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City of Erie, PA
Erie County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
CROSS REFERENCES
Power to license — See 3rd Class § 2601 (53 P.S. § 37601).
[Ord. 60-1994 § 1, passed 7-6-1994]
(a) 
There is established a Board of License Examiners consisting of seven members, who shall be appointed by Council. Each member shall serve for a period of two years from the date of his appointment. The seven current members of the Board were previously appointed to serve two year terms. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each of those terms will be deemed to expire on December 31st of the year which is two years following the date of their most recent appointment. Upon the expiration of those terms, Council shall fill the positions in a manner consistent with the provisions set forth herein and in other apposite City of Erie ordinances. The coordinator of City Services (hereinafter known as "Coordinator") shall be an ex officio member of such Board.
(b) 
It shall be the duty of the Board of License Examiners to examine all applicants for license to perform the duties of engineers and water tenders having charge of steam boilers, steam-driven machinery and/or ammonia refrigeration machinery, in the City and review all violations of this article. It shall be the further duty of the Board of License Examiners to advise the Coordinator on matters concerning enforcement of this article.
(c) 
The qualifications of a member of the Board shall be either to have a first class engineer's license or be similarly qualified by education and training.
[Ord. 60-1994 § 2, passed 7-6-1994]
(a) 
This article shall be administered and controlled by the Coordinator and the Board of License Examiners, subject to the supervision of the Office of the Mayor.
(b) 
The Coordinator shall keep in his office an accurate record of all applications made and a complete record of all licenses issued by him.
(c) 
The Coordinator shall keep an accurate record of all violations of this article.
(d) 
The Coordinator shall have the right to enter and inspect any and all premises:
(1) 
Wherein a licensed operator is or may be required; or
(2) 
Whenever the Coordinator has reason to believe a violation of this article is being or has been committed therein.
(e) 
No person shall in any manner hinder, obstruct, delay, resist, prevent or in any way interfere or attempt to interfere with the Coordinator in the performance of any duty herein required, or refuse to permit such authorized person to perform his duty by refusing him entrance to the premises upon identification.
(f) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to have charge of or to operate a steam boiler, steam driven machinery or ammonia refrigeration machinery in the City, unless such person or persons hold a license as hereinafter provided for.
(g) 
It shall be unlawful for any owner or owners, user or users of any steam boiler, steam driven machinery, or ammonia refrigeration machinery of the hereinafter specified capacity, to operate or cause to be operated the same, without having a duly qualified, licensed person in charge of such operation.
[Ord. 60-1994 § 3, passed 7-6-1994]
(a) 
These regulations shall apply to:
(1) 
All steam boilers, except those in private dwellings, within the City having a safety valve setting above 15 pounds per square inch, or an aggregate of 60 boiler HP (horsepower) or more, or the equivalent BTU (British Thermal Unit) output. (Aggregate will be determined by the number of units sharing a common header);
(2) 
All steam driven machinery within the City;
(3) 
All ammonia refrigeration machinery within the City; and
(4) 
Notwithstanding the above, every owner or lessor of any steam boiler, regardless of its size, in theaters, motion picture theaters, hospitals, schools, hotels, motels, organized homes or public buildings within the City not requiring a licensed operator shall cause the boiler to be inspected annually in accordance with State law and a certificate of pressure vessel operation shall be made available to the Coordinator when requested.
(b) 
Licenses shall be granted in three classes as follows:
(1) 
Class 1 - Chief Stationary Engineer. This class entitles the licensee to have charge of or operate without limitation by pressure, horsepower or equivalent BTU's any and all steam boilers, steam driven machinery and ammonia refrigeration machinery. To qualify, an applicant shall hold a Class 2 Stationary Engineer's license for a period of two years. A two year associate degree in a related field held by the applicant from any recognized school can be substituted in lieu of one years experience for this class of license.
(2) 
Class 2 - Stationary Engineer. This class entitles the licensee to have charge of or operate steam driven machinery up to and including 200 HP or equivalent BTU's. This class also entitles the licensee to have charge of or operate steam boilers having an aggregate horsepower not exceeding 400 HP or equivalent BTU's; provided however the licensee may without limitation by horsepower operate steam driven machinery, steam boilers, or ammonia refrigeration machinery if he does so under the supervision of a Chief Stationary Engineer who is present and in charge or who is not present but is assigned to the steam driven machinery, steam boilers, or ammonia refrigeration machinery and on call and readily available. To qualify, an applicant shall hold a Water Tender's license for a period of two years. A two year associate degree in a related field held by the applicant from any recognized school can be substituted in lieu of one years experience for this class of license.
(3) 
Class 3 - Water Tender. This class entitles the licensee to have charge of, or operate steam driven machinery, up to and including 100 HP or equivalent BTU's. This class also entitles licensee to have charge of or operate steam boilers, having an aggregate horsepower not exceeding 200 HP and 150 PSI (pounds per square inch); provided however the licensee may without limitation by horsepower or PSI operate any steam boilers, if he does so under the supervision of a licensed engineer who is qualified hereunder to operate the steam boilers in question. To qualify an applicant shall have experience in and around steam generating equipment and auxiliaries for a period of one year. A two year Associate Degree in a related field held by the applicant from any recognized school can be substituted in lieu of one year's experience for this class of license provided the applicant can pass the written examination, and a hands-on examination administered by the Licensing Board.
