Township of Towamencin, PA Article VII Plumbing Code

[Adopted 12-20-2000 by Ord. No. 00-15]

§ 62-19 Adoption of plumbing code.

Certain documents, three copies of which are on file in the office of the Secretary of the Township of Towamencin, being marked and designated as the "International Plumbing Code, 2000 Edition," including Appendixes E and F, as published by the International Code Council, be and is hereby adopted as the code of the Township of Towamencin for regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of plumbing systems and providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions and terms of such International Plumbing Code, 2000 edition, published by the International Code Council, on file in the office of the Township of Towamencin, are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this article, with the additions, insertions, deletions, and changes presented in § 62-20 of this article.

§ 62-20 Additions, insertions and changes.

The following sections are hereby revised:

A. Chapter 1.

(1) Section 101.1, insert "Towamencin Township" for the name of jurisdiction. Further, insert as last sentence: "Towamencin Township is hereinafter referred to as `the Township.'"

(2) Section 106.5.3, delete the heading and its paragraph in its entirety and insert the following:

106.5.3 Expiration. Every permit issued by the Code Official under the provisions of this code shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the building or work authorized by such permit is not commenced within 180 days from the issue date of the permit, or if the building or work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of 180 days. Before work can resume a new permit shall be obtained to do so. If a permittee wishes to renew a permit that has expired due to suspended or abandoned work for more than 180 days, the permittee may apply in writing to the Code Official for a one-time renewal of the permit for 1/2 of the original permit fee. A permittee holding an unexpired permit in which work has not commenced may apply in writing to the Building Official for a one-time extension of 180 days provided that he can show good and satisfactory reasons, beyond his control, that the work cannot be commenced within the one-hundred-eighty-day period from the issue date. No additional fee is required for this one-time extension. In order to renew work on a permit after it has expired, the permittee shall pay a new full permit fee.

(3) Section 106.6, delete the heading and paragraph in its entirety, including Subsections 106.6.1, 106.6.2, and 106.6.3 and insert the following:

	106.6 Fees. Applicants for permits under this code shall pay at the time of application to the Township the fees set forth on the then-current fee schedule which shall have been adopted by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. When a permit fee is based on cost of construction, the valuation of the subject work shall be the fair market value of all of the construction work. The Code Official shall be satisfied as to the accuracy of the estimate both initially and at final completion should changes occur as the work progresses.
	106.6.1 Registration required. On or after the passage of this code, it shall be unlawful for any person or organization to work at the business of plumbing as defined in this code, within the boundaries of Towamencin Township, until such person or organization has been duly registered and issued a license by the Township. No license shall be issued until the applicant provides proper credentials evidencing the qualifications and or the degree of expertise in plumbing work in which the license is sought. Any organization intending to carry on the business of plumbing must have each person it intends to employ within the boundaries of the Township registered and licensed hereunder. Nothing in this code shall be construed to prohibit the employment of a journeyman or apprentice provided that all work performed shall be under the direction and control of a duly registered and licensed master plumber.
	106.6.2 Expiration of registration. At the expiration of each calendar year, said registration or license shall be null and void. A licensed master plumber or journeyman plumber desiring to continue in the business of plumbing work for the ensuing year shall, before the 31st day of December of each year, surrender said certificate or license for the current year to the Township, and reregister his or their name or names and business or home address upon such form or forms as may from time to time be furnished by the Township.
	106.6.3 Certificates may be revoked. The license granted under this code may be suspended or revoked by the Township when a master plumber, firm or corporation, or the registered representative thereof, shall violate any of the rules and regulations of this code and shall refuse or neglect to make the necessary corrections to work not approved by the Township, within a reasonable time after notification thereof, or who shall permit the use of his, their or its name by a person or persons for the purpose of obtaining a permit or permits to do plumbing and drainage work.

(4) Section 108.2, delete the heading and paragraph in its entirety and insert:

108.2 Notice of violation. The Code Official shall serve a notice of violation or order on the person responsible for the erection, construction, alteration, extension, repair, removal, demolition, use or occupancy of a building or structure in violation of the provisions of this code, or in violation of a detail statement or a plan approved thereunder, or in violation of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code. Such order shall direct the discontinuance of the illegal action or condition and the abatement of the violation within a period of 10 days from the date of notification, unless otherwise specified. In the event that the action or condition presents such a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of an individual or the community, the abatement period may be reduced by the Code Official.

If the notice of violation is not complied with promptly, the Code Official shall request the legal counsel of the Township to institute the appropriate proceeding at law or in equity to restrain, correct or abate such violation or to require the removal or termination of the unlawful use of the building or structure in violation of the provisions of this code or of the order or direction made pursuant thereto.

