Part 5
Uniform Construction Code
§501. Adoption of Uniform Construction Code.
1. The Township of Salisbury hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of
the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999, 35 P.S. §§7210.101–
7210.1103. as amended from time to time, and its regulations.
2. The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa.Code, Chapters 401–405, as
amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference
as the Municipal building code of the Township of Salisbury.
A. Key Lock Box Systems.
(1) Purpose and Intent. The purpose and intent of this Subsection A is to
ensure that when fire breaks out within a structure, firefighters are not
blocked or delayed from combating the fire by locked doors or gates. To
help reduce these types of delays, the Township has adopted this
Subsection A establishing a key lock box system for certain structures
or properties within the Township to provide firefighters access for
these structures while still ensuring the privacy and security of the
owners and occupants of such a structure. The Township shall adopt the
specific system by separate Resolution which may be amended from
time to time by the Township pursuant to this Subsection A.
(2) Definitions.
OWNER–any person or entity which owns, leases, manages, and/or is
in control of a structure, building, facility or property.
STRUCTURE–any building, facility or man-made object.
(3) Required Installation of Lock Box.
(a) The Owner of the following types of structures or properties shall
install and maintain a fire department rapid entry key lock box
of a type specified by the Township:
1) A structure regulated under the International Building
Code, except all detached one-family and two-family
dwellings and one-family townhouses that are not more
than three stories in height and their accessory structures.
2) Multi-family residential structures regulated by the
International Building Code of four units or more, includ-
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ing senior apartment/condo complexes that have restricted
access to the living units.
3) Commercial and industrial structures and/or properties
where access to or within a structure or area is restricted
because of secured openings or where immediate access is
necessary for lifesaving or firefighting purposes.
(b) Owners of existing structures or properties which are subject to
the requirements of this Subsection A shall have two years from
the effective date hereof to comply with the requirements.
Persons or entities who construct structures and/or develop
properties which would be subject to the requirements of this
Subsection A shall comply with the requirements at the time of
construction and/or development.
(c) Any structure or property having 24-hour on-site security
personnel who have full access to the entire structure or property
may be exempt from the requirement of this Subsection A at the
discretion of the Township Fire Chief(s) or Fire Inspector.
(4) Installation.
(a) Owners of structures or properties required to install a fire
department rapid entry key lock box under this Subsection A
shall install such a lock box in accordance with the following:
1) The owner is responsible for ordering and installing the
lock box.
2) Unless otherwise determined by the Township Fire
Chief(s) or Fire Inspector, the lock box shall be installed on
the front of the structure near the main entry door, on the
right hand side, 5 feet above the ground within 10 feet of
entrance, unless approved at a higher or lower level by the
Township Fire Chief(s) or Fire Inspector. The Fire Chief(s)
or Fire Inspector may require the lock box be installed in
a different location in some cases. The owner shall contact
the Township Fire Chief(s) or Fire Inspector prior to
mounting the lock box for approval of the proposed location
of the lock box and shall allow the Fire Chief(s) or Fire
Inspector to observe the installation of the lock box to
ensure proper location and installation. The approved
location for the installation of the lock box shall be at the
complete discretion of the Fire Chief(s) or Fire Inspector.
3) The lock box shall meet or exceed the specifications of the
Knox Box 3200 Series.
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b) The lock box shall contain the key(s) for all exterior doors and
gates, the keys for all interior doors and gates within the
building, and the keys to all doors or panels which control access
to shared systems (i.e., HVAC, alarm panels, sprinkler controls
and electrical panels). Each key shall be clearly labeled and easily
identifiable.
(5) Access to Lock Box.
(a) The owner of any structure or property required to have a fire
department rapid entry key lock box shall ensure that the fire
department has completely unobstructed access to the lock box at
all times.
(b) The owner of any structure or property required to have a fire
department rapid entry key lock box or his/her/its agent shall be
present whenever the fire department accesses the lock box of the
Owner’s structure or property except when the department has
responded to an emergency at the structure or property.
