[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Haverford 5-13-1974 by Ord. No. 1562. Amendments noted where applicable.)
GENERAL REFERENCES
Department of Code Enforcement — See Ch. 4, Part 4, Art. VI.
Department of Finance — See Ch. 4, Art. IV, Division 4.
Building construction — See Ch. 58.
Housing standards — See Ch. 104.
Poles and wires — See Ch. 134.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Haverford Township Electrical Code."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
APPRENTICE ELECTRICIAN
Any person who shall have qualified as an apprentice electrician and registered in accordance with the terms of this chapter and under the rules and regulations of the Examining Board.
APPROVED INSPECTING AGENCY
The Middle Department Association of Fire Underwriters, Keystone Electrical Inspection, Inc., Burns Electrical Inspection Service, Inc., and such other inspecting agency or agencies which shall hereafter be approved by resolution of the Board of Township Commissioners.
CHIEF PLANT ELECTRICIAN
Any person who shall have qualified and registered as a chief plant electrician in accordance with the terms of this chapter and under the rules and regulations of the Examining Board.
DIRECTOR OF CODE ENFORCEMENT
The Director of Code Enforcement or his duly authorized representative or agent.
[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960]
ELECTRICAL WORK
Any installation, construction, alteration or assembly of any device, equipment, apparatus or any other object which is used or intended to be used for the transmission of an electrical energy or impulse, except when performed by or on behalf of any regulated public utility or any regulated radio or television transmission system, on equipment, cables, wires or equivalent facilities or on electrical circuits connected to or supported by such equipment or facilities if the use of the equipment or facilities is required in the operations of or services rendered by the regulated entity. It shall not include the manufacturing of any device, equipment, apparatus or other object used or intended to be used for the transmission of an electrical energy or impulse, but shall include electrical wiring systems connected to air-conditioning equipment, protective signaling devices (fire and burglar) and swimming pools.
JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN
Any person who shall have passed a journeyman electrician's examination and qualified and registered in accordance with the terms of this chapter and under the rules and regulations of the Examining Board.
MASTER ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
Any person, firm or corporation who shall have qualified and registered as a master electrical contractor in accordance with the terms of this chapter and under the rules and regulations of the Electrical Examining Board hereinafter created and hereinafter referred to as the "Examining Board."
The Examining Board shall consist of three qualified persons appointed by the Board of Township Commissioners. Such persons may be electrical contractors, electrical engineers, electrical teachers of trade schools or members of a recognized inspection agency.
A. 
The members of the Examining Board shall hold office for a period of three years or until their successor or successors are duly qualified in office; provided, however, that the original members of the Examining Board shall be appointed to hold office for terms of one, two and three years, respectively.
B. 
Two members of the Examining Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any and all business.
C. 
The Examining Board shall hold meetings as frequently as the proper and efficient discharge of its business shall require or for the purpose of considering and disposing of all applications for licenses for electrical contractors, chief plant electricians, oil burner service dealers, refrigeration service dealers, journeyman electricians and apprentice electricians.
D. 
The Examining Board shall formulate and publish rules and regulations for the examination, registration and licensing of electrical contractors, chief plant electricians, oil burner service dealers, refrigeration service dealers, journeyman electricians and apprentice electricians.
E. 
The Examining Board may revoke the license of any firm or individual who fails to comply with this chapter.
A. 
Any person, firm or corporation desiring to engage in the business or occupation of an electrical contractor, chief plant electrician, oil burner service dealer, refrigeration service dealer, journeyman electrician or apprentice electrician shall apply to the Examining Board for a license and registration as herein required, and said applicant shall present himself before the Examining Board at a time and place fixed by the Board wherein his qualifications and knowledge shall be inquired into. If the Examining Board shall find, upon due examination, that the applicant presenting himself has a reasonable knowledge of electricity and the natural laws and functions of electrical energy and of the provisions of the Regulations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters for Electric Wiring and Apparatus, in accordance with the current edition of the National Electrical Code and is possessed of skill and knowledge in matters appertaining to the science of electricity sufficiently to discharge the profession of a master electrical contractor, chief plant electrician, oil burner service dealer, refrigeration service dealer, journeyman electrician or apprentice electrician, then the Examining Board, upon proof of the payment of the fee herein provided, shall issue to said person, firm or corporation a license as electrical contractor, chief plant electrician, oil burner service dealer, refrigeration service dealer, journeyman electrician or apprentice electrician, as the case may be. Such license shall continue in full force and effect until the 30th day of June in the year of its issuance, unless sooner revoked.
