Industry News
2023 BRIC Awards Include Historic $137 million for Building Codes
Now in its fourth year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program has developed a specific stream of funding that will be focused on building code adoption and enforcement. The Agency has made...
Watch Recording of Webinar with PA L&I & DCED – Insights to Advisory on Industrialized Buildings & Building Components
On 10/19/23, PENNBOC held a live webinar for members Insight to Advisory on Industrialized Buildings and Building. A recording of that webinar if included below for informational purposes (not for continuing education credit). Description: Components Recently, the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), under authority of section 5 of the Industrialized Housing Act […]
Advisory on Industrialized Buildings & Building Components
The PA Department of Labor & Industry has recently created an advisory related to Industrialized Buildings and Building Components that is in the process of being published on L&I's website HERE. You can also download it HERE. The Advisory states: Section 901...
Public Comment Period for2021 Codes Closes on Aug 30th
The public commenting period for Pennsylvania's adoption of the 2021 International Codes will be closing on August 30, 2023. Comment submissions are currently open for any section of the 2021 code. Your submission requires the following information: The...
Lack of Communication from BCO to Zoning Officer Leads to Variance by Estoppel
In McLogie Properties v. Kidder Twp ZHB (Carbon County) ___ A.3d ____, 2023 WL 4276962 (Pa.Cmwlth. June 30, 2023), the Pa. Commonwealth Court ruled that the property owner was entitled to a variance by estoppel to leave a house as constructed, even though it violated...
Nomination Hearing of Nancy Walker as PA Secretary of Labor & Industry
On June 20, 2023, the Pennsylvania State Senate Labor and Industry Committee met to consider the nomination of Nancy Walker as Secretary of the Department of Labor and Industry. The Committee voted to report the nomination with a favorable recommendation. ...
RE-OPENED: Public Comment Period on 2021 I-Codes
The public commenting period for Pennsylvania's adoption of the 2021 International Codes has been re-opened. Additional applications to serve on a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) are also being accepted. Comment submissions have reopened for...
Resolving Pennsylvania’s Accessibility Code Dilemma
On April 28, 2023, PA State Senators Tartaglione, Robinson, and Kane announced that they will be introducing legislation to give the Accessibility Advisory Board (AAB) the authority to review and make recommendations for adoption of future accessibility codes. The...
Public Comments on 2021 I-Codes – Deadline March 12, 2023
The process of reviewing the 2021 International Codes for adoption in the Commonwealth officially started on Saturday, November 12, 2022, with the opening of the public comment period on those sections of the code that are considered "modified sections" or "additional...
Pennsylvania Industrialized Buildings Program – Update
Communication from PA DCED: Please see the following link published on Feb 11, 2023, in the Pennsylvania Bulletin: https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pabull?file=/secure/pabulletin/data/vol53/53-6/181.html As published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, the...
Act 123 of 2022, Alternate refrigerant exemption from UCC
On November 3, 2022, PA Gov. Tom Wolf signed Act 123 of 2022 into law (formerly known as SB2079) amending Section 901 of the PA Construction Code Act (Act 45 of 1999). The PA Construction Code Act (PCCA) has been amended to allow the air conditioning, heating, and...
LPG Permitting & Inspecting Policy
Recently, an internal policy clarification at PA Department of Labor & Industry was released to the general building code community. The policy clarifies that "the Department expects building code officials to permit, inspect, and regulate as needed all aspects of...
PA Commonwealth Court Enjoins Enforcement of 2021 Accessibility Standards
On October 26, 2022, the PA Commonwealth Court granted an application from the Pennsylvania Builders Association for a declaratory judgement permanently enjoining the enforcement of the 2021 Accessibility provisions. Specifically, the “…Court declares Section...
NOW AVAILABLE! ICC’s 2022 Changes to the PA UCC Book
Gain full access to the 2022 updates to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) and key insights into the implications of these changes. This full-color publication compiles all 2022 UCC changes to the base International Codes and presents them in an...
New PA Fireworks Legislation
On July 11, 2022, Governor Wolf signed HB 2157, which then became Act 74 of 2022. It amends the regulations that allowed widespread use of consumer fireworks in PA and was intended to reduce noise nuisances and fire hazards. Notable provisions include: Section...