[Adopted 11-10-2003 by Ord. No. 2439]
A certain document, three copies of which are
on file in the office of the Bureau of Planning, Zoning and Development,
Department of Operations, Township of Whitehall, being marked and
designated as the "he International Residential Code for One- and
Two- Family Dwellings, 2000" (hereinafter referred to as the "International
Residential Code"); as published in cooperation with the International
Conference of Building Officials and the Southern Building Code Congress
International, Inc.; as hereinafter amended by and is hereby adopted
as the "Whitehall Township Residential Code," in the County of Lehigh,
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the control of one- and two-family
buildings and structures as herein provided; and each and all of the
regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said International
Residential Code, as hereinafter amended, are hereby referred to,
adopted, and made a part of hereof as if fully set out in this article.
The International Residential Code and this article shall collectively
be considered and referred to therein as in the International Code
as the "code."
All other building ordinances or codes inconsistent
herewith, whether in whole or in part, are hereby repealed, except
as hereinafter specifically adopted, continued, or included by reference.
In the event that this article, code or part thereof is in conflict
with any other non-building ordinance or code or part thereof, the
more restrictive provisions shall be deemed applicable.
A.
The International Residential Code is hereby revised
and amended, pursuant to the following additions, amendments, as:
(1)
Subsection R101.1, Title, (second line) shall be amended
to insert "Township of Whitehall" for "(Name of Jurisdiction)."
(2)
Chapter 1, Administration, Section R102, Applicability, Subsection R102.1, General, the last sentence thereof shall be amended to read as follows:
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Except as is required by any applicable state
or federal law, statute, rule, regulation, or order relative to making
buildings accessible to disabled persons, the construction, addition,
alteration, repair, or removal of or to any structures shall conform
to that required of a new structure without requiring the existing
structure to comply with all of the requirements of this code, except
that no owner of any commercial or industrial structure shall affix
any addition, enlargement or extension thereto unless the original
structure or building has a foundation which complies with the requirements
set forth in this code.
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(3)
Section R102, Applicability, Subsection R102.2, Other
Laws, shall be amended to include the following subsections:
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R102.2.1. Requirements of department of
labor and industry of Pennsylvania: Whenever any provision
or requirement of the regulations of the Department of Labor and Industry
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is more stringent or stricter
than a provision or requirement of the code, then the applicable provision
or requirement of the regulations of the said Department of Labor
and Industry shall supersede any such provision or requirement of
the code.
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R102.2.2. Access by physically handicapped: All buildings and building sites which are subject to federal or
state laws, rules, or orders relative to making the same accessible
to and usable by person with disabilities (i.e., the Americans With
Disabilities Act) shall comply with all such standards, specifications,
and principles of those legislative enactments including, but not
limited to, areas of refuge.
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(4)
Section R102, Applicability, Subsection R102.7.1,
Additions, Alterations or Repairs, shall be amended to read:
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R102.7. Additions, alterations or repairs: Additions, alterations or repairs to any structure shall conform
to that required for a new structure without requiring the existing
structure to comply with all of the requirements of this code unless
otherwise stated. Additions, alterations or repairs shall not cause
an existing structure to become unsafe or adversely affect the performance
of the building. Ordinary repairs to single-family residential dwelling
units shall be construed to include interior alterations, additions
or modifications of non-bearing walls or supports that do not involve
the relocation or extension of water supply, sanitary sewer, gas service,
electrical service or mechanical conveyance systems. Where these utility
systems are relocated or extended, the jurisdiction of this code is
limited to the specific system(s) relocation(s) and not the entire
project.
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(5)
Section R103, Department of Building Safety, Subsections
R103.1 through R103.3, are hereby deleted and shall be replaced with
the following:
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R103.1. Administration. This code
shall be administered by the Department of Operations, Bureau of Planning,
Zoning and Development. The Township Zoning Officer shall receive
all requests and applications for building permits and zoning permits,
issue building permits and zoning permits, and keep a record of all
applications for permits and permits issued, with notation of all
special conditions involved.
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R103.2. Effective administration and reports. Responsibility for effective administration of this code and for
periodic reports relating to enforcement hereof is that of the chief
of the Bureau of Planning, Zoning and Development.
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R103.3. Appointment. The Building
Inspector or Inspectors shall be appointed by the Mayor. Building
Inspectors shall conduct inspections of all work accomplished in the
Township and shall maintain detailed records of all such activities.
Building Inspectors shall not be engaged in the Township, directly
or indirectly, with the furnishing of labor, materials or appliances
for the construction, alteration, or maintenance of a building, or
in the preparation of plans or specifications therefor, unless such
Inspector is the owner of such building.
