Title
Amending Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code," by adopting and incorporating, with certain additions, deletions and amendments, the 2003 International Fuel Gas Code as the Philadelphia Fuel Gas Code, under certain terms and conditions.
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WHEREAS, as required by Pennsylvania Act 45 of November 10, 1999 (35 P.S. §7210.501(a)), the City must adopt standards consistent with those set forth in the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this Bill is to adopt, with certain additions, deletions and amendments, the 2003 International Fuel Gas Code, as published by the International Code Council, as The Philadelphia Fuel Gas Code, which will appear as Subcode “G" in Title 4, to achieve consistency with Act 45 as well as to make certain other technical and related changes; and
WHEREAS, separate bills are being introduced to add and amend other Subcodes included within Title 4; NOW THEREFORE,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
Section 1. Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code" is hereby amended to read as follows:
TITLE 4. THE PHILADELPHIA BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION AND OCCUPANCY CODE
CHAPTER 4-100.0 LISTING OF SUBCODES
§4-101.0 Listing of Subcodes. This title shall consist of the following subcodes:
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( ) Subcode "G" (The Philadelphia Fuel Gas Code)
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CHAPTER 4-200.0 TEXT OF SUBCODES
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SUBCODE “G” (THE PHILADELPHIA FUEL GAS CODE)
Article G-1.0 Adoption of the International Code Council (ICC) “International Fuel Gas Code,” with additions, deletions and amendments.
§G-1.1 The 2003 International Fuel Gas Code, as published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted as the Gas Code of The City of Philadelphia, with such additions, deletions and amendments as set forth in §G-1.2.
§G-1.2 The 2003 International Fuel Gas Code, copies of which are on file with the Department of Licenses and Inspections, is incorporated as if fully set forth herein, subject to the following additions, deletions and amendments, including errata issued by the International Code Council.
§G-1.2.1 [Brackets] indicate matter deleted. Italics indicate matter added.
§G-1.2.2 Throughout the code, references to “International” codes or “ICC” codes shall be deemed to refer to the “Philadelphia” codes of the same name.
§G-1.2.3 The numbers of all sections and subsections shall be preceded with the prefix “G-.”
§G-1.2.4 THE 2003 INTERNATIONAL FUEL GAS CODE:
CHAPTER 1
ADMINISTRATION
(Delete the Chapter in its entirety and substitute the following)
SECTION G-101 (IFGC) GENERAL
G-101.1 Title. These provisions shall be known as the Philadelphia Fuel Gas Code and shall be cited as such and will be referred to herein as “this code.”
G-101.2 Scope. This code shall apply to the installation of fuel-gas piping systems, fuel-gas utilization equipment and related accessories in accordance with Sections G-101.2.1 through G-101.2.5.
Exceptions:
1. Detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) not more than three stories high with separate means of egress and their accessory structures shall comply with the Residential Code.
2. As an alternative to the provisions of this code, fuel-gas piping systems, fuel-gas utilization equipment and related accessories in existing buildings that are undergoing repairs, alterations, changes in occupancy or construction of additions shall be permitted to comply with the provisions of the Existing Building Code.
G-101.2.1 Gaseous hydrogen systems. Gaseous hydrogen systems shall be regulated by Chapter 7.
G-101.2.2 Piping systems. These regulations cover piping systems for natural gas with an operating pressure of 125 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) (862 kPa gauge) or less, and for LP-gas with an operating pressure of 20 psig (140 kPa gauge) or less, except as provided in Section G-402.6.1. Coverage shall extend from the point of delivery to the outlet of the equipment shutoff valves. Piping systems requirements shall include design, materials, components, fabrication, assembly, installation, testing, inspection, operation and maintenance.
G-101.2.3 Gas utilization equipment. Requirements for gas utilization equipment and related accessories shall include installation, combustion and ventilation air and venting and connections to piping systems.
G-101.2.4 Systems and equipment outside the scope. This code shall not apply to the following:
1. Portable LP-gas equipment of all types that is not connected to a fixed fuel piping system.
2. Installation of farm equipment such as brooders, dehydrators, dryers and irrigation equipment.
3. Raw material (feedstock) applications except for piping to special atmosphere generators.
4. Oxygen-fuel gas cutting and welding systems.
5. Industrial gas applications using gases such as acetylene and acetylenic compounds, hydrogen, ammonia, carbon monoxide, oxygen and nitrogen.
6. Petroleum refineries, pipeline compressor or pumping stations, loading terminals, compounding plants, refinery tank farms and natural gas processing plants.
7. Integrated chemical plants or portions of such plants where flammable or combustible liquids or gases are produced by, or used in, chemical reactions.
8. LP-gas installations at utility gas plants.
9. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) installations.
10. Fuel gas piping in power and atomic energy plants.
11. Proprietary items of equipment, apparatus or instruments such as gas-generating sets, compressors and calorimeters.
12. LP-gas equipment for vaporization, gas mixing and gas manufacturing.
13. Temporary LP-gas piping for buildings under construction or renovation that is not to become part of the permanent piping system.
