City of Burlington, NJ Firesafety Use Groups

The following buildings and structures, or parts thereof, constitute firesafety use groups which are subject to registration and the periodic inspection requirements as established by this article. Where two or more uses exist in the same building and structure, or parts thereof, each use shall be considered as separate and distinct and shall be registered pursuant to the provisions of this article and the applicable firesafety use group. When a building or structure is not specifically stated, the Fire Official shall designate which firesafety use group it will be placed in based upon its similarity to other uses in the firesafety use group selected by the Fire Official and in the firesafety use group which it is most similar to in terms of the existing life and fire hazard.

§ 162-12 Use Group A—Assembly.

All buildings and structures, or parts thereof, shall be classified in Use Group A which are used or designed for places of assembly as defined in this article.

Firesafety Use Group A-1 structures: (Reserved).

Firesafety Use Group A-2 structures: (Reserved).

Firesafety Use Group A-3 structures: all buildings in which persons assemble, such as libraries or restaurants other than nightclubs.

Firesafety Use Group A-4 structures: all buildings used as churches and for similar religious purposes.

Firesafety Use Group A-5 structures: bleachers, similar structures and related use structures for outdoor assembly use.

§ 162-13 Use Group B—Business.

All buildings and structures, or parts thereof, shall be classified in Firesafety Use Group B which are used for the transaction of business, for the rendering of professional services, or for other services that involve stocks of goods, wares or merchandise in limited quantities for use incidental to office uses or sample purposes.

(1)

Firesafety Use Group B-1A: all business establishments having a gross floor area of less than 250 square feet.

(2)

Firesafety Use Group B-1B: all business establishments having a gross floor area of 250 square feet or more, but less than 3,500 square feet.

(3)

Firesafety Use Group B-2: all business establishments having a gross floor area of 3,500 square feet or more, but less than 12,000 square feet.

(4)

Firesafety Use Group B-2A: all business establishments having a gross floor area of 12,000 square feet or more, but less than 24,000 square feet.

(5)

Firesafety Use Group B-2B: all business establishments having a gross floor area of 24,000 square feet or more, but less than 48,000 square feet.

(6)

Firesafety Use Group B-2C: all business establishments having a gross floor area of 48,000 square feet or more.

(7)

Firesafety Use Group B-3: all buildings and structures or parts thereof which are used for the purposes that meet the requirements of Use Group B, and which comprise a multiplicity of rooms, suites or areas to accommodate multiple business occupancies not to exceed 30 in number, which are rented from a common owner. The building owner, who shall control access to all areas, shall provide basic services as are needed for each tenant to conduct his/her business. These services may include, but are not limited to, clerical, phone answering and message taking, photocopying and reproduction, mail services, security, secretarial and stenographers.

The uses listed in Table I are indicative of, but not exclusive of, and shall be classified as Firesafety Use Group B:

	Table I Typical Firesafety Use Group B Business Uses
	Animal hospitals, kennels, pounds
	Automobile and other motor vehicle showrooms
	Banks
	Barbershops
	Beauty shops
	Car wash
	Civic administration
	Clinic, outpatient
	Colleges and universities [Added 2-2-2021 by Ord. No. 06-2021]
	Dry cleaning: pickup and delivery stations
	Electronic data processing
	Emergency service buildings
	Fire station
	Florists and plant nurseries
	Laboratories: testing, research and medical
	Laundries: pickup and delivery stations and self-service
	Police stations
	Print shops
	Professional services: attorney, dentists, physician, engineer, etc.
	Radio and television stations
	Telephone exchanges

§ 162-14 Use Group E—Education.

All buildings and structures, or parts thereof, shall be classified in Firesafety Use Group E, which are used for gathering people together for the purpose of instructions, including, among others, schools and academies.

[Amended 2-2-2021 by Ord. No. 06-2021]

Exceptions shall be school buildings, or parts thereof, for vocational training which shall be classified in the same use group as the vocation taught.

§ 162-15 Use Group F—Factory and Industrial.

All buildings and structures, or parts thereof, in which occupants are engaged in performing work or labor in the fabrication, assembling or processing of products or materials shall be classified in Firesafety Use Group F, including, among others, factories, assembling plants, industrial laboratories and all other industrial and manufacturing uses, except those of Firesafety Use Group H involving highly combustible, flammable or explosive products and materials.