[Amended 6-8-2009 by Ord. No. 2776, approved 11-3-2009] |
(6)
Section R104, Duties and Powers of the Building Official,
Subsections R104.1 and R104.4, are hereby deleted and replaced with
the following:
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R104.1. General. This code may
be enforced by the Director of the Department of Operations. All individuals
charged with the enforcement are hereby deemed, individually, as the
Code Enforcement Officer and collectively as the Code Enforcement
Officers. Building Inspectors are hereby expressly granted enforcement
authority. The Building Official is hereby authorized and directed
to enforce the provisions of this code. The building official shall
have the authority to render interpretations of this code and to adopt
policies and procedures in order to clarify the application of its
provisions. Such interpretations, policies and procedures shall be
in compliance with the intent and purpose of this code. Such policies
and procedures shall not have the effect of waiving requirements specifically
provided for in this code.
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R104.4. Inspections. All required
building code inspections shall be made by the Building Inspector
or by such other personnel as are designated by the Bureau Chief of
Planning, Zoning and Development or by the Mayor. All inspections
shall be reported in writing to the Chief of the Bureau of Planning,
Zoning and Development or to his or her designee. Each Building Inspector
shall have the power and duty, in the interest of public safety, health
and general welfare, to designate reasonable requirements in addition
to those found herein, applicable because of the local climactic or
other conditions, provided that such additional requirements do not
waive any provision hereof. The building official is authorized to
engage such expert opinion as deemed necessary to report upon unusual
technical issues that arise, subject to the approval of the appointing
authority.
[Amended 6-8-2009 by Ord. No. 2776, approved 11-3-2009] |
(7)
Section R105, Permits, Subsection R105.1, Required,
shall be amended to read as follows:
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R105.1. Required. Any owner or
authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair,
move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure
or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace
any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation
of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be
done shall first make application to the building official and obtain
the required permit. 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 a building permit. If work
is commenced by any contractor or his agent without first applying
for a permit, said contractor's Township business license shall be
subject to revocation.
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(8)
Subsection R105.3.1, Action on Application, shall
be amended to include the following:
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For the purposes of this section, the phrase
"reasonable time" shall mean 90 days after a fully completed application
is submitted. Notice of the disapproval of an application shall include
a brief explanation setting forth the reasons for the disapproval
and the manner in which the application can be corrected and/or modified
to obtain approval. Where plans, specifications, plot plans and engineering
details are not required, or where plans and plot plans are required
for standard residential construction, action on the application shall
be taken no later than 10 working days after the application is submitted.
Notwithstanding any term, condition or provision of this subsection,
no permit shall be issued until such time as the Pennsylvania Department
of Labor and Industry has either issued a letter that no approval
is necessary or has approved all commercial and/or multifamily plans
and/or that the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has approved
all food service establishment plans.
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(9)
Subsection R105.3.2, Time Limitation of Application,
shall be amended to read as follows:
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R105.3.2. Time limitation of application. 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 the code official shall grant one or more
extensions of time for additional periods not exceeding 90 days each
if there is reasonable cause.
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(10)
Subsection R105.6, Suspension or revocation, shall
be amended to read as follows:
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R105.6. Suspension or revocation. The building official is authorized to suspend or revoke a permit
issued under the provision of this code wherever the permit is issued
in error or on the basis of incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete information,
or in violation of any ordinance or regulation or any of the provision
of this code. Any permit issued shall become invalid if the authorized
work is not commenced within six months after issuance of the permit
or if the authorized work is suspended or abandoned for a period of
one year after the date of the commencement of the work. Notwithstanding
any term, condition or provision of this code to the contrary, each
and every building permit shall expire within one year of the date
that the said permit is issued.
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(11)
Subsection R106.1, Submittal documents, shall be amended
to read as follows:
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106.1. Submittal documents. Construction
documents, special inspection and structural observation programs,
and other data shall be submitted in one or more sets with each application
for a permit. For the construction, alteration, repairs, expansion,
addition or modification of all nonresidential buildings and all multifamily
apartment buildings, the code official shall require to be filed adequate
details of structural, mechanical and electrical work, including computations,
stress diagrams and other essential technical data. All engineering
plans and computations shall bear the signature and seal of the engineer
or architect responsible for the design. Where special conditions
exist, the building official is authorized to require additional construction
documents to be prepared by a registered design professional. When
construction documents are required by this code for a building permit
application, the same shall be prepared by a registered design professional
consistent with the professional registration laws of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania. Such construction documents shall include the name
an address of a registered design professional and shall be signed,
sealed, and dated by the registered design professional. All such
plans shall first be submitted for plan review by Building Officials
and Code Administrators (BOCA) International for mechanical, building,
and energy conservation, electrical and plumbing review.
