[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Bradford 8-26-1986
as Ord. No. 3097. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 80.
[Amended 6-16-1989 by Ord.
No. 3097.1; 3-13-1990 by Ord.
3097.2; 8-24-1993 by Ord.
No. 3097.3; 7-23-1996 by Ord.
No. 3097.4]
The City of Bradford hereby adopts, for the purpose of establishing
rules and regulations for the installation, renewal, extension and reception
of electric wiring and electric apparatus in existing buildings, structures
or outdoor electrical displays or signs or in the construction, reconstruction,
alteration or repair of buildings, structures or outdoor electrical displays
or signs, the electrical code known as the "National Electrical Code, 1996
Edition," and then, henceforth, the City of Bradford will comply with the
most recent edition of this code, as recommended by the National Fire Protection
Association, of which not fewer than three (3) copies have been and are now
filed in the office of the City Clerk, and the same is hereby adopted and
incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein. From the date by which
this chapter shall take effect, the provisions thereof shall be controlling
for all existing and future electrical wiring and apparatus in buildings,
structures or outdoor electrical displays or signs within the corporate limits
of the City of Bradford.
The National Electrical Code adopted in § 103-1 hereof shall be enforced by the Building Official. The Building Official shall, upon the installation, removal, extension and reception of any electrical wiring and electric apparatus pursuant to this chapter, cause an inspection or inspections to be made by himself or his duly authorized agents to determine that the electrical work conforms to the National Electrical Code, this chapter and other ordinances of the City of Bradford and the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
No person, copartnership, firm, association, corporation or other legal
entity shall hereafter install, receive, renew or extend electrical wire or
conductors to be used for the transmission of electric current for electric
light, heat or power purposes in existing buildings, structures or outdoor
electrical displays or signs or in the construction, reconstruction, alteration
or repair of buildings or structures or outdoor electrical displays or signs
without first applying for and obtaining a permit to do so pursuant to this
chapter.
A.
All such applications for permits shall be made to the
Building Official in writing on forms supplied by the Building Official.
B.
Any person making false answers to any questions or items
set forth in such application form shall forfeit and surrender any permit
issued pursuant thereto.
C.
Such application form shall contain questions designed
to elicit information to determine whether or not said proposed electric wiring
and electric apparatus comply with the National Electrical Code and any other
ordinances of the City of Bradford and statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
D.
Each such application form shall be accompanied by a
fee prescribed by this chapter.
E.
Each applicant for a permit shall furnish to the Building
Official proof, in writing, that an application for inspection of the proposed
electric wiring and electric apparatus has been made to the Middle Department
Association of Fire Underwriters, a nonprofit corporation, hereinafter referred
to as "Underwriters," or a similar organization that specializes in inspections,
to determine that the electrical work conforms to the provisions of the National
Electrical Code and this chapter. The payment of all inspection fees and charges
of the Underwriters or a similar organization shall be borne by the applicant.
F.
Each applicant for a permit shall cause the premises
covered by the application to be opened for inspection or inspections by the
Building Official and his agents and the representatives of the Underwriters
or similar organizations at all reasonable times.
G.
Upon the Building Official's determination that the proposed
electric wiring and electric apparatus comply with the National Electric Code,
this chapter and other ordinances of the City of Bradford and statutes of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a permit shall be issued.
H.
All permits shall expire one (1) year from the date of
issuance by the Building Official.
A.
All inspections shall be made to ensure that the proposed
electrical work complies with the National Electrical Code. No electrical
wiring shall be concealed unless inspected and approved by the Building Official
and his agents and the representatives or representative of the Underwriters
or similar organizations, but such inspection or reinspection shall be made
within a reasonable time after notice of completion of electrical work so
to be inspected for approval. A duplicate record of each written approval
made by the Underwriters or similar organizations shall be filed with the
Building Official.
B.
All decisions made to determine whether or not the proposed
electrical work complies with the provisions of the National Electrical Code
shall be made by the Building Official.
C.
The Building Official shall have the power to stop electrical
work and order the removal thereof when he determines that such work is being
installed not in conformity with the National Electrical Code, this chapter
and other ordinances of the City of Bradford and the statutes of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
D.
The Building Official may waive his inspection to determine
compliance with the National Electrical Code and this chapter of all or that
portion of the proposed electrical work for which he shall have received a
duplicate record of approval by the Underwriters or similar organizations.
The Building Official shall give notice so that the approved work can be concealed.
In order to safeguard persons and property against the hazards and perils
incident to defective electric wiring and apparatus that are or may now be
in existence within the corporate limits of the City of Bradford, the Building
Official is hereby given the duty to inspect with his agents and the representative
or representatives of the Underwriters or similar organizations, when requested
by proper authority or when public interest so requires, any premises within
the City of Bradford at reasonable times to ensure that the existing electric
wiring system and apparatus are not defective and unsafe.
A.
All decisions that the existing electric wiring system
and apparatus are defective shall be made by the Building Official, in writing,
on notice to the owner of the premises served forthwith personally or by regular
mail addressed to the address shown on the latest tax records, with reasons
for his decision.
B.
Upon the Building Official's decision that the existing
electric wiring systems are defective and unsafe as aforesaid, the system
or portions of the system which are defective and unsafe shall be discontinued
until they are corrected and made to comply with the provisions of the National
Electrical Code in accordance with this chapter.
