This article may be cited as the "Readington
Township Rapid Entry System Ordinance."
The governing body of the Township of Readington
finds that in order to better protect the property and welfare of
certain business, business patrons and fire company members, a uniform
system for rapid entry into certain buildings and onto certain properties
in the event of a report of a fire emergency is required.
The following words, as used in this article,
shall have the meanings set forth below unless the context in which
it is used clearly required a different meaning.
MASTER KEY SECURITY
The instrument used to gain access to the various rapid entry
system boxes to be utilized as a result of the provisions of this
article. The Fire Department shall establish a system of security
and procedure to limit access to any master key(s) to authorized personnel
in times of emergency. The Fire Department shall, to the extent feasible
and practical, use the latest technological advances available to
preserve and enhance the security of the master key(s).
RAPID ENTRY BOX SYSTEM
A locking vault-like container permanently mounted into the
affected structure or building and accessible from outside of such
structure or building and being capable of being opened by master
key security.
The following buildings or structures shall
be exempt:
A. Owner-occupied one and two-family dwellings identified
by the Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5: et seq.) as R-3 and
R-4.
B. Any building or structure staffed 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.
C. Any building or structure already constructed or for
which a building permit has been issued as of the effective date of
this article and which is less than 5,000 square feet in area, except
for educational and day-care buildings or structures. For purposes
of determining this exemption, where more than one business is maintained
in a common structure (i.e., strip shopping centers), the measurement
of the square footage of the structure shall include all individual
businesses within the overall building or structure.
The rapid entry box for each building or structure
shall contain a separately and clearly labeled key for each locked
area within the building or structure (for example, boiler rooms,
electrical rooms, sprinkler control rooms, elevator control rooms,
etc.), the building plan of any structure or building in excess of
30,000 square feet, sprinkler keys, elevator keys and information
concerning any hazardous materials contained within the building or
structure and a clear indication as to the part of the building or
structure within which such hazardous materials are contained or any
other information as directed by the Readington Township Fire Official.
All existing buildings other than those exempted in §
123-23 shall comply with the provisions of this article within 12 months of the date it becomes effective. All newly constructed buildings or properties installing fencing or other barrier-type structures, not yet occupied, or buildings which are under construction at the time this article becomes effective shall comply with these provisions prior to the fire detection or suppression system being accepted and approved for services or prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, as the case may be.
Any property owner or building owner who fails
to comply with or who is in violation of the terms of this article
shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine not to exceed
$1,000 and/or by imprisonment up to 90 days and/or by a period of
community service not to exceed 90 days, at the discretion of the
court. Each and every day that a violation of this article exists
shall be a separate offense.