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(12)
Subsection R106.2, Site plan, shall be amended to
add the following subsections:
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R106.2.1. All new work shall be
located strictly in accordance with the approved plot plan. No changes
shall be permitted, except for changes which do not violate the provisions
of this code or any other Township codes.
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(13)
Subsection R108.2, Schedule of permit fees, shall
be amended to read:
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R108.2. Schedule of permit fees. On buildings, structures, electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing
systems or alterations requiring a permit, a fee for each permit shall
be paid as required in Appendix M[1] of the Code of Whitehall Township. The permit fee for
the demolition of a building or structure is also listed in this appendix.
No permit for demolition of any structure shall be issued until such
time as all required permits have been secured from the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection.
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[1]
Editor's Note: The Fee Schedule is on file
in the Township offices.
(14)
Subsection R108.5, Refunds, shall be deleted in its
entirety.
(15)
Subsection R109, Inspections, shall be amended to
include the following subsections:
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R109.1.7. After foundation construction,
and prior to backfilling and prior to the commencement of framing
or above-grade construction.
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R109.1.8. After completion of plastering, flooring
and trim, but prior to interior finishing or decoration.
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(16)
Subsection R109.2, Inspection agencies, shall be amended
to read as follows:
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R109.2. Inspection agencies. The
Building Inspector may accept reports of accredited/licensed inspection
services which satisfy Township code requirements as to qualifications
and reliability, excepting final inspections, which shall be conducted
by appropriate Township personnel.
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(17)
Subsection R109.3, Inspection requests, shall be amended
to include the following subsections:
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R109.3.1.1. Twenty-four-hour prior notice. The applicant or his duly authorized agent or contractor shall be
responsible for notifying the Building Inspector at least 24 hours
prior to each of the above construction milestones.
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R109.3.1.2. Applicant responsibility. The absence of full time enforcement availability by the Building
Inspector shall not relieve the applicant form the requirement and
responsibility for full compliance with all applicable provisions
of this code.
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(18)
Section R110, Certificate of occupancy, Subsection
R110.1, Use and occupancy, shall be revised to read:
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R110.1. Use and occupancy. No building
or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing
occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof
shall be made until the building official has issued a certificate
of occupancy therefore as provided herein. Issuance of a certificate
of occupancy shall not be construed as an approval of a violation
of the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the Township.
Certificates presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the
provisions of this code or other ordinances of the Township shall
not be valid. A certificate of occupancy shall only be issued upon
full compliance with all applicable Whitehall Township ordinances,
including but not limited to the Whitehall Township Zoning, Building,
Electrical, Mechanical, Fire Prevention and Plumbing Code Ordinances.
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(19)
Subsection R110.3, Certificate issued, shall be amended
to read as follows:
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R110.3. Certificate issued. When
a building or structure is entitled thereto, the Code Enforcement
Officer shall issue a certificate of use and occupancy within 10 days
after written application therefor. The certificate of use and occupancy
shall certify compliance with the provisions of this code and the
purposes for which the building or structure will be used in its several
parts. The certificate of use and occupancy shall specify the use
group, the type of construction, and any special stipulations and
conditions of the construction permits (building, plumbing electrical,
etc.).
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(20)
Section R112, Board of Appeals, Subsection R112.1,
General, shall be amended to read:
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R112.1. General. In order to hear
and decide appeals of orders, decisions, or determinations made by
the building official relative to application and interpretation of
this code, there shall be, and is hereby created, a board of appeals.
The Board of Appeals shall be appointed by the governing body and
shall hold office at is pleasure. The Board shall adopt rules of procedure
for conducting its business. The Board of Appeals shall consist of
five Whitehall Township residents appointed to five- year terms respectively
by resolution of the Township Board of Commissioners, except that
the initial appointments shall be staggered for one- , two- , three-
, four- and five-year terms, respectively, and thereafter each new
member or reappointed member shall serve a five- year term. In addition,
the Board of Commissioners may appoint by resolution at least one,
but not more than three, residents of the Township to serve as alternate
members of the Board. The term of office of an alternate member shall
be three years. The Township shall designate and provide a secretary
to the Board of Appeals. The Secretary shall keep minutes and a detailed
record of all proceedings held before the Board for the files of the
Building Inspector.
