[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Harrisburg 9-23-2003 by Ord. No.
25-2003[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: Section 17 of Ord. No. 25-2003 provided as follows: "Subtitle 3-900, entitled Fire Prevention Code, is hereby repealed in its entirety, with the exception of Chapter 3-953, entitled Fire Occupancy Classification and Occupancy Loads, and Chapter 3-961, entitled Residential (Domestic) Sprinklers, which remain in full force and effect and are renumbered Chapters 3-903 and 3-905, respectively, and new Chapter 3-901 is hereby added to the Codified Ordinances as follows."
It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to adopt a modern
Fire Code which will prescribe effective standards and minimum requirements
consistent with nationally recognized good practice for safeguarding
life, property and public welfare from the hazards of fire, explosion
or dangerous conditions in new and existing buildings, structures
and premises.
In accordance with Section 608 of the Optional Third Class City
Charter Law, Act of July 15, 1957, P.L. 901, 53 P.S § 41608,
and Section 4130 of the Third Class City Code, Act of June 28, 1951,
P.L. 662 as amended, 53 P.S. § 39130, there is hereby adopted
by the City for the purpose of prescribing specifications and regulations
to ensure the structural safety and noncombustibility of housing constructed,
reconstructed, altered, enlarged, repaired, or maintained within the
City that certain Fire Code known as the International Fire Code,
2003 edition, and all appendices thereto, as supplemented and published
by the International Code Council, including all appendices with the
exception of Appendix A, except such provisions which are in conflict
with regulations promulgated by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor
and Industry interpreting the Uniform Construction Code pursuant to
Section 301 of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act of November
10, 1999, P.L. 491, 35 P.S. § 7210.301, or any other state
law on the subject or regulations issued by a state agency by virtue
of a state law. Ten copies of the Fire Code are presently on file
in the office of the City Clerk, and such code is hereby adopted and
incorporated as if fully set forth at length herein. The provisions
of the adopted Fire Code shall be controlling within the limits of
the City except as amended by the provisions of this chapter.
The following sections of the International Fire Code, 2003
edition, as adopted herein, are hereby deleted in their entirety and
replaced as indicated:
CHAPTER 1 – ADMINISTRATION
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101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as
the "Fire Code of the City of Harrisburg," hereinafter referred to
in this chapter as "this code."
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SECTION 103 ENFORCEMENT OF CODE
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103.1 General. The City of Harrisburg, Department
of Public Safety, Bureau of Fire, under the direction of the Fire
Chief, and the Department of Building and Housing Development, Bureau
of Codes Enforcement, under the direction of the Codes Administrator,
shall jointly administer and enforce this code or any part thereof.
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SECTION 108 BOARD OF APPEALS
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This section is deleted in its entirety. See § 3-901.6 of the City's Codified Ordinances for appeal procedures.
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109.3 Violation penalties. Persons who violate
a provision of this code or fail to comply with any of the requirements
thereof or who erect, install, alter or repair fire prevention work
in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of
the building official, or of a permit or certificate issued under
the provisions of this code, shall be subject to penalties as prescribed
by law.
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111.4 Stop-work orders. Any person who shall continue
any work on the system 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 penalties as prescribed
by law.
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CHAPTER 9 – FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
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907.2.10.5 Smoke detectors in residential structures.
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(a)
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At least one early fire detection device (smoke detector) shall
be installed in each sleeping area of any building or structure used
for residential occupancy, including but not limited to single-family
dwellings, multifamily dwellings, multifamily apartment houses, boardinghouses,
lodging houses, rooming houses, tourist homes, bed-and-breakfast homes,
dormitories, hotels, motels and residence buildings.
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(b)
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In each multifamily apartment house of three to five units,
a smoke detector shall be installed in the cellar and/or basement
and on every floor of the residential structure in addition to those
placed in the sleeping areas.
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(c)
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In each multifamily apartment house containing more than five
units and in each boardinghouse, lodging house, rooming house, bed-and-breakfast
home, tourist home, dormitory, hotel, motel and residence building,
a smoke detector shall be installed in the cellar and/or basement
and on every floor in common areas (hallways, corridors, etc.) and
shall be interconnected, that is, shall be wired directly to the building's
power supply and shall each sound an alarm when one is activated.
