[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Lodi as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Alarm systems — See Ch. 134.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 200.
Fees — See Ch. 235, Art. IV.
Truss construction — See Ch. 539.
[Adopted 11-15-2004 by Ord. No. 505-03]
Pursuant to the enabling provisions of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.), the Borough of Lodi shall enforce the firesafety provisions of said act and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as same may be amended from time to time.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The regulations are in Title 5 Chapter 70, Uniform Fire Code, of the New Jersey Administrative Code. At N.J.A.C. 5:70-3.1, the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety adopted the International Fire Code, New Jersey Edition, as the state fire prevention code, subject to the modifications set forth in N.J.A.C. 5:70-3.2. References to IFC sections are cited as N.J.A.C. sections (for example, section 904.5.1 of the IFC, pertaining to system test of wet chemical systems, would be cited as N.J.A.C. 5:70-3, 904.5.1).
The local enforcing agency of the Borough of Lodi shall be the Bureau of Fire Prevention of the Borough of Lodi.
A. 
The Bureau of Fire Prevention, as referred to herein, shall enforce the Uniform Fire Code in all buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries of the Borough of Lodi other than in one- and two-family dwellings used exclusively for dwellings.
B. 
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall comply with all pertinent requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the Uniform Fire Code.
C. 
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall carry out the periodic inspections of life-hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.
The Bureau of Fire Prevention established hereby shall be under the direct supervision of the Fire Official, who shall report to the Municipal Manager of the Borough of Lodi and, when requested, to the Mayor and Council, as to the state of fire prevention in the Borough of Lodi.
A. 
The Borough of Lodi shall appoint a Fire Official, who shall have such certifications as required pursuant to the provisions of the New Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.).
B. 
The Fire Official shall be permitted to designate fire inspectors, subject to the approval of the Municipal Manager. All inspectors shall be certified as required by the State of New Jersey. Such inspectors shall be compensated for their services in the manner determined by the Borough.
C. 
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall be supplied with legal counsel for its functions through the office of the Borough Attorney.
D. 
The Fire Official shall serve for an indeterminate term at the pleasure of the municipality.
A. 
In addition to the registration required by the Uniform Fire Code, the non-life-hazard uses set forth in Chapter 235, Article IV, Fee Schedule, shall register with the Bureau of Fire Prevention. Such uses shall be inspected once per year and shall pay an annual fee as set forth in Chapter 235, Article IV, Fee Schedule, for all such locations in the Borough of Lodi.
B. 
Fire reports. To obtain a copy of any fire report, a fee as set forth in Chapter 235, Article IV, Fee Schedule, shall be paid.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
The permit fees established by type group, as defined in the International Fire Code, New Jersey Edition, shall be as set forth in Chapter 235, Article IV, Fee Schedule. (These fees are subject to modification.)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
All businesses within the boundaries of the Borough of Lodi shall apply for and obtain, with the appropriate fee paid, a permit as set forth in the International Fire Code, New Jersey Edition, regardless of whether the act being performed is incidental to the daily operation of said business.
[Added 10-18-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-33]
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act, any person aggrieved by any determination of the local Bureau of Fire Prevention shall have the right to appeal to the Bergen County Board of Appeals.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
Buildings owned by the Borough of Lodi are exempt from fees imposed by this article. Buildings of life-hazard use owned by the Borough of Lodi shall be regulated in accordance with the applicable state regulations.
B. 
Buildings owned by the Borough of Lodi are subject to all required inspections and regulations pursuant to the Uniform Fire Safety Act.
C. 
All nonprofit corporations, including churches, fraternal organizations and other corporations which are classified as nonprofit under Title 15A, the New Jersey Nonprofit Act, shall not be required to pay the Borough of Lodi any registration or permit fee set forth herein. This does not exempt the organization from registration, inspections and compliance with the Uniform Fire Code and the International Fire Code, New Jersey Edition adopted thereunder. Life-hazard nonprofit organizations are regulated by the State Division of Fire Safety.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I); said ordinance also repealed original Section 10, Late fees, which immediately followed this section.
The owners of businesses which require non-life-hazard registration fees to be paid under this article shall be liable for payment of all fees and late charges.
