[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Bridgeport 5-6-1958 by Ord. No. 227, approved 5-8-1958 (Ch. 101 of
the 1975 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any device designed and arranged for the purpose of burning
or preparing to burn fuel, range or other oils, and all equipment
connected thereto, including internal and external supply storage
tanks, piping, wiring and all accessories.
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons,
firm or firms or corporation or corporations to install, erect or
enlarge any oil-burning equipment or to make repairs to any oil-burning
equipment, if such repairs substantially alter the construction or
installation thereof, in the Borough of Bridgeport without first having
obtained a permit from the Building Inspector so to do, pursuant to
the provisions of this chapter.
All persons, firms or corporations who desire
to make application for a permit to do any work under this chapter
shall make application to the Borough Building Inspector, who shall
make whatever examination of the applicant the Building Inspector
deems advisable in order to ascertain the competency and qualifications
of the applicant to do the proposed work as governed by this chapter.
Applications for such permits shall be made
to the Borough Building Inspector of the Borough of Bridgeport and
shall state the name and address of the applicant, the place where
the work is to be performed, the trade name of the oil-burning equipment,
the name and address of the manufacturer thereof and any other information
which the Building Inspector may deem necessary. Each application
shall be accompanied by a diagram, in duplicate, showing the location
of the proposed equipment in the building, the location and size of
the flue and the smoke pipe leading to the same and such other information
as may be required by the Borough Building Inspector.
[Amended 8-12-1975 by Ord. No. 419, approved
8-15-1975; 12-13-1988 by Ord. No. 505, approved 12-13-1988[1]]
The applicant for a permit required by this
chapter shall, at the time of making application, pay to the Borough
Treasurer such sum as is set from time to time by resolution of the
Borough Council.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance removed specific
fees from the Borough's Code; the current fees resolution of the Borough
is on file in the office of the Borough Secretary.
[Amended 12-13-1988 by Ord. No. 505, approved 12-13-1988]
All installations, repairs or enlargements of
oil-burning equipment shall be made only by persons, firms or corporations
who shall be registered with the office of the Borough Building Inspector,
and for such registration each applicant shall pay a fee annually
as set from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council. Upon
being properly registered with the Borough Building Inspector, the
said applicant shall furnish to the Borough of Bridgeport a surety
bond, acceptable to the Borough Solicitor and to be approved by the
Borough Council of the Borough of Bridgeport, in the amount of $2,000,
for the purpose of indemnifying the Borough of Bridgeport against
any liability for any personal injury or property damage or loss caused
by the person, firm or corporation furnishing such bond. Such bond
shall be renewed as of the first day of January next in each year
after the original bond has been accepted by the Bridgeport Borough
Council. Any person, firm or corporation who has heretofore qualified
and filed a proper surety bond with another department of the Borough
of Bridgeport shall not be required to furnish a bond as stipulated
in this section for work under this chapter, provided such original
surety bond is in effect for the period during which the work under
this chapter is to be done, and provided further that such bond by
its terms covers work to be done under this chapter.
The installation, erection, enlargement or repairing
of oil-burning equipment and the storage and use of fuel, range or
other oils in connection therewith shall be subject to the inspection
and approval of the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector shall
be under a duty to withhold his approval of any work done or about
to be done if, in the exercise of his discretion, the work would not
promote the public safety and would constitute a fire hazard or an
explosion hazard.
No person shall install or use oil burners,
or oil- or gas-burning equipment relating thereto, in the Borough
except in conformity with the following standards, provisions and
requirements:
A.
Only approved oil burners listed as standard by the
Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. of the National Board of Fire Underwriters
shall be installed within the Borough.
B.
Only approved gas central heating systems, conversion
burners, floor furnaces, vented space heaters and unit heaters as
recommended by the American Gas Association and approved by the Philadelphia
Electric Company shall be installed. Gas-heating equipment must fully
comply with the Philadelphia Electric Company recommendations and
requirements.
C.
Oil supply tanks shall not be located in buildings
above the lowest story, cellar or basement unless specifically approved
by the Fire Marshal.
D.
One unenclosed, inside storage tank of 275 gallons
shall not be located within 10 feet, horizontally, of any fire or
flame.
E.
Two unenclosed, inside storage tanks of 275 gallons
shall not be located within 12 feet, horizontally, of any fire or
flame.
F.
Where the circumstances or conditions of any particular
installation are unusual and such as to render the strict application
of these standards impracticable, the inspection authority having
jurisdiction may permit such modifications as will provide a substantially
equivalent degree of safety.
G.
Rooms in which oil or gas burners are located shall
be provided with adequate ventilation to assure sufficient air supply
for continuous complete combustion.
H.
If the smoke pipe is within 18 inches of combustible
materials, chimneys must be built down until the top of the smoke
pipe is the required distance. If this cannot be done, fireproofing
consisting of one-half-inch asbestos millboard shall be installed
with at least one inch of air space between the millboard and combustible
materials and extend a minimum of 12 inches beyond the limits of such
proximity except where masonry walls interfere. In no case may the
smoke pipe be less than 12 inches from combustible materials.
I.
Commercial buildings, commercial apartments, multifamily
dwellings and apartment buildings shall have metal laths with cement
or gypsum plaster installed directly above oil- or gas-fired equipment
in basements and extending at least two feet beyond on all sides.
J.
Before installation of any oil- or gas-fired equipment,
the chimney must be fully examined to ascertain that it is properly
constructed, clear and will freely conduct the products of combustion
to the outer air.
K.
A chimney that may be or shall be found, upon inspection,
to have become dangerous or unsafe due to inadequate maintenance,
dilapidated or unsuitable or improper for the use to which it is put,
constituting a fire or health hazard, shall be rebuilt and made safe.
Approval of the Building Inspector must be given before heating equipment
is installed.
[Amended 8-12-1975 by Ord. No. 419, approved
8-15-1975; 3-14-1989 by Ord. No. 507, approved 3-14-1989]
Any person who shall be convicted of a violation
of any of the provisions of this chapter before any Magisterial District
Judge shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 and costs
of prosecution or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not
to exceed 30 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The continuation
of such violation for each successive day shall constitute a separate
offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting the continuation
of the violation may be punished as provided above for such separate
offense.