Every applicant and owner of the premises and other parties in interest
shall have the right to demand, in writing, a hearing before the Building
Official to contest any decision or order made by him. Such demand for hearing
shall be signed by the contesting party, stating what portions of the Building
Official's decision or orders are contested and his or her or their interest
in the premises.
A.
The Building Official shall fix a time and place of the
hearing not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days after receiving
such demand for a hearing and cause a notice of the hearing to be served personally
or by regular mail on the contestant, owner of the premises and other parties
in interest.
B.
The contestant, owner of the premises and other parties
in interest shall have the right to appear in person, or otherwise, and give
testimony at the hearing. Rules of evidence prevailing in the courts shall
not be controlling.
C.
The Building Official, within a reasonable time after
such hearing, shall make his decision, in writing, with a finding of the facts
and the reasons for his decision, and serve a copy of his decision personally
or by regular mail on the contestant, owner of the premises and other parties
in interest.
Only the materials, fittings and devices enumerated in the List of Inspected
Appliances of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., as revised from time to time,
shall be used in the electrical work regulated by the National Electrical
Code and this chapter.
The National Electrical Code herein adopted is supplemented by adding
thereto the following, which is made a part hereof:
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Whenever a permit is required under the terms of this chapter for electrical
wiring and apparatus to be done in connection with a gas or oil burner installation
in any existing building or structure or in the construction, reconstruction,
alteration or repair of buildings or structures, there shall be installed
an emergency shutoff switch with a red plate thereon marked "oil burner" or
"gas burner," as the case may be, at the entrance to the basement or heating
room.
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The Building Official shall have the power to modify any of the provisions
of this chapter, upon application in writing by the owner of a premises or
his agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out
the strict letter of this chapter, provided that the spirit of this chapter
shall be observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done.
All records of the Building Official pursuant to this chapter shall
be open to public inspection for good and sufficient reasons during office
hours but shall not be removed from the office of the Building Official without
his written consent.
No permit shall be required under this chapter for the following electrical
work:
A.
Minor repair work, such as the replacement of lamps and
fuses.
B.
The connection of portable electrical appliances to suitable
permanently installed appliances.
C.
Equipment installed for work performed by or for a public
utility operating under authority granted by the Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
D.
Equipment installed or work performed by a railway utility
in the exercise of its function as a utility and located in or on its right-of-way.
E.
Equipment used in connection with commercial radio and
television transmission.
F.
The repair, manufacturing and maintenance work on premises
occupied by a firm or corporation and performed by a regular employee who
is a qualified journeyman electrician.
Fees for permits or renewals thereof required by this chapter shall
be as follows:
A.
Under five hundred dollars ($500.): a fee of fifteen
dollars ($15.).
B.
Five hundred dollars ($500.) to five thousand dollars
($5,000.): a fee of twenty dollars ($20.).
C.
Five thousand dollars and one cent ($5,000.01) to ten
thousand dollars ($10,000.): a fee of thirty dollars ($30.).
D.
Ten thousand dollars and one cent ($10,000.01) or more:
a fee of ten dollars ($10.) per ten thousand dollars ($10,000.) of construction
or any fraction thereof.
[Amended 6-16-1989 by Ord.
No. 3097.1]
A.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter
or of the National Electrical Code hereby adopted or who fails to comply therewith
or who shall violate or fail to comply with any order made thereunder or who
shall do or cause to be done electrical work in violation of any detailed
statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved thereunder or
any certificate or permit issued thereunder, and from which no appeal has
been taken, or who shall fail to comply with such an order as affirmed or
modified by the Building Official within the time affixed therein shall severally
for each and every such violation and noncompliance, respectively, be guilty
of violating this chapter and, upon his first conviction thereof, be sentenced
to pay a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.) nor more than one
thousand dollars ($1,000.) and/or to undergo imprisonment for a term not to
exceed ninety (90) days, or both; upon his second conviction thereof, be sentenced
to pay a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.) nor more than one
thousand dollars ($1,000.) and/or to undergo imprisonment for a term not to
exceed ninety (90) days, or both; upon his third or subsequent conviction
thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than five hundred dollars
($500.) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.) and/or to undergo imprisonment
for a term not to exceed ninety (90) days, or both. Each day that a violation
of this chapter continues after notice shall constitute a separate offense.
B.
The imposition of one (1) penalty for any violation shall
not excuse the violation or permit it to continue; all such persons shall
be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a reasonable
time, and, when not otherwise provided, each ten (10) days that prohibited
conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.
C.
The application of the above penalty shall not be held
to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions by an action at law
or in equity instituted by the Building Official on behalf of the City of
Bradford.
In all matters that are regulated by the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania or by regulations of departments or agencies of the commonwealth
promulgated by authority of law, such laws or regulations, as the case may
be, shall control where the requirements thereof are the same as or in excess
of the provisions of this chapter. The code shall control in all cases where
the state requirements are not as strict as those contained in this chapter.
The provisions of this chapter, so far as they are the same as those
of ordinances and/or codes in force immediately prior to the enactment of
this chapter or are intended as a continuation of such ordinances, shall not
affect any act done or liability incurred, nor shall they affect any suit
or prosecution pending or to be instituted to enforce any right or penalty
or to punish any offense under the authority of any of the repealed ordinances.
No person, firm or corporation to whom or to which a business license
has been issued for carrying on any trade, occupation or business in which
minor repairs, alterations or connections to electrical or plumbing systems
are an incidental or collateral function shall be required to obtain any permit
or license for such minor repairs, alterations or connections, the provisions
of any other ordinance or code to the contrary notwithstanding.
