[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Collegeville 10-2-2019 by Ord. No. 597.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
A certain document, three copies of which are on file in Borough
Hall, being marked and designated as the International Fire Code,
2015 Edition, including all Appendix chapters, as published by the
International Code Council, be and is hereby adopted as the Fire Code
of the Borough of Collegeville in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
regulating and governing the safeguarding of life and property from
fire and explosion hazards arising from the storage, handling and
use of hazardous substances, materials and devices, and from conditions
hazardous to life or property in the occupancy of buildings and premises
as herein provided; providing for the issuance of permits and collection
of fees therefor; and each and all of the regulations, provisions,
penalties, conditions and terms of said Fire Code on file in the office
of the Fire Code Official of the Borough of Collegeville and hereby
referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out
in this article with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes,
if any, prescribed in this article.
The following sections are hereby revised:
A.
Section 101.1. Insert: Collegeville Borough.
B.
Section 109.4 Insert: Summary Offense, $1,000 and 30 days.
C.
Section 111.4 Insert: $200 and $1,000.
D.
Section 308.1.4 of the 2015 International Fire Code is amended to
remove Exceptions 1, 2 and 3.
E.
Section 1103.5.2 is amended to remove the last sentence and replace
it with "The automatic sprinkler system shall be installed by October
1, 2019."
F.
Section 507.5.3 is deleted entirely and replaced with the following:
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Section 507.5.3. Private fire service mains and water
tanks. Private fire service mains and water tanks shall be
periodically inspected tested and maintained in accordance with NFPA
25 at the following intervals:
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1.
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Private fire hydrants (all types): inspection annually and after
each operation; flow test and maintenance annually. A copy of the
written inspection report shall be forwarded to the Borough of Collegeville
Manager's office and the Fire Code Official.
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2.
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Fire service main piping: inspection of exposed, annually; flow
test every five years.
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3.
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Fire service main piping strainers: inspection and maintenance
after each use.
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G.
Section 307.1 shall be amended as follows:
[Added 2-3-2021 by Ord.
No. 604]
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307.1. Prohibition of burning for disposal purposes.
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In accordance with the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling,
and Waste Reduction Act of July 28, 1988 (P.L. 556, No. 101) ("Pennsylvania
Act 101") and as amended by Act 140 of 2006, it shall be unlawful
for any person to openly burn any material, including the following,
at any time in any zone within the Borough: household trash, books,
magazines, newspapers, cardboard and/or any items that are required
to be recycled in the municipality under Pennsylvania Act 101, including
yard waste, leaves and scrap lumber or any vegetation, plywood, drywall,
plastic products, insulation materials, upholstered furniture, solid
waste and/or construction waste as defined by the Pennsylvania Solid
Waste Management Act[1] and 25 Pa. Code 271.1, garbage, dead animals, human and
animal excrement, human and animal hair, rubber products, including
tires, hydrocarbon products or flammable liquids, asphalt or tar shingles
or roofing materials, bedding, foam rubber, nylon, rayon, cotton,
wool, polyester or other synthetic material, insulation from copper
or other wiring.
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307.1.1. Exclusions.
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The prohibition of open burning shall be in effect except when
the burning results from:
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(a)
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An open burning set to prevent or abate a fire hazard when approved
by the Department of Environmental Protection's regional office
and set by or under the supervision of a public officer.
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(b)
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A fire set for the purpose of instructing personnel in firefighting,
when approved by the Department of Environmental Protection's
regional office.
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(c)
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A fire set for the prevention and control of disease or pests,
when approved by the Department of Environmental Protection's
regional office.
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(d)
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A fire set for the purpose of burning, clearing and grubbing
waste; if within an air basin, an air curtain destructor must be used
and must be approved by the Department of Environmental Protection's
regional office.
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(e)
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A fire set in conjunction with the production of agricultural
commodities in their unmanufactured state on the premises of the farm
operation.
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(f)
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A fire set solely for cooking food.
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(g)
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A fire set solely for recreational or ceremonial purposes.
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307.1.2. Regulations pertaining to permitted instances
of open burning.
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1.
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Any such open burning as permitted in Section 307.1.1 shall
be located at least 50 feet or more from any building, structure or
combustible materials.
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2.
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A permit from the Borough is required for any instances of open
burning as permitted in 307.1.1 items (a) through (g). A fee may be
charged for said permit by resolution of the Borough Council, as may
be modified from time to time. However, any Borough or Fire Official
may suspend open burning at any time when it is determined by any
of them that, in their opinion, any of the following conditions exist:
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(a)
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Smoke, embers and/or ash emission cause damage to property or
vegetation of adjacent properties.
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(b)
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Smoke, embers and/or ash emission are, or may be, offensive,
objectionable, a public nuisance or deleterious to human or animal
health.
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(c)
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Dry conditions or drought warrant a ban on all open burning,
in which case the Borough Council shall be so advised in writing.
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3.
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All fires in open burning must be guarded or attended to by
one or more responsible adult persons, being individuals 18 or over,
at all times until such fire and open burning have been extinguished.
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4.
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Yard waste that is permitted to be burned on agricultural land
must originate from the same parcel of land on which it is burned.
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5.
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Nonorganic or recyclable materials, or any other combustibles
which may create large amounts of smoke, may not be openly burned.
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6.
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Any such open burning shall be permitted between the hours of
8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. No burning or smoldering shall occur outside
the above time period, unless prior permission is requested of and
expressly granted by the Borough.
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307.1.3 Outdoor fireplaces, outdoor propane heaters, outdoor
firepits, outdoor cooking grills, outdoor patio stoves, chimeneas
and factory-built metal novelty stoves.
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1.