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(d)
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Where bedrooms or rooms habitually used for sleeping are separated
by other use areas, such as kitchens, living rooms or dining rooms,
they shall be considered as separate sleeping areas for the purposes
of this section.
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(e)
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Each smoke detector installed shall be certified by a nationally
recognized inspection agency, such as Underwriters' Laboratories,
Inc., as a properly operating fire detection device for the protection
of life safety.
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(f)
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It shall be the responsibility of the owner, agent for the owner
or other controlling party/individual of each new and existing occupied
residential occupancy unit to install smoke detectors in each residential
unit as heretofore provided. Such smoke detectors shall be capable
of sensing visible or invisible particles of combustion and shall
be capable of producing an audible alarm upon detection thereof.
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(g)
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It shall be the responsibility of the tenants or occupants to
maintain smoke detectors. Such maintenance shall include keeping the
smoke detector units serviceable by replacing batteries when necessary
or by keeping them connected to an electrical source so that they
remain capable of transmitting an audible signal in the presence of
smoke.
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(h)
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As an alternative to self-contained smoke detectors, an approved
fire detection system may be installed. Each fire detection system
must be individually approved and a permit issued by the Bureau of
Fire or Codes Enforcement.
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(i)
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In new dwelling units, smoke detectors shall be hard-wired directly
to the building's power supply. In all existing dwelling units
it is preferred that the smoke detectors be hard-wired to the building's
power supply; however, a monitored battery supply is acceptable.
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(j)
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At every change of occupancy of every dwelling unit occasioned
by or incidental to a sale, lease or sublease of such unit, it shall
be the duty of the grantor thereof (i.e., the seller, lessor or sublessor,
as the case may be) to certify, before occupancy, to the new occupant
that all smoke detectors required by this section or other applicable
laws are installed and in proper working condition.
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(k)
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No smoke detector or alternative system shall be directly connected
(permanently wired) to the electrical system of the building or structure
unless an electrical permit has first been obtained and the installation
has been approved by an electrical inspector.
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Whenever any provision or requirement of the Codified Ordinances
of the City of Harrisburg or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department
of Labor and Industry is more stringent or stricter than a provision
or requirement of the Fire Code adopted herein, the more stringent
provision shall supersede any such provision or requirement of the
Fire Code.
[Amended 11-12-2012 by Ord. No. 13-2012; 4-9-2013 by Ord. No. 3-2013; 10-22-2013 by Ord. No.
24-2013]
Any person who applies for an operation, installation or inspection
permit or requires response of the Bureau of Fire pursuant to this
Fire Code shall be subject to fee requirements. Nothing in this code,
however, shall authorize any City bureau or department or City staff
member or bureau or department personnel to refuse or delay any emergency
rescue service to any person, firm, organization or corporation due
to the lack of insurance coverage or ability to pay for said emergency
rescue service. The fee requirement schedule is as follows:
Description
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Fee
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---|---|---|---|---|
Amusement building
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$100 per year
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Automotive tire retread plant
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$75 per year
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Automotive truck wrecking yards, junkyards and salvage yards
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$75 per year
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Automotive undercoating areas
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$75 per year
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Bonfires/opening burning:
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Bonfire for 1 hour
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$100/event
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Bonfire for 2 hours
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$175/event
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Other open burning (plus cost of Fire Department standby)
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$50/event
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Bowling lanes and the refinishing thereof
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$30 per year
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Bowling pin refinishing
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$30 per year
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Carnivals and fairs (tent not included):
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Small, under 100,000 square feet
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$50 per event
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Medium, above 1 million square feet
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$75 per event
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Large, above 1 million square feet
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$100 per event
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Cellulose nitrate motion-picture film use or storage thereof
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$40 per year
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Cellulose nitrate plastic (pyroxylin) manufacture or assembly
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$30 per year
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Child/elder/day-care facilities
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$75 per year
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Class A day-care center (13 or more persons receiving care)
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$150/year
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Class B group day-care center (6 to 12 persons receiving care)
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$100/year
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Class C home day-care center (1 to 5 persons receiving care)
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$65/year
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Coal-fired heating appliance, boiler, furnace or domestic hot-water
heater
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$25 per installation
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Combustible fiber storage, over 100 use flammable (flammable
1,000 cubic feet; nonflammable 6,000 cubic feet)
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$75 per year
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Compressed gas storage/handling
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$75 per year
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Covered mall buildings
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$75 per year
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Cryogenic fluids
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$75 per year
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Dry-cleaning plant
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$50 per year
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Educational facilities, post-secondary, college, universities,
business schools, specialty and trade schools:
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Class A, 1,500 students and up
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$250 per year
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Class B, 1,000 to 1,499 students
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$200 per year
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Class C, 1 to 999 students
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$100 per year
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Exhibit and trade shows
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$150 per year, per event
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Explosives, ammunition and blasting agents, use or storage of