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(21)
Subsection 112.3, Qualifications, shall be amended
to read as follows:
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112.3. Qualifications. The Board
of Appeals shall consist of members who are qualified by experience
and training to pass on matters pertaining to building construction
and are not employees of the jurisdiction. Each member shall have
either training, education, or experience in either engineering, architecture,
or construction supervision. At least one of the members shall be
either a structural engineer, civil engineer, professional land surveyor
or architect who is currently licensed by and practicing in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
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(22)
Section R112, Board of Appeals, shall be amended further
by the addition of the following subsections:
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R112.5. Compensation of members. Compensation for all Board members shall be determined by resolution
of the Board of Commissioners.
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R112.6. Postponed hearings. When
three qualified members of the Board of Appeals are not present to
consider a particular appeal, either the Building Inspector, Code
Enforcement Officer, or the appellant or his/her respective representative
shall have the right to request an immediate continuation of the hearing.
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R112.7. Board decision. The Board
of Appeals shall modify or reverse the decision of the Building Inspector
by a concurring vote of a majority of the members present at the hearing.
However, if all members are not present, the Board may only modify
or reverse the decision of the Building Inspector by a concurring
vote of at least two members of the Board. Failure to secure two concurring
votes (if less than all members are present) shall be deemed a confirmation
of the decision of the Building Inspector. If the hearing is held
before less than all members of the Board, the appellant shall be
entitled to a further hearing before a full Board upon request therefor.
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R112.8. Court review. Any person
aggrieved by a decision of the Board of Appeals, whether or not a
previous party of the decision, or any officer or official board of
the Township may, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Local Agency Law, appeal
to the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County within 30 days after
due notice of the filing of the Board of Appeals' decision with the
Bureau Chief of Planning, Zoning and Development.
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(23)
Subsection R113.4, Violation penalties, shall be amended
to read:
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R113.4. Violation 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 mechanical equipment or systems in violation of the
approved construction documents, a directive of the code official,
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 proceeding
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.
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(24)
Subsection R114.2, Unlawful continuance, shall be
amended to read as follows:
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R114.2. Unlawful continuance. Any
person who shall continue any work after having been served with a
stop-work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform
to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be subject to a fine
of not less than $100 or more than $1,000, plus costs of the action,
including reasonable attorney's fees for each day of such violation.
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(25)
Section R202.0, General Definitions, shall be amended
as set forth hereinafter:
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REVISED DEFINITIONS:
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BUILDING LINE — The setback line established
by ordinance or indicated upon a duly accepted or recorded lot plan
or deed, beyond which a building shall not extend.
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NEW DEFINITIONS:
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AGGREGATE — Inert material which is mixed
with cement and water to produce concrete, consisting in general of
sand, pebbles, gravel, cinders, crushed stone, blast furnace slag,
burnt shale, slay, or similar materials. Fine aggregate shall mean
aggregate consisting of particles 1/4-inch or less in size.
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ALLEY — A secondary way, less than 24
feet in width, utilized as a public or private thoroughfare for pedestrians
or vehicles.
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BEAM — A principal horizontal structural
member used to support a load over an opening, or, form post-to-post,
over the floor of the building.
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BEAM, GRADE — A beam, at or below grade,
which supports a wall.
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BEAM, HEADER — A beam into which the common
beams frame around an opening.
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BEAM, TRIMMER — A beam into which a header
beam frames.
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BOARDING HOUSE — A building arranged or
used for lodging for compensation, with or without meals, and not
occupied as a single-family unit. A boarding house shall also include
rooming houses or units.
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CAISSON PILE. (FOUNDATION PIER) — A large
diameter shaft from which the inside material has been excavated and
replaced with concrete, plain or reinforced.
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CANTILEVER — A projecting structural member
supported on one end and overhanging the second support.
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CARPORT — A motor vehicle parking or storage
structure, which is accessory to a private dwelling, not more than
one story in height, without enclosure on at least two sides, roofed
over, and whose floor rests on or about ground level.
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CEILING — The overhead lining of a room
suspended from or attached to the underside of floor or roofs, that
is not a structural part of a floor or roof or the underside of exposed
floor or roof joists or other members.
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CRAWL SPACE — An unfinished accessible
space below the first floor, usually less than full story or basement
height.
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DRAFT CURTAIN — A curtain or baffle, that
extends downward form a roof or ceiling to stop drafts or bank up
heat from a fire.
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FENCE — A vertical structure not a part
of a building or any other structure that forms a barrier between
lots, between a lot and a street or an alley, or between portions
of a lot or lots.
