Township of Upper Gwynedd, PA Building Construction

[Amended 12-23-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-10; 11-24-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-16]

For the purpose of establishing regulations for all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy and maintenance of all buildings and structures and which shall apply to existing or proposed buildings and structures, there is hereby adopted by the Board of Commissioners of Upper Gwynedd Township the Uniform Construction Code and the subsidiary codes comprising said code (including the 2009 International Fire Code in its entirety) as described in 34 Pa. Code §§ 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, but excluding the International Performance Code and the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, as though the same were herein set forth at length and as revised herein. Administration and enforcement of the Uniform Construction Code shall be undertaken by and shall be the responsibility of the Code Enforcement Officer of the Township.

The following additions and/or revisions are hereby made to the International Building Code:

(1)

Section 101.1 is hereby revised to read as follows:

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "Building Code of Upper Gwynedd Township," hereinafter referred to as "this code."

(2)

Section 1612.3 is hereby revised to read as follows:

1612.3 Establishment of flood hazard areas. To establish flood hazard areas, the applicable governing authority shall adopt a flood hazard map and supporting data. The flood hazard map shall include, at a minimum, areas of special flood hazard as identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in an engineering report entitled "The Flood Insurance Study for Upper Gwynedd Township," dated December 19, 1996, revised March 2, 1998, as amended or revised, with the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood Boundary and Floodway Map (FBFM) and related supporting data, along with any revisions thereto. The adopted flood hazard map and supporting data are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be part of this section.

(3)

Section 3412.2 is hereby revised to read as follows:

3412.2 Applicability. Structures existing prior to May 24, 2004, in which there is work involving additions, alterations or changes of occupancy, shall be made to comply with the requirements of this section or the provisions of Sections 3403 through 3409. The provisions in Sections 3412.2.1 through 3412.2.5 shall apply to existing occupancies that will continue to be, or are proposed to be, in Groups A, B, E, F, M, R, S and U. These provisions shall not apply to buildings with occupancies in Group H or I.

The following additions and/or revisions are hereby made to the International Mechanical Code:

(1)

Section 101.1 is hereby revised to read as follows:

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "Mechanical Code of Upper Gwynedd Township," hereinafter referred to as "this code."

(2)

Section 106.5.2 is hereby revised to read as follows:

106.5.2 Fee schedule. The fees for mechanical work shall be as set forth in the Township's schedule of fees set forth in Resolution No. 31-2010, as amended.

(3)

Section 106.5.3 is hereby revised to read as follows:

	106.5.3 Fee refunds. The code official shall authorize the refunding of fees as follows:
	1.	The full amount of any fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected.
	2.	Not more than 50% of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with this code.
	3.	Not more than 50% of the plan review fee paid when an application for a permit for which a plan review fee has been paid is withdrawn or canceled before any plan review effort has been expended.

(4)

Section 108.4 is hereby revised to read as follows:

108.4 Violation penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof, or who shall erect, install, alter or repair work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the code official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.

(5)

Section 108.5 is hereby revised to read as follows:

108.5 Stop-work orders. Upon notice from the code official that mechanical work is being done contrary to the provisions of this code or in a dangerous or unsafe manner, such work shall immediately cease. Such notice shall be in writing and shall be given to the owner of the property or to the owner's agent or to the person doing the work. The notice shall state the conditions under which work is authorized to resume. Where an emergency exists, the code official shall not be required to give a written notice prior to stopping the work. 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 liable to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.

The following additions and/or revisions are hereby made to the International Fuel Gas Code:

(1)

Section 101.1 is hereby revised to read as follows:

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "Fuel Gas Code of Upper Gwynedd Township," hereinafter referred to as "this code."

(2)

Section 106.6.2 is hereby revised to read as follows:

106.6.2 Fee schedule. The fees for work shall be as set forth in the Township's schedule of fees set forth in Resolution No. 31-2010, as amended.

(3)

Section 106.6.3 is hereby revised to read as follows:

	106.6.3 Fee refunds. The code official shall authorize the refunding of fees as follows:
	1.	The full amount of any fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected.
	2.	Not more than 50% of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with this code.
	3.	Not more than 50% of the plan review fee paid when an application for a permit for which a plan review fee has been paid is withdrawn or canceled before any plan review effort has been expended.

(4)

Section 108.4 is hereby revised to read as follows:

108.4 Violation penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof, or who shall erect, install, alter or repair work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the code official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.

(5)

Section 108.5 is hereby revised to read as follows:

108.5 Stop-work orders. Upon notice from the code official that work is being done contrary to the provisions of this code or in a dangerous or unsafe manner, such work shall immediately cease. Such notice shall be in writing and shall be given to the owner of the property or to the owner's agent or to the person doing the work. The notice shall state the conditions under which work is authorized to resume. Where an emergency exists, the code official shall not be required to give a written notice prior to stopping the work. 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 liable to a fine of not less than $100 more than $1,000.