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$75 per day
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Explosives, use per two-week period
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$50 per job
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Feed mill (dust explosion)
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$30 per year
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Fire inspection
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$50 per job
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Fire safety class
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$50 per job
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Fire systems:
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New:
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Fire alarm system
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$50 per inspection, per job
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Fire pump and testing charge:
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250 gpm
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$75 per inspection, per job
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500 gpm
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$100 per inspection, per job
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750 gpm
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$150 per inspection, per job
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Over 750 gpm
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$225 per inspection, per job
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Fire water line
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$100 per inspection, per job
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Specialized fire system (tank and pump)
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$100 per inspection, per job
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Domestic sprinkler
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$100 per inspection, per job
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Fire suppression hood system
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$50 per inspection, per job
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Detection system
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$55 per inspection, per job
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Automatic suppression system (all types)
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$100 per inspection, per job
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Smoke control system
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$100 per inspection, per job
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Standpipe system
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$100 per inspection, per job
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Alterations:
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Fire alarm system
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$50 per inspection, per job
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Fire suppression hood system
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$40 per inspection per job
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Detection system
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$55 per inspection per job
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Automatic suppression system (all types)
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$60 per inspection per job
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Standpipe system
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$100 per inspection per job
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False fire alarms (annual):
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1 to 2 false alarms
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No charge
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3 to 4 false alarms
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$150 per alarm
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5 to 7 false alarms
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$250 per alarm
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7 or more false alarms
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$500 per alarm
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Fireworks display
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$75 per inspection
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Flammable and combustible liquids:
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All operations
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$75 per year
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Up to 1,000 gallons in storage
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$25 per year
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1,000 to 10,000 gallons
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$100 per year
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Greater than 10,000 gallons
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$200 per year
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Flammable and combustible liquids storage, handling, use, delivery
of flammable liquid below 200° F., any amount, including asphalt
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$75 per year
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Flammable finish use (more than 1 gallon per day, spraying or
dripping)
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$75 per year
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Floor finishing
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$45 per year
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Fruit ripening process
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$45 per year
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Fumigation/thermal insecticidal fogging
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$30 per job or $45 per year
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Garage, repair or service of vehicles or dispensing of fuel
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$75 per year
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Hazardous chemicals, storage or handling
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$75 per year
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Heliports, helistops, airports
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$75 per year
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Hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other I
use groups not set elsewhere:
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Class A, 601 and up
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$250 per year
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Class B, 401 to 600
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$200 per year
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Class C, 201 to 400
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$150 per year
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Class D, 1 to 200
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$100 per year
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Hotels and motels:
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Class A, more than 3 floors
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$100 per year
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Class B, 3 floors or less
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$50 per year
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Hot work operations:
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Per use
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$20 per job
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Annual permit
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$100 per year
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Liquefied petroleum gases installation
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$50 per installation
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Liquefied petroleum gas (storage and use)
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$50 per year
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Liquid- or gas-fueled vehicles or equipment in assembly buildings
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$75 per event
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Lumberyards, woodworking plants
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$60 per year
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Magnesium, use of 10 pounds or more
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$45 per year
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Matches, manufacture or storage, more than 25 cases
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$75 per year
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Mercantile
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Class A (over 30,000 sq. ft.)
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$100 per year
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Class B (3001 to 30,000 sq. ft.)
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$75 per year
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Class C (1 to 3,000 sq. ft.)