(4) 
Refrigeration license. This license entitles the licensee to have charge of or operate any ammonia refrigeration machinery. To qualify an applicant shall have experience in and around ammonia refrigeration machinery for a period of one year.
(c) 
The Board shall have the power to promulgate such additional rules and regulations as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this article.
[Ord. 60-1994 § 4, passed 7-6-1994]
(a) 
All applicants shall be 18 years of age and have a high school education or its equivalent.
(b) 
All applicants shall pass a written examination for each class of license.
(c) 
All licenses shall be framed under glass, in a conspicuous place where they can be readily seen.
(d) 
All licensees shall assist the State Inspector in his examination of any equipment covered under this section. He shall apprise the State Inspector of any known defects.
(e) 
It shall be the responsibility of a licensee when on duty to thoroughly examine all equipment and any defects or sign of neglect shall be reported to the Licensed Engineer in charge.
(f) 
This article requires that all steam boilers or steam-driven machinery, except those in private dwellings, within the City having a safety valve setting above 15 pounds per square inch, or an aggregate of 60 boiler HP, or the equivalent BTU output be manned by a duly licensed Stationary Steam Engineer. It further requires all steam-driven machinery and all ammonia refrigeration machinery be manned by a duly licensed Stationary Steam Engineer. Within the meaning of this article a covered steam boiler, steam-driven machinery or an ammonia refrigeration machinery is properly manned as follows:
(1) 
If the covered steam boiler(s) or steam driven machinery has an aggregate boiler horsepower between 60 and 149.9, a licensed engineer, as required by Section 319.03, above, shall be in charge and on call. The boiler(s) shall be maintained daily according to the manufacture specifications or the ASME Code, Section 6, by same. If the building housing the boiler(s) or steam driven machinery is occupied by school children* and/or incapacitated individuals, the licensed engineer, as required by Section 319.03, shall be present in the building when the building is occupied and the machinery is in operation. He may, however, perform other duties in the building provided he checks the boiler(s) every two hours.
* Buildings occupied by school children shall be defined as buildings used for preschool, elementary or secondary education of children and shall not include buildings utilized for providing programs of post-secondary education.
(2) 
If the covered steam boiler(s) or steam-driven machinery has an aggregate boiler HP of 150 and above and is used for heating purposes only, the licensed engineer, as required by Section 319.03, shall have his primary post of duty in the building housing the machinery. He is further required to be present in the building when the machinery is in operation. He may, however, perform other duties in the building, provided he checks the machinery every two hours. If the boiler(s) is also used for steam processes, the licensed engineer shall check the boiler(s) every hour or more if deemed necessary by the operation.
(3) 
If the covered machinery is ammonia refrigeration machinery, the licensed operator required by Section 319.03, shall have his primary post of duty within the building housing the ammonia refrigeration machinery. The licensed operator is further required to be present in the building when the ammonia refrigeration machinery is in operation and the building is occupied. The licensed operator may, however, perform other duties in the building, provided he checks the ammonia refrigeration machinery at least once every hour.
(g) 
Any person seeking to be licensed as an Engineer under this article shall submit an application to the Coordinator, who shall forward it to the Board of License Examiners. Upon receipt, the Board of License Examiners shall review the applications to insure eligibility requirements are met.
[Ord. 60-1994 § 5, passed 7-6-1994; Ord. 51-2006, passed 10-18-2006]
(a) 
Application for license shall include a nonrefundable fee payable to the City in the following amounts: $60 for Water Tender; $80 for Second Class Engineer; and $100 for Chief Engineer and Refrigeration Engineer.
(b) 
All licenses expire December 31st of each year.
(c) 
All licenses shall be renewed on or before December 31st of each year by remitting, to the Coordinator, payment in the amount set forth in Subsection (a) hereof.
(d) 
The license of any operator who enters active duty in the armed services shall remain in effect, without payment of renewal fee, until discharge; provided however, the license shall be renewed within six months of discharge, in the manner set forth above in Subsection (c) hereof.
(e) 
Any person violating any provision of this article shall on conviction thereof, be liable to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $300 and costs of prosecution to be collected by summary proceedings before any duly authorized magistrate. In default of payment of any such fine and cost, a violator may be committed to Erie County Jail for a period not to exceed 90 days. In addition, such person shall be liable to a suspension or revocation of his license as the Board of License Examiners shall determine.
[Ord. 60-1994 § 6, passed 7-6-1994]
(a) 
The term Coordinator of City Services shall include the Coordinator, his authorized designee(s) or agent(s).
(b) 
The Coordinator shall be an ex-officio member of the Board of Examiners created in Section 319.01.