(c) The Township fire department(s) shall maintain a written record
of when the key lock box access key(s) is accessed, removed or
used for entry including the name of the individual removing the
key(s), the time and date of the access and the reason for such
removal.
(6) Rules and Regulations. The Township may establish uniform rules and
regulations governing all structures required to install a key lock box
system with regards to the type, location, installation, use, maintenance,
and replacement of fire department rapid entry key lock boxes
within the Township, including, but not limited to, the specification of
approved types of fire department rapid entry key lock boxes.
(7) Updating Keys and Information.
(a) The owner of any structure of property required to have a fire
department rapid entry key lock box shall ensure that the keys
contained within the lock box are up-to-date and provide access
to all required areas within the structure or property. Whenever
a lock is changed or new doors, gates, or panels are installed
within a structure or property, the owner shall immediately
notify the Township’s Building Code Official to coordinate the
placement of items within the lock box.
(b) The owner of any structure or property required to have a fire
department rapid entry key lock box shall provide the Fire
Chief(s) or Fire Inspector with up-to-date contact information
that includes the owner’s name; addresses; and facsimile,
telephone, mobile phone, and pager numbers. Any change in this
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information must be provided in writing to the Township Fire
Chief(s) or Fire Inspector at least 48 hours in advance of the
change occurring, along with the date such change will take
place.
(8) Limitation of Liability.
(a) The Township incorporates the immunity and regulations set
forth in the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act, 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§8541 et seq.
(9) Violations and Penalties. Any person violating any provision of this
Subsection A, upon conviction in a summary proceeding before a
magisterial district judge, shall be sentenced to pay a fine to the
Township of not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 together with all
court costs actually incurred by the Township as provided for in the
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, Act 45 of 1999. Each day that
a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
(10) Effective Date. This Subsection A shall become effective 35 days after
enactment or upon recordation of the ordinance within the Township’s
official Ordinance Book, whichever comes later.
[Ord. 04-2012-576]
3. Administration and enforcement of the Code within the Township of Salisbury shall
be undertaken in any of the following ways as determined by the Board of
Commissioners of the Township of Salisbury from time to time by resolution:
A. By the designation of an employee of the Township of Salisbury to serve as the
Municipal code official to act on behalf of the Township of Salisbury.
B. By the retention of one or more construction code officials or third party
agencies to act on behalf of the Township of Salisbury.
C. By agreement with one or more other municipalities for the joint administration
and enforcement of this Act through an intermunicipal agreement.
D. By entering into a contract with another municipality for the administration
and enforcement of this Act on behalf of the Township of Salisbury.
E. By entering into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor
and Industry for plan review, inspections and enforcement of structures other
than one-family or two-family dwelling units and utility and miscellaneous use
structures.
4. A Board of Appeals shall be established by resolution of the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Salisbury in conformity with the requirements of the relevant
provisions of the Code, as amended from time to time, and for the purposes set forth
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(5, Part 5)
therein. If at any time enforcement and administration is undertaken jointly with
one or more other municipalities, said Board of Appeals shall be established by joint
action of the participating municipalities.
5. Prior Ordinances.
A. All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by
the Township of Salisbury on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed
the requirements of the Code shall continue in full force and effect until such
time as such provisions fail to equal or exceed the minimum requirements of
the Code, as amended from time to time.
B. All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which are in effect as of
the effective date of this Part and whose requirements are less than the
minimum requirements of the Code are hereby amended to conform with the
comparable provisions of the Code.
C. All relevant ordinances, regulations and policies of the Township of Salisbury
not governed by the Code shall remain in full force and effect.
6. Fees assessable by the Township of Salisbury for the administration and enforcement
undertaken pursuant to this Part and the Code shall be established by the
Board of Commissioners by resolution from time to time.
7. This Part shall be effective on April 10, 2004.
8. If any section, subsection, sentence, or clause of this Part is held, for any reason, to
be invalid, such decision or decisions shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this Part.
(Ord. 03-2004-512, 3-25-2004; as amended by Ord. 07-2011-568, 7/28/2011; and by Ord. 04-
2012-576, 4/26/2012, §§I–IX, XII)
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