Department of Licenses & Inspections
City of Philadelphia
www.phila.gov
Enforcement 215-686-2608
Robert Pili
Construction Services 215-686-5538
Robert Pili
Weights & Measures 215-685-3722
Robert Pili
Commercial & Industrial Fire Unit 215-685-3718
John Higgins, Code Administrator
Business Compliance Unit 215-685-3710
Gerald Richards
Housing Code Enforcement Unit 215-685-3738
Leslie Fields
Newsstands 215-686-5062
Shawn McKeown, Construction Projects Technician
Vendors 215-686-2485
Leslie Fields
Dumpster Law
How do I get a license for a dumpster in the City of Philadelphia? Check with your hauler to see if they have applications; or, applications for dumpster license can be obtained by mail from:
Department of Licenses & Inspections
License Issuance Unit
Joseph Diorio
1401 JFK Boulevard
Basement Level
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-686-2490
Alarm Systems in City of Philadelphia
#482 – Alarm monitor companies, with customers in the City of Philadelphia, are required as of May 1, 1993, to submit to the Department of Licenses & Inspections (L & I) a list of all their alarm users. Every month thereafter, the monitor company will be required by law to submit a list of new companies receiving their services each month. Failure of the alarm company to include alarm users on the list submitted to L & I can result in a $100 fine for the user.
#121 – Requires a $35 registration fee to be paid by all monitor alarm users. This ordinance mandates a $25 fine when an alarm user reaches three (3) false alarms within a 12-month period. The 12-month period commences on the date of the first false alarm. Any additional false alarms within that same 12-month period will result in a $25 fee per false alarm.
The Department of L & I defines a false alarm as one in which the police are summoned by the monitoring company and upon arrival at the scene of the activated alarm find no evidence of criminal activity. If an owner/manager is the financially responsible party for the alarm system, they are responsible for paying the license fee and fines. A licensee who wishes to contest the police department’s assessment that an alarm was false should contact Gary Gibson of the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication at 215-686-1584. However, hearing requests are not scheduled with Gary Gibson. Neither of the ordinances (#482 and #121) prevents the owner/manager from passing responsibility for an alarm system on as an option for tenants to purchase if they wish.
Asbestos in Buildings
Copies of Bill 760-A, which went into effect May 22, 1989, can be obtained by calling the Asbestos Hotline at 215-685-7576 or writing to Asbestos Control Unit, 321 University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104. For more information, visit www.phila.gov.
Fluorescent Lamp Recycling
On July 6, 1999 EPA added hazardous waste lamps to the federal list of “universal wastes.” Hazardous waste lamps are any lamps that are characteristically hazardous. This is, they fail the TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure). This includes fluorescent, high intensity discharge, neon, mercury vapor, high-pressure sodium, and metal halide lamps, if they are characteristically hazardous. Fluorescent lamps are hazardous because they contain mercury.
The new rule became effective on 1-6-00. The Universal Waste Rule of 1995 was designed to reduce the amount of RCRA hazardous waste disposed of in municipal waste landfills, encourage recycling and proper management of some common hazardous wastes, and reduce the regulatory burden on businesses currently managing these materials as hazardous waste. “Universal wastes” are hazardous wastes; however, they have less stringent requirements for storing, transporting, and collection. Universal wastes are regulated under 40 CFR 273 and 25 PA Code 266(b). Options for managing lamps include managing them as hazardous waste, managing them under the Universal waste rule, or using a type of lamp that is not hazardous. You may obtain a copy of the Hazardous Waste Lamp Rule at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a990706c.html
The major differences between the Federal and PA regulations is that the federal regulations allow a conditionally exempt small quantity generator (someone generating less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste/month) to dispose of their waste in a municipal waste landfill. However, the PA regulations state “a conditionally exempt small quantity generator may not dispose of hazardous waste in a municipal or residual waste landfill in this Commonwealth.” The effect of this regulation is that, in Pennsylvania, all fluorescent lamps, if hazardous, must be managed as either a universal waste or manifested as hazardous waste. Lamps from households are not subject to these requirements because household waste is excluded from regulation as hazardous waste. There are newer lamps on the market that have lower levels of mercury and thus are not hazardous waste. If the lamps pass the TCLP they are not hazardous waste and may be disposed in a municipal waste landfill.
