The following fire prevention regulations shall be applicable
within the Township of Jackson:
A.
Fire apparatus obstruction. It shall be unlawful to attempt or conspire
to hamper, obstruct, restrict, block or fail to yield to the path
of travel of any fire emergency vehicle, in any way, operating during
a fire or emergency.
B.
Compliance order. A person shall not willfully fail or refuse to
comply with the order or direction of a firefighter, or interfere
with the compliance attempts of another individual during a fire or
emergency.
C.
Fire hose. A vehicle shall not be driven or propelled over any unprotected
fire hose of a fire company when laid down on any street or any other
vehicular roadway without the consent of the fire officer in command.
D.
Street closure. A person or persons shall not erect, construct, place,
or maintain any fences, gates, chains, bars, pipes, wood or metal
horses, or any other type of obstruction, on any street without permission
from the Fire Official and the Chief of Police. The word "street,"
as used in this chapter, shall mean any roadway accessible to the
public for vehicular traffic, including, but not limited to, private
streets or access lanes, as well as all public streets and highways
within the boundaries of the Township of Jackson. The Fire Official
shall notify the Fire Department upon approval.
E.
Combustion engine storage. No person shall store or park, or cause
to be stored or parked, any internal combustion vehicle, including,
but not limited to, those commonly known as "motorcycle," "moped,"
"go-cart," "dirt bike," "lawn mower," "snow blower," etc., in or on
any apartment unit porch, balcony, covered patio area, entrance, exit,
or any other private area of an apartment or multidwelling unit.
F.
Building identification. New and existing commercial and multifamily buildings shall display approved address numbers and building numbers, a minimum of eight inches in height, as described in Jackson Township Code § 372-27, entitled "Installation and display of numerals." In addition, all commercial buildings which contain multiple exit doors shall label rear exterior exit doors with the name of the business and unit number in not less than four-inch minimum, stroke of 0.5 inch, reflective letters, as per minimum requirements of the NJUFC.
G.
Emergency lock key box and gates. Emergency lock key boxes shall
be installed in all buildings, with the exception of owner-occupied,
one- and two-family dwellings, that are protected by a fire-suppression
system and fire alarm for life safety and fire-fighting purposes,
or all other areas required by the Fire Official, in accordance with
the NJUFC, Chapter 5, Section 506. Keys required would include a master
key, boiler room, sprinkler controls and room, electrical rooms, elevator
and elevator control rooms, chlorine rooms, fire alarm panel and room,
roof access panels, fence gate, detectors and sprinkler heads, door
codes, and other locked areas or emergency documents of the premises
required by the Fire Official. The Fire Official shall require, as
deemed necessary, an emergency key padlock or key box for fences,
gates, or barricades for emergency access.
H.
Building evacuation. It shall be a violation of this article for
any person, manager, firm, corporation, owner, tenant, or person responsible
for a given structure or premises to fail to immediately notify the
Fire Department and immediately evacuate the entire structure when
and if the following conditions are present: fire alarm is activated,
smoke is in the structure, an explosion has occurred, there is a fire
in the structure, any fire-protection system is activated, any hazardous
or flammable material is spilled or leaked, or upon the order of the
Chief, Fire Official or Incident Commander.
I.
Building evacuation action plan. Firesafety evacuation and emergency
action plans shall be prepared as set forth in the NJUFC, Chapter
4, Emergency Planning and Preparedness. The firesafety evacuation
and emergency action plans shall be approved by the Fire Official
and shall be distributed by the owner to all tenants and employees.
The evacuation plan shall be conspicuously posted on every floor and
in each tenant space for the occupants' use. The firesafety evacuation
and emergency action plans shall be maintained to reflect changes
in the use and physical arrangement of the building. If an emergency
action plan assigns employees with specific responsibilities in areas
such as evacuation coordination, firefighting, or material leak and
spill handling, the employer shall provide a minimum of annual training
sessions to prepare the employee for such activities.
J.
