Source: https://www.dli.pa.gov/ucc/Pages/Advisories.aspx
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 01:00:31+00:00

Document:
The Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and its regulations provide that the Department will be responsible for accessibility enforcement in any municipality that has elected to administer and enforce the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), until that municipality employs a person (or contracts with a third party agency which employs a person) holding UCC certification as an Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner.
The General Assembly established this provision to ensure that, at the onset of the UCC program (when code officials that held the accessibility certification and other required certifications were relatively few), the level of accessibility enforcement that occurred under the Fire and Panic Act regulations would not be diminished under the UCC.
To ensure that the Department’s involvement in accessibility enforcement in opt-in municipalities does not continue indefinitely and that we are only serving municipalities that truly have been unable to provide accessibility enforcement via their employees or certified third party agencies, the Department has a new standard requirement pertaining to all accessibility-only reviews.
All applications for Department accessibility-only plan approvals and inspections must include a copy of the Department’s ACCESSIBILITY CERTIFICATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT (form number UCC-30).
Building Code Officials can access a copy of this form. After filling this out and signing it, copies should be made and provided to all permit applicants who must secure accessibility approvals from the Department. Building Code officials should also advise customers that, if their application to the Department does not include this disclosure form, it will be returned to them as incomplete.
The person holding only this certification cannot perform plans reviews or inspections. His/her duties are restricted to: management of building code enforcement activities, supervision of building inspectors or plans examiners, issuing building permits, certificates of occupancy, notice of violations and orders to vacate, and initiating prosecutions.
Every UCC code enforcement program must have at least one person who holds this certification.
The BCO certification exam tests a person’s knowledge of the UCC statute (Act 45) and the regulations implementing the Act.
The Department has authorized the Pennsylvania Construction Codes Academy (PCCA) to offer and administer the BCO examination at sites throughout Pennsylvania. The PCCA also offers a training course to prepare persons to perform BCO duties and to take the required examination. Visit the PCCA website or call 717-763-0930 to obtain further information about taking this examination.
Ground snow loads used to determine design snow loads for roofs in Pennsylvania’s political subdivisions will not be developed and published by the Department.
Design professionals are responsible for utilizing either the ground snow loads established per Figure 1608.2 of the International Building Code or for developing the ground snow loads for all areas designated as “Case Study” areas in Pennsylvania.
Currently, assistance in developing the appropriate snow loads in a case study area cannot be obtained from the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Section 403.22 of the UCC regulation specifies that UCC building permits and certificates of occupancy may not be issued for buildings that are regulated by the Health Care Facilities Act (HCFA), unless the PA Department of Health (DOH) has first approved construction plans or the completed work.
Please note the following where conflicts exist between the DOH licensure requirements (found in their regulation, the NFPA-101 standard or the Guidelines for Construction and Equipment of Hospital and Medical Facilities) and the UCC: the DOH requirements take precedence, if the UCC is silent or has less strict requirements; where the DOH requirements are silent on an issue or are less strict than the UCC requirements, the UCC takes precedence.
Questions about the DOH requirements may be directed to Charles Schlegel, Life Safety Code Administrator (phone: 717-787-1911).
The UCC administration and enforcement regulation that took effect on April 9, 2004 made new manufactured housing units subject to the UCC requirements, specifically, portions of Appendix E and other requirements found in the International Residential Code 2003 (IRC).
On November 29, 2004 the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act (MHIA) was enacted and took precedence over the UCC regulation.
The issuance of UCC building permits and certificates of occupancy for the assembly and installation of new manufactured housing. However, whenever the manufacturer’s instructions/design information is provided, the UCC governs only utility connections and grading and any issues not addressed in the manufacturer’s approved design documentation.
Alterations or repairs to a manufactured home that don’t fall within the approved instructions and applicable federal standards, after assembly and shipment by the manufacturer.
Additions to a manufactured home after delivery to the site.
Construction, alteration, repair or change of occupancy if a manufactured home is resold to a subsequent purchaser.
Construction, alteration, repair or change of occupancy if the original purchaser relocates the manufactured home.