The following additions and/or revisions are hereby made to the International Plumbing Code:

(1)

Section 101.1 is hereby revised to read as follows:

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "Plumbing Code of Upper Gwynedd Township," hereinafter referred to as "this code."

(2)

Section 106.6.2 is hereby revised to read as follows:

106.6.2 Fee schedule. The fees for plumbing work shall be as set forth in the Township's schedule of fees set forth in Resolution No. 31-2010, as amended.

(3)

Section 106.6.3 is hereby revised to read as follows:

	106.6.3 Fee refunds. The code official shall authorize the refunding of fees as follows:
	1.	The full amount of any fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected.
	2.	Not more than 50% of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with this code.
	3.	Not more than 50% of the plan review fee paid when an application for a permit for which a plan review fee has been paid is withdrawn or canceled before any plan review effort has been expended.

(4)

Section 108.4 is hereby revised to read as follows:

108.4 Violation penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter or repair plumbing work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the code official or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.

(5)

Section 108.5 is hereby revised to read as follows:

108.5 Stop-work orders. Upon notice from the code official, work on any plumbing system that is being done contrary to the provisions of this code or in a dangerous or unsafe manner shall immediately cease. Such notice shall be in writing and shall be given to the owner of the property or to the owner's agent or to the person doing the work. The notice shall state the conditions under which work is authorized to resume. Where an emergency exists, the code official shall not be required to give a written notice prior to stopping the work. Any person who shall continue any work on or about the structure 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 liable to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.

(6)

Section 305.6.1 is hereby revised to read as follows:

305.6.1 Sewer depth. Building sewers that connect to private sewage disposal systems shall be a minimum of 36 inches (914.4 mm) below finished grade at the point of septic tank connection. Building sewers shall be a minimum of 36 inches (914.4 mm) below grade.

(7)

Section 904.1 is hereby revised to read as follows:

904.1 Roof extension. All open vent pipes that extend through a roof shall be terminated at least six inches (152 mm) above the roof, except that where a roof is to be used for any purpose other than weather protection the vent extensions shall be run at least seven feet (2,134 mm) above the roof.

The following additions and/or revisions are hereby made to the International Residential Code:

(1)

Section R101.1 is hereby revised to read as follows:

R101.1 Title. These provisions shall be known as the "Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings of Upper Gwynedd Township," and shall be cited as such and will be referred to herein as "this code."

(2)

Table R301.2(1), Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria, is hereby revised to insert the following:

(a)

Ground snow load: "30."

(b)

Wind design:

[1]

Speed: "B."

[2]

Topographic effects: "no."

(c)

Seismic design category: "D."

(d)

Subject to damage from:

[1]

Weathering: "negligible."

[2]

Frost line depth: "36 inches."

[3]

Termite: "moderate."

(e)

Winter design temp: "14."

(f)

Ice barrier underlayment required: "no."

(g)

Flood hazards: "2-27-1978."

(h)

Air freezing index: "1500 or less."

(i)

Mean annual temp: "54.1."

(3)

Section P2603.6.1 is hereby revised to read as follows:

P2603.6.1 Sewer depth. Building sewers that connect to private sewage disposal systems shall be a minimum of 36 inches (914.4 mm) below finished grade at the point of septic tank connection. Building sewers shall be a minimum of 36 inches (914.4 mm) below grade.

The following additions and/or revisions are hereby made to the International Fire Code:

(1)

Section 101.1 is hereby revised to read as follows:

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "International Fire Code of Upper Gwynedd Township," hereinafter referred to as "this code."

(2)

Section 109.3 is hereby revised to read as follows:

109.3 Violation penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be guilty of a summary offense, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or both. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.

(3)

Section 111.4 is hereby revised to read as follows:

111.4 Failure to comply. 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 liable to a fine of not less than $100 or more than $1,000.

The following additions and/or revisions are hereby made to the International Energy Conservation Code:

(1)

Section 101.1 is hereby revised to read as follows:

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "International Energy Conservation Code of Upper Gwynedd Township," hereinafter referred to as "this code."

(2)

Section 108.4 is hereby revised to read as follows:

108.4 Failure to comply. 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 more than $1,000. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.

The following additions and/or revisions are hereby made to the International Existing Building Code:

(1)

Section 101.1 is hereby revised to read as follows:

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "International Existing Building Code of Upper Gwynedd Township," hereinafter referred to as "this code."

(2)

Section 1301.2 is hereby revised to read as follows:

1301.2 Applicability. Structures existing prior to May 24, 2004, in which there is work involving additions, alterations or changes of occupancy, shall be made to conform to the requirements of this chapter or the provisions of Chapters 4 through 12. The provisions of Sections 1301.2.1 through 1301.2.5 shall apply to existing occupancies that will continue to be or are proposed to be in Groups A, B, E, F, M, R and S. These provisions shall not apply to buildings with occupancies in Group H or I.