[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Bethlehem 6-21-2004 by Ord. No. 03-04. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The Township of Bethlehem, Northampton County,
Pennsylvania, hereby elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania
Construction Code Act, Act of November 10, 1999, P.L. 491, No. 45,
35 P.S. §§ 7210.101 through 7210.1103, and the Pennsylvania
Department of Labor and industry regulations promulgated pursuant
thereto at Pennsylvania Code, Title 34, Labor and Industry, Part XIV,
Uniform Construction Code, Chapters 401 through 405.
The Township of Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania hereby adopts and incorporates by reference as if set forth fully herein, as its municipal building code, the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, as set forth in Pennsylvania Code, Title 34, Labor and Industry, Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapters 401 through 405, as may be amended from time to time, and as completed and amended in accordance with § 110-3.
A.
In the International Building Code, adopted at Pennsylvania
Code, Title 34, Labor and Industry, Part XIV, Uniform Construction
Code, Chapter 403, Administration Standards, § 403.21(a)(1):
(1)
In Section 1612.3, Establishment of flood hazard areas,
insert "Township of Bethlehem" in place of the bracketed phrase "[INSERT
NAME OF JURISDICTION]" and insert "April 6, 2001" in place of the
bracketed phrase "[INSERT DATE OF ISSUANCE]."
(2)
In Section 3410.2, Applicability, insert "January
9, 1965, the effective date of building codes within the Township
of Bethlehem" in place of the bracketed phrase "[DATE TO BE INSERTED
BY THE JURISDICTION]."
B.
In the ICC Electrical Code adopted at Pennsylvania
Code, Title 34, "Labor and Industry," Part XIV, Uniform Construction
Code, Chapter 403, Administration Standards, § 403.21(a)(2):
(1)
In Section 404.2, Schedule of Permit Fees, insert
"See Township of Bethlehem Fee Schedule as established by the Board
of Commissioners" in place of the bracketed phrase "[JURISDICTION
TO INSERT APPROPRIATE SCHEDULE]."
C.
In the International Plumbing Code adopted at Pennsylvania
Code, Title 34, Labor and Industry, Part XIV, Uniform Construction
Code, Chapter 403, Administration Standards, § 403.21(a)(5):
(1)
In Section 305.6.1, Sewer Depth, insert "42 inches"
in place of the bracketed term "[NUMBER]."
(2)
In Section 904.1, Roof Extension, insert "18 inches"
in place of the bracketed term "[NUMBER]."
(3)
Section 1002.6, Building Traps, is amended to read
as follows:
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Building (house) traps shall be installed, except
where specifically found to be detrimental by the Building Code Official.
Each such trap must be accessible, have a cleanout on the outlet side
and fresh air intake connected to the inlet side which is no less
than two inches in diameter. Such relief vent or fresh air intake
shall terminate above grade in a screened outlet located outside the
building provided that such vent meets the requirements of Section
904.5 of the International Plumbing Code and Section P3103.5 of the
International Residential Code (one- and two-family dwellings construction).
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D.
In the International Residential Code adopted at Pennsylvania
Code, Title 34, Labor and Industry, Part XIV, Uniform Construction
Code, Chapter 403, Administration Standards, § 403.21(a)(6):
(1)
Table R301.2(1), Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria,
is completed with the following insertions.
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Roof snow load: 30 psf
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Wind speed: 90 mph
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Seismic design category: C
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Weathering: Severe
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Frost line depth: 36 inches
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Termite damage: Moderate to heavy
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Decay damage: Moderate to severe
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Winter design temperature: 10° F.
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Flood hazards: See currently effective FEMA
FIRM Maps
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(2)
In Section P2603.6.1, Sewer Depth, insert "42 inches"
in place of the first bracketed term "[NUMBER"] and insert "42 inches"
in place of the second bracketed term "[NUMBER]."
(3)
In Section P3103.1, Roof Extension, insert "18 inches"
in place of the first bracketed term "[NUMBER]" and insert "zero inches"
in place of the second bracketed term "[NUMBER]."
E.
