Township of Whitehall, PA ICC Electrical Code

The ICC Electrical Code 2000, Administrative Provisions, shall be amended as follows:

The following sections and subsections shall be added to Chapter 1, Scope, as set forth herein.

Section 101, Subsection 101.1, Title, "Whitehall Township" shall be inserted in [Name of Jurisdiction].

Section 102.6, Referenced Codes and Standards, shall be amended to include the following subsection:

102.6.1. Department of labor and industry. Whenever any provision or requirement of the regulations of the Department of Labor and Industry of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are more stringent or strict than a provision or requirement of this code, the applicable provision or requirement of the regulations of the Department of Labor and Industry shall supersede this code.

(3)

Section 102.1.3, Additions, Alterations and Repairs, shall be amended to include the following subsection:

102.9. Responsibility. The owner of any building or structure shall be responsible for the safety and maintenance of the electrical system and/or equipment of said building or structure at all times. Any electrician, electrical contractor or installer shall be jointly and severally responsible with the owner for the safety and maintenance of any electrical installation or modification.

(4)

Chapter 2, Definitions, Subsection 202, General Definitions: the definition of "Code Official" shall be amended to read as follows:

CODE OFFICIAL — The officer or other designated authority charged by the Township of Whitehall with the administration and enforcement of this code, or a duly authorized representative of the Township of Whitehall. code official, for the provisions contained herein, shall include the "Electrical Inspector" and "Code Enforcement Officer," and all references herein to "Code Official", "Electrical Inspector" or "Code Enforcement Officer" shall mean the same individual or entity.

(5)

Chapter 3, Organization and Enforcement, Subsection 301.1, Creation of Enforcement Agency, shall be amended to read as follows:

301.1. The position of Electrical Inspector is hereby created, and such individual is hereby designated a Code Enforcement Officer for the purposes hereof. The Electrical Inspector is hereby empowered to issue citations to enforce the provisions of this code.

(6)

Subsection 301.2, Appointment, shall be amended to read as follows:

301.2. Appointment. The Electrical Inspector shall be appointed by the Mayor. The conditions of said appointment and the compensation to be paid shall be established from time to time by the Township Board of Commissioners by Resolution.

[Amended 6-8-2009 by Ord. No. 2776, approved 11-3-2009]

(7)

Section 302.4, Notices and Orders, shall be amended to read as follows:

302.4. Notices and orders. The Code Official is authorized to issue all necessary notices or orders in accordance with Chapter 10 as are required to effect compliance with this code. The Electrical Inspector shall issue all necessary notices or orders to: remove illegal or unsafe conditions; require the necessary safeguards during construction; ensure compliance with all the code requirements for the safety, health and general welfare of the public; and issue all necessary notices or orders to ensure compliance with this code.

(8)

Section 302.5 Inspections, shall be amended to read as follows:

302.5. Inspections. The Code Official shall make all of the inspections necessary to determine compliance with the provisions of this code in accordance with Chapter 7. The Electrical Inspector shall make all required inspections or, subject to approval by the Mayor, accept reports of inspection of approved agencies or individuals. All reports of such inspections shall be in writing and certified by a responsible officer of such approved agencies or by the responsible individuals. The Electrical Inspector is authorized to engage such experts as may be deemed necessary to report upon unusual technical issues which may arise, subject to the approval of the Mayor.

[Amended 6-8-2009 by Ord. No. 2776, approved 11-3-2009]

(9)

Section 302.8, Department Records, shall be amended to read as follows:

302.8. Department records. The Code Official shall keep official records of applications received, permits and certificates issued, fees collected, reports of inspections notices and orders issued, and, as required by this code, such records shall be retained in the official records of the Township of Whitehall for the period required for retention of public records. Such records shall be retained in the offices of the Bureau of Planning, Zoning and Development.

(10)

Subsection 302.8.4 shall be added to read as follows:

302.8.4. Annual report. At least annually, the Electrical Inspector shall submit to the Mayor a written statement of operations in form and content as shall be prescribed by the Mayor.

[Amended 6-8-2009 by Ord. No. 2776, approved 11-3-2009]

(11)

Chapter 4, Permits and Fees, Subsection 401.1, Permits Required, shall be amended as follows:

401.1.1. Permits required. A permit shall be required for all new or altered services, new construction, additions, alterations, repairs, or all other work, except that no permit shall be required where the fair market value of the proposed work, as estimated by the Electrical Inspector, is less than $100. Electrical work requiring the issuance of a permit shall not be commenced until a permit for such work has been issued by the Electrical Inspector.

(12)

Subsection 401.2.1 shall be added, to read as follows:

401.2.1. Annual electrical permit. The annual electrical permit is required of commercial and industrial manufacturing facilities only. For the scheduled fee, the property owner may secure an annual electrical permit to cover necessary maintenance related electrical work. A log must be kept of all work done and must be available for regular inspection and review by the Electrical Inspector. The Electrical Inspector reserves the right to determine what is considered "minor" electrical maintenance work, and may require additional permits as necessary if, in his determination, the work exceeds the scope of the annual permit. Said log shall include the date of the work, the location of the work, the name of the installer, and a general description of the work.

