Title
Repealing Subcode “E” (The Philadelphia Electrical Code) of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code," and adopting and incorporating, with certain additions, deletions and amendments, the 2003 International Electrical Code Administrative Provisions as the Philadelphia Electrical Code, all 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 repeal The Philadelphia Electrical Code, which appears as Subcode "E" of Title 4 of the Philadelphia Code, and adopt, with certain additions, deletions and amendments, the 2003 International Electrical Code Administrative Provisions, as published by the International Code Council, as the Philadelphia Electrical Code, 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. Subcode "E", entitled "The Philadelphia Electrical Code," of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code," is deleted in its entirety.
Section 2. 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
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CHAPTER 4-200.0 TEXT OF SUBCODES
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SUBCODE “E” (THE PHILADELPHIA ELECTRICAL CODE)
Article E-1. Adoption of the 2003 International Electrical Code Administrative Provisions with additions, deletions and amendments.
§E-1.1 The “2003 Electrical Code Administrative Provisions,” as published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted as the Electrical Code of the City of Philadelphia, with such additions, deletions and amendments as set forth in §E-1.2.
§E-1.2 The 2003 ICC Electrical Code Administrative Provisions, 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.
§E-1.2.1 [Brackets] indicate matter deleted. Italics indicate matter added.
§E-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.
§E-1.2.3 The numbers of all sections and subsections shall be preceded with the prefix “E-.”
§E-1.2.4 The 2003 ICC Electrical Code – Administrative Provisions:
CHAPTER 1
SCOPE
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SECTION E-101 GENERAL
E-101.1 Title. These provisions shall be known as the Philadelphia Electrical Code and shall be cited as such and will be referred to herein as “this code.”
E-101.2 Purpose. 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 electrical systems and equipment.
E-101.3 Scope. This code shall regulate the design, construction, installation, alteration, repairs, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of electrical systems and equipment engaged in the transmission of electricity, information or light through conductors or optical fiber cables in structures and premises.
Exceptions: This code does not apply to:
1. Installations in mines
2. Railway cars
3. Automotive equipment or apparatus
4. Conductors or equipment installed for or by public utilities, common carriers or commercial radio or television stations that are under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or a federal regulatory body. This exception for regulated utilities applies only to installations and equipment used directly in the conduct of their business as a utility, and located outdoors or in a building or portion thereof used exclusively for the utility function.
5. Installations in federally occupied portions of federally owned buildings.
E-101.4 Administrative provisions. This code contains those provisions that are unique to the administration of electrical matters under the Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code. All other administrative provisions applicable to the regulation of electrical matters are as set forth in the Administrative Code.
E-101.5 Applicability. The provisions of this code shall apply to all matters affecting or relating to structures and premises, as set forth in this section and the Administrative Code.
SECTION E-102 ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
E-102.1 License required. No person shall engage in the business of installing systems, or parts of systems, used to transmit, generate or distribute electricity, nor engage in the business of electrical contracting, unless that person has obtained a license from the code official.
E-102.2 Requirements for license. No Electrical Contractor’s License shall be issued unless the provisions of Sections E-102.2.1 through E-102.2.3 have been satisfied.
E-102.2.1 Experience. The applicant shall have a minimum of four years of practical experience gained while employed in electrical work. Satisfactory completion of two years of education in the electrical field shall be equivalent to one year of practical experience, but not more than four years of education shall count towards the required four years practical experience.
E-102.2.2 Examination. The applicant shall have passed a written examination as prescribed by the Department of Licenses and Inspections on the theory and practice of electricity to test knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) as adopted by this code.
E-102.2.3 Continuing education. Before any Electrical Contractor’s License is issued or renewed, the applicant or licensee shall have completed at least eight hours per year in course work or seminars on the then-current edition of NFPA 70 at an approved or accredited school or organization approved by the code official. The applicant or licensee shall furnish the code official with a completion certificate indicating the course activity and the length in hours of each course.
SECTION E-103 ELECTRICAL INSPECTION AGENCIES
E-103.1 General. Pursuant to Section E-701.1.1 the code official is authorized to accept certifications from approved Electrical Inspection Agencies as evidence of compliance with this code. This section and the regulations promulgated hereunder establish requirements for conduct of Electrical Inspection Agencies.