In the International Fire Code adopted at Pennsylvania
Code, Title 34, Labor and Industry, Part XIV, Uniform Construction
Code, Chapter 403, Administration Standards, § 403.21(a)(7):
(1)
Section 307, Open Burning, is hereby deleted. (Note: the subject matter of open burning is governed by Chapter 101, Burning, Open, of this Code.)
(2)
Section 912, Fire Department Connections, Subsection
912.4, Signs, is amended to read as follows:
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A metal sign with raised letters as least one
inch (25 mm) in size shall be mounted on all fire department connections
serving fire sprinklers standpipes or fire pump connections. Such
signs shall read "Automatic Sprinklers," "Standpipes," "Test Connection,"
or a combination thereof, as applicable. In addition, where a fire
department connection is located on the exterior of a building, a
sign shall be mounted on the building between 12 feet above ground
level and the roof line as determined by the Building Code Official
directly above the fire department connection. The sign shall be reflective
with four-inch red lettering on a white background. The sign shall
read "Fire Department" on the top line and "Connection" on the lower
line.
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F.
In the International Existing Building Code adopted
at Pennsylvania Code, Title 34, Labor and Industry, Part XIV, Uniform
Construction Code, Chapter 403, Administration Standards, § 403
21(a)(10):
(1)
In Section 1201.2, Applicability, insert "January
9, 1965" in place of the bracketed phrase "[DATE TO BE INSERTED BY
THE JURISDICTION]."
Any individual, firm or corporation that violates
any provision of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code or fails
to comply with any of the requirements thereof, or who erects, installs,
alters, repairs or does any work in violation of the approved construction
documents or directive of the Building Code Official, or of a permit
or certificate used under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Uniform
Construction Code, or who continues construction after service of
a stop-work order, except for construction work that is necessary
to remove a violation or an unsafe condition, commits a summary offense
and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more
than $1,000 and costs. Each day that a violation continues shall be
considered a separate violation.
The means of administration and enforcement
of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code within the Township
of Bethlehem shall be undertaken in any of the following ways as determined
by the Board of Commissioners from time to time:
A.
By the designation of an employee of the Township
of Bethlehem to serve as the Bethlehem Township Building Code Official
to act on behalf of the Township of Bethlehem;
B.
By the retention of one or more construction code
officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Township
of Bethlehem;
C.
By agreement with one or more other municipalities
for the joint administration and enforcement of this Act through an
intermunicipal agreement;
D.
By entering into a contract with another municipality
for the administration and enforcement of this Act on behalf of the
Township of Bethlehem;
E.
By entering into an agreement with the Pennsylvania
Department of Labor and Industry for plan review, inspections and
enforcement of structures other than one-family or two-family dwelling
units and utility and miscellaneous use structures.
The membership of a Board of Appeals shall be
established by resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Bethlehem in conformity with the requirements of the relevant provisions
of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, as amended from time
to time, and for the purposes set forth therein. If at any time enforcement
and administration is undertaken jointly with one or more other municipalities,
the membership of said Board of Appeals shall be established by joint
action of the participating municipalities.
All building code ordinances or portions of
ordinances which were adopted by the Township of Bethlehem on or before
July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the Pennsylvania
Uniform Construction Code shall continue in full force and effect
until such time as such provisions fail to equal or exceed the minimum
requirements of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, as amended
from time to time.
All building code ordinances or portions of
ordinances which are in effect as of the effective date of this chapter
and whose requirements are less than the minimum requirements of the
Code are hereby amended to conform with the comparable provisions
of the Code.
The provisions of this chapter insofar as they
are the same as those of ordinances and/or codes in force immediately
prior to the adoption hereof are intended as a continuation of such
ordinances and/or codes and not as new enactments as is permitted
by the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code. The provisions of this
chapter shall not affect any act done or liability incurred prior
to the adoption hereof, nor shall they affect any suit or prosecution
pending or to be instituted to enforce any right or penalty or to
punish any offense under the authority of any of the repealed ordinances
and/or codes.
[Added 8-15-2011 by Ord. No. 06-11]
The Township shall enforce Section 901(g) of the Pennsylvania
Uniform Construction Code by requiring a form entitled "Offer to Install
Automatic Sprinkler System in One- or Two-Family Home," which form
shall be executed by a buyer, and submitted by a builder, of a one-
or two-family dwelling at the time of application for a building permit.
