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City of Harrisburg, PA
Dauphin County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (5) Index
[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Harrisburg 9-23-2003 by Ord. No. 25-2003[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: Section 17 of Ord. No. 25-2003 provided as follows: "Subtitle 3-900, entitled Fire Prevention Code, is hereby repealed in its entirety, with the exception of Chapter 3-953, entitled Fire Occupancy Classification and Occupancy Loads, and Chapter 3-961, entitled Residential (Domestic) Sprinklers, which remain in full force and effect and are renumbered Chapters 3-903 and 3-905, respectively, and new Chapter 3-901 is hereby added to the Codified Ordinances as follows."
It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to adopt a modern Fire Code which will prescribe effective standards and minimum requirements consistent with nationally recognized good practice for safeguarding life, property and public welfare from the hazards of fire, explosion or dangerous conditions in new and existing buildings, structures and premises.
In accordance with Section 608 of the Optional Third Class City Charter Law, Act of July 15, 1957, P.L. 901, 53 P.S § 41608, and Section 4130 of the Third Class City Code, Act of June 28, 1951, P.L. 662 as amended, 53 P.S. § 39130, there is hereby adopted by the City for the purpose of prescribing specifications and regulations to ensure the structural safety and noncombustibility of housing constructed, reconstructed, altered, enlarged, repaired, or maintained within the City that certain Fire Code known as the International Fire Code, 2003 edition, and all appendices thereto, as supplemented and published by the International Code Council, including all appendices with the exception of Appendix A, except such provisions which are in conflict with regulations promulgated by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry interpreting the Uniform Construction Code pursuant to Section 301 of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act of November 10, 1999, P.L. 491, 35 P.S. § 7210.301, or any other state law on the subject or regulations issued by a state agency by virtue of a state law. Ten copies of the Fire Code are presently on file in the office of the City Clerk, and such code is hereby adopted and incorporated as if fully set forth at length herein. The provisions of the adopted Fire Code shall be controlling within the limits of the City except as amended by the provisions of this chapter.
The following sections of the International Fire Code, 2003 edition, as adopted herein, are hereby deleted in their entirety and replaced as indicated:
CHAPTER 1 – ADMINISTRATION
101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "Fire Code of the City of Harrisburg," hereinafter referred to in this chapter as "this code."
 
SECTION 103 ENFORCEMENT OF CODE
103.1 General. The City of Harrisburg, Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Fire, under the direction of the Fire Chief, and the Department of Building and Housing Development, Bureau of Codes Enforcement, under the direction of the Codes Administrator, shall jointly administer and enforce this code or any part thereof.
 
SECTION 108 BOARD OF APPEALS
This section is deleted in its entirety. See § 3-901.6 of the City's Codified Ordinances for appeal procedures.
 
109.3 Violation penalties. Persons who violate a provision of this code or fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who erect, install, alter or repair fire prevention work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the building official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code, shall be subject to penalties as prescribed by law.
 
111.4 Stop-work orders. Any person who shall continue any work on the system after having been served with a stop-work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be subject to penalties as prescribed by law.
 
CHAPTER 9 – FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
 
907.2.10.5 Smoke detectors in residential structures.
(a)
At least one early fire detection device (smoke detector) shall be installed in each sleeping area of any building or structure used for residential occupancy, including but not limited to single-family dwellings, multifamily dwellings, multifamily apartment houses, boardinghouses, lodging houses, rooming houses, tourist homes, bed-and-breakfast homes, dormitories, hotels, motels and residence buildings.
(b)
In each multifamily apartment house of three to five units, a smoke detector shall be installed in the cellar and/or basement and on every floor of the residential structure in addition to those placed in the sleeping areas.
(c)
In each multifamily apartment house containing more than five units and in each boardinghouse, lodging house, rooming house, bed-and-breakfast home, tourist home, dormitory, hotel, motel and residence building, a smoke detector shall be installed in the cellar and/or basement and on every floor in common areas (hallways, corridors, etc.) and shall be interconnected, that is, shall be wired directly to the building's power supply and shall each sound an alarm when one is activated.
