City of Salina Flyer-Extension Cords

1. 605.5Extensioncords.Extensioncordsandflexiblecordsshall
notbeasubstituteforpermanentwiring.Extensioncordsand
flexiblecordsshallnotbeaffixedtostructures,extendedthrough
walls,ceilingsorfloors,orunderdoorsorfloorcoverings,nor
shallsuchcordsbesubjecttoenvironmentaldamageorphysical
impact.Extensioncordsshallbeusedonlywithportableappli-
ances.
Frequentorimproperuseofextensioncordsinplaceofpermanentfixed
wiringisanotherindicationofinadequateelectricalservicecapacityor
incompatibledemands.Physicaldamagetoextensioncordscausedby
concealmentorimproperorinadequatemaintenancemayresultinlocal-
izedresistanceheating.Theamountofelectricalcurrentthatanyexten-
sioncordcansafelyconductislimitedbythesizeofitsconductor.This
principleisoftennotunderstoodbythegeneralpublic.Asaresult,exten-
sioncordsarecommonlyoverloadedbyconnectingeithertoomanyappli-
ancesorloadsinexcessofcordcapacity.Overloadingofextensioncords
causesanincreaseintheconductor’stemperature.Thisincreaseintem-
peraturecanexceedthetemperatureratingoftheconductor
insulation,causingittomelt,decomposeorburn.Theburninginsulation
canigniteothercombustiblematerials.Theresultinglossofconductor
insulationcanalsocauseashortcircuitthatcanactasasourceofigni-
tion.Thebuildupofheatinanextensioncordisoftenmadeworseby
excessivecordlengthandbytheinsulatingeffectofrugsthatoftencover
extensioncords.Extensioncordsaremuchmoresusceptibletophysical
damagethanpermanentwiring.Damagetoextensioncordsincreasesthe
likelihoodofshortsandpoorconnections,bothofwhichcancauseafire.
Inadditiontothefirehazard,extensioncordsposeatrippinghazardtothe
occupantsandwhendamaged,canposeanelectricalshockhazard.Se-
curingflexiblecordstoawallbaseboard,doorjambs,etc.,withnails,
uninsulatedstaplesorotherimproperfastenerstoeliminatetrippinghaz-
ardscancreateanotherdangerousconditionbypinchingthecordand
causinglocalizedheatingofthecordthatcouldleadtoignition.Addition-
ally,asawayoflimitingtheuseofextensioncords,theiruseisrestricted
toportableappliances.Thereferenceto“portable”primarilydenotes
smallerappliances,suchasafanorperhapsanalarmclock.Extension
cordsshouldnotbeusedwithmajorappliances,suchasrefrigerators.
605.5.1Powersupply.Extensioncordsshallbepluggeddirectly
intoanapprovedreceptacle,powertapormultiplugadapterand,
exceptforapprovedmultiplugextensioncords,shallserveonly
oneportableappliance.
605.5.2Ampacity.Theampacityoftheextensioncordsshallnot
belessthantheratedcapacityoftheportableappliancessupplied
bythecord.
605.5.3Maintenance.Extensioncordsshallbemaintainedin
goodconditionwithoutsplices,deteriorationordamage.
605.5.4Grounding.Extensioncordsshallbegroundedwhen
servinggroundedportableappliances.
Thissectionallowsanextensioncordtobepluggedintothemainelectri-
calsupplyusinganapprovedreceptacle,apowertaporanapproved
multiplugadapter.Thisrestrictionmeansthatmultipleextensioncordscan
notbeconnectedtooneanotherforasingleappliance.Additionally,ex-
tensioncordsarelimitedtooneapplianceunlesstheyarespecifically
approvedmultiplugextensioncords.
Althoughmostbuildingoccupantsmayhavedifficultyunderstandingam-
pacity,whichistheamountofelectricalcurrentthataparticularelectrical
deviceiscapableofhandling,itstillmustbeaddressed.Ifanappliance
requiresahigherelectricalcurrentthantheextensioncordisintendedto
handle,theextensioncordwillbeoverloadedandcausepotentialdamage
andoverheating.Afamiliaritywiththetypesofextensioncordsavailable
forsaleandthegeneralrelationshipstocommonapplianceswillhelpwith
theenforcementofthissection.
Whenextensioncordsaredamaged,theymaybecomepotentialshock
hazardsandasourceofignitionbecauseofdirectcontactwiththeelectri-
calchargefromoverheating.
The restrictions on power taps are similar
to those on extension cords. Power taps
should not be used as a substitute for
building wiring. Additionally, power taps
are to be plugged into a permanently installed receptacle.
To prevent use as a substitute for permanent
wiring, power taps cannot be placed in locations such as within
walls, under doors or where they would be subject to physical damage.
605.4 Multiplug adapters. Multiplug adapters,
such as cube adapters, unfused plug strips or any
other device not complying with the ICC Electri-
cal Code shall be prohibited.
605.4.1 Power tap design. Relocatable power taps shall be of
the polarized or grounded type, equipped with overcurrent protec-
tion, and shall be listed in accordance with UL 1363.
605.4.2 Power supply. Relocatable
power taps shall be directly con-
nected to a permanently installed
receptacle.
605.4.3 Installation. Relocatable
power tap cords shall not extend
through walls, ceilings, floors, under
doors or floor coverings, or be sub-
ject to environmental or physical
damage.