[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Deerfield as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-19-1992 by Ord. No. 1992-4 (Ch. 53 of the 1984
Code)]
[Amended 6-5-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-4]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety
Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383),[1] the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code (N.J.A.C. 5:70-1 et seq.)
shall be enforced locally in the Township of Deerfield.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192, et
seq.
The local enforcing agency shall be the Township
of Deerfield through its Bureau of Fire Prevention, which is hereby
created therein. The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall hereinafter be
known as the "local enforcing agency."
A.
The local enforcing agency shall enforce the Uniform
Fire Code in all buildings, structures and premises within the established
boundaries of the Township of Deerfield other than one- and two-unit
owner-occupied dwellings used exclusively for dwelling purposes and
buildings, structures and premises owned or operated by the federal
government, interstate agencies or the state.
B.
The local enforcing agency shall faithfully comply
with all the pertinent requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act
and the Uniform Fire Code.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-6]
A.
The Bureau of Fire Prevention established by § 93-2 of this article shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Chief Fire Marshal, who shall report to the Township Committee.
B.
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall have at least
one paid inspector, who may be the Chief Fire Marshal.
C.
The Bureau of Fire Prevention, under the direct supervision
of the Chief Fire Marshal, shall have a backup fire inspector with
the title of Deputy Chief Fire Marshal.
A.
Appointment and qualifications of the Chief Fire Marshal.
The Chief Fire Marshal shall be certified by the state and appointed
by the Township Committee from a list of three names submitted to
the Township Committee by the Township Fire Chiefs.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-6]
B.
Appointment and qualifications of inspectors and other
employees. Inspectors and other employees of the enforcing agency
shall be appointed by the governing body upon the recommendation of
the Chief Fire Marshal. All life-hazard use inspectors shall be certified
by the state.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-6]
C.
Appointment of legal counsel. The governing body shall
specifically appoint legal counsel to assist the agency in enforcing
the Uniform Fire Code.
D.
The Chief Fire Marshal shall serve for a term of one
year, running from January 1 to December 31. The Deputy Chief Fire
Marshal shall serve for a term of one year, running from January 1
to December 31. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-6]
E.
Removal from office. The Chief Fire Marshal, inspectors
and other employees of the agency shall be subject to removal by the
Township Committee for inefficiency or misconduct. Before removal
from office, all persons shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard
by the Township Committee or a hearing officer designated by the same.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-6]
The Bureau of Fire Prevention established by § 93-2 of this article shall carry out periodic inspections of life-hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
A.
In addition to the registration of life-hazard uses
required by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, the following non-life-hazard
uses shall be required to register and be inspected by the Fire Marshal
or the Bureau of Fire Prevention and pay an annual registration fee
as listed herein. All such uses, including churches and farm buildings,
shall be subject to inspection by the Fire Marshal not less than once
every three years. Uses not classified below that are subject to the
New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be classified as business uses.
Any vacant structure will be charged a fee and inspected according
to the immediate previous use of the structure. Uses required by the
New Jersey Uniform Fire Code to be registered with the State of New
Jersey as life-hazard uses shall not be required to register under
this section.
[Amended 9-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-3]
|
Use Group
(square feet)
|
Annual Fee
|
|---|---|
|
Business
| |
|
B-1 under 2,500
|
$25
|
|
B-2 2,500 to 4,999
|
$35
|
|
B-3 5,000 to 9,999
|
$45
|
|
B-4 10,000 and over
|
$50
|
|
Factory
| |
|
F-1 under 5,000
|
$25
|
|
F-2 5,000 to 11,999
|
$50
|
|
Mercantile
| |
|
M-1 under 6,000
|
$25
|
|
M-2 6,000 to 11,999
|
$50
|
|
Storage
| |
|
S-1 under 2,500
|
$25
|
|
S-2 2,500 to 11,999
|
$50
|
|
Residential
| |
|
R-A non-owner-occupied 1 and 2 units
|
$25
|
|
R-B 3 to 6 units
|
$35
|
|
R-C 7 to 12 units
|
$50
|
|
R-D 13 to 20 units
|
$75
|
|
R-E over 20 units
|
$125
|
|
Utilities
| |
|
U-1 under 2,500
|
$25
|
|
U-2 2,500 to 11,999
|
$50
|
B.
R-A uses shall be inspected and charged a fee only
upon sale or change of tenant.
C.
Uses not classified above that are subject to the
Uniform Fire Code will be classified as business uses.
D.
Uses required to register with the state as life-hazard
uses shall not be required to register under this section.
E.
At the discretion of the Chief Fire Marshal, vacant
buildings will be charged and inspected according to the previous
use of the building.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-6]
F.
All residential uses except R-A uses shall be inspected
in the common areas only.
[Amended 6-5-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-4; 2-4-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-1; 9-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-3]
A.
In accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.19 of the Uniform
Fire Code, all one- and two-family dwellings shall be certified to
have had installed approved and tested smoke detectors and carbon
monoxide alarms at the time of sale of the property.
B.
