New Construction Code Applied to All of Pennsylvania
Before the Uniform Construction Code enacted in the summer of 2004 only 55% of the municipalities in Pennsylvania had any type of electrical code. The following March 2006 Rural Builder article by Scott Tappa gives a good summary of where we currently are.
Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania ...
How are Pennsylvania builders coping with the Uniform Construction Code, enacted in late summer of 2004? Pretty well, according to a Brian Gafney story in the Binghamton, N. Y., Press & Sun-Bulletin. "Builders are independent-minded, and they are not eager to have government intrusion in their lives," Susquehanna County builder Jack Taylor told the paper. "But I think the code is a good idea for the county. More and more people are coming to the area, and they expect a certain caliber of work and durability in construction. The code helps protect people who expect quality." Taylor said the UCC has been good for the rural building industry, saying it is "an important step toward legitimizing the building industry in a rural area. Inspectors know it's a learning curve, and they are tolerant of our fumbling around as we learn."*
*Rural Builder Article by Scott Tappa, March 2006 (Vol. 40 #2), pg. 50.
We believe the code raises the bar for safety and consistency. As the new system is adopted, clarification of responsibilities and mandates will improve with training and time.
Future
We have been preparing for the implementation of the 2008 NEC code requirements. One point is significant service panel changes for branch circuits that will increase new service costs for all residents of Pennsylvania. We expect utility price caps will soon be lifted, dramatically increasing kWh charges from utilities.
Therefore we have been actively testing several new energy saving products for residential, commercial and light industrial applications and looking into solar PV and wind generation. This year we picked up the Eemax line of tankless water heaters after a year of personal use. We're completely satisfied and saving hundreds of dollars per year in energy savings. Our clients are too!