(d)
Where bedrooms or rooms habitually used for sleeping are separated by other use areas, such as kitchens, living rooms or dining rooms, they shall be considered as separate sleeping areas for the purposes of this section.
(e)
Each smoke detector installed shall be certified by a nationally recognized inspection agency, such as Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., as a properly operating fire detection device for the protection of life safety.
(f)
It shall be the responsibility of the owner, agent for the owner or other controlling party/individual of each new and existing occupied residential occupancy unit to install smoke detectors in each residential unit as heretofore provided. Such smoke detectors shall be capable of sensing visible or invisible particles of combustion and shall be capable of producing an audible alarm upon detection thereof.
(g)
It shall be the responsibility of the tenants or occupants to maintain smoke detectors. Such maintenance shall include keeping the smoke detector units serviceable by replacing batteries when necessary or by keeping them connected to an electrical source so that they remain capable of transmitting an audible signal in the presence of smoke.
(h)
As an alternative to self-contained smoke detectors, an approved fire detection system may be installed. Each fire detection system must be individually approved and a permit issued by the Bureau of Fire or Codes Enforcement.
(i)
In new dwelling units, smoke detectors shall be hard-wired directly to the building's power supply. In all existing dwelling units it is preferred that the smoke detectors be hard-wired to the building's power supply; however, a monitored battery supply is acceptable.
(j)
At every change of occupancy of every dwelling unit occasioned by or incidental to a sale, lease or sublease of such unit, it shall be the duty of the grantor thereof (i.e., the seller, lessor or sublessor, as the case may be) to certify, before occupancy, to the new occupant that all smoke detectors required by this section or other applicable laws are installed and in proper working condition.
(k)
No smoke detector or alternative system shall be directly connected (permanently wired) to the electrical system of the building or structure unless an electrical permit has first been obtained and the installation has been approved by an electrical inspector.
Whenever any provision or requirement of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Harrisburg or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is more stringent or stricter than a provision or requirement of the Fire Code adopted herein, the more stringent provision shall supersede any such provision or requirement of the Fire Code.
[Amended 11-12-2012 by Ord. No. 13-2012; 4-9-2013 by Ord. No. 3-2013; 10-22-2013 by Ord. No. 24-2013]
Any person who applies for an operation, installation or inspection permit or requires response of the Bureau of Fire pursuant to this Fire Code shall be subject to fee requirements. Nothing in this code, however, shall authorize any City bureau or department or City staff member or bureau or department personnel to refuse or delay any emergency rescue service to any person, firm, organization or corporation due to the lack of insurance coverage or ability to pay for said emergency rescue service. The fee requirement schedule is as follows:
Description
Fee
Amusement building
$100 per year
Automotive tire retread plant
$75 per year
Automotive truck wrecking yards, junkyards and salvage yards
$75 per year
Automotive undercoating areas
$75 per year
Bonfires/opening burning:
Bonfire for 1 hour
$100/event
Bonfire for 2 hours
$175/event
Other open burning (plus cost of Fire Department standby)
$50/event
Bowling lanes and the refinishing thereof
$30 per year
Bowling pin refinishing
$30 per year
Carnivals and fairs (tent not included):
Small, under 100,000 square feet
$50 per event
Medium, above 1 million square feet
$75 per event
Large, above 1 million square feet
$100 per event