B. 
Application for examination and license shall be accompanied by proof that the proper fee, as hereinafter provided, has been paid to the Director of Finance. The fees shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Commissioners, which may be amended from time to time.
[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960; 2-8-1993 by Ord. No. 2168]
C. 
Any applicant who is unsuccessful in passing the examination prescribed by the Examining Board will be permitted to take a reexamination not less than 60 days after the date of his unsuccessful examination and without payment of any additional fee. If he shall be unsuccessful upon reexamination, he shall not apply for further examination for a period of six months, and such reapplication shall be accompanied with the proof of the payment of the fee as if the application were an original application.
D. 
The license here provided shall expire June 30 of the year for which it is issued.
E. 
A master electrical contractor, chief plant electrician, oil burner service dealer, refrigeration service dealer, journeyman electrician or apprentice electrician, as the case may be, desiring to continue to practice the profession or trade for the year following the expiration of his license shall, between the first and 30th day of June of each and every year, surrender his license for the then current year to the Secretary of the Examining Board, who shall forthwith, upon proof of the payment of the fee hereinafter provided, issue to the applicant a proper license for the ensuing year.
F. 
Fees for the renewal of licenses shall be as set forth in Subsection B above.
[Amended 2-8-1993 by Ord. No. 2168]
G. 
Any person, firm or corporation duly licensed by another Township or municipality in Pennsylvania which has adopted a substantially identical ordinance to this chapter containing a reciprocity provision shall be permitted to operate in Haverford Township upon applying for a license accompanied by proof that the proper fee has been paid to the Director of Finance.
[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960]
A. 
The Board of Commissioners does hereby adopt and incorporate as fully as if set out at length herein that certain electrical code known as the "National Electrical Code." 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 electrical work regulated by the National Electrical Code and this chapter.
B. 
The National Electrical Code is hereby supplemented by providing that whenever electrical work is 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.
C. 
Three copies of the National Electrical Code shall be kept on file in the office of the Director of Code Enforcement for use by the public during regular business hours.
[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960]
Any electrical work in the Township shall be performed in accordance with the requirements and standards of the National Electrical Code and this chapter.
[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960]
No person shall perform any electrical work in the Township unless he first obtains a permit from the Director of Code Enforcement. An applicant for a permit shall make application on a form supplied by the Township, setting forth the following:
A. 
The nature of the electrical work to be performed.
B. 
The place where the electrical work will be done.
C. 
Plans and specifications for the electrical work to be done. Electrical drawings will be required for all new commercial, public and industrial buildings and apartments and shall be signed by an architect or a professional electrical engineer qualified in the commonwealth to prepare such final drawings, plans and specifications, unless the estimated cost of electrical work is less than $2,500.
D. 
The name and address of the person who will perform the electrical work.
E. 
Any other information which the Director of Code Enforcement deems necessary or desirable.
The provisions of the National Electrical Code and this chapter shall not apply to the following:
A. 
The replacement of light bulbs or fuses or other minor repair work.
B. 
The connection of any portable electrical appliance to any permanently installed electrical receptacle.
C. 
Central police station supervised alarm systems.
[Amended 2-9-1976 by Ord. No. 1631; 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960; 2-8-1993 by Ord. No. 2168]
Applicants for permits required under this chapter shall pay, at the time of application to the Township, fees set forth by resolution of the Board of Commissioners, which may be amended from time to time.
[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960]
A. 
Inspections and tests to determine whether the provisions of the National Electrical Code and this chapter have been complied with shall be made by the Director of Code Enforcement or an approved inspecting agency, or both. Upon completion of any electrical work, a certificate of inspection and approval issued by an approved inspection agency shall be furnished to the Director of Code Enforcement not later than 15 days after completion of the installation of the electrical work. Schedules of the fees charged by each inspecting agency shall at all times be kept on file in the office of the Director of Code Enforcement and open to public inspection.
B. 
All decisions as to whether or not electrical work complies with the provisions of the National Electrical Code and this chapter shall be made by the Director of Code Enforcement, who is hereby authorized to stop any electrical work in process and order the removal thereof if he shall determine that such work is not being installed in conformity with the provisions of the National Electrical Code and this chapter.
C. 