E-103.2 Approval. Electrical Inspection Agencies shall be approved by the code official as to qualifications, method of operation, completeness of inspection activity and type of report prior to acceptance of any certificate of inspection. The code official shall reserve the right to re-inspect, approve or reject the certification of any inspection agency.
E-103.3 Agency license. Issuance of a license by the code official to perform electrical inspections in the City of Philadelphia is deemed to be approval to conduct the business of electrical inspections. Qualifications for license and renewal of license are established by regulations promulgated hereto.
E-103.3.1 Continuing education. Before any agency license is issued or renewed, the principals of such agency shall have completed at least 12 hours per year in course work or seminars on the then-current edition of NFPA 70 at an approved or accredited school or organization approved by the code official. The applicant or licensee shall furnish the code official with a completion certificate indicating the course activity and the length in hours of each course.
E-103.3.2 Renewal limitation. No license shall be renewed if the licensee is delinquent in City of Philadelphia business taxes.
E-103.4 Inspector license. No person shall engage in the trade as an electrical inspector for an Electrical Inspection Agency without first securing a license from the code official. Applicants for a license shall establish their qualifications in accordance with the regulations pursuant to this section and shall pass a written examination to determine their qualifications to perform and/or supervise electrical inspection work.
E-103.4.1 Continuing education. Before any inspector’s license is issued or renewed, the applicant or licensee shall have completed at least 12 hours per year in course work or seminars on the then-current edition of NFPA 70 at an approved or accredited school or organization approved by the code official. The applicant or licensee shall furnish the code official with a completion certificate indicating the course actiity and the length in hours of each course.
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CHAPTER 2
DEFINITIONS
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SECTION E-202 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
ORGANIZATION AND ENFORCEMENT
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CHAPTER 4
PERMITS AND FEES
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CHAPTER 5
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
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CHAPTER 6
APPROVAL
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CHAPTER 7
INSPECTIONS AND TESTING
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SECTION E-701 GENERAL
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E-701.1.1 Agency inspection. The code official is authorized to accept a certification from a licensed Electrical Inspection Agency as evidence of compliance with this code in lieu of inspections by the code official.
E-701.1.2 Responsibility. It shall be the responsibility of the licensed electrical contractor to arrange for inspections of electrical work. A minimum of 24 hours advance notice shall be given for inspections. Arrangements for final inspections shall be made within five days of completion of the work.
SECTION E-702 REQUIRED INSPECTIONS
E-702.1 General. The designated licensed Electrical Inspection Agency shall, or the code official at his or her discretion is authorized to, upon notification, [shall] make the inspections set forth in this section.
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E-702.1.7 and E-702.1.8 (Delete title and text of subsections without substitution)
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E-702.2 through E-702.8 (Delete title and text of subsections without substitution)
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CHAPTER 8
SERVICE UTILITIES
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CHAPTER 9
UNSAFE SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
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CHAPTER 10
VIOLATIONS
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CHAPTER 11
MEANS OF APPEAL
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CHAPTER 12
ELECTRICAL PROVISIONS
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SECTION E-1202 PROVISIONS
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E-1202.8.1 Existing installations. Emergency and standby electrical systems shall be maintained, operated and tested in accordance with the provisions of this code, the Philadelphia Fire Code and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
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E-1202.16 Smoke alarm interconnection. Where more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit or sleeping unit in Group R-2[,] or R-3, [or] throughout Group R-4, or within an individual sleeping unit in Group R-1, the smoke alarms shall be interconnected in such a manner that the activation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit or throughout the Group R-4. The alarm shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed.
E-1202.17 Fire alarm systems. The electrical work associated with the installation of fire alarm systems shall also comply with the provisions of NFPA 72.
E-1202.18 Fire pumps. The electrical work associated with the installation of fire pumps shall also comply with the provisions of NFPA 20.
SECTION E-1203 EXISTING ELECTRICAL FACILITIES
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E-1203.1.6 Additional loads. Where additional electrical loads are to be connected to existing services in other than Group R-3 occupancies, the existing load shall be established as not less than the maximum demand figures. New loads shall be computed in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 70.
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CHAPTER 13
REFERENCED STANDARDS
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NFPA
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20-99 Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection E-1202.18
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70-02 National Electrical Code E-102.2.2, E-102.2.3, E-103.3.1, E-103.4.1
E-201.3, E-1201.1.1, E-1203.1.6
72-99 National Fire Alarm Code E-1202.17
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Section 3. The provisions of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code added by Section 2 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 4. 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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