Empowering Futures: Announcing the 2024 Educational Foundation Scholarship Awards
The Foundation Board is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s scholarship awards! Over $20,000 in awards will help six students advance their educational endeavors. In addition, this year the Foundation awarded $2,000 among eight local Career and Technical Education students who were identified by their teachers as top performing. Congratulations, winners!
Meet the Educational Foundation Scholarship Winners here. Meet the top performing CTE students here.
Stay Informed: Critical Updates on IRC Code Changes in PA
Marc Faulkner, Faulkner Inspection Service
Attention PA contractors: Significant updates to the International Residential Code (IRC) are under review, with new codes expected to be implemented by July 13, 2025. The PA Review and Advisory Council (RAC) is currently evaluating changes, especially focusing on 16 key electrical code sections. It is crucial for contractors involved in electrical work on single-family and two-family dwellings, townhouses, or any structure under the IRC to stay informed about these changes. Read the full article here.
2025 EAP Board: Nominations Open: Deadline July 31, 2024
The EAP is led by a group of volunteer Board Members who direct the long-term strategy of the organization. The Governance Committee is now accepting applications for nomination to the EAP Board of Directors. You can learn more about the role and responsibilities associated with this role, as well as how to apply, here.
Member Perks
As an EAP Member, you have access to a variety of programs and services included in your membership. Learn more about what’s available and take full advantage of your membership.
Introducing Member Help Desk! Sometimes, you just need a little help, and that’s what we are here for. EAP’s extensive network is at your disposal. Learn more about this Member Perk here.
Avoiding Discrimination and Harassment Training – Free to EAP Members
Protect your business, staff, and clients by ensuring your team receives proper training. Thanks to our partners at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, this valuable training is available at NO COST to all EAP members. Don't miss this opportunity to create a safer, more inclusive workplace! Learn more here.
Supplementing Base Coverage with Limited Benefit Plans
In the dynamic environment of employee benefits, employers are continually working to provide comprehensive coverage that meets the diverse needs of their company’s workforce. Limited benefit plans have emerged as a pragmatic solution, offering targeted coverage for specific healthcare needs or financial protections.
Limited benefit plans, also commonly known as mini-med or fixed indemnity plans, are benefit options that possess a reduced and more restricted level of benefits when compared with comprehensive medical plans, but with lower premiums as well. They typically offer coverage for specific or targeted healthcare services or financial protections with predetermined limits. Limited-benefit plans can include critical illness plans, indemnity plans and “hospital cash” policies. These plans are not regulated by the Affordable Care Act, and it is not advisable that they serve as an individual’s only medical coverage. However, in most situations they can be a good supplement to a base and more comprehensive medical plan.
Applicability of a Limited Health Plan
Limited health plans can be beneficial for those who feel they need additional coverage that goes beyond their traditional health insurance plans. Though they are not intended to be a replacement for major medical health insurance, limited plans can be a good supplement to some major medical plans, such as those with a high deductible.
Individuals covered through a high deductible health plan (HDHP) can often benefit from enrolling in Limited Benefit Plans. Although HDHPs offer comprehensive coverage, the standard copay aspect of the plan does not kick in for any services outside of preventative care until the deductible is met. That could mean that the individual or their family can be exposed to significant up-front out-of-pocket expenses. A limited health plan can help offset the deductible in some instances, depending on what the limited plan covers.
Though not intended as a replacement for major health insurance, limited plans can still provide at least some level of financial coverage for those without a comprehensive base medical plan. Limited plans might especially work well for individuals that need temporary stop-gap coverage until their more comprehensive insurance program goes into effect, for those who were recently laid off or are in-between jobs, for younger individuals aging off of their parent’s health insurance, individuals who have lost their medical coverage, self-employed persons without access to group coverage or anyone looking to offset the costs associated with high deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.
The Electrical Association of Philadelphia offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at
https://eap.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Ray Keough at (610) 684-6932.
JOB ALERT: Technical Product Specialist for AD
AD is a member-owned organization, passionate about bringing growth-oriented independent distributors and best-in-class supplier partners together with the purpose to outperform the market and to stay ahead of the competition. Download the job description here, and click here to apply.
City of Philadelphia L&I Updates
Check out pertinent updates from L&I’s May Newsletter.
Updates from L&I:
Administrative Code Webinar (Part 2) - This is the second in a two-part series to review the department’s administration of the technical codes. During this session we will review Chapters 4-11 of the Philadelphia Administrative Code, to include inspection requirements, fees and work site safety. This session will be held on Wednesday, June 26th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom. Please register if you are interested in attending this information session. ** Attendees can receive 2 hours of continuing education credits for this course. **
Permitting Updates:
Fee Adjustment Bill #240430
On May 9, 2024, Philadelphia City Council introduced Bill No. 240430. Currently, L&I is authorized to revise, by regulation, permit and license fees established on or before July 1, 2017, by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) Multiplier. If enacted, this legislation would authorize L&I to revise, by regulation, all permit and license fees by the CPI Multiplier, regardless of when they were established. Please note, if this legislation is enacted, no license or permit fee will be increased in the absence of a regulation and associated analysis.
The Following Permit Resources Were Recently Updated/Added to the Website (www.phila.gov/li):
Mechanical Permit Fee FAQ - This FAQ provides clarification on how mechanical permit fees are calculated based on the type of system.
Annual Plumbing and Electrical Permits Info Sheet - This information sheet provides the eligibility and process to obtain annual plumbing and electrical permits for routine maintenance and replacement of plumbing and electrical system components.
Electrical Certification Form for a Temporary Certification of Occupancy (TCO)
A new form has been created to document the partial certification of an electrical system. The Electrical Inspection Agency (EIA) must complete this Electrical TCO certification form and the contractor on the project must upload the form as part of the TCO submission process.
Enforcement Priorities:
AIU would like to call your attention to the following enforcement priorities:
- Contractors and Subcontractors Information - In accordance with the Philadelphia Code Title 9-1004, contractors who hire a subcontractor to perform work authorized by their permit, must list the subcontractor on the permit in eCLIPSE within 3 days of the commencement of any work authorized by that permit, unless that permit is for a residential building of two dwelling units or less. If the Department establishes that a contractor has failed to do this, the contractor will be cited with a violation of 9-1004(8). That citation is accompanied by a $2,000 fine.
- Subcontracting - Subcontractors must be licensed. They must carry a valid contractor or trade license (for trade work) whenever they are working. A subcontractor is any person or business hired to perform work authorized by a permit, who is not identified on that permit’s application as the prime (or responsible) contractor.
- Worker Certification - Every worker at a Philadelphia construction site must have OSHA-10 training and carry their card with them when they’re on the job. If a building more than 3 stories or 40 feet tall is being constructed or demolished, an OSHA-30 trained site safety supervisor must be on site whenever the site is active.
Free OSHA Safety Consultation
Employers can receive no-cost safety, health and industrial hygiene evaluations by signing up for a program run by IUP’s Safety Sciences Department. Through the PA OSHA Consultation Program, IUP consultants conduct occupational safety and health evaluations and work with business owners to address issues. The on-site visits are confidential since the program operates independently from OSHA's regulation enforcement.