Township of Towamencin, PA Building Code

The following sections of the International Building Code, 2000 Edition, adopted herein, are hereby amended and revised to read as follows:

Chapter 1.

(1)

Section 101.1, insert "Towamencin Township" as the name of the jurisdiction. Further, insert at end of paragraph: "Towamencin Township is hereinafter referred to as `the Township.'"

(2)

Section 105.2, delete under the category entitled "building," the following subsections: 1,2,3,4, 5, 6, 9, and 10.

(3)

Section 105.5, delete the heading and this paragraph in its entirety and insert the following:

105.5 Expiration. Every permit issued by the Building Official under the provisions of this code shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the building or work authorized by such permit is not commenced within 180 days from the issue date of the permit, or if the building or work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced, for a period of 180 days. Before work can resume a new permit shall be obtained to do so. If a permittee wishes to renew a permit that has expired due to suspended or abandoned work for more than 180 days, the permittee may apply in writing to the Building Official for a one-time renewal of the permit for 1/2 of the original permit fee. A permittee holding an unexpired permit in which work has not commenced may apply in writing to the Building Official for a one-time extension of 180 days provided that he can show good and satisfactory reasons, beyond his control, that the work cannot be commenced within the one-hundred-eighty-day period from the issue date. No additional fee is required for this one-time extension. In order to renew work on a permit after it has expired, the permittee shall pay a new full permit fee.

(4)

Section 106.1.

(a)

Delete the first sentence of the first paragraph and insert the following sentence: "Construction documents, special inspection and structural observation programs and other data shall be submitted in two sets with each application for a permit."

(b)

Insert the following sentence at the end of the first paragraph: "The permit document(s) shall also bear the approval seal of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry as required by the state codes."

(5)

Section 110.1, insert at the end of the first sentence the following wording: "and the requirements of Towamencin Township Ordinance No. 99-13 for the issuance of certificates of occupancy[1]."

[1]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 59, Certificates of Occupancy.

(6)

Section 112, delete section, including all subsections, in its entirety and insert the following:

	SECTION 112
	MEANS OF APPEAL
	112.1 Procedure. An appeal from any decision of the Building Official may be taken to the Board of Supervisors. Such appeal shall be made in writing, verified by an affidavit, within 10 days after such decision has been made, and shall be filed with the Township Secretary. The appellant or his representative shall have the right to appear and be heard by the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors shall render a prompt decision on such appeal. In making the decision, the Board may vary or modify any provision of this code where there are practical difficulties in the way of executing the strict letter of this code, or to permit the use of innovative procedures or materials, provided that the spirit of this code shall be observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done. Such variation or modification shall be the minimum necessary in order to grant relief. Every action of the Board on such appeals shall be by resolution, copies of which shall be certified to the Code Official and the appellant. The decision of the Board of Supervisors shall in such cases be final.

(7)

Section 113.2, delete the heading and paragraph in its entirety and insert the following:

113.2 Notice of violation. The Building Official shall serve a notice of violation or order on the person responsible for the erection, construction, alteration, extension, repair, removal, demolition, use or occupancy of a building or structure in violation of the provisions of this code, or in violation of a detail statement or a plan approved thereunder, or in violation of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code. Such order shall direct the discontinuance of the illegal action or condition and the abatement of the violation within a period of 10 days from the date of notification, unless otherwise specified. In the event that the action or condition presents such a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of an individual or the community, the abatement period may be reduced by the Building Official.

If the notice of violation is not complied with promptly, the Building Official shall request the legal counsel of the Township to institute the appropriate proceeding at law or in equity to restrain, correct or abate such violation or to require the removal or termination of the unlawful use of the building or structure in violation of the provisions of this code or of the order or direction made pursuant thereof.

(8)

Section 113.4, delete the heading and paragraph in its entirety and insert the following:

113.4 Violation penalties. Any person, partnership, firm or corporation who or which shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who or which shall use, erect, construct, alter or repair a building or structure in violation of an approved plan or of a directive of the Code Official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code, shall be liable to fines and penalties not exceeding $500, which fines and penalties may be collected by suit or summary proceeding brought in the name of the Township before any District Justice, or recovered as debts of a like amount are now by law recoverable. Proceedings for the violation of this code and for the collection of fines and penalties imposed thereby may be commenced by warrant, or by summons, at the discretion of the District Justice before whom the proceeding is begun. All fines and penalties collected for the violation of this code shall be paid over to the Township Treasury. Each day that a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.

The imposition of the penalties herein prescribed shall not preclude the legal counsel of the Township from instituting appropriate action to prevent unlawful construction or to restrain, correct or abate a violation, or to prevent illegal occupancy of a building, structure or premises or to stop an illegal act, conduct, business or use of a building or structure on or about any premises. Further the remedies as set forth herein shall not be exclusive, and the Township shall have the right to avail itself of any other remedy at law or equity which it may deem to be applicable.

Chapter 2.

(1)

Section 202, add the following definition:

BOARD or BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. The governing body for Towamencin Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Chapter 3.

(1)

Section 302.3.3, under exception number 2, delete the following: "1/2 inch (12.7 mm)" and replace with "5/8 inch (15.99 mm) Type X fire-rated drywall." Also, under "exception," subsection 2, delete the second sentence and replace with the following sentence: "Door openings between the garage and the residence shall be equipped with a minimum one-hour-rated steel door in compliance with Section 714.2.3." Delete "exception," Subsection 4 in its entirety.