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FUEL OIL — A hydrocarbon oil, refined
for use in heating equipment, free from grit and fibrous or other
foreign matter, and with a flash point not less than 100° F. when
tested in accordance with ASTM Designation D92, titled "Cleveland
Open Cup Test Method."
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GLUED LAMINATED TIMBER CONSTRUCTION —
Assemblies of specially selected and prepared wood laminations approximately
parallel longitudinally.
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GYPSUM BLOCK or TILE — The term "gypsum
block" or "gypsum tile" shall mean a solid or hollow building unit
of gypsum or of suitable aggregate with a gypsum binder.
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GYPSUM CONCRETE — Gypsum concrete shall
consist of a mixture of gypsum and water, with or without chips, shavings,
fiber or other approved aggregate. The gypsum and wood chips, shavings,
or fiber may be premixed, requiring only the addition of water at
the building site.
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GYPSUM WALLBOARD — A sheet having a noncombustible
core, essentially gypsum.
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HANGAR — A building or part of a building
designed or used for the shelter, storage, or servicing of one or
more aircraft.
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HANGAR BUILDING GROUP — A building or
group of buildings containing several separated storage or servicing
areas, each of which may be used for one or more aircraft at any one
time.
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LAITANCE — Extremely fine material of
little or no hardness which may collect on the surface of freshly-placed
concrete and resulting from the use of excess mixing water.
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LOAD, DESIGN — Total load which a structure
is designed to sustain including dead load, live load, and impact
load.
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LOAD, RACKING — A concentrated or resultant
load eccentrically applied, parallel to a plane of an assembly, so
as to simultaneously produce longitudinal and transverse deformations
in that plane. Also, this term applies to the test load as described
in ASTM Designation E72 applied in a horizontal direction to floor,
wall, and roof assemblies.
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MAINTENANCE — Of a building, structure,
appliance, apparatus, or equipment shall mean the way or manner any
building, structure, appliance or equipment is serviced, repaired
or altered to perpetuate the use or purpose for which such building,
structure, appliances, apparatus or equipment was originally intended.
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MEAN GRADE — Mean grade shall be considered
to be an average elevation of the ground area which is contiguous
to, and within 20 feet of, the building or within the lot line where
it is closer than 20 feet from the building. Such grade shall in no
case be permitted to exceed a ratio of one foot vertical-to-two feet
horizontal.
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MEMBER (PRIMARY) — Any member of the structural
frame of a building or structure used as a column, grillage beam,
or to support masonry walls and partitions, including trusses, isolated
lintels spanning an opening of eight feet or more, and any other member
required to brace a column or truss. To be considered a primary member,
steel joists must be constructed of hot-rolled structural sections
and top and bottom chords. Likewise, they must be properly braced
laterally.
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MEMBER (SECONDARY) — Any member of the
structural framework, other than a primary member, including filled-in
beams or steel joists of floor systems.
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MOBILE UNIT — Any vehicle or structure
used or occupied for dwelling purposes or any commercial use which
utilizes wheels and axles for its transportation or is designed to
be moved from one site to another and to be used with or without a
permanent foundation.
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MULTIFAMILY DWELLING — A single building
or group of attached dwelling units intended and designed to contain
three or more dwelling units, including row houses and townhouses.
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PARKING LOT — An open space, other than
a public or private street or way, used exclusively for other parking
or motor vehicles.
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ROOMING HOUSE — Any building, or that
part thereof, containing one or more rooming units in which space
is let to three or more persons.
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ROOMING UNIT — Any room or group of rooms
forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living
and sleeping but not for cooking or eating purposes.
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SHEATHING — That element of a wall or
roof construction, such as thin boards, plywood, or sheets of cemented
materials directly a attached to the wall studs and roof rafters,
to which the outer finished surface is attached or applied.
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SINGULAR HANGAR BUILDING — A building
in which there is a single storage or servicing area for one or more
aircraft.
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SKELETON CONSTRUCTION — A type of building
construction in which all loads are transmitted to the foundations
by connected framework of suitable material.
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SOFFIT — The underside of a member of
subordinate structure.
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SOIL — Any inorganic material except water
in a geologic formation in its natural state and location.
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SPIRE — The high tapering roof of a steeple
or tower, including the space under such roof.
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STRUCTURAL DAMAGE — Loosening, twisting,
warping, cracking, distortion, or breaking of any piece, or of any
fastening or joint, in a structural assembly with loss of sustaining
capacity of the assembly. The following shall not be deemed to constitute
structural damage: small cracks in reinforced concrete perpendicular
to the reinforcing bars, and deformation of sheet material when a
structural assembly is under applied load, which increases as such
load increases but which disappears when such load is removed.
