[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Clairton 8-14-1973 by Ord. No.
1249 as Ch. 85 of the 1973 Code. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 163.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 171.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 199.
Flood damage prevention — See Ch. 203.
Home contractors — See Ch. 215.
Nuisances and dangerous structures — See Ch. 247.
Poles and wires — See Ch. 271.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 307.
Zoning — See Ch. 337.
[Amended 10-25-1994 by Ord. No. 1579]
The City of Clairton 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 that certain code known as the "National
Electrical Code," as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association,
being particularly the 1993 Edition thereof and the whole thereof,
hereinafter referred to as the "National Electrical Code," of which
not fewer than three copies have been and now are filed in the office
of the City Manager of the City of Clairton, and the same is hereby
adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein,
and, from the date on which this chapter shall take effect, the provisions
thereof shall be controlling for all existing and future electrical
wiring and apparatus in buildings, structures or outdoor electrical
displays or signs within the corporate limits of the City.
The National Electrical Code adopted in § 185-1 hereof shall be enforced by the Office of the Building Official of the City of Clairton, heretofore created by ordinance of the City, and the executive official in charge shall be known as the "Building Official." The Building Official shall, upon the installation, renewal, extension and reception of any electric wiring and electric apparatus pursuant to this chapter, cause an inspection or inspections to be made by himself or herself or his or her duly authorized agents to determine that the electrical work conforms to the provisions of the National Electrical Code and this chapter and the provisions of the ordinances of this City and the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A.
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 the provision of this chapter.
B.
Application procedure.
(1)
All such applications for a permit shall be made to the Building
Official, in writing, on forms supplied by said Building Official.
(2)
Any person making any false answers to any of the questions or items
set forth in such application form shall forthwith forfeit and surrender
any permit issued pursuant thereto.
(3)
Such application form shall contain questions designed to elicit
information to determine whether or not said proposed electric wiring
and electric apparatus comply with the National Electrical Code and
any other ordinance of this City or the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
(4)
Each such application form shall be accompanied by a fee prescribed
by this chapter.
(5)
Each applicant for a permit shall furnish to the Building Official
proof, in writing, that an application for inspection of the proposed
electric wiring and electric apparatus has been made to "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
to the provisions of the National Electrical Code and this chapter.
The payment of all inspection fees and charges of the Underwriters
or a similar organization shall be borne by the applicant.
(6)
Each applicant for a permit shall cause the premises covered by the
application to be open for inspection or inspections to the Building
Official and his or her agents and the representative or representatives
of the Underwriters or similar organizations at all reasonable times.
C.
Upon the Building Official's determination that the proposed
electric wiring and electric apparatus comply with the National Electrical
Code and the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the
ordinances of this City and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
a permit shall issue forthwith.
D.
All permits shall expire one year from the date of issuance by the
Building Official.
A.
All inspections shall be made to ensure that the proposed electrical
work complies with the provisions of the National Electrical Code.
No electric wiring shall be concealed unless inspected and approved
by the Building Official and his or her agents and the representative
or representatives of the Underwriters or similar organizations, but
such inspection or reinspection shall be made within a reasonable
time after notice of the completion of the electrical work sought
to be inspected for approval. A duplicate record of each written approval
made by the Underwriters or similar organizations 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 the National Electrical Code
shall be made by the Building Official.
C.
The Building Official shall have the power to stop electrical work
and order the removal thereof when he or she determines that such
work is being installed not in conformity with the National Electrical
Code and this chapter and the provisions of the ordinances of this
City and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
D.
The Building Official may waive his or her inspection of all or that
portion of the proposed electrical work for which he or she shall
have received a duplicate record of approval by the Underwriters or
similar organizations that it complies with the provisions of the
National Electrical Code and this chapter. Notice of the waiver of
inspection shall be served on the applicant so that the approved work
can be concealed.
A.
In order to safeguard persons and property 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 City,
the Building Official is hereby given the duty to inspect with his
or her agents and the representative or representatives of the Underwriters
or similar organizations, when requested by the proper authority or
when public interest so requires, any premises within the City at
reasonable times to ensure that the existing electric wiring system
and apparatus are not defective and unsafe.
B.
All decisions that the existing electric wiring system and apparatus
are defective shall be made by the Building Official, in writing,
on notice to the owner of the premises served forthwith personally
or by regular mail addressed to the address as shown on the latest
tax records, with reasons for his or her decision.
C.
Upon the Building Official's decision that the existing electric
wiring system is defective and unsafe aforesaid, the system or portions
of the system which are defective and unsafe shall be discontinued
until they are corrected and made to comply with the provisions of
the National Electrical Code in accordance with this chapter.
A.
Every applicant and owner of the premises and other parties in interest
shall have the right to demand, in writing, a hearing before the Building
Official to contest any decision or order made by him or her. Such
demand for a hearing shall be signed by the contesting party, stating
what portion of the Building Official's decision or orders are
contested and his or her or their interest in the premises.
B.
The Building Official shall fix a time and place for the hearing,
not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days after receiving such demand
for a hearing, and cause a notice of the hearing to be served personally
or by regular mail on the contestant, owner of the premises and other
parties in interest.
C.
The contestant, owner of the premises and other parties in interest
shall have the right to appear in person or otherwise and give testimony
at the hearing, and the rules of evidence prevailing in the courts
shall not be controlling.
D.
The Building Official, within a reasonable time after such hearing,
shall make his or her decision, in writing, with a finding of the
facts and the reasons for his or her decision, and serve a copy of
his or her decision personally or by regular mail on the contestant,
owner of the premises and other parties in interest.
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 the National Electrical Code and this chapter.
The National Electrical Code herein adopted is supplemented
by adding thereto the following, which is made a part thereof: 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.
The Building Official shall have the power to modify any of
the provisions of this chapter upon application, in writing, by the
owner of a premises or his or her agent, when there are practical
difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of this
chapter, provided that the spirit of this chapter shall be observed,
public safety secured and substantial justice done.
All records of the Building 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
Building Official without his or her 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
as defined in Section 48:2-13 of the Revised Statutes of Pennsylvania
and operating under authority granted by 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, manufacturing and maintenance work on premises occupied by
a firm or corporation and installation work on existing buildings
occupied by a firm or corporation and performed by a regular employee
who is a qualified journeyman electrician.
Fees for permits or renewals thereof required by this chapter
shall be as follows where the total valuation of the electrical work
as determined by the Building Official is:
A.
Less than $25: no fee shall be required for the permit.
B.
More than $25 and not more than $100: the sum of $1.
C.
More than $100 and not more than $200: the sum of $2.
D.
More than $200 and not more than $500: the sum of $5.
E.
More than $500 and not more than $1,000: the sum of $10.
F.
More than $1,000: the sum of $10 plus the sum of $1 for each $1,000
or fraction thereof of total valuation.
A.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter
or of the National Electrical Code hereby adopted or 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
and from which no appeal has been taken or who shall fail to comply
with such an order as affirmed or modified by the Building Official
within the time fixed therein shall severally for each and every such
violation and noncompliance, respectively, be guilty of violating
this chapter, punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000, plus costs
of prosecution and, in default of payment of such fine and costs,
to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 90 days. 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 10 days that prohibited conditions
are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.
[Amended 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 1518]
B.
The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent
the enforced removal of prohibited conditions.
