Hatfield Township hereby elects to administer
and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act,
Act 45 of 1999, 35 P.S. §§ 7210.101 to 7210.1103, as
amended, and its regulations.
[Amended 12-21-2009 by Ord. No. 593; 7-27-2022 by Ord. No. 700]
The Uniform Construction Code contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters
401 to 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated
herein by reference as the Municipal Building Code of Hatfield Township,
together with the following adoptions, modifications, and appendixes:
A. 2018 International Residential Building Code.
(1) Appendix F (Passive Radon Control Methods).
(2) Appendix H (Patio Covers).
(3) Appendix J (Existing Building and Structures).
(4) Appendix M (Home Day Care - R-3 Occupancy).
B. 2018 International Fire Code. The 2018 International Fire Code is
adopted by reference as the Hatfield Township Fire Code, with the
following adoptions, modifications, and appendixes:
(1) Any Hatfield Township fire marshal shall be considered a Hatfield
Township fire code official.
(2) Violations of the requirements of the Fire Code shall be considered
summary offenses, subject to a fine of no more than $600 and/or 30
days' imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues after
due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.
(3) All references to "fire chief" shall be replaced with "fire code
official."
(4) The fire code official shall have the authority to issue citations
for obstructions of fire apparatus access roads, fire lanes and fire
protection equipment on public or private property. Obstruction of
a fire apparatus access road or fire lane is punishable by a fine
as established by the Board of Commissioners and set forth in the
Hatfield Township Fee Schedule, which fine may be amended from time to time by resolution
of the Board of Commissioners.
(5) Building address numbers shall be a minimum of six inches (152.4
mm) high with a minimum stroke width of 0.75 inch (19.05 mm).
(6) The fire code official shall have the authority to assign addresses,
suite numbers and require signage as needed to insure for appropriate
and consistent identification of buildings, occupancies, fire protection
equipment and safety hazards for the emergency services. All signage
shall be located as directed by the fire code official.
(7) The following appendixes are adopted and shall be enforced at the
discretion of the fire code official:
(a)
Appendix B (Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings).
(b)
Appendix C (Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution).
(c)
Appendix D (Fire Apparatus Access Roads).
(d)
Appendix E (Hazard Categories).
(e)
Appendix F (Hazard Ranking).
(f)
Appendix G (Cryogenic Fluids-Weight and Volume Equivalents).
(g)
Appendix I (Fire Protection Systems-Noncompliant Conditions).
(8) A new Appendix Z is added to the Hatfield Township Fire Code, as
follows:
Appendix Z. Fire and Life Safety Inspection Program.
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Z101. A Fire and Life Safety Inspection Program
is hereby established.
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Z102. The Fire and Safety Inspection Program is
designed to increase the level of the health and safety of building
occupants through a comprehensive program of education, inspection
and enforcement.
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Z103. The Fire Marshal shall be the administrator
of the Fire and Life Safety Inspection Program.
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Z104. All nonresidential facilities/buildings,
multifamily residential buildings and all residential rental units
shall be inspected under this program.
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Z105. Inspections shall be based on the fire, health
and safety code requirements established within the current versions
of the International Fire Code and International Property Maintenance
Code.
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Z106. All nonresidential facilities/buildings shall
be inspected on a schedule established by the Fire Marshal. All multifamily
residential buildings and all rental units shall be inspected annually.
Inspections shall be performed by employees of the Safety and Code
Enforcement Department, or other qualified inspectors assigned by
the Township.
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Z107. The inspector shall provide the owner/occupant
with a written list of code violations (if any), and a date by which
all violations must be corrected.
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Z108. Fees for the Fire and Life Safety Inspection
Program shall be established by the Board of Commissioners and shall
be set forth in the Hatfield Township Fee Schedule. Said fees may be amended from time to time by resolution
of the Board of Commissioners.
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Z108.1. The inspection fee shall cover
the initial inspection and one follow-up inspection (if needed) for
each inspection cycle.
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Z108.2 Each additional inspection required
beyond the first follow-up inspection shall be subject to an additional
inspection fee until code compliance is achieved.
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Z109. Failure to allow access for the inspector
to perform the inspection within 30 calendar days of notification
of the inspection may result in an enforcement action initiated by
the Township.
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Z110. Failure to correct all code violations within
an established time frame may result in an enforcement action initiated
by the Township.
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Z111. Failure to pay the required inspection fee(s)
within 30 days of the receipt of an invoice therefor may result in
an enforcement action initiated by the Township.
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Z112. Violations and Penalties. Failure to adhere
to the requirements of this Appendix Z may result in an enforcement
action initiated by the Township. If a person or entity is found guilty
of violating this Appendix Z, a fine shall be levied in the maximum
amount of $600 per offense, plus court costs and attorneys' fees.
In default of payment thereof, a violator shall be subject to imprisonment
for a term not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation continues
after the expiration of the initial period to correct such violation(s)
shall constitute a separate offense.