For any violation of the Uniform Fire Code, the Fire Official may assess penalties as prescribed by statute and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
A. 
A locking cap program for all Fire Department connections and sprinkler systems is hereby implemented within the Borough of Lodi, requiring that all buildings and structures within the Borough of Lodi that are equipped with automatic fire sprinkler protection or exterior Fire Department connections shall be outfitted with locking Fire Department connection caps.
B. 
The Fire Official, in cooperation with the Lodi Fire Department, shall designate a locking cap program to be implemented uniformly throughout the Borough of Lodi, requiring one key to access all Fire Department connections within the Borough.
C. 
The Fire Official shall impose penalties for failure to install locking caps as per the Uniform Fire Code (N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.12).
A. 
There shall be installed on all buildings containing fire alarm systems and fire-suppression systems or buildings where visual inspection for the presence of fire is obstructed or buildings of life-hazard use a key box in an easily accessible location so that the Fire Department may gain access to such building without the use of force.
B. 
In addition, a red indicator light shall be installed above Fire Department connections in a location and manner approved by the Fire Official. Such lights shall be continuously illuminated during all hours of the day and evening.
C. 
It shall be the responsibility of any contractor, maintainer or persons in charge to notify all tenants, occupants, staff members and the Fire Official of the Borough of Lodi prior to performing any test, repairs or any other work which can be reasonably expected to cause a fire alarm system or device to activate or which will render any part of the fire protection system, exitway or other firesafety system to be out of service.
D. 
Compliance with this § 252-13 shall be required within six months of the effective date of this article.
E. 
Any person(s) violating the requirements of this § 252-13 shall be subject to a penalty of not less than $500 as set forth in the Uniform Fire Code (N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.12).
All buildings or parts thereof used for the storage or handling of any hazardous materials shall have placards affixed to the exterior of such building in accordance with the specifications of NFPA Standard 704. Said placards shall indicate the highest hazard material and the highest quantity of such material within the building. Placards shall be sized and placed according to the direction of the Fire Official of the Borough of Lodi.
[Adopted 2-16-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-18]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ENGINEERED LUMBER
Prefabricated I-joists, truss joist, truss rafters and laminated beams and studs.
REFLECTIVE SYMBOL
An emblem made of reflective material, in the shape and form designed by the Lodi Fire Prevention Bureau, containing information identifying a structure as containing engineered lumber.
STRUCTURE
A combination of materials to form a construction for occupancy, use or ornamentation, whether installed on or below the surface of a parcel of land.
Upon the application for a construction permit or building permit for the alteration or construction of a structure or upon the application for a certificate of occupancy or certificate of continued occupancy, the Borough Construction Official shall determine, based upon information available to him, whether a structure contains engineered lumber and immediately report his findings to the Borough Fire Marshal. The owner of such structure shall cooperate in providing relevant information in this regard. All such structures, including renovations and new construction, containing engineered lumber must have a reflective symbol affixed to an electrical meter serving the structure prior to a final certificate of occupancy or continued occupancy being issued. The reflective symbol shall be applied by the Fire Official or his designee once the above criteria have been satisfied.
The reflective symbol shall be in the form designed by the Lodi Fire Prevention Bureau and will contain lettering to identify the location of any engineered lumber in the structure.
This article shall apply to all structures, whether residential, commercial or otherwise, including structures existing at the time of the effective date of this article. This article shall not supersede but shall be in addition to Chapter 539, Truss Construction (Ordinance No. 89-24).
This article shall be enforced by the Fire Marshal of the Borough of Lodi or his so appointed designee.
To offset the cost of placement and production fees, there will be a fee as set forth in Chapter 235, Article IV, Fee Schedule, for the installation of the sticker, which shall be paid by the owner of such structure. Should the reflective sticker become damaged or worn, a replacement will be issued without cost. Notification shall be made to this effect through the Fire Prevention Bureau.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Any person violating this article by refusing to use the reflective symbol or by removing or tampering with the reflective symbol shall be subject to a fine of $50 for a first offense and $100 thereafter for subsequent offenses. Each day a violation continues shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.
All ordinances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this article, with the exception of Chapter 539, Truss Construction (Ordinance No. 89-24), are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.