Firesafety Use Group F-1 structures: factory and industrial uses, which are not otherwise classified as low hazard Firesafety Groups F-2 et al, shall be classified as moderate-hazard factory and industrial Firesafety Use Group F-1. The manufacturing processes listed in Table II shall be indicative of, but not exclusive of, and shall be included in Firesafety Use Group F-1 and further categorized as set forth in this section.

(1)

Firesafety Use Group F-JA: Firesafety Use Group F-1 structures with a gross floor area of less than 3,500 square feet.

(2)

Firesafety Use Group F-IB: Firesafety Use Group F-1 structures with a gross floor area of 3,500 square feet or more, but less than 12,000 square feet.

(3)

Firesafety Use Group F-IC: Firesafety Use Group F-1 structures with a gross floor area of 12,500 square feet or more, but less than 24,000 square feet.

(4)

Firesafety Use Group F-ID: Firesafety Use Group F-1 structures with a gross floor area of 24,000 square feet or more, but less than 48,000 square feet.

(5)

Firesafety Use Group F-IE: Firesafety Use Group F-1 structures with a gross floor area of 48,000 square feet or more.

	Table II Firesafety Use Groups F-1, Moderate-Hazard, Factory and Industrial Uses
	Aircraft
	Appliances
	Athletic equipment
	Automobiles and other motor vehicles
	Bakeries
	Beverages, alcoholic
	Bicycles
	Boat building
	Boiler works
	Brooms or brushes
	Business machines, including repairs and rebuilding
	Cameras and photo equipment
	Canneries, including food products
	Clothing
	Condensed and powdered milk manufacturer
	Construction and agriculture machinery
	Disinfectants
	Electric light plants and power houses
	Electrolytic reducing works
	Electronics
	Engines, including rebuilding
	Film, photographic
	Food processing
	Furniture
	Hemp and jute products
	Laundries and tanneries, excluding enamelling or japanning distillation
	Motion pictures and television filming
	Musical instruments
	Optical goods
	Paper mills or products
	Plastic products
	Printing and publishing
	Recreational vehicles
	Refuse incinerators
	Shoes
	Soaps and detergents
	Sugar refineries
	Textile mills, including canvas, cotton cloth, bagging, burlap, carpets and rags
	Tobacco
	Trailers
	Upholstery and manufacturing shops

Firesafety Use Group F-2: Factory and industrial uses which involve the fabrication or manufacturing of noncombustible materials which during finishing, packing or processing do not involve a significant fire hazard shall be classified as Firesafety Use Group F-2. The manufacturing processed listed in Table II shall be indicative of, but not exclusive of, and shall be included in Firesafety Use Group F-2 and shall be categorized by size and set forth in this section.

(1)

Firesafety Use Group F-2A: all structures of Firesafety Use Group F-2 which have a gross floor area of less than 3,500 square feet.

(2)

Firesafety Use Group F-2B: all structures of Firesafety Use Group F-2 which have a gross floor area of 3,500 square feet or more, but less than 12,000 square feet of gross floor area.

(3)

Firesafety Use Group F-2C: all structures of Firesafety Use Group F-2 which have a gross floor area of 12,000 square feet or more, but less than 24,000 square feet of gross floor area.

(4)

Firesafety Use Group F-2D: all structures of Firesafety Use Group F-2 which have a gross floor area of 24,000 square feet or more, but less than 48,000 square feet of gross floor area.

(5)

Firesafety Use Group F-2E: all structures of Firesafety Use Group F-2 which have a gross floor area of 48,000 square feet or more.

	Table III Firesafety Use Groups F-1, Low-Hazard Factory and Industrial Uses
	Beverages, nonalcoholic
	Brick and masonry
	Ceramics products
	Foundries
	Glass products
	Gypsum
	Ice
	Metal fabrication and assembly
	Water pumping plant

§ 162-16 Use Group H—High Hazard.

All buildings and structures, or parts thereof, shall be classified in Firesafety Group H which are used for the manufacturing, processing, generation or storage of corrosive, highly toxic materials or poisonous gas that may constitute a high fire or explosive hazard, including loose combustible fibers, dust and unstable materials.

§ 162-17 Use Group I—Institutional.