(13)

Section 402, Application, shall be amended by adding the following subsections:

	402.2.1. Form of application. Application for a permit for electrical work shall be made on forms prepared and provided by the Township, shall be accompanied by an adequate description of the proposed electrical work, and the required fee.
	402.2.2. By whom application is made. Application for a permit shall be made by the contractor or his agent. If no contractor is involved, then and only then may the owner or lessee apply for an electrical permit. If work is commenced by a contractor or his agent without first applying for a permit, said contractor's Township business license shall be subject to revocation.
	402.2.3. Description of work. The applicant shall provide, in writing, the location of the work, the use and occupancy of the building in which the work is proposed, and any additional information as may required by the Electrical Inspector.
	402.2.4. Plans and specifications. The Electrical Inspector may require the submission and approval of plans and specifications in duplicate showing the nature and extent of the proposed work before a permit is issued. If, in the course of the work, it is necessary to make any changes in the approved plans and specifications for which a permit has been issued, amended plans and specifications shall be submitted, and if approved, a supplementary permit (detailing the changes) shall be issued upon payment of the appropriate fees.
	402.2.5. Engineering details. The Electrical Inspector may require adequate details of the proposed work, including computations and other technical data, to be filed.
	402.2.6. Amendments. Subject to the limitations of Subsection 402.2.4 hereof, amendments of a plan, application, or other records accompanying the same shall be filed at any time before the completion of the work for which the permit is issued; and such amendments shall be deemed part of the original application and shall be filed therewith.
	402.2.7. Time limit. An application for a permit for any proposed work shall be deemed to have been abandoned 90 days after the date of filing, unless such application has been diligently prosecuted or a permit shall have been issued; except that for reasonable cause, the Electrical Inspector may grant one or more extensions of time for additional periods not exceeding 90 days each.

(14)

Section 402.3, Action on Application, shall be amended to read as follows:

402.3. Action on application. The Electrical Inspector shall examine or cause to be examined all applications for permits and amendments thereto within four working days after filing. If the application or the plans do not conform to the requirements of all pertinent statutes, ordinances and regulations, the Electrical Inspector shall reject the application and, in writing, state the reasons therefor. If the Electrical Inspector is satisfied that the proposed work conforms to the requirements of this code and all laws and regulations applicable thereto, a permit shall be issued therefor as soon as practicable. An electrical permit is not transferable.

(15)

Chapter 11, Means of Appeal, shall be deleted in its entirety, and shall be replaced by the following section:

1101. Appeals. Any appeal from any decision or action by the Electrical Inspector shall be heard by the Whitehall Township Building Code Board of Appeals in accordance with the procedures now or hereafter established by the Township under the provisions of the Whitehall Township Building Code. The Building Code Board of Appeals shall determine whether this code or the rules promulgated hereunder, if any, have been correctly interpreted, the provisions of this code do not fully apply, or an equivalent method of construction or materials is to be used.

(16)

Section 404, fees, Subsection 404.2, shall be amended to read as follows:

404.2. Schedule of permit fees. A fee for each permit shall be paid as required, in accordance with the schedule as established by the Township. The fees for electrical work shall be as indicated in Appendix M[1] of the Code of Whitehall Township.

[1]

Editor's Note: The Fee Schedule is on file in the Township offices.

(17)

Subsection 702.1.6, Final Inspection, shall be amended to read as follows:

702.1.6. Final inspection. The final inspection by the Electrical Inspector shall be made after all work required by the permit is completed. Upon the request of the holder of a permit, the Electrical Inspector may issue a temporary authorization to occupy a premises before the entire work covered by the permit shall have been completed, provided such portion or portions may be put into service safely prior to full completion of the building or structure without endangering health or public welfare.

(18)

Subsection 1003.1, Penalties, shall be amended to read as follows:

1003.1. Penalties. Any person who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, construct, alter or repair equipment or systems in violation of the approved construction documents, a directive of the Code Official (Electrical Inspector) of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code shall be guilty of a criminal offense, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense. Upon judgment against any person by summary conviction or by proceedings by summons, on default of the payment of the fine or penalty imposed by said judgment and the costs, the defendant may be sentenced and committed to the Township lockup for a period not exceeding five days or to the County jail or workhouse for a period not exceeding 30 days.

(19)

Chapter 12, Electrical Provisions, Section 1203, Existing Electrical Facilities, shall be amended to include the following subsections:

[Amended 6-11-2012 by Ord. No. 2904]

	1203.2. Update requirements. The following will be required when updating/moving or repairing an electrical service:
	a.	A minimum of two receptacles per room. All unapproved receptacles in the floor shall be removed.
	b.	A minimum of one 20 amp receptacle will be required in the laundry room.
	c.	A minimum of two 20 amp branch circuits will be required in the kitchen for receptacles.
	d.	A minimum of one switch able light or receptacle per room.
	e.	Exposed basement wiring shall be updated to conform to minimum standards as prescribed in the code, if, in the opinion of the Electrical Inspector, an unsafe condition exists. This includes the removal of "knob and tube" wiring that is taped or spliced located in the basement through or below joists.
	f.	(Reserved)
	g.	All other wiring must be corrected to meet wiring specifications contained in this code.
	1203.3. General (commercial). Upon update, repair or moving of electrical service in any commercial (not industrial) facility, the entire electrical system of the facility shall satisfy all of the provisions of this code and article.

(20)

Chapter 12, Electrical Provisions, Section 1202 Provisions, shall be amended to include the following subsections:

	1202.15. Exit and emergency lighting. All exit and emergency lighting shall be dual voltage or be backed up by an emergency generator.
	1202.16. Grounding electrode conductor material. The material for grounding conductors shall be copper; Aluminum or copper-clad aluminum grounding conductors shall not be permitted.
	1202.17. Metal underground water pipe. A metal underground water pipe shall be supplemented by an additional electrode of a type specified in Section 3508.2 and shall have a protective cap installed on the above ground end.