Wet Standpipe Systems
The Philadelphia Fire Code, which became effective January 1, 2004, has new retroactive requirements for the installation of wet standpipe systems in existing buildings where the highest occupied floor level is more than 50 feet above the lowest level of Fire Department vehicle access. The new retroactive requirements apply to all buildings not presently in compliance. Building owners will have three years to comply from the effective date of the new code after obtaining approval from the Fire Department. To obtain the three year extension, owners must submit a letter to the Fire Department’s Fire Code Unit at 240 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, requesting an extension of time (until January 1, 2010 or earlier) to come into compliance.
Submission of the letter is a requirement of the new Fire Code. These new requirements also apply to buildings that were granted variances prior to January 1, 2004, to omit standpipes from required exit stairways. Questions can be directed to the Fire Code Unit at 215-686-1356.
Philadelphia Fire Code
Sheltering-in-Place Requirements
The Philadelphia Fire Code requires various buildings to develop a plan to shelter occupants inside the building in the event of a hazardous material, biological or other emergency outside the building. The following are the requirements and a sample shelter-in-place plan that building owners can use as a guide in preparing the plan for their building. Following the sample plan are questions asked by building owners regarding shelter-in-place requirements in the Fire Code. Each question is followed by an answer prepared by the Fire Department and the Department of Licenses and Inspections. The questions and answers are intended to interpret and clarify the requirements in the Fire Code. Persons having additional questions can call the Fire Department’s Fire Code Unit at 215-686-1356.
F-409.1 General. All occupancy groups and buildings that are required to have a fire safety and evacuation plan [See F-404.2 listed below.] shall also prepare and maintain a specific plan for sheltering occupants in place (inside the building). The plan shall be placed into effect when notified by local, state or federal officials that an outdoor hazardous materials or biological emergency exists that makes it unsafe for occupants to leave buildings.
F-409.2 Shelter-in-place plan. Shelter-in-place plans shall provide for the safety of building occupants from outdoor contaminants. Building managers shall identify suitable pre-determined shelter rooms or areas with as few windows, vents and doors as possible. Shelter areas shall contain a water supply for both drinking and toilet facilities. Plans shall require that all doors and windows be shut (and locked where locking provides a tighter seal) and all air handling equipment (heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems) be shut down. To provide necessary protection, sealing windows, doors and vents with tape is permitted.
F-409.3 All clear announcement. When an all clear message is announced, building managers shall direct people in shelter areas to proceed to the exterior of the building, open all windows and doors and turn on air handling equipment to facilitate exhausting any contaminants that have infiltrated the building. Further instructions will be available via radio and television broadcasts.
F-409.4 Training. A copy of the shelter-in-place plan shall be given to all employees and tenants. Employees required to assist in carrying out the plan shall receive training at least annually. A record of all training shall be maintained at the building.
F-409.5 Shelter-in-place drills. A shelter-in-place drill shall be conducted once annually for all occupancies required to have a plan and twice annually for Group E (educational) occupancies. Each required shelter-in-place drill for Group E occupancies can be substituted for one fire drill.
F-404.2. Fire safety and evacuation plan. A fire safety and evacuation plan
[and a shelter-in-place plan] shall be prepared and maintained for the following occupancies and buildings:
High-rise buildings.
Assembly, other than those used exclusively for purposes of religious worship that have an occupant load less than 2,000.
Educational.
High hazard.
Institutional.
Hotels, motels and short term (30 days or less) boarding homes.
Residential care/assisted living facilities with more than five occupants excluding staff.
Mercantile buildings having an occupant load of 500 or more persons or more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge.
Covered malls exceeding 50,000 square feet in aggregate floor area.
Underground buildings.
Buildings with atriums with an assembly, educational or mercantile occupancy.
Questions and Answers Regarding Sheltering-in-Place Requirements
Questions proposed by BOMA property managers
Answers by Chief Richard Bailey, Battalion Chief, Philadelphia Fire Code Unit
1. Can building management put the responsibility on tenants to prepare their own shelter-in-place plan and submit it to the management office?
Answer – Building owners are responsible for ensuring that there is a plan, and that it is maintained and properly distributed. The Fire Code does not address who prepares a plan. Building management can request that tenants prepare a plan for their floor. Once a plan is completed, tenants are required to comply with the plan.
2. Can fire wardens and floor captains (used during fire emergencies to coordinate evacuation of a building) be required to implement a shelter-in-place plan?
Answer – A building owner is responsible for the development and implementation of a plan. Building occupants can be designated in the plan to perform one or more tasks. When so designated they must be provided with the appropriate training.
3. If a building has retail tenants that have customers and/or visitors, how should they be sheltered-in-place?
Answer – Provisions should be made to shelter-in-place all occupants that may normally be expected to be in a building at the time of an emergency.