Installation activity, if there is no manufacturer’s approved design governing the activity. (35 P.S. § 1658.6(a), (b), (c), (f)).
An installer must certify to the Building Code Official with jurisdiction that the manufactured home was installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s approved design and the UCC, where applicable. (35 P.S. § 1658.6(e)).
The manufacturer’s approved design documentation must be kept at the job site and accessible to UCC officials with jurisdiction for the work. (35 P.S. § 1658.6(c)).
When an addition is made, or alteration or relocation occurs, both the International Existing Building Code 2015 (IEBC) and the International Residential Code 2015 have requirements that should be complied with. When a manufactured home is relocated, Chapter 11 of the IEBC may apply.
If you have questions about manufactured housing and the non-UCC requirements that apply to the construction of these units and their on-site installation, call (717) 720-7416 or e-mail Michael Moglia, Manufactured Housing Specialist, at the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Act 1 of 2011 amended Section 901 of the PCCA to include subsection (h)(2), which requires certain floor assemblies that are not required to be fire-resistance rated by the International Residential Code (IRC) to be provided with a ½-inch gypsum wallboard membrane, 5/8-inch wood structural panel membrane or equivalent on the underside of the floor framing member (35 P.S. § 7210.901(h)(2). To determine equivalency, Section 722.6.2, specifically Table 722.6.2(1), of the 2015 International Building Code, which assigns a fire resistance rating time to membranes on the fire-exposed side of a floor framing assembly, is referenced. Table 721.6.2(1) assigns a fire-resistance rating time of 15 minutes to both a ½-inch gypsum wallboard and a 19/32-inch wood structural panel. Therefore, any membrane installed on the fire-exposed side of a floor framing assembly that provides a 15-minute fire-resistance rating time should be considered as equivalent to the requirements of subsection(h)(1), provided the documentation is acceptable to the municipal code official.
Act 92 of 2004 provides that recreational cabins may be excluded from the requirements of the Uniform Construction Code.
Equip the cabin with at least one smoke detector, one fire extinguisher and one carbon monoxide detector in both the kitchen and any sleeping areas.
The Department of Labor and Industry affidavit form (UCC-13) attesting to the fact that the structure meets the definition of a “recreational cabin” found in Section 103 of Act 92. Click here to access this form.
Written proof of insurance from an insurer authorized to do business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania stating that the structure meets the definition of a “recreational cabin” found in Section 103 of Act 92.
The structure is exempt from the requirements of the UCC.
The structure may not be in conformance with the UCC.
The structure is not subject to municipal construction regulations.
A failure to provide this notice shall void the sale, at the option of the purchaser.
There has been some confusion regarding whether “shop drawings” (submitted either at the time of initial plan approval or as part of a deferred submission) must be signed and sealed by a Pennsylvania-licensed design professional.
§403.42a(f)(3) of the UCC regulation, which deals with sprinkler shop drawings, only requires that the drawings "contain the information required by the referenced installation standards contained in Chapter 9 of the International Building Code.” The NFPA 13, 13D and 13R standards referenced in this chapter do not contain a requirement that the “working plans” be sealed by a licensed design professional.
This is in accordance with Pennsylvania’s Architect's Licensure Law and its Professional Engineer, Professional Land Surveyor and Professional Geologist Law, both of which stipulate that "the preparation of shop drawings" is exempted from the requirements of these laws. See 63 P.S. §34.15(3) and 63 P.S. §152(j).
"A licensed architect or professional engineer shall first review submittal documents for deferred submittal items and place a notation on the documents that the architect or engineer reviewed the documents and that the documents are in general conformance with the design of the building or structure."
Section 403.141 of the UCC regulation specifies that the Department has sole jurisdiction for UCC enforcement pertaining to “state-owned buildings” no matter where they are located.
State-owned building-A building owned by or to be constructed for Commonwealth entities consisting of the General Assembly, the Unified Judicial System, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, an executive agency, independent agency, and a State-affiliated entity or State-related institution as defined in 62 Pa.C.S. §103 (relating to definitions).