Cellulose nitrate motion-picture film use or storage thereof
$40 per year
Cellulose nitrate plastic (pyroxylin) manufacture or assembly
$30 per year
Child/elder/day-care facilities
$75 per year
Class A day-care center (13 or more persons receiving care)
$150/year
Class B group day-care center (6 to 12 persons receiving care)
$100/year
Class C home day-care center (1 to 5 persons receiving care)
$65/year
Coal-fired heating appliance, boiler, furnace or domestic hot-water heater
$25 per installation
Combustible fiber storage, over 100 use flammable (flammable 1,000 cubic feet; nonflammable 6,000 cubic feet)
$75 per year
Compressed gas storage/handling
$75 per year
Covered mall buildings
$75 per year
Cryogenic fluids
$75 per year
Dry-cleaning plant
$50 per year
Educational facilities, post-secondary, college, universities, business schools, specialty and trade schools:
Class A, 1,500 students and up
$250 per year
Class B, 1,000 to 1,499 students
$200 per year
Class C, 1 to 999 students
$100 per year
Exhibit and trade shows
$150 per year, per event
Explosives, ammunition and blasting agents, use or storage of
$75 per day
Explosives, use per two-week period
$50 per job
Feed mill (dust explosion)
$30 per year
Fire inspection
$50 per job
Fire safety class
$50 per job
Fire systems:
New:
Fire alarm system
$50 per inspection, per job
Fire pump and testing charge:
250 gpm
$75 per inspection, per job
500 gpm
$100 per inspection, per job
750 gpm
$150 per inspection, per job
Over 750 gpm
$225 per inspection, per job
Fire water line
$100 per inspection, per job
Specialized fire system (tank and pump)
$100 per inspection, per job
Domestic sprinkler
$100 per inspection, per job
Fire suppression hood system
$50 per inspection, per job
Detection system
$55 per inspection, per job
Automatic suppression system (all types)
$100 per inspection, per job
Smoke control system
$100 per inspection, per job
Standpipe system
$100 per inspection, per job
Alterations:
Fire alarm system
$50 per inspection, per job
Fire suppression hood system
$40 per inspection per job
Detection system
$55 per inspection per job
Automatic suppression system (all types)
$60 per inspection per job
Standpipe system
$100 per inspection per job
False fire alarms (annual):
1 to 2 false alarms
No charge
3 to 4 false alarms
$150 per alarm
5 to 7 false alarms
$250 per alarm
7 or more false alarms
$500 per alarm
Fireworks display
$75 per inspection
Flammable and combustible liquids:
All operations
$75 per year
Up to 1,000 gallons in storage
$25 per year
1,000 to 10,000 gallons
$100 per year
Greater than 10,000 gallons
$200 per year
Flammable and combustible liquids storage, handling, use, delivery of flammable liquid below 200° F., any amount, including asphalt
$75 per year
Flammable finish use (more than 1 gallon per day, spraying or dripping)
$75 per year
Floor finishing
$45 per year
Fruit ripening process
$45 per year
Fumigation/thermal insecticidal fogging
$30 per job or $45 per year
Garage, repair or service of vehicles or dispensing of fuel
$75 per year
Hazardous chemicals, storage or handling
$75 per year
Heliports, helistops, airports
$75 per year
Hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other I use groups not set elsewhere:
Class A, 601 and up
$250 per year
Class B, 401 to 600
$200 per year
Class C, 201 to 400
$150 per year
Class D, 1 to 200
$100 per year
Hotels and motels:
Class A, more than 3 floors
$100 per year
Class B, 3 floors or less
$50 per year
Hot work operations:
Per use
$20 per job
Annual permit
$100 per year
Liquefied petroleum gases installation
$50 per installation
Liquefied petroleum gas (storage and use)
$50 per year
Liquid- or gas-fueled vehicles or equipment in assembly buildings
$75 per event
Lumberyards, woodworking plants
$60 per year
Magnesium, use of 10 pounds or more
$45 per year
Matches, manufacture or storage, more than 25 cases
$75 per year
Mercantile
Class A (over 30,000 sq. ft.)
$100 per year
Class B (3001 to 30,000 sq. ft.)
$75 per year
Class C (1 to 3,000 sq. ft.)
