ARTICLE 1701

Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code

1701.01 Adoption.
1701.02 Additions and Modifications.

CROSS REFERENCES

Adoption by reference - See 3rd Class Charter Law §608(a)
[53 P.S. §41608(a)]; 3rd Class §2403(67) [53 P.S. §37403(67)]
Zoning-building permit - See ZON. Art. 1324
Table of Building Regulations - See ZON. Appx. A
Structures unfit for human occupancy - See BLD. Art. 1733
Registration, Sale and Transfer of Real Estate – See ADM. Art. 119

1701.01 ADOPTION.

That certain documents, viz, the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (PA UCC), Act No. 45-1999, as amended, be adopted as the official Codes of the City of Bethlehem, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4131 of the Third Class City Code, (Purdons 53 PS 39131) with the changes and amendments noted hereinafter, for the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, demolition, conversion, occupancy and maintenance of all buildings and structures of the City of Bethlehem providing for the issuance of permits and each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions, and terms of the PA UCC, as amended, are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof as is fully set forth in this ordinance, with the changes and amendments noted hereinafter.

1701.02 ADDITIONS AND MODIFICATIONS.

Additions and deletions to be made to the PA UCC are as follows:

UCC 403.1(3): Change 1000 square feet to read 120 square feet. In accordance with section 303(b)(1) of the Act, delete sections 403.1(8), 403.1(9), 403.1(10).

UCC 403.3(a): Delete subject paragraph and substitute the following:

UCC 403.3(a) Appointment

The Chief Code Official shall be appointed by the head of the Department to which the Bureau of Code Enforcement is administratively assigned. At a minimum the Chief Code Official shall have a “Certified Building Official” certification and an “Accessibility Inspector/Plan Examiner” certification through the International Code Council in addition to a “Building Code Official” certification through the State of Pennsylvania. After appointment, he shall not be removed from office except in compliance with the City of Bethlehem Personnel Manual, as amended.

UCC 403.3(b)(1): The Fire Marshall of the City of Bethlehem Fire Department shall be responsible for the enforcement of the International Fire Code.

Additions and deletions to be made to 403.21(a) of the referenced PA UCC are as follows:

Whenever [name of Jurisdiction] appears, insert “City of Bethlehem.

403.21(a)(1) amendments to the International Building Code

Add IBC 202.0 General Definitions

Day and Night Average Sound Level - The 24 hour energy average of the A-weighted sound pressure level, with the levels during the period 10:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. the following day increased by 10 dBA before averaging.

Add IBC 719.8 Installation of Sound Insulation

Any new residential structure affected by vehicular, industrial or aircraft noise shall be designed so that the interior sound levels do not exceed a day-night average sound level of forty-five (45) decibels (calculated with the windows and doors closed). This may be accomplished by the acoustical insulation of the structure as specified in the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Publication FHWA-TS-77-202 available from the City Planner.

IBC 907.2.9

Delete the word “manual”.

Add IBC 3107.2 Bonds and Liability Insurance

No person shall erect, install, remove or rehang any projecting sign for which a permit is required under the provisions of the Basic Code until there shall have been filed with the City Solicitor's office, a bond in the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) as herein required, or a Certificate of Liability Insurance coverage, adequate in the opinion of the City Solicitor.

Add IBC 3303.7 Extermination

The owner or contractor must present a letter from an exterminating company to the building inspector that the building has been exterminated or does not require extermination for rodents or insects prior to issuing razing permit.

Add IBC 3307.2 Party Wall Maintenance

In the case of an existing party wall or an existing exposed wall which is structurally sound and which is not intended to be used by the owner of the building being demolished and further that the surface of the said wall is to remain exposed, then the owner of the building being demolished shall preserve, at his own expense, the party or exposed wall, by ensuring that the exposed surfaces shall be made permanently waterproof by the application of stucco, brickote, gunite or other approved noncombustible materials.

Add IBC 3307.3 Party Wall Repair or Replacement

If a home is gutted for remodeling or, if a fire occurs and the party wall is damaged and needs to be replaced, it shall be replaced in accordance with the requirements of this code.

3410.2 Insert “January 1, 1946”.

403.21(a)(5) Amendments to the International Plumbing Code

302 Exclusion of Materials Detrimental to the Sewer System

303.1 Detrimental or Dangerous Material

Delete subsection and substitute the following:

Controlled by Article 921

302.2 Industrial Wastes

Delete and substitute the following:

Controlled by Article 921 and Article 923.

