or adjacent to the lavatory.

d\. Reserved.

7-4. INTERIOR LIGHTING. Interior spaces requiring general

illumination shall have permanent wall-switch controlled

lighting fixtures. When light bulbs are provided for

required illumination in public spaces, they shall have, as a

minimum, translucent vandal-resistant bulb covers or globes.

Naked bulbs are not permitted. Lighting fixtures shall

provide light for the intended use, be supported and

anchored, and be safely and soundly wired. Globes and

fixtures shall not be broken and wires or internal mechanisms

shall not be exposed. Controls shall be operable and

protected from misuse. Lighting systems shall be retrofitted

with energy conservation opportunities or devices determined

cost-effective, such as:

o Lamp wattage reduction;

o High efficiency ballast installation;

o Daylighting control;

o Incandescent conversion to fluorescent;

o High efficiency lamp installation; or

o Other.

In dwelling rooms with a minimum of three duplex outlets

where one duplex is operated by a wall switch, a permanent

over-head lighting fixture is not required. Permanent light

fixtures are required for bath, toilet, kitchen and laundry

areas.

7-5. OUTDOOR LIGHTING. Outdoor lighting shall be provided for

safe and convenient site access, circulation, and building

entry.

7-3 2/85

a\. Site Lighting. Site lighting shall not cast

uncomfortable light directly into dwelling units. Tall

trees or shrubbery that cast shadows, preventing lighting

of entrance doors or other vulnerable areas, shall be

trimmed. Lighting fixtures shall provide light for

intended use, be supported and anchored, be vandal-

resistant and be safely and soundly wired. Globes and

fixtures shall not be broken and wires or internal

mechanisms shall not be exposed. Controls shall be

operable and protected from misuse. Outdoor lighting

shall be retrofitted with energy conservation devices

that are cost-effective, such as:

o Sodium vapor conversion;

o Photo-cell or time clock control; or

o Other.

b\. Entrance Lighting. Building, service, and exterior

dwelling unit entrances shall have permanent, vandal-

resistant lighting fixtures. Dwelling unit entrance

lights shall be wall-switch operated from the unit

interior. Public and service entrance door lights shall

have tamper-resistant operations accessible only to

authorized personnel.

7-6. EMERGENCY LIGHTING. Twenty-four hour emergency lighting

shall be provided for all fire exits, public stairways and

corridors, and elevators.

7-7. ELECTRIC UTILITIES. An underground utility system shall not

be substituted for an existing overhead utility requiring

replacement, except where mandated by local code.

7-8. RESERVED.

7-9. RESERVED.

2/85 7-4

SECTION 2: PROJECT SPECIFIC STANDARDS.

7-2B. ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND WIRING. Electrical panels subject

to continued abuse may be provided with lockable metal cases

or moved to locations 7 ft. or more above the ground.

7-3B. CONVENIENCE OUTLETS/RECEPTACLES.

a\. Reserved.

b\. Kitchens. When electrical installations are to be

upgraded, or kitchens are to be substantially

rehabilitated, a minimum of one convenience duplex outlet

at each counter space wider than l2 inches should be

provided. Countertop spaces separated by appliances

should be considered separately. Receptacles rendered

inaccessible by major appliances should not be considered

as required outlets.

c\. Bathrooms. All 125 volt 15 and 20 ampere outlets may

have ground fault circuit interrupter protection.

d\. Equipment and Appliance Outlets. When newly installed,

outlets for special appliances such as laundry or kitchen

equipment should be placed for adequate support within 6

ft. of the intended location of the appliances. Heavy

duty fixed equipment or appliances should have individual

branch outlets with a minimum capacity of 20 amperes.

120/240 single phase outlets should be provided when

window air-conditioners are permitted or through-the-wall

sleeves for air conditioning are installed.

7-4B. INTERIOR LIGHTING.

a\. When adding or replacing lighting fixtures, accessibility

for relamping should be considered. Suspended lighting

fixtures that will collect dust and create a cleaning or

maintenance problem should not be used.

b\. When replacement is required and vandalism is a problem,

glass light globes should be replaced with high impact

plastic or other vandal-resistant fixtures in all spaces,

excluding those within dwelling units, where permanent

fixtures are provided.

7-5 2/85

7-5B. OUTDOOR LIGHTING.

a\. Site Lighting. In areas where lighting systems have been

vandalized and abused, the following should be

considered:

o Provision of high intensity lighting such as mercury

vapor, metal halide and high or low pressure sodium

in outdoor areas requiring high visibility;

o Use of keyed switches to prevent unauthorized

manipulation; and

o Use of building mounted outdoor lighting.

b\. Entrance Lighting. Dwelling unit entrance lights

may be provided to make an entrance more secure.

c\. Lighting Levels. Lighting levels for areas requiring

security and surveillance generally should be a maximum

of 5 to lO footcandles.

7-6B. RESERVED.

7-7B. RESERVED.

7-8B. EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEMS. Where required by local code,

emergency call systems may be provided in dwelling units

where elderly or disabled tenants are living alone.

7-9B. TELEVISION ANTENNAS. A master-television antenna system may

be provided in multi-family projects consisting of 20

dwelling units or more, or in buildings with greater than two

floors that do not have cable service (CATV) and where

existing television reception is unsatisfactory. The cable

television system is the responsibility of the CATV company

and the individual resident.

2/85 7-6