The purpose of this article is to protect residents
from serious injury or death and property from destruction by fire
in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-2(b); and is intended to supplement
the Township's emergency management plan.
The Township Committee finds that the Township
is wholly dependent upon the services of volunteer fire-fighting companies
under the direction of the Commissioners of Franklin Township Fire
District No. 1 for the provision of fire protection to the residents
and property located in the Township. Due to the agricultural and
rural residential character of the Township, many structures are located
a significant distance from the location of the fire-fighting equipment.
Furthermore, since this equipment is manned entirely by volunteers,
the response time to a fire is impacted by the logistics of assembling
fire fighters and equipment at the scene. The changing nature of employment
patterns in the Township and Hunterdon County indicate that the number
of volunteers available generally, and in particular during regular
business hours, has been declining. Further reductions are anticipated
in the future. In order to improve the already significant efficiencies
of the volunteer fire-fighting companies, the Township Committee finds
that further commercial or residential development shall be required
to make provision for localized on-site water sources.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Protection against fire as provided by compliance with the
fire flow or alternatives as set forth in this article.
Any building or structure which has an automatic fire-suppression
system or fire alarm system transmitting to a central station, with
the exception of one- and two-family residential dwellings which are
not included.
The distance between buildings or structures, which may vary
with building type, age and whether it contains on-site fire-suppression
systems. New structures shall comply with applicable Building Code
requirements as required by the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code.
The Quakertown Fire Company and the fire company serving
the property subject to the provisions of this article.
The amount or volume of water available to fire hydrants
or standpipes within or adjacent to a development application and
measured in gallons per minute (gpm), duration of flows or storage
capacity as measured in hours (or minutes) of deliverable flows, and
water pressure as measured in pounds per square inch (psi).
The information required pursuant to § 193-16.
Methods or systems for extinguishing fire, including but
not limited to automatic sprinkler systems, static water sources on
site such as ponds, pool, well-point, underground or aboveground storage
tanks, and any other methods/means reasonably calculated to achieve
fire protection.
A rapid entry box and key system allowing access to a building
and/or structure.
The area of potential fire hazard or impact, including and
surrounding a development application, as well as all new and existing
structures located therein, and taking into account, as appropriate,
the types and density of vegetation, location of buildings/structures,
location and direction/slope of driveways, condition and improvements
to road and right-of-way and the uses to which the structures are
or will be put.
The steps taken to improve the fire protection of existing
structures or areas, including but not limited to the installation
of on-site fire-suppression or fire-supply systems.
The regular source of water to fire hydrants or standpipes
such as public utility, any public water system, privately owned system
or source, association-maintained system or source, or any combination
of the above.
No permit for the construction or reconstruction
of a structure nor shall any approval for an application for development
be granted unless and until the provisions of this chapter have been
complied with as certified to by the Commissioners of the Fire District,
Subcode Official and Fire Official/Fire Marshal.
A.Â
In implementation of the provisions of this article,
Franklin Township adopts the most current standards of the National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in determining minimum fire flow
standards as applicable to the specific densities allowed for each
zoning district within the Township.
B.Â
For all commercial uses and for all residential uses
involving the establishment of more than five dwelling units, the
Franklin Township Engineer and/or the Fire Official/Fire Marshal shall
determine the applicable fire flow standards.
A.Â
Hydrants and standpipes.
(1)Â
All hydrants and standpipes regulated by this chapter
shall be positioned to be accessible and visible and shall be located
and designed in a way to facilitate ease of maintenance. The maintenance
of standpipes shall be the responsibility of the property owner. The
maintenance of hydrants within the public rights-of-way shall be the
responsibility of the Township.
(2)Â
Hydrants shall be installed in accordance with the
most recent edition of ANSI/AWWA C502, "Dry Barrel Fire Hydrants";
painted as recommended by the Quakertown Fire Company; and tested
in accordance with the latest edition of NFPA 291, "Recommended Practice
for Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants."
B.Â
Additional sources of water.
