Advanced Repair Bradford Reviews

[Taneka Tarring]

Pennsylvanias Uniform Construction Code regulations require the Department of Labor and Industry to approve the following when they are in municipalities (political subdivisions) that have opted out of UCC enforcement responsibilities:

Click here to access a listing of all of Pennsylvania's municipalities and to determine whether the Department has jurisdiction (all opt out municipalities) for any construction work you propose to perform.

The Department is also responsible for approving plans and inspecting construction for compliance with accessibility requirements, for all projects constructed in municipalities that do not have a State-certified accessibility inspector/plan examiner. The municipality where this construction will take place can tell you whether they are legally able to perform accessibility plan reviews and inspections.

For all projects within its jurisdiction, Department staff review and approve plans submissions, issue building permits, perform all inspections necessary to demonstrate compliance with the UCC technical standards and issue certificates of occupancy.

Beginning February 14, 2022, all reviews will be based on the 2018 code requirements with adopted provisions, unless the applicant submits a copy of a binding design or construction contract signed prior to February 14, 2022. This contract must be project-specific. That is, it may not be an open-ended contract for multiple, unspecified buildings and structures. This provision is applicable until April 1, 2019.

Whenever repairs, alterations, changes of occupancy, additions or relocation of existing buildings occur, a permit applicant must demonstrate compliance with provisions found in the 2018 International Existing Building Code. This applies only for legally occupied buildings (those that have an occupancy permit required under pre-UCC or UCC laws and ordinances). All plan approvals and inspections will be based on the code requirements elected at the time that building permit application is filed.

Some changes have been made to the adopted codes. Applicants are advised to consult the UCC regulation, particularly sections 403.21 through 403.26 and 403.28. Section 403.22 specifies that facilities regulated by the Health Care Facilities Act must meet construction requirements mandated by that act (and its regulations) and UCC standards. This section also requires the Department to withhold UCC building permits or occupancy permits, until applicants provide evidence that they have obtained Pennsylvania Department of Health plan and occupancy approvals for health care facility construction.

Application packages (plans and all other required submission documentation) are mailed to the Department. Please click here for fee schedule. Fees paid cover plan review and inspections.

The department is now offering expedited plan review performed within seven days of receipt of a written request for an additional cost. It is also offering inspections outside of normal business hours (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., excluding holidays) upon written request from the applicant at an additional cost.

Intake-staff receive application materials at our reception area on the 16th Floor of the Labor and Industry Building. The submission package is examined to ensure that all required information is included in the submission.

Application packages that are grossly deficient will be mailed back to the applicant. If the deficiencies are not extensive, the project will be stored in a temporary holding area, and staff will communicate with the applicant about items needed to complete the application package. If the requested information is not received in ten (10) calendar days, the plans will be returned to the applicant.

It is the applicant's responsibility to have the drawings corrected and resubmitted for plan review/code compliance. If there are any questions about the required changes or our code interpretations, call 717-787-3806 (at the menu, select "1" and then "3") and ask to speak to the plans examiner assigned to your project. He/she will discuss these issues and evaluate any options you may propose. On a case-by-case, the lead design professional may be invited to meet with plans examination staff, if this will facilitate review and approval of the plans.

Applicants shall return three sets of revised drawings, cloud changes, provide revision narrative and date all changes. If the applicant disputes any of the deficiencies cited, the resubmission should include written statements that explain the basis for the applicant's dispute. No additional fees will be charged for review of these resubmitted plans.

Should rejected plans not be resubmitted, it is the applicant's responsibility to request, in writing, a refund of fees paid. When requested, the Department will refund the fees, less the base application fee and any fees related to expedited reviews for new construction, additions or renovation projects. No refunds will be made of fees paid for other Department reviews.

When a construction project is on a tight timeline and a building owner needs to begin construction as soon as possible, the UCC regulations provide that he may receive permit approval to construct the foundation or other parts of a building or structure, before plans and specifications for the entire project are submitted for approval.

As noted above, the Department is responsible for approving plans and inspecting certain commercial construction projects for compliance with the accessibility requirements of the UCC. The affected projects are those that will be constructed in municipalities which have opted to enforce the UCC but do not have a construction code official certified (by the Department) to perform accessibility reviews.

Generally, a UCC building permit can be approved based on this application when the work to be done involves the removal and replacement or the covering of existing materials, elements, equipment, or fixtures using new materials, elements, equipment, or fixtures that serve the same purpose.

Whenever structural change is involved, a statement from a licensed architect or engineer must accompany the application. This sealed statement should indicate that the work described on the application will satisfy all structural requirements of the UCC.

The Department reserves the right to require that a statement sealed by a licensed design professional be provided (indicating that the proposed work will not violate provisions of the UCC), for other changes proposed on the Alterations-Level 1 application.

Should applicants inaccurately describe the work for which an Alteration-Level 1 permit has been issued, and should the completed construction fall outside the scope of this permit, the Department reserves the right to impose whatever corrective actions may be needed to ensure compliance with the UCC.

If you are seeking a Level-1 permit for a roof replacement and the work will include replacement of some or all sheathing, the type and thickness of the existing and replacement material must be specified in your description.

If the work to be done will affect the building envelope, mechanical systems, or the electrical power and lighting systems, a narrative describing how the work will satisfy the requirements of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code must be included. If the requirements will not be satisfied, then additional information must be submitted.

After reviewing this information, the Bureau will either issue a UCC Building Permit or contact you regarding work that appears to fall outside the scope of Alterations-Level 1 work. If a permit is issued, we will also inform you of inspections that must be passed, before a certificate of compliance can be issued.

The UCC regulations provides for annual alterations of installations previously approved for construction code compliance, under a single permit. Click on the links below to access information about the Annual Permit.

Note: If the proposed construction involves a building or structure classified in use group R-2, R-3 or R-4 and it is not more than three stories in height above grade, compliance should be demonstrated with the residential requirements of the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code.Supply three (3) copies of the compliance report generated by the REScheck software.

To obtain copies of the US DOE COMcheck visit the US DOE "Building Energy Codes Program" website.

EXCEPTION: If the building or structure is exempt per ASHRAE 90.1 section 2.3(b), include a letter signed by the design professional in responsible charge that the building or structure will use neither electricity nor fossil fuels and is thus exempt from energy conservation code requirements.

When an owner of a one- or two-family dwelling wishes to use their dwelling to provide day care services for 4-12 children, for less than 24 hours per day, application must be made for a UCC Certificate of Occupancy following the process outlined below. The provision of these services must be secondary to the use of the dwelling as a residence.

It is the policy of the Department that, when day care services are approved in these dwellings, a UCC certificate of occupancy for an R-3 use group will be issued, if the facility satisfies the fire safety requirements specified in the UCC regulation at 403.23 and egress requirements spelled out in the applicable version of the International Residential Code (IRC). This means that, if day care services are provided on a second floor or in the basement, the facility will have to comply with the emergency escape provisions of the IRC.

Also note that, if the one- or two-family dwelling will undergo changes requiring a UCC permit, the owner will have to secure approval for this work from a certified Third-Party Agency. (The Department is not authorized to approve residential construction, alterations or repairs in opt-out municipalities.)

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