Borough of Perkasie, PA Building Construction

The following documents, copies of which are on file in the office of the Manager of the Borough of Perkasie, are hereby adopted and/or updated as the building codes of the Borough of Perkasie for the control of buildings and structures, with all the regulatory provisions, penalties, conditions and terms made a part hereof as if fully set out in this chapter:

The BOCA National Building Code, Twelfth Edition, 1993, as published by the Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc.

The CABO One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, 1992 Edition, with Appendices A, B, C and D, as published by the Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc., the International Conference of Building Officials and the Southern Building Code Congress International.

[1]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 70-2 Modifications and amendments to building standards.

[Amended 10-17-1988 by Ord. No. 609; 12-20-1993 by Ord. No. 731]

The following sections of the BOCA National Building Code, 1993, are hereby revised as follows:

In Section 101.1, Title, the name "Borough of Perkasie" shall be inserted as the name of jurisdiction referred to in this code.

Section 101.2, Scope, shall be amended to provide that "this code shall regulate as specified, except that the CABO One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, 1992 Edition, shall apply to the construction, prefabrication, alteration, repair, use, occupancy and maintenance of detached one- or two-family dwellings not more than three stories in height."

Section 107.5, Construction documents, is amended to add the following: "For types of buildings or structures requiring the approval of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry or other state, federal or county agency, plans and specifications submitted with the building permit application shall bear evidence of approval of such departments or agencies."

Section 109, Temporary Structures, shall be deleted in its entirety.

Section 112.3.1, Fee schedule, shall be amended to read as follows:

112.3.1 Fee schedule: A fee for each plan examination, building permit and inspections shall be paid in accordance with the building permit fee schedule established and adopted by the Borough of Perkasie.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Building permit fees are subject to change. Current fees are available and may be found on file in the office of the Borough Secretary.

Section 116.4, Violation penalties, shall be amended to insert the following wording:

(1)

In line 6: "summary offense."

(2)

In line 7: "$1,000."

(3)

In line 8: "30 days."

Section 117.2, Unlawful continuance, shall be amended to insert the following wording:

(1)

In line 5: "$500" and "$1,000."

Section 118.1.1, Requirements, shall be added and shall read as follows:

118.1.1 Requirements: A certificate of occupancy is required whenever there is a change from one use group to a different use group or a transfer of ownership.

Exception: A certificate of occupancy is not required for transfer of ownership in one- and two-family dwellings (Use Groups R-3 and R-4).

Section 121.1.1, Fees for appeals, shall be added and shall read as follows:

121.1.1 Fees for appeals: Fees set forth by Borough Council shall be paid at time of application to the Board of Appeals and are not refundable.

Section 121.2, Membership of board, shall be amended to read as follows:

121.2 Membership of Board: The Board of Appeals shall consist of a quorum of the Perkasie Borough Council.

Section 121.2.1, "Qualifications," shall be deleted in its entirety.

Section 121.5, Postponed hearing, shall be amended to read as follows:

121.5 Postponed hearing: When a quorum of Borough Council is not present to hear an appeal, either the appellant or the appellant's representative shall have the right to request a postponement of the hearing.

Section 121.6, Board decision, shall be amended to read as follows:

121.6 Board decision: The Board shall modify or reverse the decision of the code official by a concurring vote of the majority of the members.

Section 421.10, Enclosures for private swimming pools, spas and hot tubs, shall be deleted in its entirety.

In Section 707.5, Continuity of walls, the first sentence shall be amended to read as follows: "In all buildings or structures, walls shall be continuous from foundation to 12 inches above the roof surface, except as provided in Sections 707.5.1 through 707.5.3."

Chapter 13, Energy Conservation, shall be deleted in its entirety.

Section 3304.2, Fences, shall be deleted in its entirety.

Chapter 34, regarding existing structures, Sections 3401, 3402, 3403, 3404, 3405 and 3406 are hereby adopted as the Building Code of the Borough of Perkasie for the alteration, repair, addition and change of occupancy of existing structures. The remaining provisions of Chapter 34 shall be deleted in their entirety.

[Amended 10-17-1994 by Ord. No. 753]

§ 70-3 Modifications and amendments to dwelling standards.

[Amended 12-20-1993 by Ord. No. 731]

The following insertions and amendments to the CABO One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, 1992 Edition, are hereby adopted:

Section R-106.3, Penalty, shall be amended to read as follows:

R-106.3 Penalty: Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this code shall be guilty of a summary offense, and each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of this code is committed, continued or permitted, and upon conviction of any such violation, such person shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000.

Section R-107, Right of Appeal, shall be amended to read as follows:

R-107 Right of Appeal

All persons shall have the right to appeal the Building Official's decision to Borough Council as set forth in Section 121 of the BOCA National Building Code.

Information required by Table No. R-201.2, Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria, shall be inserted as follows:

(1)

Roof live load: "Twenty pounds per square foot."

(2)

Roof snow load: "Twenty pounds per square foot."

(3)

Wind pressure: "Not applicable (N/A)."

(4)

Seismic condition: "Zone 1."

(5)

Weathering: "Severe."

(6)

Frost line depth: "Yes (thirty-six-inch depth)." "Exception: For concrete patios and wooden decks less than 30 inches above finished grade, the depth of footing may be reduced to 24 inches below finished grade."

(7)

Termite: "Moderate to heavy."

(8)

Decay: "Slight to moderate."

(9)

Winter design temperature for heating facilities: "Ten."

(10)

Note to table: "The criteria shown in this table reflects standard conditions. Unusual or irregular building shapes or conditions shall require compliance with applicable standards of Chapter 16 of the BOCA National Building Code/1993, as amended, as determined by the Code Enforcement Officer."