(1)Â
Where required fire flow is not available to provide
adequate fire protection, the water sources shall be supplemented
with on-site suppression and/or supply systems to satisfy the minimum
fire protection requirements of the Township. Consideration of exposure
distances, relevant fire protection sectors, retrofitting and water
purveyors shall guide the choice of additional measures which shall
include:
(a)Â
Installation of underground water storage tanks
with associated appurtenances.
(b)Â
Installation of underground waterlines with
hydrants.
(c)Â
Creation of drafting location with appurtenances.
(d)Â
Installation of booster pumps with appurtenances.
(e)Â
Access to fixed water sources (i.e., ponds,
rivers, etc.) or such other means of increasing fire-fighting capability
as may be recommended by the fire company or the Fire Marshal/Fire
Official.
(2)Â
All additional water sources shall be no further than
3,000 linear feet from any principal structure and accessible from
the cartway.
C.Â
Whenever water storage tanks are required, the following
standards apply:
(1)Â
Storage tanks shall be located within the right-of-way
adjacent to the cartway and installed within the first 250 feet of
the intersection of any new road.
(2)Â
Storage tanks servicing residential uses shall thereafter
be installed at a ratio of one for each 3,000 linear feet of street
length or fraction thereof.
(3)Â
The minimum capacity of any water storage tank serving
residential uses shall be 30,000 usable gallons.
(4)Â
Tank capacities for commercial development shall be
based on the degree of exposure, hazard and fire flow of the proposed
structures to be protected, but shall be a minimum of 50,000 usable
gallons, unless the fire-suppression system is served by public water.
(5)Â
Water storage tanks may be constructed of cast-in-place
concrete, fiberglass, steel or other material approved by the Fire
Marshal/Fire Official. The tank must be installed and operational
before issuance of any building permits.
(6)Â
All tanks shall be constructed and installed in accordance
with manufacturer's specifications of installation and be readily
accessible to fire-fighting equipment and shall be fitted with four-and-one-half-inch
NSHT fittings compatible with local fire companies.
(7)Â
The design, location and installation of water storage
tanks shall be subject to site plan review and shall be approved by
the appropriate reviewing agencies after a final determination of
adequacy has been made by the Township Engineer in consultation with
the Fire District.
(8)Â
Rise connections and fittings shall be capable of
producing 1,000 gallons per minute for a minimum of 90% of the tank
capacity.
(9)Â
All tanks shall include a system for maintaining a
refill capability and shall be equipped with means for preventing
accumulations of silt and debris.
(10)Â
Maintenance of water quality and quantity of
the tanks and of the tank fittings shall be the sole responsibility
of the Township, following the expiration of maintenance guaranties.
(11)Â
Maintenance of the area around the tanks shall
be the sole responsibility of the property owner. Every application
for development of real property shall make adequate provision by
way of restrictive deed covenant providing for this obligation.
(12)Â
Use of water in the tanks for any purpose other
than fire protection is prohibited.
(13)Â
Signs indicating "No Parking or Standing" within
100 feet shall be placed at each tank location on both sides of the
street. The signage shall meet all applicable state and Township regulations.
Where parking is not permitted on any street, appropriate signage
shall be posted. Markings on the pavement prohibiting parking shall
also be required.
(14)Â
Where access to a tank may be a concern, the
road or street shall be widened as required by subdivision or site
plan approvals.
D.Â
Rapid entry box and key system (Knox-Box®).
[Amended 10-27-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-11]
(1)Â
All commercial and governmental buildings within the Township shall
have a rapid entry box and key system (Knox-Box® lock system).
This secure means of building access will allow the Township Fire
Department a safe and nondestructive means of entry into a commercial/governmental
building for after-hours emergency calls. The rapid entry box shall
be located on the A side of the building, at a height not to exceed
72 inches, unless otherwise approved by the Fire Marshal and Fire
Chief.
(2)Â
All new construction of commercial and/or governmental buildings
must have a rapid entry box installed prior to occupancy of the building.