306.6.1 Sewer Depth – Insert Thirty-six Inches (36”).

413.3 Commercial Foodwaste grinder outlets - Delete subsection and substitute the following:

Commercial food waste grinder waste outlets are not permitted in the City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

701.2 Sewer Required - Add subsection.

701.2.1. Public Systems Available

A public water supply system and/or public sewer system shall be deemed available to premises used for human occupancy if such premises abut along a street, alley, or easement, of the public water supply or sewer system and a connection conforming with the standards set forth in this Code may be made thereto.

904.1 Main Vent Required – Insert Twelve Inches (12”).

1002.6 Building Traps - Delete and substitute the following.

1002.6 Building Traps

An approved house trap shall be installed in each house drain located below the cellar floor and just inside the foundation wall. There shall be an air inlet for fresh air entering the house drain just inside the water seal of the trap.

Size of house traps: the house trap shall not be less in size than the pipe it taps and in no case less than four (4) inches. Air inlets shall be four (4) inches in size for five (5) inch and six (6) inch drains, six (6) inches for eight (8) inch drains, and not less than eight (8) inches for all drains larger than eight (8) inches. All house traps shall be of the double hub pattern and shall in all cases be located and installed below
the cellar floor.

403.21(a)(6) Amendments to the International Residential Code

Insert the following in Table R301.2(1):

Ground snow Load – 30 lbs.
Wind Speed – 80
Seismic Design Category – B
Weathering – severe
Frost line depth – 30”
Termite – moderate
Winter design temp – 9 degrees
Ice shield underlayment required – yes
Flood hazards – October 25, 1970; May 6, 2001
Air freezing index – 1000
Mean annual temperature – 50 degrees

P2603.3.1 Insert ’36 inches’ in both locations.

P2603.6.1 Insert ’36 inches’ in both locations.

403.21(a)(7) Amendments to the International Fire Code

403.21(a)(7) Add section 804.1.1

907.2.9 – Group R-2: Delete the word “manual”.

Add Section 3301.1.6 Fire Works

The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fire works are prohibited. Fire works include any combustible or explosive composition, any substance or combination of substances and articles prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation. Fire works shall include blank cartridges, toy pistols, toy cannons, toy canes, toy guns in which explosives are utilized; balloons requiring fire underneath to propel the balloon; firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, roman candles, sparklers and other devices of similar construction; any device containing explosive or flammable compounds; any tables and other devices containing explosive substances.

Fire works shall not include automobile flares, paper caps containing not more than an average of 0.25 grain (16 mg) of explosive content per cap, toy pistols, toy canes, toy guns and other devices utilizing such caps. The sale and utilization of the types of explosive devices listed herein which are not considered fire works shall be permitted at all times.

Amend Section 3301.2.4 Financial Responsibility: Remove “$100,000” and replace with $1,000,000”.

Delete Section 3404.2.13 and insert:

Section 3404.2.13 Abandonment and status of tanks.

Tanks taken out of service shall be removed in accordance with Section 3404.2.14. Under certain conditions, tanks can be safeguarded in accordance with Sections 3404.2.13.1 through 3404.2.13.2.3 and API 1604, with the approval of the fire code official.

Delete Section 3404.2.13.1.3 and insert:

Section 3404.2.13.1.3 Out of service for one year.

Underground tanks that have been out of service for a period of 1 year shall be removed from the ground in accordance with Section 3404.2.14 or under certain conditions can be abandoned in place with the approval of the fire code official in accordance
with Section 3404.2.13.1.4.

Amend Section 3404.2.13.1.4 Tanks abandoned in place.

Delete number 3 and exception.

(Ord. 4146 – Passed 10/1/02; Ord. 4254 – Passed 6/15/04; Ord. 4420 – Passed 3/6/07.)

NOTE: Article 1701, International Building Code, of the Codified Ordinances, was deleted in its entirety and replaced with this new Article 1701, Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.

ARTICLE 1701

International Building Code

1701.01 Adoption.
1701.02 Additions and Modifications; Fees; Penalty. (ICC 113.4)

CROSS REFERENCES

Adoption by reference - See 3rd Class Charter Law §608(a)
[53 P.S. §41608(a)]; 3rd Class §2403(67) [53 P.S. §37403(67)]
Zoning-building permit – See ZON. Art. 1324
Table of Building Regulations – See ZON. Appx. A
Structures unfit for human occupancy – See BLD. Art. 1733

NOTE: This Article was deleted in its entirety and replaced with new Article 1701, Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (Ord. 4254 – Passed 6/15/04)