14. Installation of LP-gas systems for railroad switch heating.
15. Installation of hydrogen gas, LP-gas and compressed natural gas (CNG) systems on vehicles.
16. Except as provided in Section G-401.1.1, gas piping, meters, gas pressure regulators and other appurtenances used by the serving gas supplier in the distribution of gas, other than LP-gas.
17. Building design and construction, except as specified herein.
18. Piping systems for mixtures of gas and air within the flammable range with an operating pressure greater than 10 psig (69 kPa gauge).
19. Portable fuel cell appliances that are neither connected to a fixed piping system nor interconnected to a power grid.
G-101.2.5 Other fuels. The requirements for the design, installation, maintenance, alteration and inspection of mechanical systems operating with fuels other than fuel gas shall be regulated by the Philadelphia Mechanical Code.
G- 101.3 Appendices. No appendices are adopted as a part of this code.
G-101.4 Intent. The purpose of this code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, installation, quality of materials, location, operation and maintenance or use of fuel gas systems.
G-101.5 Administrative provisions. This chapter contains those provisions that are unique to the administration of this code. All other administrative provisions applicable to this code are as set forth in the Administrative Code.
SECTION G-102 (IFGC) INSPECTIONS AND TESTING
G-102.1 Evaluation and follow-up inspection services. Prior to the approval of a prefabricated construction assembly having concealed work and the issuance of a permit, the code official shall require the submittal of an evaluation report from an approved agency on each prefabricated construction assembly. The report shall indicate the complete details of the installation, including a description of the system and its components, the basis upon which the system is being evaluated, test results and similar information and other data as necessary for the code official to determine conformance to this code.
Exception: Manufactured and Industrialized housing pursuant to Section A-102.8 of the Administrative Code.
G-102.1.1 Follow-up inspection. Except where ready access is provided to installations, service equipment and accessories for complete inspection at the site without disassembly or dismantling, the code official shall conduct in-plant inspections to ensure conformance to the approved evaluation report or shall accept inspection reports from an approved independent inspection agency. The inspection agency shall furnish the code official with the follow-up inspection manual and a report of inspections upon request. The installation shall have an identifying label permanently affixed to the system indicating that factory inspections have been performed.
G-102.1.2 Test and inspection records. Required test and inspection records shall be available to the code official at all times during the fabrication of the installation and the erection of the building.
G-102.2 Testing. Installations shall be tested as required in this code and in accordance with Sections G-102.2.1 through G-102.2.3. Tests shall be made by the permit holder after notifying the code official, who shall have the authority to observe the tests.
G-102.2.1 New, altered, extended or repaired installations. New installations and parts of existing installations, which have been altered, extended, renovated or repaired, shall be tested as prescribed herein to disclose leaks and defects.
G-102.2.2 Apparatus, instruments, material and labor for tests. Apparatus, instruments, material and labor required for testing an installation or part thereof shall be furnished by the permit holder.
G-102.2.3 Reinspection and testing. Where any work or installation does not pass an initial test or inspection, the necessary corrections shall be made so as to achieve compliance with this code. The work or installation shall then be reinspected or re-tested and the results resubmitted to the code official as appropriate.
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CHAPTER 2
DEFINITIONS
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SECTION G-202 (IFGC) GENERAL DEFINITIONS
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CODE OFFICIAL. The [officer or other designated authority] Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections or his or her duly authorized representative charged with the administration and enforcement of this code[, or a duly authorized representative].
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CHAPTER 3
GENERAL REGULATIONS
SECTION G-301 (IFGC) GENERAL
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G-301.3 Listed and labeled. Appliances regulated by this code shall be listed and labeled unless otherwise approved in accordance with Section [105] A-203 of the Administrative Code. The approval of unlisted appliances in accordance with Section [105] A-203 of the Administrative Code shall be based upon approved engineering evaluations.
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CHAPTER 7
GASEOUS HYDROGEN SYSTEMS
SECTION G-701 (IFGC) GENERAL
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G-701.2 Permits. Permits shall be required as set forth in [Section 106] the Administrative Code and as required by the International Fire Code.
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Section 2. The provisions of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code added by Section 1 of this Ordinance, so far as they are the same as existing provisions of The Philadelphia Code, shall be construed as a continuation of such provisions and not as new enactments.
Section 3. This Ordinance shall take effect as follows:
(a) From the time of adoption of this Ordinance until January 1, 2004, an applicant for a permit under one or more of the subcodes of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code shall have the option of proceeding under the provisions of Title 4 as amended by this Ordinance, or under the provisions of Title 4 as they existed immediately prior to adoption of this Ordinance.
(b) Effective January 1, 2004, the provisions of this Ordinance shall apply.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this Ordinance to the contrary, at the option of the permit applicant, this Ordinance shall not apply to:
(1) new buildings or renovations to existing buildings for which an application for a building permit has been made to the City prior to the effective date of this Ordinance; or
(2) new buildings or renovations to existing buildings on which a contract for design or construction has been signed prior to the effective date of this Ordinance.
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