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:
ADEQUATE FIRE PROTECTION
Protection against fire as provided by compliance with the
fire flow or alternatives as set forth in this article.
BUILDING and/or STRUCTURE
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.
EXPOSURE DISTANCE
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.
FIRE COMPANY
The Quakertown Fire Company and the fire company serving
the property subject to the provisions of this article.
FIRE FLOWS
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).
ON-SITE FIRE SUPPRESSION AND/OR SUPPLY SYSTEMS
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.
RAPID ENTRY SYSTEM
A rapid entry box and key system allowing access to a building
and/or structure.
RELEVANT FIRE PROTECTION SECTOR
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.
RETROFITTING
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.
WATER PURVEYOR
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.