All buildings and structures, or parts thereof, shall be classified in Firesafety Group I in which people suffering from physical limitations because of health or age are harbored for medical or other care or treatment.

Firesafety Use Group I-1. This group shall include buildings housing individuals who, because of age, mental instability or other reasons, must live in a supervised environment but who are physically capable of responding to an emergency situation without personal assistance. Included in this group are uses such as facilities for children, aged persons, mentally impaired and convalescents, including convalescence facilities, group homes, mentally retarded care facilities, nursing homes (ambulatory) orphanages and residential care facilities.

§ 162-18 Use Group M—Mercantile.

All buildings and structures, or parts thereof, shall be classified in Firesafety Group M which are used for display and sales purposes involving stocks of goods, wares or merchandise incidental to such purposes and accessible to the public, including, among others, retail stores, shops and salesrooms and markets. Highly combustible goods shall be limited to small quantities that do not constitute a high hazard.

Firesafety Use Group M-1A: mercantile establishments having a gross floor area of less than 250 square feet.

Firesafety Use Group M-1B: mercantile establishments having a gross floor area of 250 square feet or more, but less than 3,500 square feet.

Firesafety Use Group M-1C: mercantile establishments having a gross floor area of 3,500 square feet or more.

§ 162-19 Use Group R—Residential.

All buildings and structures, or parts thereof, shall be classified in Firesafety Use Group R in which families or households live, or in which sleeping accommodations are provided for individuals with or without dining facilities, excluding those that are classified as institutional buildings.

Firesafety Use Group R-1 structures: (Reserved).

Firesafety Use Group R-2 structures: all multiple-family dwellings having two or three dwelling units, except for two-family dwellings one of which is occupied by the holder of title to the property.

Firesafety Use Group R-2A structures: all multiple-family dwellings having four or more dwelling units, but less than 12 units.

Firesafety Use Group R-2B structures: all multiple-family dwellings having 12 or more dwelling units but less than 22 dwelling units.

Firesafety Use Group R-2C: all multiple-family dwellings having 22 dwelling units or more.

§ 162-20 Use Group S—Storage.

All buildings and structures, or parts thereof, shall be classified in Firesafety Use Group S which are used primarily for the storage of goods, wares or merchandise, except those of Use Group H that involve highly toxic materials or poisonous gases, including, among others, warehouses, storehouses and freight depots.

Firesafety Use Group S-1: buildings used for storage of moderate-hazard contents which are likely to burn with moderate rapidity, but which do not produce poisonous gasses, fumes or explosions, including, among others, but not limited to, the materials listed in Table IV, shall be further categorized as set forth in this section.

(1)

Firesafety Use Group S-1A: structures of Firesafety Use Group S-1 with a gross floor area of less than 3,500 square feet.

(2)

Firesafety Use Group S-1B: structures of Firesafety Use Group S-1 with a gross floor area of 3,500 square feet or more, but less than 12,000 square feet.

(3)

Firesafety Use Group S-1C: structures of Firesafety Use Group S-1 with a gross floor area of 12,000 square feet or more, but less than 24,000 square feet.

(4)

Firesafety Use Group S-1D: structures of Firesafety Use Group S-1 with a gross floor area of 24,000 square feet or more, but less than 48,000 square feet.

(5)

Firesafety Use Group S-1E: structures of Firesafety Use Group S-1 with a gross floor area of 48,000 square feet or more.

	Table IV Firesafety Use Groups S-1, Storage Uses Moderate Hazard
	Bags, cloths, burlap and paper
	Bamboo and rattan
	Baskets
	Belting, canvas and leather
	Books and paper in rolls or packs
	Boots and shoes
	Buttons, including cloth covered, pearl or bone
	Cardboard and cardboard boxes
	Clothing, woolen wearing apparel
	Cordage
	Furniture
	Furs
	Glue, mucilage, paste and size
	Horn and combs, other than celluloid
	Leather, enamelling or japanning
	Linoleum
	Livestock shelters
	Lumberyards
	Petroleum warehouses for storage of lubricating oils with a flash point of 200° F. (93.33° C.) or higher
	Photo engraving
	Public parking garages and stables
	Silk
	Soap
	Sugar
	Tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and snuff
	Upholstering and mattress manufacturing
	Wax candles

Firesafety Use Group S-2. Low-hazard uses shall include buildings used for the storage of noncombustible materials, and of low-hazard wares, that do not ordinarily burn rapidly, such as products on wood pallets or in paper cartons without significant amounts of combustible wrappings. Such products may have a negligible amount of plastic trim, such as knobs, handles of film wrapping. Such uses shall be classified as Firesafety Use Group S-2, including, among others, but not exclusive of, the materials listed in Table V and shall be further categorized as set forth in this section.

