Township of Exeter, PA Article I Building Code

[Adopted 10-22-1990 by Ord. No. 300]

§ 150-1 Adoption of codes.

[Amended 8-13-2007 by Ord. No. 640]

The Board of Supervisors does hereby adopt the following codes and the provisions contained therein by reference thereto for enforcement within the Township of Exeter, Berks County, Pennsylvania:

A. BOCA National Building Code of 1996.

B. BOCA National Plumbing Code of 1990.

C. BOCA National Fire Prevention Code of 1990.

D. BOCA National Mechanical Code of 1990.

E. BOCA National Property Maintenance Code of 1990.

F. NFPA National Electrical Code of 1990.

G. CABO One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code of 1989.

§ 150-2 Power to amend.

The Board of Supervisors is hereby empowered to adopt revisions to any of the enumerated codes referred to in § 150-1 as they may be subsequently revised, from time to time, by resolution duly adopted and passed by the Board of Supervisors of Exeter Township.

§ 150-3 Additions, deletions and changes.

[Amended 8-13-2007 by Ord. No. 640]

The following sections are added, deleted or changed:

A. Section 904.1 of the 1996 BOCA Building Code of Exeter Township to read as follows:

	§ 904.1. Automatic fire suppression systems shall be installed and maintained in full operating condition in the locations indicated in §§ 902.2 through 904.4.
	Exceptions. Retain 1 and 2 as written.

B. Section 904.2 to read as follows:

§ 904.2. Use Groups A, B, E, F, H, I, M, S and U in all buildings or structures or portions thereof, when more than 5,000 square feet or more than 35 feet in height.

	Exceptions.
	(1)	Open parking structures, as defined in § 406.
	(2)	Additions to existing buildings where the addition is less than 50% of the gross floor area of the building.
	(3)	Unheated barns or similar buildings.
	(4)	In areas of buildings where water reactive chemicals are stored.

C. Section 904.3 to read as follows:

§ 904.3. Use Group R in all buildings or structures or portions of buildings of Use Group R, which shall include R-1 and R-2.

Exceptions. An automatic fire suppression shall not be required in Use Group R-3 and R-4.

D. Delete §§ 904.4 through 904.10.

E. Add. All automatic fire suppression systems shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 13.

F. Section 904.1 of the 1996 BOCA Building Code of Exeter Township shall hereinafter read as follows:

§ 904.1. Where required. Automatic fire suppression systems shall be installed and maintained in full operation in all Use Groups, to include A, B, E, F, H, I, M, S and U.

G. Section 904.1.1 shall be added and shall read as follows:

§ 904.1.1. Use Groups A, B, E, F, H, I, M, S and U in all buildings or structure or portions thereof, when more than 5,000 square feet or more than 35 feet in height.

	Exceptions.
	(1)	Open parking structures, as defined in § 406.
	(2)	Additions to existing buildings where the addition is less than 50% of the gross floor area of the building.
	(3)	Unheated barns or similar buildings.
	(4)	In areas of buildings where water reactive chemicals are stored.
	(5)	In areas of buildings where electrical power distribution equipment are housed.

H. Use Group R, in all buildings or structures or portions of buildings of Use Group R, which shall include R-1, R-2 and to include R-3 as defined in § 310.5, where multiple single-family dwellings, three or more where each unit has an independent means of egress and is separated by a two-hour fire separation assembly.

	Exceptions.
	(1)	All buildings or structures in Use Group R-3, as defined in § 310.5, as one or two-family dwelling units.
	(2)	All buildings or structures in Use Group R-4 containing two or less units with a separated two-hour rated fire wall assembly.

§ 150-4 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 8-13-2007 by Ord. No. 640]

A. Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Code, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Code continues or each section of this Code which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.

B. Abatement of violation. The imposition of the penalties herein prescribed shall not preclude the legal officer of the jurisdiction 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 in or about any premises.