Source: https://www.ecode360.com/29915522
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 14:45:21+00:00

Document:
§ 185-1 Adoption of standards.
§ 185-3 Permit required; application; issuance.
§ 185-4 Inspection of new installations.
§ 185-5 Inspection of existing wiring.
§ 185-7 Approved materials required.
§ 185-8 Gas or oil burners.
§ 185-9 Modification of provisions.
§ 185-11 Exceptions to permit requirements.
§ 185-13 Violations and penalties.
Home contractors — See Ch. 215.
Nuisances and dangerous structures — See Ch. 247.
Poles and wires — See Ch. 271.
The City of Clairton 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 that certain code known as the "National Electrical Code," as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association, being particularly the 1993 Edition thereof and the whole thereof, hereinafter referred to as the "National Electrical Code," of which not fewer than three copies have been and now are filed in the office of the City Manager of the City of Clairton, and the same is hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein, and, from the date on 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.
The National Electrical Code adopted in § 185-1 hereof shall be enforced by the Office of the Building Official of the City of Clairton, heretofore created by ordinance of the City, and the executive official in charge shall be known as the "Building Official." The Building Official shall, upon the installation, renewal, extension and reception of any electric wiring and electric apparatus pursuant to this chapter, cause an inspection or inspections to be made by himself or herself or his or her duly authorized agents to determine that the electrical work conforms to the provisions of the National Electrical Code and this chapter and the provisions of the ordinances of this City 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, structures or outdoor electrical displays or signs without first applying for and obtaining a permit to do so pursuant to the provision of this chapter.
All such applications for a permit shall be made to the Building Official, in writing, on forms supplied by said Building Official.
Any person making any false answers to any of the questions or items set forth in such application form shall forthwith forfeit and surrender any permit issued pursuant thereto.
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 ordinance of this City or the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Each such application form shall be accompanied by a fee prescribed by this chapter.
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 "Middle Department Association of Fire Underwriters," a nonprofit corporation, hereinafter referred to as "Underwriters," or a similar organization that specializes in such 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.
Each applicant for a permit shall cause the premises covered by the application to be open for inspection or inspections to the Building Official and his or her agents and the representative or representatives of the Underwriters or similar organizations at all reasonable times.
Upon the Building Official's determination that the proposed electric wiring and electric apparatus comply with the National Electrical Code and the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the ordinances of this City and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a permit shall issue forthwith.
All permits shall expire one year from the date of issuance by the Building Official.
All inspections shall be made to ensure that the proposed electrical work complies with the provisions of the National Electrical Code. No electric wiring shall be concealed unless inspected and approved by the Building Official and his or her agents and the representative or representatives of the Underwriters or similar organizations, but such inspection or reinspection shall be made within a reasonable time after notice of the completion of the electrical work sought 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.
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.
The Building Official shall have the power to stop electrical work and order the removal thereof when he or she determines that such work is being installed not in conformity with the National Electrical Code and this chapter and the provisions of the ordinances of this City and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Building Official may waive his or her inspection of all or that portion of the proposed electrical work for which he or she shall have received a duplicate record of approval by the Underwriters or similar organizations that it complies with the provisions of the National Electrical Code and this chapter. Notice of the waiver of inspection shall be served on the applicant 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, the Building Official is hereby given the duty to inspect with his or her agents and the representative or representatives of the Underwriters or similar organizations, when requested by the proper authority or when public interest so requires, any premises within the City at reasonable times to ensure that the existing electric wiring system and apparatus are not defective and unsafe.
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 as shown on the latest tax records, with reasons for his or her decision.
Upon the Building Official's decision that the existing electric wiring system is defective and unsafe 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 or her. Such demand for a hearing shall be signed by the contesting party, stating what portion of the Building Official's decision or orders are contested and his or her or their interest in the premises.
The Building Official shall fix a time and place for the hearing, not less than 10 days nor more than 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.
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, and the rules of evidence prevailing in the courts shall not be controlling.
The Building Official, within a reasonable time after such hearing, shall make his or her decision, in writing, with a finding of the facts and the reasons for his or her decision, and serve a copy of his or her 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 thereof: 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.
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 or her 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 or her written consent.
Minor repair work, such as the replacement of lamps and fuses.
The connection of portable electrical appliances to suitable permanently installed appliances.
Equipment installed or work performed by or for a public utility as defined in Section 48:2-13 of the Revised Statutes of Pennsylvania and operating under authority granted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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.
Equipment used in connection with commercial radio and television transmission.
Repair, manufacturing and maintenance work on premises occupied by a firm or corporation and installation work on existing buildings occupied by a firm or corporation and performed by a regular employee who is a qualified journeyman electrician.
Less than $25: no fee shall be required for the permit.
More than $25 and not more than $100: the sum of $1.
More than $100 and not more than $200: the sum of $2.
More than $200 and not more than $500: the sum of $5.
More than $500 and not more than $1,000: the sum of $10.
More than $1,000: the sum of $10 plus the sum of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of total valuation.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or of the National Electrical Code hereby adopted or fail 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 fixed therein shall severally for each and every such violation and noncompliance, respectively, be guilty of violating this chapter, punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000, plus costs of prosecution and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 90 days. The imposition of one penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue; and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a reasonable time; and when not otherwise specified, each 10 days that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.

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