(1)

Firesafety Use Group S-2A: Firesafety Use Groups S-2 whose gross floor area is less than 3,500 square feet.

(2)

Firesafety Use Group S-2B: Firesafety Use Group S-2 whose gross floor area is 3,500 square feet or more, but less than 12,000 square feet.

(3)

Firesafety Use Group S-2C: Firesafety Use Group S-2 whose gross floor area is 12,000 square feet or more, but less than 24,000 square feet.

(4)

Firesafety Use Group S-2D: Firesafety Use Group S-2 whose gross floor area is 24,000 square feet or more, but less than 48,000 square feet.

(5)

Firesafety Use Group S-2E: Firesafety Use Group S-2 whose gross floor area is 48,000 square feet or more.

	Table V Firesafety Use Group S-2, Storage Uses Low Hazard
	Asbestos
	Beer or wine up to 12% alcohol in metal, glass or ceramic containers
	Cement in bags
	Chalk and crayons
	Dairy products in non-wax coated paper containers
	Distribution transformers, oil filled and other types
	Dry cell batteries
	Electric motors
	Electrical coils
	Empty cans, new
	Food products
	Foods in noncombustible containers
	Foods, frozen
	Fruits, fresh, and vegetables in non-plastic trays
	Glass
	Glass bottles, empty or filled
	Gypsum board
	Inert pigments
	Ivory
	Meats
	Metal cabinets
	Metal desks with plastic tops and trim
	Metal parts
	Metals
	Mirrors
	Porcelain and pottery
	Stoves
	Talc and soapstones
	Washers and dryers

§ 162-21 Use Group U—Utility and Miscellaneous.

Buildings and structures of an accessory character and miscellaneous structures not classified in any specific use group shall be equipped and maintained to meet the requirement of this Act commensurate with the fire and life hazard incidental to their use. Utility and miscellaneous uses shall include tanks, cooling towers, sheds and agricultural buildings.

§ 162-22 Use Group V—Vacant Buildings.

All structures or portions thereof vacant or unoccupied for a period of 90 days and not under active renovation, modification or construction shall be classified as Firesafety Use V.

§ 162-23 Required inspections.

[Amended 9-5-2017 by Ord. No. 09-2017]

All life safety (LHU) uses shall be inspected in accordance with New Jersey Division of Fire Safety for compliance with the provisions of the Uniform Fire Safety Code, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq., All nonlife safety (NLHU) uses shall be inspected at a minimum once every five years. Fees for these inspections shall be as set forth in Chapter 146, Fee Schedule. Where, in the opinion of the Fire Official, there exists a condition liable to cause fire, contribute to the spread of fire, interfere with firefighting operations, endanger life, or violate the provisions or intent of the Act, he/she shall inspect as often as necessary for the purpose of ascertaining the extent of these conditions and cause them to be corrected.

§ 162-24 (Reserved) [1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Former § 162-24, Technical amendment: identification of business and commercial occupancies, added 9-5-2017 by Ord. No. 09-2017, was repealed 2-2-2021 by Ord. No. 06-2021.

§ 162-25 Technical amendment: outdoor fires.

[Added 9-5-2017 by Ord. No. 09-2017; amended 2-2-2021 by Ord. No. 06-2021]

Subchapter 3, Chapter 4, of the 2015 New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be supplemented as follows:

Section F-402.4(4). No person shall operate or use or maintain any open fire or any device commonly known as a "barbecue" (charcoal or gas-fired) within 15 feet, in or on any apartment unit, porch, balcony, covered patio area or any other private area of an apartment or multifamily dwelling unit.

§ 162-26 Technical amendment: storage or parking of internal combustion engines.

