[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Penns Grove as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 3-20-1984 by Ord. No. 84-6 (Ch. 186 of the 1986 Code)]
Each dwelling or each unit of dwelling space, contained in any
dwelling, shall be equipped with an automatic fire warning system
(smoke detector) equipped with automatic smoke- and/or gas-detection
devices primarily intended for the protection of life.
For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:
Includes any building or structure in which any unit of dwelling
space is owner occupied, rented, offered for rent, available for rent
or otherwise to one or more individuals, family units or any other
tenants who live independently of each other. A dwelling includes,
but is not limited to, single-family structures, apartment buildings
and rooming houses.
Any room or rooms or suite or apartment or structure which
is occupied or intended to be occupied for sleeping or dwelling purposes
by one or more persons, together with all the privileges, services,
furnishings, furniture, equipment, facilities and improvements connected
with the use or occupancy thereof.
Compliance with this article shall be in conformity with the
sections which hereinafter follow.
[Amended 7-5-2017 by Ord.
No. 2017-5]
Each dwelling or unit of dwelling space shall provide the following:
A.
Smoke detectors
shall not be any older than 10 years. Carbon monoxide detectors shall
not be any more than five years old. Combination smoke and carbon
monoxide detectors shall not be more than seven years old.
B.
Smoke detectors
shall be located:
(1)
On
the ceiling or wall outside of each separate sleeping area in the
immediate vicinity of bedrooms (manufacturer's installation instructions
shall be followed).
(2)
In
each room used for sleeping purposes.
(3)
In
each story within a dwelling unit, including basements and cellars
but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. In dwellings
or dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door
between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper
level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the
lower level is less than one full story below the upper level.
C.
Carbon
monoxide detectors shall be installed and maintained in the immediate
vicinity of all sleeping areas.
D.
All systems
shall be maintained in an operable condition at all times in accordance
with the International Fire Code.
E.
Smoke detectors
shall not be within 36 inches from the end of a ceiling fan blade
or heating/air conditioner register.
F.
Any low-voltage
monitored fire alarm system with remote batteries shall be inspected
by an approved certified fire alarm contractor and a report in accordance
with NFPA 72 given to the inspector at time of inspection.
A.
The owner of any dwelling shall be responsible for the installation
of the aforesaid warning system in all units of dwelling space contained
within said dwelling. The owner shall make a report on all such installations
to the office of the Borough of Penns Grove Housing Officer, according
to a form prescribed by said office.
B.
It shall be the duty of every occupant of any unit of dwelling space
in a dwelling to test the fire warning system from time to time. If
the fire warning system is a battery-operated system, it shall be
the duty of the owner of the dwelling to replace the battery or batteries
for each fire warning system on a yearly basis with new, unused batteries
of the proper size and type as specified by the manufacturer of the
system. If any inspection conducted by an occupant of any unit of
dwelling space in a dwelling reveals that the fire warning system
is inoperable, then, in that event, the occupant shall file a written
report of said inoperability with the owner of the dwelling, as well
as the Housing Officer of the Borough of Penns Grove. Within 14 days
of the filing of said report with the owner of the dwelling, the owner
shall inspect the fire warning system and place the same into operation,
replacing said system if necessary. It shall also be the duty of every
owner of any unit of dwelling space in a dwelling to inspect the fire
warning system at the commencement of any new leasehold term and maintain
the proper functioning of the fire warning system as hereinbefore
described. The owner of every owner-occupied dwelling shall inspect
the fire warning system from time to time and maintain its operability.
A.
It shall be the duty of the Housing Officer to ensure that the responsibilities
for each rental unit of dwelling are performed as required.
B.
Notwithstanding any other statutes or ordinances, it shall be the
duty of the Borough of Penns Grove Housing Officer or Construction
Code Official, where appropriate, to ensure compliance with this article
before a certificate of occupancy is issued for any dwelling or unit
of dwelling space.
It is hereby required that all owners of dwellings, as herein
described, complete installation of the required fire warning systems
within 30 days of the effective date of this article.
Failure by the responsible party to install and maintain the
required fire warning system, as hereinbefore described, is punishable
by a fine of not more than $50 per day for each such violation. A
violation affecting more than one unit of dwelling space shall be
considered a separate violation as to each such unit of dwelling space.