The Director of Code Enforcement is hereby authorized to waive inspection of all or that portion of electrical work for which he shall have received a duplicate record of approval from an approved inspecting agency certifying that such work complies with the provisions of the National Electrical Code and this chapter. Notice of such waiver of inspection shall be given to the applicant so that the approved work can thereafter be concealed.
D. 
The Director of Code Enforcement shall not accept any certificate of Inspection from an inspecting agency which has not been approved by resolution of the Board of Commissioners, which will investigate the qualifications, method of operation, completeness of inspectional activity and type of report before approving such agency.
E. 
The Director of Code Enforcement may enter and examine any building or premises at reasonable times and shall have free and unhindered access thereto for the purpose of inspecting the same.
[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960]
A. 
The Director of Code Enforcement may revoke any permit when:
(1) 
Any work for which a permit is granted is done in violation of the provisions of the National Electrical Code or this chapter or of the approved final drawings therefor or in an unsafe and dangerous manner;
(2) 
Any condition of the permit is violated; or
(3) 
Active work thereunder is not commenced within six months from the date of issuance.
B. 
When the Director of Code Enforcement determines that grounds exist for the revocation of a permit, he shall serve notice upon the holder of such permit, stating the nature of the violation and that compliance with all requirements shall be achieved within 30 days of receipt of the notice. The notice may also prescribe a course of remedial action.
C. 
If, at the expiration of the time allowed for compliance, the violation has not been corrected, the Director of Code Enforcement shall revoke the permit.
[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960]
A. 
In order to safeguard persons and property against the hazards and perils of existing, defective electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment, the Director of Code Enforcement is hereby given the authority and the duty to inspect at reasonable times any building, structure, including swimming pools, or premises in the Township to determine whether any electrical work theretofore installed therein is defective or unsafe.
B. 
If the Director of Code Enforcement shall determine that any electrical work in any building, structure, including swimming pools, or premises is in an unsafe and dangerous condition or not in compliance with the provisions of the National Electrical Code or this chapter, he shall serve notice upon the owner or occupant thereof, stating the nature of the violation and that compliance with all requirements shall be achieved within the period of time specified in the notice. The notice may also prescribe a course of remedial action. All existing work which is defective or unsafe shall be discontinued and made to comply with the provisions of the National Electrical Code or this chapter.
C. 
If, at the expiration of the time allowed for compliance, the violation has not been corrected, the Director of Code Enforcement shall institute proceedings, as provided in § 73-16 hereof, to collect from the owner or occupant the fines or penalties specified for violations of this chapter.
The installation and maintenance of fluoroscope, X-ray or other electrical apparatus so constructed or so used as to interfere with the radio communications of the Police Department, the Fire Department or the Public Works Department of the Township is hereby prohibited.
[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960]
An appeal from any decision of the Director of Code Enforcement or his agent may be taken to the Examining Board. Such appeal shall be made, in writing, within 10 days after such decision has been made, shall be verified by affidavit and shall be filed with the Township Secretary. The appellant or his representative shall have the right to appear and be heard, if such right is requested in the written appeal. A prompt decision of such appeal shall be made by the Examining Board. In making its decision, the Examining Board may vary or modify any provision of this chapter where there are practical difficulties in the way of executing the strict letter of the law, so that the spirit of the law shall be observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done. Every action of the Examining Board on such appeals shall be by resolution, copies of which shall be certified to the Director of Code Enforcement and the appellant.
Any electrical work performed contrary to the provisions of the National Electrical Code or this chapter is hereby declared to be a common or public nuisance and abatable as such.
[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960; 6-13-1988 by Ord. No. 2019; 3-12-2012 by Ord. No. 2660]
Any person who shall perform any electrical work contrary to the provisions of the National Electrical Code or this chapter or who shall fail to comply with any regulation, order or direction of the Director of Code Enforcement shall be liable, upon summary conviction before any District Justice of the Peace, thereof, to a fine or penalty not exceeding $1,000 and costs of prosecution; and, in default of one payment of the fine and costs, the violator may be sentenced to the county jail for a term not exceeding 90 days; and whenever such person shall have been notified by the Director of Code Enforcement or by service of summons in a prosecution or in any other way that he is committing such violation of this chapter, each day in which he shall continue such violation after such notification shall constitute a separate offense punishable by a like fine or penalty. Such fines or penalties shall be collected as like fines or penalties are now by law collected.