A. 
Scope. The provisions of this article shall govern the minimum conditions and standards for firesafety relating to structures and exterior premises, including firesafety facilities and equipment to be provided.
B. 
The provisions of this chapter shall prevail over all provisions to the contrary in any standards adopted herein by reference and/or adopted by this City as an ordinance(s).
C. 
The definitions of "lodging houses," "mixed-occupancy dwellings," "boardinghouses" and "multiple-dwelling structures" in Article II of this chapter shall be applied to all references to these dwellings and/or structures in any other standards referred to by this chapter.
D. 
For purposes of the requirements in the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code for firesafety and fire prevention, the following structures shall be treated as R-2 classifications therein: lodging houses, mixed-occupancy dwellings, boardinghouses and multiple-dwelling structures.
E. 
The procedures in this chapter for initiating orders and procedures herein for prosecution and inspection shall prevail over any procedures in any other standards or ordinance(s) to the contrary.
F. 
New and existing residential buildings shall comply with the requirements of this chapter, notwithstanding any provisions in any other standards to the contrary.
G. 
The Fire Official and the Public Officer shall apply general firesafety and fire prevention provisions in conformance with all provisions of the Building Code and the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.
A. 
The Fire Official and/or the Public Officer shall have the authority and responsibility to inspect and prosecute for violations of all firesafety and fire prevention provisions in the aforesaid standards upon referral by the Public Officer as stated below.
B. 
The Public Officer shall have the sole authority and sole responsibility to determine, pursuant to law, whether the installation of a fire escape and/or fire alarm system is required, to issue an order to install the same and to prosecute for failure to install a fire escape and/or fire alarm system pursuant to said order.
C. 
However, where the Public Officer receives information from Inspectors of the Bureau of Housing Inspection from inspections of any residential premises in this City and where such information causes the Public Officer to believe that a violation of any of the provisions of the aforesaid standards exists, the Public Officer shall, pursuant to § 620-14, refer this information to the proper official(s). The referral shall be by written memorandum.
D. 
The proper official(s), upon receipt of the memorandum from the Public Officer, shall be responsible for proper investigation and prosecution of the alleged violations pursuant to the authority vested in said official(s). The proper official(s), upon receipt of said written memorandum by the Public Officer, shall send immediately a written acknowledgment to the Public Officer within three business days after the receipt of the memorandum, acknowledging that he/they has/have received the memorandum from the Public Officer.
A. 
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
(1) 
Every dwelling unit, including single-family dwelling units available for rent for residential purposes, shall have smoke detectors as follows:
(a) 
Outside of each bedroom within 10 feet of each bedroom door.
(b) 
Within 10 feet of each primary exit.
(c) 
In all common areas, such as vestibules and hallways, that are shared by residential tenants in a structure containing two dwelling units or more.
(2) 
It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to maintain all such required smoke detectors in good order at all times.
(3) 
Carbon monoxide detectors. All occupied residential properties and multiple dwellings shall be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors installed outside each separate sleeping area. Carbon monoxide detectors are required in residential building even though they may already have a fire alarm system. This is consistent with life safety codes and standards recommendations. Carbon monoxide detectors must meet and conform to UL 2034 and be installed in accordance with NFPA 720 and manufacturer's instructions. Carbon monoxide detectors must be maintained in good operating condition and in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. Battery backup for carbon monoxide devices is also required.
[Added 5-25-2005 by Ord. No. MC-4183]
(4) 
It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to maintain all such required carbon monoxide detectors in good working order at all times.
[Added 5-25-2005 by Ord. No. MC-4183]
B. 
Fire escapes and fire alarms.
(1) 
Every establishment, dwelling or structure containing two dwelling units or more, or two rooming units or more, or any combination of a dwelling unit(s) and a rooming unit(s), wherein any unit above the second floor is occupied or available for occupancy, shall require either a fire escape and a fire alarm system or any other second means of egress and said fire alarm system, either of which combination must meet the approval of the proper officials referred to by the Public Officer.
(2) 
The fire alarm system or devices and the fire escape and/or second means of egress required shall be equipped and installed pursuant to the specifications required by the Building and/or Fire Official's offices. Periodic testing shall be required in accordance with the regulations of and approved by the proper officials referred to by the Public Officer.
(3) 
The fire escape and fire alarm system and/or the second means of egress and fire alarm system required hereunder shall be maintained in good working order at all times.
The owner of the premises shall provide and maintain such firesafety facilities and equipment in compliance with these requirements. A person shall not occupy as owner-occupant or permit another person to occupy any premises that do not comply with the requirements of this article.
A. 
A safe, continuous and unobstructed path of travel shall be provided from any point in a building or structure to the public way.
B. 
Aisles. The required width of aisles in accordance with the Uniform Construction Code shall be unobstructed.
C. 
Locked doors. All means-of-egress doors shall be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort, except where the door hardware conforms to that permitted by the Uniform Construction Code.
D. 
Emergency escape openings. Required emergency escape and rescue openings shall be operational from the inside of the room without the use of keys or tools. Bars, grilles, grates, or similar devices are permitted to be placed over emergency escape and rescue openings, provided the minimum net clear opening size complies with the Uniform Construction Code, and such devices shall be releasable or removable from the inside without the use of a key, tool, or force greater than that which is required for normal operation of the escape and rescue opening. Where such bars, grilles, grates, or similar devices are installed in existing buildings, smoke detectors shall be installed in accordance with § 620-110A.
A. 
Fire-resistance-rated assemblies. The required fire-resistance rating of fire-resistance-rated walls, fire stops, shaft enclosures, partitions and floors shall be maintained.
B. 
Opening protectives. Required opening protectives shall be maintained in an operative condition. All fire- and smoke-stop doors shall be maintained in operable condition. Fire doors and smoke barrier doors shall not be blocked or obstructed or otherwise made inoperable.
A. 
Smoke detectors. Existing Group R occupancies not already provided with single-station smoke alarms shall be provided with approved single-station smoke alarms.
B. 
Installation. Approved single-station smoke alarms shall be installed in existing dwelling units, congregate residences, and hotel and lodging house guest rooms. Installation shall be in accordance with the Uniform Construction Code.
C. 
Power source. In Group R occupancies, single-station smoke alarms shall be battery-operated or shall receive their primary power from the building wiring, provided that such wiring is served from a commercial source. When power is provided by the building wiring, the wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those required for over-current protection.
D. 
Alarm system. All new and existing lodging houses, mixed-occupancy dwellings and boardinghouses (Class A), two stories in height or less, shall be required to have therein a fire alarm system or an interconnected electrical smoke-detection system, which system must meet the approval of the proper officials referred to by the Public Officer. The proper installation and periodic testing shall be followed pursuant to the requirement established by the Building and/or Electrical and/or Fire Official's office and must meet the approval of the same. The smoke-detection system required herein shall be maintained in good working order at all times.