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$50 per year
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Oil-burning equipment:
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Installation of boiler
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$25 per job
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Installation of tank
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$25 per job
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Replacement of oil burner or tank
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$25 per job
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Organic coating manufacture
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$45 per year
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Ovens/furnaces/boilers (industrial)
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$50 per job
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Pesticide storage and display
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$75 per year
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Places of assembly:
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Class A, 1,000 and over
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$150 per year
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Class B, 300 to 999
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$125 per year
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Class C, 50 to 299
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$100 per year
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Class D, 1 to 49
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$75 per year
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Pyrotechnic special effects material
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$75 per event or $125 per year
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Refrigeration equipment
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$75 per year
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Rescue services (per response):
| ||||
Extraction service by extrication tools or other specialized
equipment
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$500 per extraction
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Rubber tire storage
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$100 per year
| |||
Storage of more than 25 cases of items
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$70 per year
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Storage, readily combustible materials, over 2,500 cubic feet
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$75 per year
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Temporary membrane structures, tents and canopies
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Small, less than 50 persons and 1,001 square feet
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$20 per event
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Medium, more than 49 persons and 1,000 square feet but less
than 15,000 square feet
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$50 per event
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Large, 15,000 square feet and above
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$100 per event
| |||
Tent or air-supported structure over 120 square feet (erection
thereof)
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$75 per year
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Video movie outlet, store
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$30 per year
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Waste material handling plants
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$75 per year
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Welding and cutting operation:
| ||||
Welding, cutting or soldering site
|
$55 per inspection
| |||
Storage of cylinders and containers
|
$55 per inspection
| |||
Acetylene generator use carbide cap, over 5 pounds
|
$55 per inspection
| |||
Wood stove, wood-burning appliances, residential and commercial
installation
|
$55 per inspection
| |||
Connecting to municipal fire alarm system
|
$275 per installation
| |||
Telephone circuit alarm to City fire dispatch
|
$100 per installation
| |||
Reconnection fee
|
$150
| |||
Temporary permits
|
$50
| |||
Bonfire permit
|
$50
| |||
Torch-paint removal
|
$75
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Any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity who or which is aggrieved by a ruling, decision or action of any department, bureau or other division of the City in regard to the administration or enforcement of any of the provisions of this Fire Code may appeal the ruling, decision or action complained of in writing to the Building and Housing Code Board of Appeals of the City of Harrisburg in the manner and in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 8-301, Emergency Orders and Appeals, of the Codified Ordinances.
[Added 11-12-2012 by Ord.
No. 13-2012]
A.Â
Fees
of less than $500 per incident will be due to the City within 30 days.
Fees of $500 per incident or greater will be due to the City within
one year.
B.Â
The City
Bureau of Fire shall have the responsibility and authority to assess
the fees as set forth herein. Fees for City Bureau of Fire services
that have been rendered, as designated in the fee schedule, shall
be billed by the City to the person or entity responsible for the
need of such services. Should the individual or entity responsible
for such services and the associated charges have insurance which
covers the same, at the request of such individual or entity the City
shall bill the insurance carrier directly. However, doing so will
not relieve such individual or entity from liability should the insurance
carrier fail to pay the same to the City. Any bill for such services
provided for the benefit of non-City-owned property shall be paid
by the property owner. The failure of the property owner to pay the
amounts due within the designated time frame set forth herein shall
entitle the City to collect all amounts and pursue any or all of the
remedies identified in the Pennsylvania Municipal Claims Act (see
53 P.S. § 7101 et seq.) or any other available remedy under
the law.
A.Â
Any person, whether individually or as a member or employee of a
partnership, or any officer, agent or employee of a corporation who
directs or knowingly permits any violation of any of the provisions
of the sections of this Fire Code, or who aids or assists therein,
either on his/her own behalf or in the interests of his/her employer
or principal, or who fails to comply with any order made thereunder,
or who builds in violation of any detailed statement of specifications
or plans submitted and approved in accordance with this code or any
certificate of approval issued thereto and from which no appeal has
been taken, or who fails to comply with such order as affirmed or
modified by the City, shall, upon conviction thereof, severally and
for each violation and noncompliance respectively, be fined not less
than $50 nor more than $1,000, plus costs, or shall be imprisoned
in the Dauphin County prison for not more than 90 days for each separate
violation, or both. The imposition of one penalty for any violation
shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue, and all persons
required to do so shall correct and remedy violations or defects within
a reasonable time, and, when not otherwise specified, each five days
that the prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate
offense.[1]
B.Â
The application of the above penalty shall not prevent the enforced
removal of the prohibited conditions or device, or any other remedy
at law or equity available to the City for enforcement of this chapter.