It shall be the responsibility of the owner or his
agent to obtain the proper certification of smoke detector and carbon
monoxide alarm installation before the sale is final.
C.
Certification of installation of smoke detectors and
carbon monoxide alarms may be made by one of the following individuals:
(1)
A licensed architect.
(2)
A licensed engineer.
(3)
A licensed attorney.
(4)
An employee of a licensed title company.
(5)
A licensed New Jersey real estate agent.
(6)
A licensed New Jersey fire subcode official.
(7)
A certified New Jersey Chief Fire Marshal.
(8)
A certified New Jersey fire inspector.
D.
A certificate will be issued after an inspection or
certification of compliance has been completed.
E.
Fee.
(1)
Requests for a CSACMAPFEC (certificate of smoke alarm, carbon monoxide
alarm and portable fire extinguisher compliance) received more than
10 business days prior to the change of occupant: $45.
(2)
Requests for a CSACMAPFEC received four to 10 business days prior
to the change of occupant: $90.
(3)
Requests for a CSACMAPFEC received fewer than four business days
prior to the change of occupant: $161.
A.
The application fees for permits listed in N.J.A.C.
5:70-2.9(c) shall be established in accordance with the Uniform Fire
Code of the State of New Jersey.
[Amended 12-19-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-6; 6-5-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-4; 5-21-2008 by Ord. No.
2008-3]
B.
The cost for the issuance of a certificate of Fire
Code status shall be $25.
A.
The Fire Advisory Board shall consist of the following
members: the Chief Fire Marshal, a Township Committee Member (Public
Safety Chairman), the Coordinator of Emergency Management, the Township
Fire Chiefs and the Assistant Chiefs.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-6]
B.
The Board shall meet on a monthly basis.
C.
The Board shall communicate and discuss firesafety,
training and operational concerns among its members.
D.
The Board shall assist the Chief Fire Marshal in formulating
operational policies consistent with his responsibilities under the
Uniform Fire Code.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-6]
E.
The Board shall be chaired by the Chief Fire Marshal,
who shall call the meetings.
[Amended 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-6]
[Amended 6-5-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-4]
Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.19(a)(1) of the
Uniform Fire Code, any person aggrieved by any action of the local
enforcing agency shall have the right to appeal to the local Construction
Board of Appeals. If no such body exists, appeals shall be made to
the County Construction Board of Appeals.
Enforcement, violations and penalties shall
be managed in conformity with the Uniform Fire Safety Act,[1] the Uniform Fire Code and all other laws of the State
of New Jersey.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et
seq.
Reserved.
[Adopted 9-1-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-3]
A Knox Box shall be installed if ordered by the Fire Marshal's
office on any building, business or group home that is classified
as a life hazard use, in accordance with the State of New Jersey Uniform
Fire Code. This installation shall be at the expense of the owner
or occupant of the building or business:
A.
Any life hazard buildings with an automatic fire alarm or sprinkler
system.
B.
Any building or business that has any type of security gate(s) or
gated communities.
C.
Any building that contains large quantities of hazardous materials.
D.
Any building that has a history of chronic false or nuisance fire
alarms.
A.
Prior to purchase and installation, the building or business owner
shall meet with a representative from the Fire Marshal's office to
determine the size box, placement and contents in said Knox Box.
B.
It shall be the responsibility of the building or business owner
to inform the Fire Marshal's office any time a key needs to be added
to or changed from the Knox Box.
It shall be the responsibility of the business owner to ensure
the maintenance of the Knox Box. Each Box will be checked annually
by a representative of the Fire Marshal's office. Any repairs shall
be noted at the time and repairs shall be completed within the specified
time frame.
It shall be the duty of the Fire Marshal's office to enforce
this article. The Knox Box installation shall be sited by the Fire
Marshal's office during any inspection or complaint of any building
or business. If the business or property owner refuses to comply,
a citation will be issued through the Deerfield Township Municipal
Court.
Should a business or building owner whose building fits the
criteria listed above wish to not install a Knox Box System, said
owner may submit a letter stating their reasons to the Chief Fire
Marshal with in 10 days of being cited to install. At that time, the
Chief Fire Marshal shall review the situation with the Fire Chief
and a member of the Deerfield Township Committee to determine if a
variance is warranted.
A.
Upon notice from the Fire Marshal's office, a building or business
owner shall have 30 days to order and receive a Knox Box. Upon receipt
of the Knox Box, the building owner shall notify the Fire Marshal's
office and make an appointment determine the placement and contents
of the box.
B.
The Knox Box shall be installed and ready for use no later than 10
days after meeting with the Fire Marshal's office.
C.
The building or business owner shall not be responsible for delays
caused by either the Fire Marshal's office or the Knox Box vendor.
A.
Refusal to comply with this article shall be in violation of this
article and punished by a penalty of no less than $100 and not more
than $500 plus court costs.
B.
If the violation remains unabated after 30 days from the date the
original violation is issued a daily penalty of $100 will be imposed
for each day thereafter that the violation remains unabated.
