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6/24/04
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SENATE VOTES TO EASE UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE
WOULD EXCLUDE MINOR ALTERATIONS AND REPAIRS FROM
REGULATIONS
The Senate approved legislation to exempt certain residential buildings
and cabins from Pennsylvania's statewide building code, according to
Senator John Pippy, R-37th District and a co-sponsor of the measure.
Under Senate Bill 1139, alterations and repairs to residential
buildings that do not make structural changes would be excluded from
Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code regulations.
Certain recreational cabins would also be excluded, and the bill
clarifies that the prohibition on having natural cut trees in certain
buildings does not include Christmas trees.
SB 1139 now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.
"As with the enactment and enforcement of any new legislation, the
initial stages may prove that fine tuning and tweaking by the General
Assembly will be required," Senator Pippy said. "As it stands now, the UCC
is raising serious concerns among my constituents and people across the
Commonwealth. I understand those concerns, and I am convinced that changes
to the UCC must be made in a timely fashion."
Pennsylvania's UCC was created by Senate Bill 647, which was approved
by the General Assembly and was signed into law as Act 45 of 1999. The UCC
is actually a compendium of 11 international building codes that address
plumbing, electrical, fire safety, and other building standards.
The UCC went into effect for all state-owned buildings and elevators on
April 9. This date also sets in motion the municipal election period that
will determine how the UCC will be administered and enforced on the local
level.
Under Act 45, the Department of Labor and Industry is tasked with
enforcement of the code for all commercial construction, while certified
third-parties will handle residential construction in municipalities that
"opt out" of enforcement of the UCC.
"There are some people who would like to see a total repeal of Act 45,"
Senator Pippy said. "I don't see that there is enough support for such
drastic action; however, the need to address the UCC and make it more
practical is obvious. The legislation we passed today will significantly
cut down on the need for building permits for minor repair and renovation
projects, which will make it easier for residents and municipal
officials."