$50 per year
Oil-burning equipment:
Installation of boiler
$25 per job
Installation of tank
$25 per job
Replacement of oil burner or tank
$25 per job
Organic coating manufacture
$45 per year
Ovens/furnaces/boilers (industrial)
$50 per job
Pesticide storage and display
$75 per year
Places of assembly:
Class A, 1,000 and over
$150 per year
Class B, 300 to 999
$125 per year
Class C, 50 to 299
$100 per year
Class D, 1 to 49
$75 per year
Pyrotechnic special effects material
$75 per event or $125 per year
Refrigeration equipment
$75 per year
Rescue services (per response):
Extraction service by extrication tools or other specialized equipment
$500 per extraction
Rubber tire storage
$100 per year
Storage of more than 25 cases of items
$70 per year
Storage, readily combustible materials, over 2,500 cubic feet
$75 per year
Temporary membrane structures, tents and canopies
Small, less than 50 persons and 1,001 square feet
$20 per event
Medium, more than 49 persons and 1,000 square feet but less than 15,000 square feet
$50 per event
Large, 15,000 square feet and above
$100 per event
Tent or air-supported structure over 120 square feet (erection thereof)
$75 per year
Video movie outlet, store
$30 per year
Waste material handling plants
$75 per year
Welding and cutting operation:
Welding, cutting or soldering site
$55 per inspection
Storage of cylinders and containers
$55 per inspection
Acetylene generator use carbide cap, over 5 pounds
$55 per inspection
Wood stove, wood-burning appliances, residential and commercial installation
$55 per inspection
Connecting to municipal fire alarm system
$275 per installation
Telephone circuit alarm to City fire dispatch
$100 per installation
Reconnection fee
$150
Temporary permits
$50
Bonfire permit
$50
Torch-paint removal
$75
Any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity who or which is aggrieved by a ruling, decision or action of any department, bureau or other division of the City in regard to the administration or enforcement of any of the provisions of this Fire Code may appeal the ruling, decision or action complained of in writing to the Building and Housing Code Board of Appeals of the City of Harrisburg in the manner and in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 8-301, Emergency Orders and Appeals, of the Codified Ordinances.
[Added 11-12-2012 by Ord. No. 13-2012]
A. 
Fees of less than $500 per incident will be due to the City within 30 days. Fees of $500 per incident or greater will be due to the City within one year.
B. 
The City Bureau of Fire shall have the responsibility and authority to assess the fees as set forth herein. Fees for City Bureau of Fire services that have been rendered, as designated in the fee schedule, shall be billed by the City to the person or entity responsible for the need of such services. Should the individual or entity responsible for such services and the associated charges have insurance which covers the same, at the request of such individual or entity the City shall bill the insurance carrier directly. However, doing so will not relieve such individual or entity from liability should the insurance carrier fail to pay the same to the City. Any bill for such services provided for the benefit of non-City-owned property shall be paid by the property owner. The failure of the property owner to pay the amounts due within the designated time frame set forth herein shall entitle the City to collect all amounts and pursue any or all of the remedies identified in the Pennsylvania Municipal Claims Act (see 53 P.S. § 7101 et seq.) or any other available remedy under the law.
A. 
Any person, whether individually or as a member or employee of a partnership, or any officer, agent or employee of a corporation who directs or knowingly permits any violation of any of the provisions of the sections of this Fire Code, or who aids or assists therein, either on his/her own behalf or in the interests of his/her employer or principal, or who fails to comply with any order made thereunder, or who builds in violation of any detailed statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved in accordance with this code or any certificate of approval issued thereto and from which no appeal has been taken, or who fails to comply with such order as affirmed or modified by the City, shall, upon conviction thereof, severally and for each violation and noncompliance respectively, be fined not less than $50 nor more than $1,000, plus costs, or shall be imprisoned in the Dauphin County prison for not more than 90 days for each separate violation, or both. The imposition of one penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue, and all persons required to do so shall correct and remedy violations or defects within a reasonable time, and, when not otherwise specified, each five days that the prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1-303).
B. 
The application of the above penalty shall not prevent the enforced removal of the prohibited conditions or device, or any other remedy at law or equity available to the City for enforcement of this chapter.