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Administration and enforcement of the Pennsylvania
Construction Code Act, as amended, and its regulations, within Hatfield
Township shall be undertaken in any of the following ways as determined
by the Board of Commissioners from time to time by resolution:
A. By the designation of an employee of Hatfield Township
to serve as the municipal code official to act on behalf of the Township;
B. By the retention of one or more construction code
officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of Hatfield Township;
C. By agreement with one or more other municipalities
for the joint administration and enforcement of the code through an
intermunicipal agreement;
D. By entering into a contract with another municipality
for the administration and enforcement of this Act on behalf of Hatfield
Township;
E. By entering into an agreement with the Pennsylvania
Department of Labor and Industry for plan review, inspections and
enforcement of structures other than one-family or two-family dwelling
units and utility and miscellaneous use structures.
A board of appeals has been established by resolution
of the Board of Commissioners in conformity with the requirements
of the relevant provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act,
as amended, and its regulations, and for the purposes set forth therein.
If at any time enforcement and administration is undertaken jointly
with one or more other municipalities, said board of appeals shall
be established by joint action of the participating municipalities.
[Amended 10-8-2014 by Ord. No. 652; 5-25-2016 by Ord. No. 664; 7-27-2022 by Ord. No. 700]
Technical modifications to the municipal building code of Hatfield
Township are as follows:
A. Private garages located below all Residential Group R and Institutional
Group I-1 use habitable space shall be separated from adjacent interior
spaces by fire partitions, floors and ceilings which are constructed
with not less than a one-hour fire-resistance rating. Attached private
garages shall be completely separated from the adjacent interior spaces
and the attic area by means of five-eighths-inch fire code gypsum
wallboard or the equivalent applied to the garage side. The sills
of all door openings between the garage and adjacent interior spaces
shall be raised no less than four inches (102 mm) above the garage
floor. The door opening protectives shall be one-and-three-fourths-inch
solid core wood doors or approved equivalent with a self-closing device.
All other code requirements relating to attached garages are retained.
B. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this code, the requirements
for fire separations in twin, townhouse, duplex, triplex, and fourplex
dwellings shall be as follows: one- and two-family dwelling units
attached to other dwelling units shall be completely separated from
the attached dwelling units by wall assemblies of not less than two-hour
fire-resistant construction. Dwelling units located above other dwelling
units shall be completely separated from the other dwelling units
by floor/ceiling assemblies of not less than two-hour fire-resistant
construction. Any projections, overhangs, supporting construction
or additional locations at which a fire-resistant rating is required,
a minimum two-hour fire-resistance rating shall be provided. The construction
methods and materials associated with these fire-resistance assemblies
shall be in accordance with the municipal building code of Hatfield
Township. Note that the terms "twin, townhouse, duplex, triplex, and
fourplex dwelling" shall include any configuration in which one- and
two-family dwelling units share common wall or floor/ceiling construction.
All other code requirements relating to the separation of dwelling
units are retained.
C. 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.
D. Automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be installed and maintained
in full operating condition, in the locations indicated in this section:
(1) Use Group A. In all buildings or structures with an occupancy load
of 100 or more.
(2) Use Groups H, I, R-1, R-2. In all buildings or structures or portions
thereof.
(3) Use Groups B, E, F, M, S, U. In all buildings or structures or portions
thereof when more than 5,000 square feet in area or 35 or more feet
in height.
(4) All use groups. In any portion of a structure below a residential
occupancy. Exception: R-3 and R-4 occupancies.
(5) All use groups. In any below-grade area of 500 square feet or more.
Exception: R-3 and R-4 occupancies, where the area limit shall be
2,000 square feet.
(6) Painting rooms. In spray-painting rooms or shops where painting,
brushing, dipping or mixing is regularly conducted using flammable
materials.
(7) Trash rooms and chutes. In rooms or areas used for incineration,
trash and laundry collection and similar uses; and at alternate floor
levels and at the top of all chutes used in conjunction with these
rooms or areas.
(8) Furnace rooms. In furnace rooms, boiler rooms and rooms for similar
uses. Exception: one- and two-family dwellings.
Fees assessable by Hatfield Township for the
administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this chapter
and the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and its regulations shall
be established by the Board of Commissioners by resolution from time
to time.
In the event that there is any conflict between
the provisions of this chapter and any other duly enacted ordinance
of the Township, the provisions in this chapter shall prevail. Any
other terms and provisions of the ordinances of the Township that
are unaffected by this chapter are hereby reaffirmed and ratified.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to
affect any suit or proceeding pending in any court, or any rights
acquired or liability incurred, or any permit issued, or any cause
or causes of action existing under the ordinances of the Township
of Hatfield prior to enactment of this chapter.
[Amended 7-27-2022 by Ord. No. 700]
Any person who fails to correct a violation or institute a remedial
action as ordered by a fire code official or who violates a provision
or fails to comply with any requirements of this chapter or of the
other applicable provisions of the Township Code shall be subject
upon summary conviction, for each violation, to a fine not exceeding
$600, plus costs or prosecution, and, in default of payment of such
fine and cost, to imprisonment not exceeding 30 days. Each day's
failure to comply herewith shall constitute a separate offense.