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STUCCO — A material used in a plastic
form which can be trowled to form a hard covering for exterior walls
or other exterior surfaces of any building or structure.
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TON OF REFRIGERATION — The unit of capacity
of refrigeration equivalent to the removal of heat at the rate of
12,000 B.T.U. per hour.
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UNDERPINNING — The masonry or concrete
construction required to extend a wall, footing of a wall, or any
part thereof to a lower level.
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WRITTEN NOTICE — A notification delivered
in writing, in person to the individual or the parties intended, or
delivered or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to
the last residential or business address known to the party giving
notice.
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(26)
Section R309.2, Separation required, shall be amended
to read:
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R309.2. Separation required. Notwithstanding
any term, condition or provision hereof, all garages which attach
to or adjoin a residence or accessory structure shall have 5/8-inch
type "X" drywall on the warm wall side and the ceiling, and 1/2-inch
drywall on the other walls.
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(27)
Section R311, Exits, shall be amended to include the
following subsection:
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R311.6. Construction. In buildings
three stories or higher, stair towers shall be constructed entirely
of steel or other approved, noncombustible materials with handrails
on both sides of stairways and platforms.
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(28)
Subsection R311.7, Exit sign graphics, shall be amended
to read as follows:
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R311.7. Exit sign graphics. Every
exit sign and directional exit sign shall have plainly-legible, red
letters on a white background, not less than six inches (152 mm) high
with the principal strokes of the letters not less than 0.075 inch
(19.1 mm) wide. The word "EXIT" shall have letters having a width
of not less than two inches (51 mm) wide, except the letter "I," and
the minimum spacing between letters shall not be less than 0.375 inch
(9.5 mm). Signs larger than the minimum established in this section
shall have the letter widths, strokes and spacing in proportion to
their height.
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The word "EXIT" shall be red letters and in
high contrast with the white background and shall be clearly discernible
both when the exit sign illumination means is and is not energized.
When necessary, these exit signs shall be supplemented by directional
signs in the access corridors indicating the direction and way of
egress. If an arrow is provided as part of the exit sign, the construction
shall be such that the arrow direction cannot be readily changed.
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Notwithstanding any term, condition, or provision
hereof to the contrary, "Exit" signs shall not be powered or otherwise
illuminated with any hazardous substance (as defined by any federal,
state or local law, rule, ordinance, order, directive or promulgation),
whether or not such hazardous substance is fully contained.
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(29)
Subsection R314.2, Treads and risers, shall be amended
to read as follows:
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R314.2. Treads and risers. In occupancies
in Group R-3, as applicable in Section 101.2; within dwelling units
in occupancies in Group R-2, as applicable in Section 101.2; and in
occupancies in Group U, which are accessory to an occupancy in Group
R-3, as applicable in Section 101.2, the maximum riser height shall
be 8 1/4 inches, and the minimum tread depth shall be nine inches.
A nosing of not less than one inch shall be provided on stairways
with solid risers where the tread depth is less than 11 inches.
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(30)
Chapter 3, Building Planning, shall be amended to add the following subsections:
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R328. Safeguards during construction.
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R328.1. Whenever a building or
structure is erected, altered, repaired, removed or demolished, the
operation shall be conducted in a safe manner, and suitable protection
for the general public shall be provided including continued flow
of stormwater runoff (through appropriate conduits).
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R328.2. Dumpster. At such time
as any new construction is commenced on a lot and prior to the time
that any lumber is delivered to the site, the owner of the lot or
the developer shall have a dumpster on site in which all refuse shall
be deposited. The dumpster shall remain on site until such time as
the construction is complete. The dumpster shall be emptied within
72 hours of being filled to capacity. A separate "dumpster permit"
shall be required for any dumpster proposed to be placed within the
public right-of-way.
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R328.3. Erosion and sedimentation control. Prior to any disturbance of any soil on a lot for construction
of improvements or lot grading or lot stripping, all required erosion
and sedimentation control devices shall be properly installed and
maintained until the soil is covered with stabilized vegetation, i.e.,
grass. The provision of this section shall apply to construction of
individual residential units as well as other construction. For the
purposes of this section, the phrase "required erosion and sedimentation
control devices" shall include the Erosion Control Guidelines for
Single Residential Lots as drafted by the Lehigh County Conservation
District and as amended and updated.
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R328.4. Exposed party walls. Exposed
party walls not intended to be used again as a party wall, shall be
made structurally sound and shall be made permanently waterproofed
by the application of stucco, brickote, gunite, or other approved,
noncombustible material.