Open burning. A person shall not kindle, maintain, or authorize to be kindled or maintained, any open burning, unless in accordance with the NJUFC, Chapter 3, Section 307, Open Burning and Recreational Fires. "Recreational fire" is burning that contains material other than rubbish where the fuel being burned is not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, barbecue grill or pit having a total fuel area of three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height, for pleasure, ceremonial, cooking, warmth, or similar purpose. Additionally, a person shall not conduct agricultural burnings unless they are conducted in compliance with a valid permit issued by the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service Department of Environmental Protection.
K.
False fire alarm. Any property containing a fire-protection alarm system shall not have activated more than three false fire alarms within a thirty-day period. Violation is subject to the fines and penalties outlined in § 204-14B below. A "false fire alarm" shall be defined as either a signal, message or warning transmitted to the Township's fire communications central dispatch indicating a fire condition, or the emission of an audible, visual or electronic transmission of any signal, message or warning intended to summon the services of Township fire-fighting personnel or apparatus, which signal, message, or warning is activated by a cause other than one for which the transmitting system is specifically designed to respond, at a time when no fire exists. The alarm shall not be considered false if caused by a power or telephone line interruption.
L.
Fire-protection system maintenance. Every commercial building or
occupancy having fire-protection equipment shall have an annual certification
performed on its fire-protection system and fire extinguishers by
a licensed agency registered with the State of New Jersey Department
of Community Affairs (hereinafter "DCA"). Every commercial building
or occupancy having a kitchen suppression system shall have a six-month
certification performed by a licensed agency registered with the DCA.
Said certification shall be posted, and a copy shall be made available
to the LEA at time of fire inspection.
M.
Fire-protection system impaired. When a fire-protection system is
out of service, the Fire Department and the Fire Code Official shall
be immediately notified and, if the Fire Code Official determines
that an imminent hazard exists pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.16, the
building shall either be evacuated in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.17,
or an approved fire watch shall be provided for all occupants left
unprotected by the shutdown until the fire-protection system has been
returned to service. Fire watch shall be provided with at least one
approved means of notification of the Fire Department, and their only
duty shall be to perform constant patrols of the protected premises
and keep watch for fires.
N.
Fire watch conditions and standby personnel.
(1)
A fire watch is initiated by the Fire Department as a temporary measure
to ensure continuous and systematic surveillance of a building, or
portion thereof, by one or more qualified individuals for the purposes
of identifying and controlling fire hazards, detecting early signs
of unwanted fire, raising an alarm of fire, and notifying the Fire
Department. Where conditions exist that are deemed an imminent hazard,
or hazardous to life and property by the Fire Official, Fire Department
standby crews shall be deemed as necessary by the Fire Official for
the following, but not limited to, conditions:
O.
Construction. All construction requiring a Uniform Construction Code
(hereinafter "UCC") permit shall comply with the requirements of N.J.A.C.
5:70-3.2(a) and Section 1401, Fire Safety During Construction and
Demolition, of the NJUFC.
P.
Place of assembly fire exit announcement. In places of assembly with
occupant loads of 50 and over, such as theaters, auditoriums, multipurpose
rooms, or similar occupancies used for noncontinuance programs, an
audible announcement by the venue host, or by recorded announcement,
shall be made not more than 10 minutes prior to the start of each
program, to notify the occupants of the location of the exits to be
used in the event of a fire or emergency.
Q.
Strobe light display over FDC connections. A strobe light shall be
installed over any Fire Department connections in buildings with fire
alarm systems. This requirement shall take effect two years from enactment
of this chapter.
A.
No person shall at any time park a motor vehicle or obstruction within
a ten-foot perimeter of a fire hydrant or obstruct a fire drafting
site or Fire Department connection/appliance. The LEA and/or its designated
agents are authorized to tow motor vehicles and remove obstructions
at their discretion.
B.
No person shall conceal, cover, paint, or disguise any fire hydrant.
Commercial property owners shall keep clear at all times a ten-foot
perimeter around fire hydrants and shall not allow snow, brush, bushes,
grass, flowers or trees to encroach upon or conceal a fire hydrant
or hamper the ability of the Fire Department to access a fire hydrant.
C.
The Jackson Municipal Utilities Authority (hereinafter "JTMUA") shall
maintain all fire hydrants, both public and private, in accordance
with JTMUA regulations and the shared services agreement with the
fire districts with regard to AWWA standards, ISO installation, maintenance
and water flow testing, annual written reports, and NFPA paint schedule.
