PRINTER'S NO. 1841
No. 1507 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY WILT, ALLEN, ARMSTRONG, BAKER, CAUSER, CREIGHTON,
FAIRCHILD, GEORGE, HALUSKA, LEH, McILHATTAN, PICKETT, SHANER,
S. H. SMITH, STERN, R. STEVENSON, T. STEVENSON, SURRA AND
ZUG, MAY 3, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MAY 3, 2005
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45), entitled
2 "An act establishing a uniform construction code; imposing
3 powers and duties on municipalities and the Department of
4 Labor and Industry; providing for enforcement; imposing
5 penalties; and making repeals," further providing for
6 definitions; and providing for applicability.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 103 of the act of November 10, 1999
10 (P.L.491, No.45), known as the Pennsylvania Construction Code
11 Act, is amended by adding definitions to read:
12 Section 103. Definitions.
13 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
14 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
15 context clearly indicates otherwise:
16 * * *
17 "Fire protection system." Approved devices, equipment and
18 systems or combinations of systems used to detect a fire,
19 activate an alarm, extinguish or control a fire or control or
1 manage smoke and products of a fire.
2 * * *
3 "Means of egress." A continuous and unobstructed path of
4 vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion
5 of a building or structure to a public way. A means of egress
6 consists of three separate and distinct parts: the exit access,
7 the exit and the exit discharge.
8 * * *
9 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
10 Section 902.1. Applicability to certain buildings.
11 An existing building which did not have a certificate of
12 occupancy prior to April 10, 2004, shall be treated as an
13 existing building under Chapter 3. The following apply:
14 (1) A building under this section shall be issued an
15 occupancy permit under this act if all of the following
16 apply:
17 (i) The entire building meets the requirements of
18 Chapter 3 for fire protection systems and means of
19 egress.
20 (ii) The building is not unsafe, unsanitary or
21 judged to be a fire hazard or dangerous to human life or
22 public welfare.
23 (2) For a building under this section, a code
24 administrator shall not require changes which are technically
25 infeasible for the purpose of meeting means of egress
26 requirements.
27 (3) A code administrator shall construe this section
28 liberally to allow a property owner to maintain occupancy of
29 a building under this section.
30 Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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