4. If retail tenants have access to the building lobby, how does building management prevent them from entering the lobby, especially if the door to the lobby is a second means of egress and part of a fire exit?
Answer – At the time of an emergency, tenants are required to follow the shelter-in-place plan for their floor, including whatever requirements building management has placed in the plan for the safety of tenants. Locking egress doors (preventing egress from the building) is not permitted by the Fire Code at any time a building is occupied, including during a shelter-in-place emergency.
5. Should elevators be recalled and/or shut down?
Answer – The Fire Code does not address this issue for shelter-in-place procedures. Building management can do what they believe is best for building occupants.
6. Is it permissible to lock the building entry doors and not allow entrance to the building if the door is not a fire exit?
Answer – The Fire Code does not restrict the locking of doors to the exterior that are not exit doors. It does state that exit doors can not be locked in such a manner that prevents egress from a building.
7. Is a shelter-in-place plan required for each floor of a building?
Answer – No. A plan is required to accommodate all of the occupants in a building. If building management believes that it is best for occupants of two or more floors to shelter-in-place on one floor that is permitted.
8. Are the existing restroom facilities in a building adequate for meeting the requirement to provide drinking and toilet facilities?
Answer – Yes.
9. Is evacuation of the building necessary after a drill, as is required after an emergency?
Answer – Evacuation of a building is not required after a drill. The purpose of occupants evacuating a building after an emergency is to permit the building’s air handling system to remove any contaminants that may have entered the building.
10. Is the shelter-in-place plan part of the International Fire Code?
Answer – No. The plan is a requirement of the Philadelphia Fire Code. The International Fire Code was adopted and amended by the City of Philadelphia. One of the amendments was the shelter-in-place requirements.
11. Can a shelter-in-place plan be rectified and/or modified in the future?
Answer – Yes. Modifications to a plan can be made whenever building management believes changes are necessary. Each tenant or employee should have a copy of the plan and a copy should be available for review if requested by a fire code official.
12. Can the current shelter-in-place plan be amended? Specifically Section F-409.2 that requires all doors and windows be shut (and locked where locking provides a tighter seal) and all air handling equipment (heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems) be shut down. The section also indicates that to provide necessary protection, sealing windows, doors and vents with tape is permitted?
Answer – Yes the requirements can be amended, but a process must be followed. Since requirements in the Fire Code are laws, amendments to the Fire Code must be reviewed by the city’s Law Department and approved by City Council. The shelter-in-place procedures in the Fire Code require that all windows and doors be closed and all air-handling systems be shut down. Locking of doors and windows is an option to provide a tighter seal if necessary. Tape is not required to be placed over all windows and doors, but is a method that can be used as a way to prevent contaminants from entering a building if a window or door does not close properly. If building management desires to deviate from specific requirements in the Fire Code, such as having the air handling system in the building operate during an emergency, approval must be obtained from the Fire Department.
13. Should a shelter-in-place plan be incorporated in the training of floor captains and/or fire wardens?
Answer – Yes. Floor captains and fire wardens and any other persons that are designated to assist in a shelter-in-place plan should receive training in their duties.
14. Will the Department of Licenses and Inspections accept the sample plan presented by Fire Department, entitled the Phoenix Hotel and Conference Center, Sample Shelter-In-Place Plan, if building managers choose to use the same format as their shelter-in-place plan?
Answer – Yes. An acceptable plan is any one that address the requirements in the Fire Code. The plan can contain additional information that building management believes is necessary in the event of a shelter-in-place emergency.
15. What is the protocol for allowing non-tenants in a building during an emergency?
Answer – The Fire Code does not address this issue, but the intent of the requirements is to provide for all persons that may be in the area of an emergency.
16. Should office buildings in Center City plan on offering refuge for pedestrians and motorists during a shelter-in-place emergency or have other arrangements been made?
Answer – This issue is not addressed in the Fire Code, but the intent of the shelter-in-place requirements is to provide for the safety of all persons in the area of an emergency.
17. What is the time element expected for sheltering people in place?
Answer – There are no specified or known time frames. The city will deal with an emergency as quickly as possible and permit building occupants to resume normal operations as soon as it is safe to do so.
18. Will sheltering people on their prospective leased floors serve as a shelter-in-place location if windows are non-operational?
Answer – Yes. Where occupants are sheltered-in-place is decided by building management or by agreement between building management and tenants. If it is determined that the most appropriate location for a shelter is on a floor and the floor has windows (operational or non-operational) that is permitted.