(3)Â
Any commercial or governmental building existing at the time of the
adoption of this subsection shall have 60 days, upon notification
by the Fire Prevention Bureau, to install a rapid entry box or sign
a liability waiver releasing the Township, the Fire Department and
the Fire Prevention Bureau from liability due to inaccessibility to
a commercial/governmental building after hours.
A.Â
For residential development or building permit and
subdivision applications involving less than five dwelling units,
the applicant shall submit a plan to the Fire Marshal/Fire Official
containing the following information:
B.Â
As a checklist item for any other application, the
plan shall include the following information:
(1)Â
The size and type of building construction;
(2)Â
The intended occupancy and use of the buildings;
(3)Â
Any intended fire protection practices, including
on-site fire-suppression or containment systems supplied with an adequate
source of water and other methods of fire-suppression or booster pumps
for augmenting fire flow or standby sources of water.
(5)Â
A statement of the materials to be used in water storage
tanks.
(6)Â
Any other information that the Planning Board or Township
Engineer need to review and evaluate the fire protection plan.
A.Â
For residential building permit and subdivision applications
involving less than five dwelling units, the following procedures
apply:
(1)Â
The applicant shall submit two copies of the fire
protection plan to the Fire Official/Fire Marshal.
(2)Â
The Fire Official/Fire Marshal shall review the fire
protection plan and shall, if complete, and after verifying the source
of water, sign both copies.
(3)Â
The Fire Official/Fire Marshal shall keep one of the
signed copies of the plan.
(4)Â
The Fire Official/Fire Marshal shall submit the second
signed copy of the plan to the Zoning Officer and a copy to the Fire
Chief.
(5)Â
No application shall be approved until the submissions
described above have been made.
B.Â
For all other applications, the following procedures
apply:
(1)Â
Non-life-hazard use registration, inspection fees
and enforcement.
(a)Â
Every non-life-hazard use, except single-family
and two-family dwellings, upon initial application for a certificate
of occupancy or upon any change of use within a building, shall file
a registration form, as may be approved from time to time by the Bureau
of Fire Prevention, and pay the fee set forth herein. Upon receipt
of the registration and fee the Bureau of Fire Prevention shall conduct
an inspection to determine compliance with this code.
(b)Â
Every owner or occupier of a building shall
comply with the directive of the Bureau of Fire Prevention to correct,
within 30 days of written notice, all violations therein noted.
(2)Â
The Administrative Officer shall forward a copy of
the fire protection plan to the Land Use Board Engineer, the Fire
Marshal/Fire Official and the Chief of Police for review and report
to the municipal agency within 30 days and advise the Land Use Board
as to:
(a)Â
The completeness of the fire protection plan.
(b)Â
The fire flow requirements appropriate to the
application, determined after consideration of the types of structures
proposed for the development and structure on nearby or adjacent properties,
the structure's uses and landscaping characteristics and the adequacy
and accessibility of fire hydrants, standpipes, static water sources
and other means within the relevant fire protection section.
(c)Â
Fire flows from existing or proposed fire hydrants,
standpipes or sources within the proposed development, taking into
account the distance and spacing between fire hydrants, the capacity
of the relevant water purveyor to provide adequate fire flows at all
times, including period of maximum water demand and usage, in light
of the adequacy of transmission, accessibility, pumping, distribution
and storage systems.
(d)Â
The need for on-site fire-suppression systems
and sufficiency of the proposed on-site fire-suppression systems,
if any.
(e)Â
The capacities of fire fighting to be made available
by municipal or other fire-fighting sources and their ability to gain
access to the subject locations, if any.
(f)Â
The opportunities for retrofitting or fireproofing
of existing structures on the lot to be developed, after determination
of exposure distances to such structures, their age and fireproofing
condition.
(g)Â
Any other method or combination of methods of
achieving the same level of fire protection as would be provided through
strict compliance with the relevant fire flow standards established
by this article.
(h)Â
The impact on circulation patterns.
(3)Â
The Land Use Board shall not approve any application
for development unless and until the Board is satisfied that the fire
protection plan complies with this article.