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Outdoor fireplaces, outdoor propane heaters, outdoor firepits,
outdoor cooking grills, outdoor patio stoves, chimeneas and factory
built metal novelty stoves shall be permitted upon private property
within all zones of the Borough solely for their intended purpose.
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2.
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No person shall use outdoor fireplaces, outdoor propane heaters,
outdoor firepits, outdoor cooking grills, outdoor patio stoves, chimeneas
and factorybuilt metal novelty stoves for the burning of material
as outlined in Section 307.1.
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3.
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Outdoor fireplaces, outdoor propane heaters, outdoor firepits,
outdoor cooking grills, outdoor patio stoves, chimeneas and factory-built
metal novelty stoves shall not be used indoors or in any enclosed
areas that are not properly ventilated.
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4.
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Outdoor fireplaces, outdoor propane heaters, outdoor firepits,
outdoor cooking grills, outdoor patio stoves, chimeneas and factory-built
metal novelty stoves shall be located at a safe distance from any
public street, right-of-way, or property line.
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5.
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All outdoor fires operated under this section shall have a maximum
pile size of three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in
height.
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307.1.4. Indoor fireplaces; woodburning and coal stoves;
solid-fuel heaters.
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1.
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Fireplaces or woodburning or coal stoves shall be permitted
inside residential private property within all zones of the Borough
solely for the purpose of heating the dwelling unit.
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2.
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Only seasoned firewood, coal or solid fuels recommended by the
manufacturer may be burned in such fireplaces, woodburning or coal
stoves or solid-fuel heaters.
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3.
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No person may use such fireplaces, woodburning
or coal stoves or solid-fuel heaters for the burning of any material
as outlined in Section 307.1.
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4.
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Such fireplaces, woodburning or coal stoves or solid-fuel heaters
shall not be used for such purpose when, in the judgment of a Borough
or fire official, a fire hazard is created by such use and operation
and/or any danger is posed to the occupants therein or the neighboring
buildings and/or occupants.
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5.
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If the smoke, ashes and/or smell emitting to the outside atmosphere
from the chimney, stove pipe or flue are objectionable or offensive
to the general public, the operation of such fireplace, woodburning
or coal stove or solid-fuel heater shall be suspended by any Borough
or fire official.
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307.1.5. Handling of ashes and rubbish.
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Ashes, smoldering coals, wood and embers or other material liable
to spontaneously ignite shall not be deposited or allowed to remain
within 10 feet of any combustible materials but shall be deposited
in noncombustible containers. Rubbish of any kind shall not be allowed
to accumulate.
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[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq.
H.
Section 307.3 is deleted and replaced with the following:
[Added 2-3-2021 by Ord.
No. 604]
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307.3 Extinguishment authority. When open burning,
recreational fires or use of outdoor fireplaces, outdoor propane heaters,
outdoor firepits, outdoor cooking grills, outdoor built metal novelty
stoves creates or adds to a hazardous situation, or a required permit
for open burning has not been obtained, the Fire Code Official or
a Collegeville police officer is authorized to order the extinguishment
of the open burning operation.patio stoves, chimeneas or factory
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I.
Section 307.4.3, delete the exception.
[Added 2-3-2021 by Ord.
No. 604]
J.
Sections 307.4.4 and 307.4.5 shall be added and read as follows:
[Added 2-3-2021 by Ord.
No. 604]
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307.4.4. Portable outdoor and fixed outdoor fireplaces: shall be operated in accordance with §§ 307, 307.4
and 307.5.
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307.4.5. Attendance. Open burning, bonfires, recreational
fires and use of outdoor fireplaces, outdoor propane heaters, outdoor
firepits, outdoor cooking grills, outdoor patio stoves, chimeneas
and factory-built metal novelty stoves shall be constantly attended
until the fire is extinguished. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher
complying with Section 906 with a minimum 4-A rating or other on-site
fire-extinguishing equipment, such as dirt, sand, water barrel, garden
hose or water truck, shall be available for immediate utilization.
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The geographic limits referred to in certain sections of the
2015 International Fire Code are hereby established as follows:
A.
Section 5704.2.9.6.1: The storage of Class I and II liquids in above-ground
tanks outside of buildings is prohibited within the Borough of Collegeville.
B.
Section 5706.2.4.4: The storage of Class I and II liquids in above-ground
tanks is prohibited within the Borough of Collegeville.
C.
Section 5806.2: The storage of flammable cryogenic fluids in stationary
containers is prohibited within the Borough of Collegeville.
D.
Section 6104.2: The storage of liquefied petroleum gas is restricted
for the protection of heavily populated or congested areas within
the Borough of Collegeville.
A.
The Collegeville Borough Manager is authorized to start an annual
inspection program of each commercial/business property in the Borough
of Collegeville in order to safeguard the health and safety of the
occupants thereof and in order to determine and enforce compliance
with the codes, laws, and regulations applicable to such units and
the structures containing such units. The Fire Code Official is authorized
to enter, for the purpose of such inspection, all commercial businesses/properties
and it is the duty of commercial business/property owners to provide
access to such properties upon request for said inspection.
B.
Commercial/business property is defined as any commercial business/property
that meets the definitions as outlined in the International Building
Code as an assembly, business, educational, factory and industrial,
high hazard, institutional, mercantile, residential, storage or utility
and miscellaneous.
A.
The Borough of Collegeville shall notify the property or business
owner of its intent to inspect the property or business at least five
days prior to the inspection. Such notification shall be in the form
of written communication or by phone.
B.
Alter the inspection, the Inspector shall submit any violations in
writing to the property or business owner or agent. The owner or agent
must correct any violations within a time frame set by the Fire Code
Official. If the violation is deemed as a life-safety hazard, then
the Fire Code Official or Inspector may notify the property or business
owner or agent that the violation must be corrected immediately, or
the property will be closed until the violation is corrected.