(2)

Section 310.1, under R-2 use group, add the following word to the list: "condominium."

Chapter 7.

(1)

Section 708.3, under the "exception" section, delete Subsection 2 and insert the following wording: "Dwelling units and guest room separations in buildings of Type 2B, 3, 4, and 5 construction, including corridor walls that serve the dwelling units and guest rooms, shall have fire-resistant ratings of not less than one hour in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. The walls must be rated from both sides."

Chapter 9.

(1)

Section 903.2.1.1, change "12,000 square feet (1,116m²)" to read "5,000 square feet (465m²)."

(2)

Section 903.2.1.2, change "5,000 square feet (465m²)" to read "2,500 square feet (232m²)."

(3)

Section 903.2.1.3, change "12,000 square feet (1,116m²)" to read "5,000 square feet (465m²)."

(4)

Section 903.2.1.4, change "12,000 square feet (1,116m²)" to read "5,000 square feet (465m²)."

(5)

Section 903.2.1.5, change "1,000 square feet (93m²)" to read "500 square feet (47m²)."

(6)

Section 903.2.2, change "20,000 square feet (1,858m²)" to read "5,000 square feet (465m²)." Delete the "exception" section in its entirety.

(7)

Section 903.2.3, delete the heading and insert "Group F." Change "12,000 square feet (1,115m²)" to read "5,000 square feet (465m²)" in the first part of the paragraph, and change "24,000 square feet (2,230m²)" to read "10,000 square feet (930m²)" in the last part of the paragraph.

(8)

Section 903.2.3.1, delete in its entirety.

(9)

Section 903.2.6, delete the heading and insert "Groups M and B." Change "12,000 square feet (1,116m²)" to read "5,000 square feet (465m²)" in the first part of the paragraph, and "24,000 square feet (2,230m²)" to read "10,000 square feet (930m²)" in the second part of the paragraph.

(10)

Section 903 .2.7, delete "exception" Subsection 1 in its entirety.

(11)

Section 903.2.8, delete the paragraph and heading and insert the following: "Group R-2. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings with an R-2 fire area."

(12)

Section 903.2.9, delete the heading and paragraph in its entirety and insert the following: "Group R-4. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings with an R-4 fire area."

(13)

Section 903.2.10, change "12,000 square feet (1,116m²)" to read "5,000 square feet (465m²)" in the first part of the paragraph, and "24,000 square feet (2,230m²)" to read "10,000 square feet (930m²)" in the second part of the paragraph.

(14)

Section 903.2.10.1, under Subsection 1 of the list, change "10,000 square feet (930m²)" to read "5,000 square feet (465m²)." Under Subsection 2 of the list, change "12,000 square feet (1,116m²)" to read "5,000 square feet (465m²)."

(15)

Section 903.2.10.2, change "20,000 cubic feet (566m³)" to read "5,000 cubic feet (142m³)."

(16)

Section 903.2.12, under the "exception" add the following wording after "Section 101.2": "as required in the International Residential Code, 2000 Edition."

(17)

Section 905.3.1, delete both "30 feet (9,144 mm)" references and insert "20 feet (6,096 mm)" at both locations.

(18)

Section 907.2.1, in the first paragraph, delete the following: "having an occupant load of 300 or more."

(19)

Section 907.2.2, in the first paragraph delete the following: "having an occupant load of 500 or more persons or more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge."

(20)

Section 907.2.3, under the "exception" section, delete Subsection 1.

(21)

Section 907.2.4.

(a)

Delete the heading and insert the following heading: "Groups F, S, U, and Miscellaneous."

(b)

Delete the following in the first paragraph: "that are two or more stories in height and have an occupant load of 500 or more above or below the lowest level of exit discharge."

(22)

Section 907.2.7, delete the following from the first paragraph: "having an occupant load of 500 or more persons or more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge."

(23)

Section 907.2.8, delete the "exception" section and list in its entirety.

(24)

Section 907.2.9, delete the heading paragraph, including the "exceptions" section and list in its entirety, and insert the following: "Group R-2, R-3, and R-4. A fire alarm system shall be installed in all Groups R-2, R-3, and R-4."

Chapter 10.

(1)

Section 1003.2.11.2.

(a)

Delete list number 1 and insert the following: "Exit access corridors, passageways, aisle and rooms, interior rooms and spaces over 100 square feet without glazing that would permit natural or artificial light to enter the area in the event of a power failure. This includes all mechanical, electrical, and sprinkler control rooms regardless of size."

(b)

Under list number 2, delete the wording: "required to have two or more exits."

(c)

Under list number 3, delete the wording: "required to have two or more exits."

(d)

Under list number 4, delete the wording: "required to have two or more exits."

Chapter 33.

(1)

Add new Section 3303.7 as follows:

3303.7 Certificate of rodent exterminator. Prior to the issuance of a demolition permit, the applicant shall furnish to the Township a certificate from a reputable rodent exterminator which states that the building or structure to be demolished has been inspected and found to be free of rodents, or that the building or structure to be demolished has been properly treated for the eradication of all rodents in and about the premises.