(5) Section 108.4, delete the heading and paragraph in its entirety and insert:

108.4 Violation penalties. Any person, partnership, firm or corporation who or which shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who or which shall use, erect, construct, alter or repair a building or structure in violation of an approved plan or of a directive of the Code Official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code, shall be liable to fines and penalties not exceeding $500, which fines and penalties may be collected by suit or summary proceeding brought in the name of the Township before any District Justice, or recovered as debts of a like amount are now by law recoverable. Proceedings for the violation of this code and for the collection of fines and penalties imposed thereby may be commenced by warrant, or by summons, at the discretion of the District Justice before whom the proceeding is begun. All fines and penalties collected for the violation of this code shall be paid over to the Township Treasury. Each day that a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.

The imposition of the penalties herein prescribed shall not preclude the legal counsel of the Township from instituting appropriate action to prevent unlawful construction or to restrain, correct or abate a violation, or to prevent illegal occupancy of a building, structure or premises or to stop an illegal act, conduct, business or use of a building or structure on or about any premises.

(6) Section 108.5, insert "$50" for the first amount and "$500" for the second amount.

(7) Section 109, delete section, including all subsections, in its entirety and insert the following

	SECTION 109
	MEANS OF APPEAL
	109.1 Procedure. An appeal from any decision of the Code Official may be taken to the Board of Supervisors. Such appeal shall be made in writing, verified by an affidavit, within 10 days after such decision has been made, and shall be filed with the Township Secretary. The appellant or his representative shall have the right to appear and be heard by the Board. The Board shall render a prompt decision on such appeal. In making the decision, the Board may vary or modify any provision of this code, where there are practical difficulties in the way of executing the strict letter of this code, or to permit the use of innovative procedures or materials, provided that the spirit of this code shall be observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done. Such variation or modification shall be the minimum necessary in order to grant relief. Every action of the Board on such appeals shall be by resolution, copies of which shall be certified to this Code Official and the appellant. The decision of the Board shall in such cases be final.

(8) Section 202, add the following definition:

BOARD or BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. The governing body for Towamencin Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

(9) Section 305.6, delete the last sentence of the paragraph and insert the following: "Water service and building sewer pipes shall be installed no less than 36 inches (915mm) below grade."

(10) Section 305.6.1, insert "36" for number and "915" before "mm" at both locations.

(11) Section 306.2, delete the third sentence of the paragraph and insert the following: "The pipe shall be continuously supported with sand or crushed stone no larger than a 2A or 2B material."

(12) Section 306.2.1.

(a) Delete the words "with sand or fine gravel" and replace with the following: "with sand or crushed stone no larger than a 2A or 2B material."

(b) Insert at the end of the paragraph: "No less than 12 inches (305 mm) of sand or crushed stone no larger than a 2A or 2B material shall be installed over all pipes."

(13) Section 306.2.2, insert in the first sentence after the word "sand," "or crushed stone no larger than a 2A or 2B material."

(14) Section 306.2.3, insert in the first sentence after the words "crushed stone" the following: "no larger than a 2A or 2B material."

(15) Section 306.3, delete the heading and paragraph in its entirety and insert the following:

306.3 Backfilling. All pipe trenches shall be backfilled with sand or crushed stone no larger than a 2A or 2B material, a minimum 12 inches over the top of the piping. The remainder of the trench shall be filled with loose earth free from rocks, broken concrete, frozen chunks, and other rubble. All pipe trenches under floors, driveways, roads, or other permanent structures or buildings shall have the trench backfilled to the top of the subgrade with compacted material to meet the design load requirements.

B. (Reserved)[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection B, pertaining to Chapter 6, was repealed 6-23-2004 by Ord. No. 04-02.

C. Chapter 7.

(1) (Reserved)[2]

[2] Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(1), pertaining to Chapter 7, was repealed 6-23-2004 by Ord. No. 04-02.

(2) (Reserved)[3]

[3] Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(2), pertaining to Chapter 7, was repealed 6-23-2004 by Ord. No. 04-02.

(3) Table 702.3.

(a) Insert after "building sewer pipe:" "^a".

(b) (Reserved)[4]

[4] Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(3)(b), pertaining to Table 702.3, was repealed 6-23-2004 by Ord. No. 04-02.

(c) (Reserved)[5]

[5] Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(3)(c), pertaining to Table 702.3, was repealed 6-23-2004 by Ord. No. 04-02.

(d) Insert at the bottom of the table: "Note a: All building sewer pipes and fittings shall have gasketed joints meeting ASTM F477. Solvent welded joints shall not be used for the building sewer pipe or fittings."

D. Chapter 9.

(1) Section 904.1, insert "12" for the number and "305" prior to "mm."

E. Chapter 10.

(1) Section 1002.6, insert at the end of the paragraph: "All relief vents shall be installed a minimum of 10 feet from any building wall in which operable doors and windows are located. Each and every building connected to the public sewer system shall be provided with a building trap and vent as detailed in this section."

F. (Reserved)[6]

[6] Editor's Note: Former Subsection F, pertaining to Chapter 11, was repealed 6-23-2004 by Ord. No. 04-02.

§ 62-21 Savings clause.

Nothing in this article or in the Plumbing Code hereby adopted shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding impending in any court, or any rights acquired, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes of action acquired or existing, under any act of ordinance hereby repealed by this article; nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost.