[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Jefferson as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 7-16-2003 by Ord. No. 20-03 (Ch.
38 of the 1967 Code)]
The Township of Jefferson does hereby adopt
a code for rapid entry systems.
The local enforcing agency shall be the Jefferson Township Bureau of Fire Prevention as created in Chapter 256, Article II, for existing buildings as outlined in this article for all buildings already issued a certificate of occupancy. The Jefferson Township Fire Subcode Official shall be designated to enforce this article for all new construction and renovation of buildings as outlined in this article.
The term "building," used herein, means any
building or structure located in the Township of Jefferson, whether
privately or publicly owned, including, without limitation, any building
owned by the Township of Jefferson, the Township of Jefferson Board
of Education or any other public, quasi-public or private entity or
person; provided, however that this article shall not apply to owner-occupied
one- and two-family dwellings.
The following structures shall be equipped with
a key box at or near the main entrance or such other location as required
and approved by the Township of Jefferson Fire Subcode/Fire Official.
The key box shall be at a location outlined in the installation requirements
of this article and approved by the Township of Jefferson Fire Subcode/Fire
Official. The key box shall be a UL type and size approved by the
Fire Subcode/Fire Official. This shall be a requirement for buildings
under construction or renovation prior to the issuance of a certificate
of occupancy.
A.
Mandatory key boxes for fire suppression and standpipe
system. When a building within the Township of Jefferson is protected
by an automatic fire suppression or standpipe system, it shall be
equipped with a key box.
B.
Mandatory key boxes for automatic alarm systems. When
a building within the Township of Jefferson is protected by an automatic
alarm system and/or access to or within a building, or an area within
that building is unduly difficult because of secured openings, and
where immediate access is necessary for life saving or fire-fighting
purposes, it shall be equipped with a key box.
C.
Mandatory key boxes for multifamily residential structures.
When a building within the Township of Jefferson is registered as
a multifamily structure with the Township of Jefferson and the New
Jersey Bureau of Housing and has restricted access through locked
doors and have a common corridor for access to the living units, it
shall be equipped with a key box.
D.
Mandatory key boxes for buildings or facilities complying
with Title III SARA. When a building within the Township of Jefferson
contains a quantity of hazardous material which would require compliance
with Title III of SARA (Superfund Amendment Reauthorization Act),
it shall be equipped with a key box.
The Fire Subcode/Fire Official shall require
a key box tamper switch connected to the building's fire alarm system.
When a property is protected by a locked fence
or gate and where immediate access to the property is necessary for
life-saving or fire-fighting purposes, the Fire Subcode/Fire Official
may require a security padlock be installed at a location approved
the Township of Jefferson Fire Subcode/Fire Official . The padlock
shall be a UL type and size approved by the Fire Subcode/Fire Official.
When a building is protected by an automatic
sprinkler system or standpipe system and the Fire Department connection
is exposed to undue vandalism, the Fire Subcode/Fire Official may
require that a Fire Department connection security cap(s) be installed.
The Fire Department connection security cap(s) shall be a type approved
by the Fire Subcode/Fire Official.
The owner or person in control of any building or facility described in § 256-4 required to have a key box shall be present, himself/herself or through a designated agent, during access to such a key box by the Township of Jefferson Bureau of Fire Prevention except when the Township of Jefferson's Emergency Services have been dispatched and responded to the property in an emergency.
A.
The following organizations are identified as part
of the Township of Jefferson Emergency Services:
B.
The following organizations or designate within the
organization shall have the universal key for access to the key box:
(1)
Jefferson Township police officers as authorized by
the Police Chief or Captain.
(2)
Jefferson Township Fire Company No. 1 Chief or Acting
Chief/designee.
(3)
Jefferson Township Fire Company No. 2 Chief or Acting
Chief/designee.
(4)
Township of Jefferson Bureau of Fire Prevention Fire
Official or Acting Fire Official.
(5)
Director of the Office of Emergency Management or a member of the
office authorized by the Director.
[Added 1-15-2014 by Ord.
No. 1-14]
C.
In the event the Township of Jefferson Emergency Services
is dispatched and responds to a property for an emergency, the following
steps, as they apply to a particular emergency situation, maybe followed:
(1)
The emergency service unit shall provide the dispatcher
with their operator ID.
(2)
Identify the building location by address or key box
number, if assigned.
(3)
Notify dispatch upon entry into the building.
(4)
Notify dispatch when all keys have been returned to
the key box and key box is locked.
(5)
Dispatch shall repeat back to the radio operator the
message received after each radio transmission.
(6)
Reset alarm once key is back in key box, if applicable.
The contents of the key box for buildings or
facilities required to have a key box shall be the following:
A.
Keys to locked points of egress, whether interior
or exterior of such buildings.
B.
Keys to the locked mechanical rooms and sprinkler
control rooms.
C.
Keys to the elevator rooms.
D.
Keys to the elevator controls.
E.
Keys to any fence or secured areas.
F.
Keys to fire alarm rooms (if one exists).
G.
Keys to fire alarm control panel.
H.
Special keys to reset pull stations or other fire
protection devices.
I.
Keys to any other areas that may be required by the
Fire Subcode/Fire Official.
J.
A card containing the emergency contact people and
phone numbers for such building. In addition, floor plan of rooms
within the building may be required. Where such emergency cards and
floor plans are not appropriate for storage in the key box, they shall
be filed with the appropriate Emergency Service Department identified
by the Fire Official.
The owner or person in control of any building or facility described in § 256-4 required to have a key box shall do the following:
A.
Provide keys capable of access to such key box unit
at all times to identified Township of Jefferson Emergency Services.
B.
Maintain current information of hazardous materials
stored in the building or facility by filing the information with
the Township of Jefferson Bureau of Fire Prevention and the Fire Chief
for the district the building or facility is located in.
A.
Application shall be made to the Township of Jefferson
Bureau of Fire Prevention or the Township of Jefferson Police Department,
Office of Community Service, to obtain a registration form.
B.
The owner of applicable buildings, as described in § 256-4 above, shall install or cause to be installed a key box prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for any portion of the building for new or remodeling construction or within 12 months of the adoption date of this article if no new construction or remodeling takes place.
C.
The key box shall be installed on the front of the
building near the main entry door and be between six feet and eight
feet above the ground unless approved at a higher or lower level by
the Fire Subcode/Fire Official.
D.
The key box shall contain the key(s) as outlined in § 256-10 above. Keys within the key box shall be labeled for easy identification either by tenant name or indexed to a floor plan of the building and shall be kept current.
E.
Where a building contains a tenant that is required
to maintain material safety data sheets, a key box document vault
shall be installed. The key box document vault shall be installed
on the front of the building near the main entry door and between
six feet and eight feet above the ground unless approved at a higher
or lower level by the Fire Subcode/Fire Official. The vault shall
contain copies of the material safety data sheets that are required
to be on file within the building, as well as a floor plan or written
description that indicates the location of the general areas of these
materials will be found within the building.
A.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions
of this article hereby adopted, or who fails to comply therewith,
or who shall violate or fail to comply with any order made thereunder,
or who shall build in violation of any detailed statement of specifications
or plans submitted and approved thereunder, or any certificate or
permit issued thereunder, and from which no appeal has been taken,
or who shall fail to comply with such an order as affirmed or modified
by the Bureau of Fire Prevention or by a court of competent jurisdiction,
within the time fixed herein, shall severally for each and every violation
and noncompliance, respectively, be punishable by a fine of not more
than $500 or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by both
such fine and imprisonment. The imposition of one penalty for any
violation shall not excuse the violation nor permit it to continue;
and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations
or defects within a reasonable time; and when not otherwise specified,
each 10 days that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute
a separate and distinct offense.
B.
The application of the above penalty shall not be
held to prevent the enforced correction of any identified requirement
of this article.
The Fire Official of the Bureau of Fire Prevention
shall have power to modify any of the provisions of this article upon
application, in writing, by the owner or lessee or his duly authorized
agent when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying
out the strict letter of this article, and provided that the intent
of this article shall be observed, public safety secured and substantial
justice done. The particulars of such modification, when granted or
allowed, and the decision of the Fire Official of the Bureau of Fire
Prevention thereon shall be entered upon the records of the Bureau,
and a signed copy shall be furnished to the applicant.
[Adopted 7-16-2003 by Ord. No. 21-03 (Ch.
41 of the 1967 Code)]
The Township of Jefferson does hereby adopt
as the Fire Prevention Code for the Township of Jefferson the New
Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq, and the
New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70-1.1 et seq. The Fire Prevention
Code for the Township of Jefferson shall include any and all amendments
to said statute and regulations, including interpretation of said
regulations.
[Amended 2-18-2015 by Ord. No. 4-15]
The following deletions, modifications or amendments
to the code to be adopted by the Township of Jefferson are as follows:
A.
N.J.A.C. 5:70-3, Section 307.1.1, Prohibited open burning, is amended
to include at the end of the section as follows:
|
307.1.1 Prohibited open burning. Open burning shall
be allowed after obtaining a permit from the New Jersey State Forest
Fire Service. The permit holder shall apply to the Bureau for a Township
permit and shall supply a copy of the state permit. No fee shall be
required for the Township permit. The Bureau shall supply copies of
both the state and Township permit to the police dispatcher and district
fire chief for the district in which the permit is issued. Permits
shall not exceed the time granted by the state permit nor any limitations
which may be set forth in said permit.
|
B.
N.J.A.C. 5:70-3, Section 503.1.1, Fire lanes, be and is hereby amended
as follows:[1]
|
503.1.1 Designation: The Township Fire Chief from
the Township Fire Department or the Fire Official/Fire Marshal may
require and designate public or private fire lanes as deemed necessary
for the efficient and effective use of fire apparatus, subject to
the applicable provisions of state and local laws.
|
The local enforcing agency shall be the Jefferson
Township Bureau of Fire Prevention, which is hereby created therein.
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall hereinafter be known as the "local
enforcing agency."
A.
Appointment and qualifications of Fire Official/Fire Marshal. The
Fire Official/Fire Marshal shall be certified by the state and appointed
by the governing body from a list of qualified candidates submitted
through civil service records. The Fire Official's/Fire Marshal's
appointment shall be probationary for six months, at which time a
review will be conducted. The Fire Official/Fire Marshal shall not
be removed from office except by the governing body and may succeed
himself/herself upon successful completion of the probationary period.
The Fire Official/Fire Marshal will report to the Township Mayor or
the Township Mayor's designee.
[Amended 4-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-06]
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 Fire Official/Fire Marshal from a list of qualified candidates
submitted through civil service records. All life-hazard use inspectors
shall be certified by the state.
C.
Appointment of legal counsel. The governing body shall
specifically appoint legal counsel to assist the agency in enforcing
the Uniform Fire Code.
[Amended 4-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-06]
B.
The local enforcing agency shall enforce the Uniform Fire Code in
all buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries
of the Township of Jefferson other than one- and two-unit owner-occupied
dwellings used exclusively for dwelling purposes and buildings, structures
and premises owned and operated by the federal government, interstate
agencies or the state.
C.
All non-life-hazard use (NLHU) inspections will be inspected at a
minimum of once every two years.
D.
In the event it is determined necessary by the Fire Official/Fire
Marshal to have one or more fire inspectors/fire officials to stand
by at a special event or incident, a fee of $40 per hour per inspector/official
shall be charged with a two-hour minimum. The individual or group
responsible for the event/incident will be responsible for payment
of all fees. If fire inspectors/fire officials are not available,
firefighters, as approved by the Fire Official/Fire Marshal, may be
used for fire watch at a fee of $30 per hour per firefighter and shall
be charged with a two-hour minimum. The individual or group responsible
for the event/incident will be responsible for payment of all fees.
E.
The local enforcing agency shall carry out the 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.
F.
A report of the Bureau of Fire Prevention shall be made annually
and transmitted to the Township Administrator of the municipality.
It shall contain all proceedings under this article, with such statistics
as the Fire Official/Fire Marshal may wish to include therein. The
Bureau of Fire Prevention shall also recommend any amendments to this
article which, it its judgment, shall be desirable.
[Amended 9-1-2004 by Ord. No. 28-04; 4-12-2006 by Ord. No.
10-06; 3-28-2018 by Ord. No. 18-01]
A.
All non-life-hazard use (NLHU) inspections shall register with the
local enforcing agency. For each required inspection, a fee of $50
shall be payable to the Township of Jefferson and sent to the Township
of Jefferson Bureau of Fire Prevention within 30 days of the initial
inspection date. All NLHU inspection fees shall be placed in the Bureau
of Fire Prevention trust account.
[Amended 4-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-06]
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.
In the discretion of the Fire Official/Fire Marshal, vacant buildings
will be charged and inspected according to the previous use of the
building.
F.
All residential uses, except R-A Uses, shall be inspected in the
common areas only.
[Amended 12-3-2003 by Ord. No. 38-03; 4-12-2006 by Ord. No. 10-06; 12-19-2007 by Ord. No. 26-07; 3-28-2018 by Ord. No. 18-01]
A.
The application fees for the permits listed in N.J.A.C. 5:70-27(b)
shall be as follows:
|
Type
|
Fee
|
|---|---|
|
Type 1
|
$54
|
|
Type 2
|
$214
|
|
Type 3
|
$427
|
|
Type 4
|
$641
|
|
Type 5
|
$1,000
|
B.
The cost for the issuance of a certificate of Fire Code status shall
be $40.
C.
Fees for residential smoke detector, carbon monoxide, and fire extinguisher
certification.
(1)
An inspection fee per inspection visit per individual structure,
including reinspections, for the certificate of smoke detector, carbon
monoxide alarm and fire extinguisher compliance (CSDCMAC) as required
by N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 for residential dwellings at time of resale,
regardless if owner-occupied or registered as a rental property, based
upon the amount of time remaining before the change of occupant/inspection
date is expected, as follows:
(a)
Requests for a CSDCMAC received 10 or more business days prior
to the date of inspection prior to the change of occupant: $50 per
inspection.
(b)
Requests for a CSDCMAC received four to nine business days prior
to the date of inspection prior to the change of occupant: $100 per
inspection.
(c)
Requests for a CSDCMAC received fewer than four business days
prior to the date of inspection prior to the change of occupant: $170
per inspection.
D.
The application shall pay the fees outlined above relative to the identified registration and/or permit and/or certification requirement(s) to the Office of Fire Prevention. The Township Council, upon application, shall have the right to waive all or any portion of the applicable fee(s) for any charitable, nonprofit organizations; quasigovernmental groups and associations, such as police, fire or civil defense organizations; and events sponsored by governmental units. The waiving by the Township Council of any such fees does not waive fees for any other departments or the Township, or waive any fees which by law the Township cannot waive. This waiver is separate from any Township waiver granted under Chapter 342, Outdoor Gatherings.
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform
Fire Safety Act,[1] 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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-206 and
52:27D-208.
A.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions
of the New Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et
seq., and the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70, or who
fails to comply therewith, or who shall violate or fail to comply
with any order made thereunder, or who shall build in violation of
any detailed statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved
thereunder, or any certificate or permit issued thereunder, and from
which no appeal has been taken, or who shall fail to comply with such
an order as affirmed or modified by the Bureau of Fire Prevention
shall be assessed, levied and collected penalties pursuant to the
Uniform Fire Code N.J.A.C. 5:70-2-12.
B.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions
of this article not already covered in the New Jersey Uniform Fire
Safety Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq., and the New Jersey Uniform
Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70, hereby adopted, or who fails to comply therewith,
or who shall violate or fail to comply with any order made thereunder,
or who shall build in violation of any detailed statement of specifications
or plans submitted and approved thereunder, or any certificate or
permit issued thereunder, and from which no appeal has been taken,
or who shall fail to comply with such an order as affirmed or modified
by the Bureau of Fire Prevention or by a court of competent jurisdiction,
within the time fixed herein, shall severally for each and every violation
and noncompliance, respectively, be punishable by a fine of not more
than $500 or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by both
such fine and imprisonment. The imposition of one penalty for any
violation shall not excuse the violation nor permit it to continue;
and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations
or defects within a reasonable time; and when not otherwise specified,
each 10 days that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute
a separate and distinct offense.
C.
The application of the above penalty shall not be
held to prevent the enforced removal of any prohibited condition.
The Fire Official/Fire Marshal of the Bureau
of Fire Prevention shall have power to modify any of the provisions
of this article upon application, in writing, by the owner or lessee
or his duly authorized agent when there are practical difficulties
in the way of carrying out the strict letter of said article, and
provided that the intent of this article shall be observed, public
safety secured and substantial justice done. The particulars of such
modification, when granted or allowed, and the decision of the Fire
Official/Fire Marshal of the Bureau of Fire Prevention thereon shall
be entered upon the records of the Bureau, and a signed copy shall
be furnished to the applicant.
