[Adopted 4-12-2004 by Ord. No. 4-12-04A[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. I, Building Code, adopted 7-9-1990 by Ord. No. 7-9-90B.
The Municipality of Bethel Park hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999, 35 P.S. §§ 7210.101 through 7210.1103, as amended from time to time, and its regulations.
The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the Municipality of Bethel Park.
Administration and enforcement of the Code within the Municipality of Bethel Park shall be undertaken by the Building Code Official and the Construction Code Official with the exception of the plumbing and electrical codes. The International Plumbing Code and Plumbing Chapters 25 through 32 of the International Residential Code shall continue to be permitted and inspected by the Plumbing Division of the Allegheny County Health Department, and said International Electrical Code inspections shall be performed by any state-certified third-party electrical inspection agency.
Articles IV and V of Chapter 8 (Offices and Positions) shall be amended to "Building Code Official" and "Construction Code Official," respectively, in accordance with Chapters 401 and 403 of said Act 45 of 1999.
26.5.1. 
As-built survey requirements. The Building Official may require that a survey be made on the ground by a licensed surveyor of the building or structure authorized by a building permit at any time during construction as a condition to continue work. In the event that the holder of a building permit is directed to secure and produce such survey, and neglects or refuses to do so, such building permit shall be revoked.
26.5.2. 
Certificate of compliance. All inspections for buildings containing more than four stories in height or more than 20,000 square feet of combined gross floor area shall be performed by a registered architect or licensed engineer who shall certify on a form provided for that purpose, that the building or addition is in accordance with all the provisions of this code.
26.5.3. 
Site bond. A bond in the amount of $200 shall be deposited with each building permit for a single-family dwelling to guarantee site completion or repairs to any municipal facility damaged as a result of construction activities.
26.5.4. 
Carbon monoxide detectors required. Carbon monoxide detectors shall be installed properly and maintained to function as they were intended by the manufacturer. All new dwelling units shall have at least one carbon monoxide detector located near each sleeping area.
26.5.5. 
Footing requirements. The minimum dimensions of footings shall be twice as wide and as deep in thickness as the wall it is supporting above. All vertical sections in stepped footings shall be continuous with the horizontal sections and shall be at least the same depth and thickness as the horizontal sections. There shall be included in the concrete footings two reinforcing steel bars of at least 1/2 inch in diameter and running continuously throughout the footer sections both horizontally and vertically. Where required reinforcing bars lap over one another, the lap will be at least 30 bar diameters in length. Reinforcing bars will be located two inches from the bottom of the section and two inches from the side of the section. Footing shall extend through garage door openings. Footings shall rest on undisturbed virgin soil with an assumed bearing value of 2,000 pounds per square foot. The Building Official may prescribe requirements greater than those stated herein when unusual conditions exist.
26.5.6. 
Radon control methods. Appendix F of the International Residential Code shall be adopted in its entirety.
26.5.7. 
Prohibition of portable or moveable devices used for cooking or food preparation; general. The use of portable or moveable gas grills, hibachis or other devices used for the cooking or heating of food which use or are fueled by propane, butane or liquid natural gas or combustible solids or combustible liquids is prohibited in the following locations:
1. 
Within any building occupied or intended to be occupied by more than two dwelling units.
2. 
On any balcony, roof or upon any patio or area located closer than 25 feet to any building listed above.
26.5.8. 
Floodplains. The Building Official shall require additional information to be provided on the plans for any construction or alteration located in a floodplain area in accordance with the requirements in the Bethel Park Floodplain Management Ordinance.[1] All requirements for construction in floodplains need to be met prior to issuing a building permit.
[Added 9-8-2014 by Ord. No. 9-8-14]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 72, Floodplain Management.
26.6.1. 
International Building Code:
1612.3
Municipality of Bethel Park
1612.3
October 4, 1995
3410.2
April 12, 2004
26.6.2. 
International Residential Code:
R101.1
Municipality of Bethel Park
P301.2
Table on page 24 (IRC)
Table R301.2(1)
Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria
Ground Snow Load
Wind Speed
(mph)
Seismic Design Category
Subject to Damage From
Winter Design Temp
Ice Shield Underlayment Required
Flood Hazards
Air Freezing Index
Mean Annual Temp
Weathering
Frost Line Depth
Termite
Decay
25 lb/ft2
90
A
Severe
36"
Moderate To heavy
Slight to Moderate
5-7
Yes
10-4-95
1000
50
P203.6.1
12, 36
P31-03.1
12, 12
26.6.3. 
International Existing Building Code:
101.1
Municipality of Bethel Park
120.1.2
April 12, 2004
26.6.4. 
International Code Council Electrical Code:
101.1
Municipality of Bethel Park
404.2
April 12, 2004
26.6.5. 
International Urban Wildland Interface Code:
101.1
Municipality of Bethel Park
26.6.6. 
International Fuel Gas Code:
101.1
Municipality of Bethel Park
106.5.2
In accordance with 26.11 of Municipal Ordinance 7-12-93A
106.5.3
50, 50
108.4
See Section 26.8
108.5
300, 1,000
26.6.7. 
International Mechanical Code:
101.1
Municipality of Bethel Park
106.5.2
Municipality of Bethel Park Municipal Ordinance 7-12-93A
106.5.3
50, 50
108.4
See Section 26.8
108.5
300, 1,000
26.6.8. 
International Energy Conservation Code:
101.1
Municipality of Bethel Park
26.6.9. 
International Fire Code:
101.1
Municipality of Bethel Park
109.3
See Section 26.8
111.4
300, 1,000
26.6.10. 
International Plumbing Code:
101.1
Municipality of Bethel Park
106.6.2
Municipality of Bethel Park, Municipal Ordinance 7-12-93A
106.6.3
50, 50
108.4
See Section 26.8
108.5
300, 1,000
305.6.1
12, 36
904.1
12
In case any work is performed by any person in violation of any provision of this ordinance, the proper office of the Municipality, in addition to other remedies, may institute in the name of the Municipality any appropriate action on proceeding, whether by legal process or otherwise, to prevent such unlawful work and to restrain or abate such violation.
Any person, partnership, firm or corporation who violates this ordinance shall pay a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs. Each day that such condition continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense. Further, any person, partnership, firm or corporation who shall fail or neglect to comply with written notice given by the Municipality shall be subject to an additional fine not to exceed $1,000, and each day such condition continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense.
The provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable, and if any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance shall for any reason be held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections, sentences, clauses and phrases of this ordinance, but they shall stand notwithstanding the invalidity of any part.
Any ordinance or part of ordinance conflicting with the provisions of this ordinance be, and the same is, hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.