[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Ridley Park 4-14-1998 by Ord. No.
1089. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 73.
The Borough of Ridley Park hereby adopts, for the purpose of
establishing rules and regulations for the installation, renewal,
extension and reception of electric wiring and electric apparatus
in existing buildings, structures or outdoor electrical displays or
signs or in the construction, reconstruction, alteration or repair
of buildings, structures or outdoor electrical displays or signs,
the electrical code known as the "National Electrical Code, 1996 Edition,"
as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association, of which
one copy has been and now is filed in the office of the Borough Manager,
and the same is hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set
out at length herein.
A.
Title. These regulations shall be known as the "Electrical Code of
the Borough of Ridley Park," hereinafter referred to as "this code."
B.
Code official. It shall be the duty and responsibility of the Code
Enforcement Officer or such other person designated by Borough Council
to enforce the provisions of this code.
C.
Appointment. The Code Official shall be appointed by Borough Council
of the Borough of Ridley Park to serve for such term as it shall determine.
D.
Organization. The Borough Council shall appoint such number of officers,
technical assistants, inspectors and other employees as shall be necessary
for the administration of this code.
E.
Deputy. The Borough Council may designate an employee as a deputy
who shall exercise all the powers of the Code Official during the
temporary absence or disability of the Code Official.
F.
Rule making authority. The Borough Council shall have the power as
may be necessary in the interest of public health, safety and general
welfare to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to interpret
and implement the provisions of this code to secure the intent thereof
and to designate requirements applicable because of local climatic
or other conditions. Such rules shall not have the effect of waiving
structural or fire performance requirements specifically provided
in this code or of violating accepted engineering practice involving
public safety.
G.
Inspections. The Code Official shall, upon the installation, removal,
extension and reception of any electrical wiring and electric apparatus
pursuant to this code, cause an inspection or inspections to be made
by himself or his duly authorized agents to determine that the electrical
work conforms with this code and other ordinances of the Borough of
Ridley Park and statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
No person, copartnership, firm, association, corporation or
other legal entity shall hereafter install, receive, renew or extend
electrical wire or conductors to be used for the transmission of electric
current for electric light, heat or power purposes in existing buildings,
structures or outdoor electrical displays or signs or in the construction,
reconstruction, alteration or repair of buildings, structures or outdoor
electrical displays or signs without first applying for and obtaining
a permit to do so pursuant to this code.
A.
All such applications for a permit shall be made to the Code Official
in writing on forms supplied by said Code Official.
B.
Any person making false answers to any questions or item set forth
in such application form shall forfeit and surrender any permit issued
pursuant thereto.
C.
Such application form shall contain questions designated to elicit
information to determine whether or not said proposed electric wiring
and electric apparatus comply with this code and any other ordinance
of the Borough of Ridley Park and statute of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
D.
Each such application form shall be accompanied by a fee in accordance
with the fee schedule adopted by resolution by Borough Council of
the Borough of Ridley Park as said fee schedule may be amended from
time to time.
E.
Each applicant for a permit shall furnish to the Code Official proof
in writing that an application for inspection of the proposed electric
wiring and electric apparatus has been made to the Middle Department
Association of Fire Underwriters, a nonprofit corporation, hereinafter
referred to as "Underwriters," or a similar organization that specializes
in such inspections to determine that the electrical work conforms
with the provisions of this code and this chapter. The payment of
all inspection fees and charges of the Underwriters or similar organization
shall be borne by the applicant.
F.
Each applicant for a permit shall cause the premises covered by the
application to be open for inspection or inspections by the Code Official
and his agents and the representative or representatives of the Underwriters
or similar organization at all reasonable times.
G.
Upon the Code Official's determination that the proposed electric
wiring and electric apparatus comply with this code and other ordinances
of the Borough of Ridley Park and statutes of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, a permit shall be issued.
H.
All permits shall expire one year from the date of issuance by the
Code Official.
A.
All inspections shall be made to insure that the proposed electrical
work complies with this code. No electric wiring shall be concealed
unless inspected and approved by the Building Official and his agents
and the representative or representatives of the Underwriters or similar
organization, but such inspection or reinspection shall be made within
a reasonable time after notice of completion of the electrical work
sought to be inspected for approval. A duplicate record of each written
approval made by the Underwriters or similar organization shall be
filed with the Building Official.
B.
All decisions made to determine whether or not the proposed electrical
work complies with the provisions of this code shall be made by the
Code Official.
C.
The Code Official shall have the power to stop electrical work and
order the removal thereof when he determines that such work is not
being installed in conformity with this code and other ordinances
of the Borough of Ridley Park and statutes of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
D.
The Building Official may waive his inspection to determine compliance
with this code and this chapter of all or that portion of the proposed
electrical work for which he shall have received a duplicate record
of approval by the Underwriters or similar organization. The Code
Official shall give notice so that the approved work can be concealed.
A.
In order to safeguard persons against the hazards and perils incident
to defective electric wiring and apparatus that are or may now be
in existence within the corporate limits of the Borough of Ridley
Park, the Code Official is hereby given the duty to inspect with his
agents and the representative or representatives of the Underwriters
or similar organization when requested by proper authority, or when
public interest so requires, any premises within the Borough of Ridley
Park at reasonable times to insure that the existing electric wiring
system and apparatus is not defective and unsafe.
B.
All decisions that the existing electric wiring system and apparatus
is defective shall be made by the Code Official in writing on notice
to the owner of the premises served forthwith personally or by regular
mail addressed to the address shown on the latest tax records with
reasons for his decision.
C.
Upon the Code Official's decision that the existing wiring system
is defective and unsafe as aforesaid, the system or portions of the
system which are defective and unsafe shall be discontinued until
it is corrected and made to comply with the provisions of this code.
A.
Application for appeal. Every applicant and owner of the premises
and other party in interest shall have the right to appeal a decision
of the Code Official to the Board of Appeals. The appeal shall be
filed in writing within 20 days after the notice was served.
B.
Membership of board. The Board of Appeals shall consist of five members
appointed by Borough Council as follows: one for five years, one for
four years, one for three years, one for two years and one for one
year. Thereafter, each new member shall serve for five years or until
a successor has been appointed.
C.
Procedures before board. The application for appeal shall be filed
on a form obtained from the Code Official within 20 days after the
notice was served. Appeals to the Board of Appeals may be taken by
any person aggrieved by a decision or interpretation of the Code Official
made under the provision of this code. The Board of Appeals may adopt
reasonable rules and regulations for conducting its hearings. All
Board hearings shall be open to the public. The decision of the Board
shall be by resolution. Certified copies shall be furnished to the
appellant and to the Code Official.
D.
Court review. Any person shall have the right to apply to the appropriate
court for a writ of certiorari to correct errors of law. Application
for review shall be made in the manner and time required by law following
the filing of the decision by the Board of Appeals.
Only the materials, fittings and devices enumerated in the "List
of Inspected Appliances" of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., as revised
from time to time, shall be used in the electrical work regulated
by this code.
Whenever a permit is required under the terms of this chapter
for electrical wiring and apparatus to be done in connection with
a gas or oil burner installation in any existing building or structure
or in the construction, reconstruction, alteration or repair of buildings
or structures, there shall be installed an emergency shutoff switch
with a red plate thereon marked "oil burner" or "gas burner," as the
case may be, at the entrance to the basement or heating room.
All records of the Code Official pursuant to this chapter shall
be open to public inspection for good and sufficient reasons during
office hours, but shall not be removed from the office of the Code
Official without his written consent.
No permit shall be required under this chapter for the following
electrical work:
A.
Minor repair work such as the replacement of lamps and fuses.
B.
The connection of portable electrical appliances to suitable permanently
installed appliances.
C.
Equipment installed or work performed by or for a public utility
operating under authority granted by the Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
D.
Equipment installed or work performed by a railway utility in the
exercise of its function as a utility and located in or on its right-of-way.
E.
Equipment used in connection with commercial radio and television
transmission.
F.
Repair and maintenance work on premises occupied by a firm or corporation
and performed by a regular employee who is a qualified journeyman
electrician.
A.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this code or shall
fail to comply therewith or who shall violate or fail to comply with
any order made thereunder or who shall do or cause to be done electrical
work in violation of any detailed statement of specifications or plans
submitted and approved thereunder, or any certificate or permit issued
thereunder, shall be guilty of a summary offense and, upon conviction
thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000
and, in default of payment thereof, shall be imprisoned for not more
than 30 days.
B.
The imposition of one penalty for any violation shall not excuse
the violation or permit it to continue; and all such persons shall
be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within
a reasonable time; and when not otherwise specified, each day that
prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.
C.
The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent
the enforced removal of prohibited conditions by an action at law
or in equity instituted by the Building Official on behalf of the
Borough of Ridley Park.
The provisions of this chapter shall not affect any act done
or liability incurred, 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 authority of any of the repealed ordinances.
