DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY
UCC UPDATE
JANUARY 10, 2006

Changes on Advisories Page
The advisory on the Health Care Facilities Act (HCFA) has been amended. Now included is a Department of Health contact who can answers questions about that Department’s enforcement of the HCFA.

The Advisory on Illegally Existing Buildings has been permanently removed. See information below regarding Act 95 of 2005.

Act 95 of 2005
On December 22, 2005, Governor Rendell signed into law SB 736 (Printer’s Number 1411) which took effect on the same day. Click here to access a copy of this legislation.

This legislation amends section 902 of Act 45 by adding two new sections that deal with “uncertified” buildings” and provides different requirements that apply to buildings constructed prior to April 9, 2004 and that lack certificates of occupancy, depending on their location.

Uncertified buildings that are under the Department’s jurisdiction (state-owned buildings and commercial buildings in 217 opt-out municipalities) must comply with the new subsection (b) enacted in SB 736. See below for further information on the Department’s new procedures based on these changes.

Uncertified buildings that are under the jurisdiction of all opt-in municipalities must comply with the new subsection (c) of this legislation.

Each enforcing municipality must make its own determination as to its interpretation and enforcement of the alternatives listed in this subsection (c), since the Department will not be issuing advisory information pertaining to this subsection.

Labor & Industry Enforcement (Buildings and Structures)
The following changes have been made.

• On the “Plan Review and Inspections” page, we have:
  Amended section D, clarifying the Department’s position and requirements regarding phased construction.
• Made major changes to section K: Building Permits/Occupancy Certificates for “Uncertified Buildings,” bringing our requirements into compliance with the amendment to Act 45 made by Act 95 of 2005 (SB 736, P.N. 1411).
• Added a new section O establishing special requirements that apply to the construction of “shell buildings” that are in the Department’s jurisdiction.
• Amended section Q (Plan Revisions) to clarify our procedures on deferred submissions.

Labor & Industry Enforcement (Elevators and Lifting Devices)
The following changes have been made.

• A number of corrections and changes have been made to the “Advisories” page, mostly because of changes made to the Department’s forms and directions for filling out these forms.
• All of the Department’s forms have been amended, as have the directions for filling out the forms.
• A new section G has been added to the ”Plan Review and Inspection Requirements” page. This section details the requirements for escalators and moving walks, and provides access to the new application form used when constructing these lifts.