"State-affiliated entity." A Commonwealth authority or a Commonwealth entity. The term includes the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, the State Public School Building Authority, the Pennsylvania Higher Educational Facilities Authority and the State System of Higher Education. The term does not include any court or other officer or agency of the unified judicial system, the General Assembly and its officers and agencies, any State-related institution, political subdivision or any local, regional or metropolitan transportation authority.
The UCC regulation is based on and replaces Chapter 1 of the International Building Code (IBC) and it does not incorporate §108 of the IBC that provides the basis for requiring permits for temporary structures and uses.
There are three exceptions to this temporary structure exclusion.
Act 45 as amended by Act 39 of 2007 (effective on July 17, 2007) defines a narrow subset of temporary structures and establishes requirements that pertain solely to this type of structure. Due to this change, structures erected for the purpose of “participation in a fair, flea market, arts and craft festival or other public celebration” do not have to comply with the Uniform Construction Code. To be excluded, this type of structure must: be less than 1,600 sq. ft. in size; be erected for less than 30 days, and, must not be a swimming pool, spa or hot tub. (See 34 Pa Code §403.1(b)(12).) Municipalities desiring to regulate this type of temporary structure must comply with 35 P.S. §7210.503, including subsection (a) (2).
Any municipality that elects to administer and enforce the UCC is authorized to alter certain portions of the UCC regulation (see 34 Pa Code §403.102(l)), as long as the changes equal or exceed the regulatory requirements. This includes §403.42 (relating to permit requirements). A municipal ordinance subjecting additional or all other temporary structures to UCC permit requirements would clearly exceed the regulation and, thus, would be permissible.
Section R313 of the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) mandates the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in new townhouses. The compliance date for new townhouses was Jan. 1, 2010.
The specific requirements for the design and installation of sprinklers in townhouses are found in section P2904 in the IRC. This advisory is posted to clarify what requirements are imposed on persons that design or install automatic fire sprinkler systems in townhomes, and what certifications UCC code officials must have to approve these systems. Designer and installer requirements: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania imposes no certification or licensure requirements on persons who design or install residential sprinkler systems, per se. However, all contractors performing home improvements must register with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Installers should also check with the municipality in which the work will be done, to see if there are any local licensure requirements. Requirements for code officials approving residential sprinkler systems: Currently, there is no residential certification category related to plan examination. The Department recommends that persons with inspection certifications applicable to the nature of the proposed work review and approve the plans submitted for residential building permits. Since residential sprinkler system design and installation must comply primarily with plumbing requirements, the Department recommends that a code official certified as a Residential Plumbing Inspector (category 13) be responsible for plan approval and inspection of residential sprinkler systems. However, it would be advisable for persons certified as a Residential Building Inspector (category 10) and a Residential Electrical Inspector (category 11) to also be involved. The former should be able to identify potential framing obstructions and the latter is able to inspect and approve any electrical connections. It may be helpful to also involve persons certified as Building Inspectors (category 15) and Building Plans Examiners (category 24), in residential sprinkler plan review and inspections, since the duties and responsibilities for these two certification categories include approval of commercial fire protection systems.
The UCC regulations at 403.47 and 403.66 specify that the permanent energizing of electrical and gas systems shall only occur after proof is presented to the public utility that these systems have complied with all requirements of the UCC.
Typically, the proof to be presented is “cut-in” card or other written statement indicating that a UCC-certified or registered code official has inspected the electrical system and found it to be in compliance with the UCC. This statement should include both the name of the inspector and his UCC certification or registration card number.
Code officials should familiarize themselves with each utility company’s procedures and guidelines for energizing buildings or structures. These may include special customer interface requirements, special grounding requirements, etc. Some utilities will not accept cut-in cards that lack a customer number or a special work request number issued by the utility. While the UCC regulation does not require a UCC inspector to place this number on a cut-in card, provision of this number will facilitate the energizing of a system approved under the UCC.
In response to a request from the Department of Labor and Industry, the Energy Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association have prepared lists of their member companies and relevant contact information, for the submission of compliance statements needed for permanent service connections. Click the links below to access printer-friendly copies of these contact lists.

References: § 1658
 § 1658
 § 1658
 § 7210

§403
 §34
 §152
 §103
 §108
 §403
 §7210
 §403
 §403