[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Pottsville 5-8-2023 by Ord. No. 913.[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 112, Electrical Standards, adopted 5-21-1966 by Ord. No. 72-66 as Art. 1707 of the 1966 Code, as amended.
All electric wiring for light, heat and power service, equipment for radio and television receiving systems and all alterations or extensions to the existing wiring system in buildings and structures shall comply with the Electrical Code herein adopted.
The provisions of this Electrical Code shall not be applied to electrical power supply companies or communication agencies in respect to the generation, transmission or distribution of electric power and light to public communication transmission systems, to operation of single systems used exclusively by public service agencies and to installation or equipment used by railway utilities and public carriers or radio transmission systems, other than the equipment and wiring for power supply and installation of radio towers and antennas, whether erected on a building or on the ground.
The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the City of Pottsville.
Conformity of all installations of electrical equipment to the National Electrical Code shall be prima facie evidence that such installations and equipment are reasonably safe for use in the service intended and in compliance with the provisions of this Electrical Code.
The materials, fittings, appliances, devices and other equipment listed in publications of inspected electrical equipment of the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., and other accredited authoritative agencies and testing organizations and installed in accordance with the recommendations of the approved report shall be accepted as meeting the requirements of this Electrical Code.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Electrical Code.
The Code Enforcement Officer, in the discharge of his official duties and upon proper identification, shall have authority to enter any building, structure or premises at any reasonable hour.
No wiring, devices or equipment for the transmission, distribution or utilization of electrical energy for any purpose shall be installed within or on any building or structure, nor shall any alteration or addition be made in any such existing wiring, devices or equipment without first securing a permit therefor from the Code Enforcement Officer, except as stated in §§ 112-9 through 112-12.
A. 
No permit shall be required for minor repair work such as repairing fuses and snap switches, replacing fuses, changing lamp sockets and receptacles, tapping joints and repairing drop cords or for the replacement of lamps or the connection of portable devices to suitable receptacles which have been permanently installed.
B. 
No permit shall be required for the installation of wiring devices or equipment for the operation of signals or for the transmission of intelligence where such wiring, devices or equipment are an integral part of the communication system owned and operated by a telephone or telegraph company in rendering its duly authorized service as a telephone or telegraph company.
C. 
No permit shall be required for the installation of electric wiring, devices or equipment installed for or by a public utility corporation, provided that such wiring, devices or equipment are for the use of such corporation in its operation as a public utility.
The Code Enforcement Officer may permit the supply of temporary current for a partial installation or for testing purposes.
Application for electrical permits shall be made in writing to the Code Enforcement Officer and shall state the size of conductors to be used for all service mains, feeders and subfeeders, the area to be served by each conductor and the basis used in computing the required size of each conductor. When required by the Code Enforcement Officer, the application shall contain complete plans and specifications for the installation.
A. 
No electrical wiring system shall be used or current supplied for light, heat or power or connected to any receptacle inside or outside the building or structure until permitted work has been inspected and approved by the Middle Department Association of Fire Underwriters or similar organizations and a duplicate report of such approval is filed in the office of the Code Enforcement Officer and a certificate of approval authorizing connection to the electrical service, the turning on of the current and the use of the installation is secured from the Code Enforcement Officer.
B. 
In order to safeguard persons and property against the hazards and peril incident to defective electrical wiring apparatus that may now be in existence within the corporate limits of the City, the Code Enforcement Officer or his duly authorized representative is hereby given the duty to inspect, with his agents and the representative(s) of the Middle Department Association of Fire Underwriters or similar organizations when requested by proper authorities or when public interest so requires, any premises within the City at reasonable times to ensure that the existing electrical system and apparatus is not defective and unsafe.
C. 
All decisions that the existing electrical wiring system and apparatus is defective shall be made by the Code Enforcement Officer, in writing, on notice to the owner of the premises served forthwith personally or by regular mail addressed to the address shown on the latest tax records, with reason for his decision.
D. 
Upon the decision of the Code Enforcement Officer or his duly authorized representative that the existing electrical wiring system is defective and unsafe, use of the system or portion of the system which is defective and unsafe shall be discontinued until it is corrected and made to comply with the provisions of the National Electrical Code in accordance with this chapter.
A. 
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be fined not more than $1,000 and, in default of payment of fine and costs, be imprisoned not more than 90 days.
B. 
The imposition of any fine for any violation of this Electrical Code shall not excuse such violation or permit it to continue.