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R328.5. Collar ties are required
at every third rafter.
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R328.6. All gable ends must have
framing 16 inches on center.
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R328.7. Roof ridge shall have a
minimum of 3T ridge pole supports.
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R328.8. Roof and exterior corners
must be a minimum of 1/2 inch thick approved-grade exterior plywood
or approved bracing.
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R328.9. All openings in the upper
or lower plates of interior walls must be sealed tight with approved
fire-rated sealant.
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R328.10. An approved smoke detector
must be installed on every floor level, including the basement and
bedroom, and hard wired with battery back up.
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R328.11. All commercial self storage
units must be constructed with a minimum one-hour, fire-rated wall
between units.
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R328.12. On all trussed roofs,
mechanical fasteners must be used (i.e., hurricane clips) instead
of the simple "toenail" method.
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R328.13. In conditions where a
structure is demolished when there is a common wall with another structure,
it shall be the responsibility of the property owner of the structure
to be demolished to assure the stability and safety of the adjoining
structure as well as to weather proof the remaining open wall.
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(31)
Chapter 4, Foundations, Section R401, General, Subsection R401.4, Soil Tests, shall be amended to include the following subsections:
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R401.4.2. Presence of rock. When
rock is present at or near a foundation, additional reinforcement
may be necessary.
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R401.4.3. On grade slabs. On-grade
slabs shall have 1 1/2 inch thick R-7.5 insulation value and 24-inch
rigid board depth on perimeter insulation on all occupied buildings.
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(32)
Subsection R403.1.4, Minimum depth, shall be amended
to read:
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R403.1.4. Minimum depth. Except
where erected on solid rock or otherwise protected from frost, foundation
walls, piers and other permanent supports of buildings and structures
larger than 400 square feet (37m2) in area or 10 feet (3048 mm) in
height shall extend below the frost line, and spread footings of adequate
size shall be provided where necessary to properly distribute the
load within the allowable load-bearing value of the soil. Alternatively,
such structures shall be supported on piles where solid earth or rock
is not available. Footings below the frost line shall not bear on
frozen soils unless such frozen condition is of a permanent character.
The frost line referenced herein shall be considered to be at a depth
of 36 inches below the ground surface. The top of all footings shall
be a minimum of 27 inches below the exterior grade.
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(33)
Section R403, Footings, Subsection R403.1.1, Minimum
size, shall be amended to read:
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R403.1.1. Minimum size. Minimum
sixes for concrete and masonry footings shall be as set forth in Table
R403.1 and Figure R403.1(1). The footing width, W, shall be based
on the load-bearing value of the soil in accordance with Table R401.4.1.
Spread footings shall be at least six inches (152mm) in thickness.
Footing projections, P, shall be at least two inches (51 mm) and shall
not exceed the thickness of the footing. The size of footings supporting
piers and columns shall be based on the tributary load and allowable
soil pressure in accordance with Table R401.4.1 Footings for wood
foundations shall be in accordance with the details set forth in Section
R403.2, and Figures R403.1(2) and R403.1(3). Notwithstanding the provisions
of subsections Table R403.1 and Figure R403.1(1) hereof, footings
shall not be less than nine inches thick. The width of footings shall
be 18 inches for eight-inch foundation walls and 20 inches for 10-inch
foundation walls.
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(34)
Section R404, Foundation Walls, Subsection R404.1,
Concrete and Masonry Foundation Walls, shall be amended to include
the following sentence:
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Foundation walls in residential structures shall
be poured at such height to allow a clearance of seven feet six inches
from the top of the foundation wall to the top of the basement floor
to allow for the future finishing of basement areas.
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(35)
Section R404.1.5, Foundation wall thickness based
on walls supported, shall be amended to read as follows:
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R404.1.5. Foundation wall thickness based
on walls supported.
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A.
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The thickness of foundation walls shall be:
eight- inch poured concrete walls for one-story buildings; 10- inch
poured concrete walls for buildings having two or more stories; 10-
inch concrete masonry units for one-story buildings; and 12- inch
concrete masonry units for buildings having two or more stories. All
walls having standard brick veneer shall have either a minimum of
10- inch poured concrete walls or 10- inch concrete masonry units.
All walls having stone veneer shall have either a minimum of 12- inch
poured concrete walls or 12- inch concrete masonry units.
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B.
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In frame construction, plates must be anchored
to foundation walls at corners and at intervals of six feet (12 inches
from corners and 12 inches from plate ends) with 1/2 inch bolts embedded
not less than 16 inches in masonry walls. There must be a minimum
of two bolts per plate.[2]
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[2]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection A(35.1), added 10-12-2009
by Ord. No. 2795, which provided for the addition of Section R502.1.4.1
on prefabricated/engineered wood I-joists, was repealed 6-13-2011
by Ord. No. 2866.