D.
All new fire hydrant systems shall have a five-inch storz connection
installed on the main valve opening (steamer side of the fire hydrant),
along with cap and cable.
E.
All new Fire Department sprinkler connections (hereinafter "FDC")
shall have a five-inch storz connection, along with a forty-five-degree
elbow, stainless steel screen, cap and cable.
A.
The Fire Official shall require and designate public or private fire
lanes or zones, as deemed necessary, for the efficient use of fire
apparatus access for firefighting, egress of occupants, or whenever
it is deemed necessary for public safety to ensure fire equipment
and other emergency vehicles unobstructed means of ingress and egress
to properties and buildings, fire hydrants, fire drafting sites, and
Fire Department connections in case of fire or emergency.
B.
The Fire Official, LEAs, Board of Fire Commissioners, and/or their
designated agents are further authorized to regulate, restrict and
prohibit parking or obstructions that may affect public safety or
the ability to fight or control fires. They shall impose regulations
necessary to ensure that such areas are free from obstructions, and
shall have concurrent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this
chapter, and are authorized to issue violations, tow motor vehicles
and remove obstructions, parked or standing.
C.
No person shall, at any time, park a motor vehicle or obstruct a
fire lane/zone, loading zones, or driveway, affecting the ability
to fight or control fires. The Fire Official or the LEA, and/or designated
agents, are authorized to issue summons, tow motor vehicles, and remove
obstructions from any fire lane/zone, loading zone, driveway, and
fire area or drafting location. If, at any time, due to weather conditions,
vandalism or any extenuating circumstances, fire lane/zone or loading
zone signs or surface markings are not visible, the remaining markings
or signs visible shall be deemed sufficient to provide notice of the
existence of such fire lane/zone or loading zone. All signs and ground
markings shall be legible at all times and shall be provided, erected
and maintained by the owner or operator of the property, in conformance
with the provisions of this chapter.
D.
Gates, chains, or other methods utilized to prevent unauthorized
access to fire lanes shall be approved by the Fire Official prior
to installation.
E.
Specifications for fire lanes/zones.
(1)
Fire lane or zone signs shall be erected with the bottom of the sign
not less than six feet above the ground, 12 inches wide by 18 inches
in length, with a white reflective aluminum background with a red
border, and a minimum of three-inch size reflective red letters labeled
"NO" on the first line, three-inch size reflective red letters labeled
"PARKING" on the second line, two-inch size reflective red letters
labeled "FIRE" on the third line, and two-inch size reflective red
letters labeled "LANE" or "ZONE" on the fourth line. Spacing of the
signs shall be even, with one sign facing the direction of travel,
or alternate direction of travel, for a maximum distance of 100 feet
per sign or as ordered by the Fire Official.
(2)
Fire lane ground marking shall be a minimum of 20 feet wide and labeled
"NO PARKING FIRE LANE," bordered by a four-inch-wide yellow stripe
on both sides, with approved New Jersey Department of Transportation
standard traffic yellow paint. The wording shall face the direction
of travel, or alternate direction of travel, for a maximum distance
of every 100 feet on paved surface, or as ordered by the Fire Official.
The lettering shall be legible, and the letter size shall be a minimum
of 24 inches high and four-inch stroke.
(3)
Fire zone ground marking shall be a minimum of 12 feet wide and 10
feet in length, posted with a fire zone sign and ground marking labeled
"FIRE ZONE," bordered by a four-inch-wide yellow stripe and diagonal
stripes with approved New Jersey Department of Transportation standard
traffic yellow paint lettered legibly on a paved surface. The lettering
shall be a minimum of 24 inches high and four-inch stroke. Two crash
posts shall be installed, if required, by the Fire Official and constructed
of steel not less than four inches in diameter, concrete filled and
painted yellow. The posts shall be spaced not more than four feet
six inches between posts on center, set not less than three feet six
inches deep in a concrete footing of not less than 18 inches in diameter.
The top of the posts shall not be less than three feet above ground.
(4)
Preexisting unpaved fire access roadways installed on public or private
property shall be subject to the approval of the Fire Official. Signs
and markings shall be provided as required by the Fire Official.