Section R-310, Protection Against Termites, shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with Section R-308 of the CABO One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, 1986 Edition.

Section R-702.2.1, Cathedral or vaulted ceilings, shall be added and shall read as follows:

R-702.2.1 Cathedral or vaulted ceilings: Where a continuous tie between exterior walls is not practical in a cathedral or vaulted ceiling, an engineered design must be approved to ensure relief from horizontal thrust to the exterior walls created by the roof load.

Section R-901.6, Wall thickness, shall be amended to read as follows:

[Amended 10-17-1994 by Ord. No. 753]

R-901.6 Wall thickness: Masonry chimney walls shall be constructed of solid masonry units with not less than four-inch nominal thickness.

In Section R-904, Factory-Built Fireplaces, R-904.1, Installation, shall be amended to add the following:

7. Wood framing surrounding prefabricated fireplaces and metal chimneys shall be protected on the inside with five-eighths-inch weather-resistive fire-rated drywall, taped and spackled.

Chapter 25, Sewers and Private or Individual Sewage Disposal Systems, shall be deleted in its entirety and substituted with the following:

Section P-2501 — General

All requirements and standards for private and/or individual sewage disposal systems shall be as specified and regulated by the Bucks County Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources.

Private and/or individual sewage disposal systems shall not be installed, altered or repaired where a connection with a public sewer is available.

§ 70-4 Exceptions to building permit requirements.

[Amended 10-17-1988 by Ord. No. 609]

The following activities shall not require a building permit except when such activities are in violation of Chapter 186, Zoning, of the Code of the Borough of Perkasie:

Any interior or exterior repair, remodeling or redecorating which does not require any structural change or any change of use of a building or portion thereof.

Repair or replacement of a roof, deck or floor or banister of an unenclosed porch or patio attached to the principal residential use, provided that such work involves no structural change to the principal use.

Repair or replacement in kind of doors, door frames, window sash or window frames, provided that such work requires no structural change.

§ 70-5 (Reserved) [1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Former § 70-5, Electrical standards; inspections and approval required, as amended 12-20-1993 by Ord. No. 731, has been moved to Ch. 85, Electrical Standards and Service, Art. II, Standards; Inspections.

§ 70-6 Energy conservation.

[Amended 10-17-1988 by Ord. No. 609; 8-16-1993 by Ord. No. 729]

Every residential building or residential structure which is constructed, converted, remodeled or otherwise altered, which is either heated or cooled, and which provides facilities or shelter for human occupancy shall have properly installed thermal insulation which shall meet or exceed the insulation values and the conditions hereinafter set forth.

Table of insulation values:

	Part of Building	R Value*
	Ceiling	R-30
	Wall	R-13
	Floor over unheated area	R-19
	Slab floor (perimeter)	R-7
	NOTES:
	* "R value" is the measure of resistance to heat flow through material. In determining the heat resistance values of a building and for the purpose of this regulation, the R value above shall apply only to that of the insulation material. In determining the R value of any insulation material or product, generally, the published specification of the manufacturer of the material or product shall be used. In the event that such specification can not be produced or determined, then the appropriate tables for thermal resistance values and heat transfer shall be used as appear in Manual J, Load Calculations, published by the National Environmental Systems Contractors Association.

Windows. Double-glazed windows or storm windows shall be installed at all exterior window openings to heated or cooled areas.

Doors. Insulated doors or storm doors shall be installed at all exterior doors.

Unheated areas. Unless furnished with a positive heat supply, a basement, crawl space and garage shall be classified as unheated areas, and the insulation between such unheated areas and living areas shall meet the requirements of the table above.

Ventilation. Attic space shall have a minimum of one square foot of outlet vent for each 300 square feet of ceiling area. Crawl space (without moisture seal) shall have a minimum of four vents with one square foot of vent for each 150 square feet of crawl space. Crawl space, with moisture seal, shall have a minimum of two vents with one square foot of vent for each 1,500 square feet of crawl space.

Foundation and basement floors. In buildings of wood stud construction, an insulation sill sealer shall be placed between the masonry foundation wall and the sill plate. For on-grade construction, rigid insulation of not less than a two-inch thickness shall be applied to the interior face of all exterior walls and extend below the exterior grade not less than 12 inches.

Heating pipes, ducts and domestic water heaters. All hot-water heating pipes, warm-air heating ducts and domestic hot-water heaters located in unheated areas shall be insulated with one inch or equivalent of the most appropriate industry-standard material.

Multifamily dwellings. In multifamily buildings, the insulation in walls and floors between dwelling units shall be considered as exterior walls or as floors over unheated areas.

Workmanship and inspection. All insulation material shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. All work shall be conducted and completed in an acceptable manner so as to secure the results intended by these regulations. Installed insulation shall not be covered without adequate opportunity for the inspection of the installation by the Building Official or his representative.

§ 70-7 Interpretation of standards; more restrictive provisions to apply.

The provisions of this chapter shall be held to be the minimum requirements for regulating the erection, construction, enlargement, equipment, use, height, area and maintenance of all buildings and/or structures. Where the provisions of this chapter impose greater restrictions than those of any ordinance, law or regulation of this borough or of the county, state or federal governments, the provisions of this chapter will be controlling. Where the provisions of such other ordinances, laws or regulations impose a greater restriction, the provisions of such ordinances, laws or regulations shall be controlling.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Former §§ 70-8 and 70-9, which immediately followed this section, have been moved, as follows: § 70-8, Designation of historic buildings and structures, added 6-19-1995 by Ord. No. 767, has been moved to Ch. 102, Historic Structures; and § 70-9, Dumpsters or trash receptacles in streets; permit required, added 11-18-1996 by Ord. No. 785, has been moved to Ch. 96, Garbage, Rubbish and Refuse, Part 3, Dumpsters.