(36)
Section R602, Wood Wall Framing. Subsection R602.2,
Grade, shall be amended to read as follows:
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R602.2. Grade. All framing lumber
shall be number two or better and/or be properly graded.
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(37)
Section R602, Wood Wall Framing, Subsection R602.3.1,
Stud spacing, shall be amended to read:
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R602.3.1. Stud spacing. In bearing
walls, studs that are not more than 10 feet (3048mm) in length shall
be spaced not more than is specified in Table R602.3(5). In bearing
walls, studs that are more than 10 feet (3048mm) in height shall be
spaced not more than specified in Table R602.3.1. Studs, joists and
rafters shall be spaced 16 inches on center with a minimum of four-inch
bearings.
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(38)
Section R602, Wood Wall Framing, Subsection R602.8.1,
Materials, shall be amended to include the following subsection:
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R602.8.1.3. Standards. Notwithstanding
any term, condition or provision of this code, all sill plates shall
be treated lumber; all headers six feet or larger must be packed with
1/2 inch thick plywood and supported with double 2x4 jack studs at
both ends. Three-quarter inch tongue and groove sturdy floor can be
used in lieu of the 1 1/2 inch sub-floor and one 1/2 inch underlayment
combined. Supports under main beams shall be four-inch steel pipe
with steel plates fastened at both ends.
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(39)
Subsection R602.8, Fireblocking Required, Subsection
1 shall be amended to read as follows:
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1.
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Concealed wall spaces. Fireblocking shall be
provided in concealed spaces of stud walls and partitions, including
furred or studded-off spaces of masonry or concrete walls. Fire stops
and draft stops shall be provided at the ceiling and floor or roof
levels and at maximum intervals of eight feet, both vertically and
horizontally.
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(40)
Chapter 39, Devices and Lighting Fixtures, shall be
amended to include the following subsection:
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E3903.13. Outdoor emergency notification
lights. All new residential construction shall include outdoor emergency notification lights on or at the front of the dwelling. In the event that the dwelling includes a front port, then the outdoor emergency notification light shall be on or at the front porch. If there is no front porch, then the outdoor emergency notification light shall be located so as to be visible from the public street from either side property line and shall be operable from the interior of the dwelling by an emergency notification switch. Notwithstanding any provisions of the Chapter 27, Zoning, of the Code of Whitehall Township, the outdoor emergency notification lights may flash or blink intermittently in order to notify emergency management services of the location of the dwelling.
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(41)
Appendix G, Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs, Section AG105, Barrier
Requirements, Subsection AG105.2, Outdoor Swimming Pool, Subsection
1 shall be amended to read:
[Added 3-11-2013 by Ord. No. 2924]
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1.
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The top of the barrier shall be at least 48 inches (1219 mm)
above grade measured on the side of the barrier which faces away from
the swimming pool. The maximum vertical clearance between grade and
the bottom of the barrier shall be 2 inches (51 mm) measured on the
side of the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool. Where
the top of the pool structure is above grade, such as an above-ground
pool, the barrier may be at ground level or mounted on the top of
the pool structure. Where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool
structure, it shall be a minimum of 24 inches (609.6 mm) in height,
and the maximum vertical clearance between the top of the pool structure
and the bottom of the barrier shall be 4 inches (102 mm).
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(42)
Appendix G, Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs, Section AG105, Barrier
Requirements, Subsection AG105.2, Outdoor Swimming Pool, Subsection
10 shall be amended to read:
[Added 3-11-2013 by Ord. No. 2924]
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10.
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Where the barrier for an above-ground pool structure is mounted
on top of the pool structure, and the means of access is a ladder
or steps:
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10.1.
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The ladder or steps shall be capable of being secured, locked
or removed to prevent access; or
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10.2.
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The ladder or steps shall be surrounded by a barrier which meets
the requirements of Section AG105.2, Items 1 through 9. When the ladder
or steps are secured locked or removed any opening created shall not
allow the passage of a 4-inch diameter (102 mm) sphere.
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Notwithstanding any term, condition, or provision hereof to the contrary, the code hereby adopted shall not be construed to affect any suit or proceeding now pending in any court, or any right acquired, accrued, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes of action accrued or exiting, under any act or ordinance hereby repealed as cited in § 5-25 of this article, nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any individual or entity of any character be lost, impaired, or affected by this article or the code.