[Added 9-5-2017 by Ord. No. 09-2017; amended 2-2-2021 by Ord. No. 06-2021]

Subchapter 3, Chapter 3, of the 2015 New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be supplemented to add as follows:

Section F-320.0, Storage or parking of internal combustion engines. No person shall store or park or cause to store or park any internal combustion engine vehicle, including but not limited to those commonly known as a "motorcycle," "moped," "go-cart," "dirt bike," "lawnmower," "snowblower," etc., in or on any apartment unit, porch, balcony, covered patio area, entrance, exit or any other private area of an apartment or multifamily dwelling unit.

(1)

Approval by Fire Official. No person shall store, park or cause to store or park an internal combustion engine vehicle in any occupancies not in conformity with the Uniform Construction Code unless approved by the Fire Official.

§ 162-27 Technical amendment: Fire Department connections, fire hydrants and water supplies.

[Added 9-5-2017 by Ord. No. 09-2017; amended 2-2-2021 by Ord. No. 06-2021]

Subchapter 3, Chapter 5, of the 2015 New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be supplemented to add as follows:

Section F-518.5, Fire Department connection and fire hydrants; use of fire hydrants. A person shall not use or operate any fire hydrant intended for the use of the Fire Department for fire-suppression purposes unless such person first secures a permit for such use from the Fire Official and the water company and the municipal utilities authority having jurisdiction. This section shall not apply to the use of such hydrants by a person employed by, and authorized to make such use by, the water company having jurisdiction.

Section F-518.6, Placement of fire hydrants and mains. The Fire Official shall report to the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Minor Site Plan Alteration Committee, the property owner and/or the water company and/or the municipal utilities authority having jurisdiction on land use, subdivision(s), site plan(s), temporary use permits, and zoning approvals. The applicant shall prepare plans in accordance with the requirements adopted herein. The applicant shall be responsible for off-site improvements that affect the site fire flow requirements adopted herein.

Section F-518.7, Fire Department connections, fire hydrants and water supplies.

(1)

Required water supply for fire protection. An approved water supply capable of supplying the required and reliable fire flow for fire protection shall be provided to all premises upon which facilities, buildings, uses or portions of buildings or uses are hereafter constructed. When any portion of the facility or building protected is in excess of 100 feet from a water supply on a public street, as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the facility or building, on-site fire hydrants and mains capable of supplying the required and reliable fire flow shall be provided when required by the Fire Official.

(2)

Fire hydrant systems: testing and maintenance. Fire hydrant systems shall be subject to such periodic tests as required by the Fire Official. Fire hydrant systems shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times and shall be repaired where defective. Additions, repairs, alterations and servicing shall be in accordance with approved standards. Painting shall be in accordance with the City of Burlington standard as follows:

(a)

The 4 1/2 inch (steamer) connection will be painted with the color code identifying flow in accordance with N.F.P.A. standard 291.

(b)

All Fire Department connections shall have the identification signs painted with the color code identifying the flow in accordance with N.F.P.A. standard 291.

[1]

Flow indicators. The 4 1/2 inch (steamer) connection shall be color-coded to indicate the hydrant's available flow at 20 psi. Standard color codes are as follows:

NFPA 291, Chapter 3
Class	Gallons per Minute (GPM)	Color
C	Less than 500	Red
B	500 to 999	Orange
A	1,000 to 1,499	Green
AA	1,500 and above	Light blue

(c)

All private hydrants will meet this standard.

(d)

Protection of hydrants. When exposed to potential vehicular damage, fire hydrants shall be suitably protected as approved by the Fire Official.

(e)

Fire hydrant locations and distribution.

[1]

Location. Fire hydrants shall be provided when required along required fire apparatus access roads, adjacent public streets, on each site within 100 feet of any portion of the facility or building and within 50 feet of any Fire Department connection.

[2]

Consideration of existing fire hydrants. Existing fire hydrants on public streets are allowed to be considered as available. Existing fire hydrants on adjacent properties shall not be considered available unless fire apparatus access roads extend between properties and easements are established to prevent obstruction of such roads.

§ 162-28 (Reserved) [1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Former § 162-28, Technical amendment: trash enclosures, added 9-5-2017 by Ord. No. 09-2017, was repealed 2-2-2021 by Ord. No. 06-2021.

§ 162-29 Installation of security box containing key(s) or code for access required (Knox Box).

[Added 9-5-2017 by Ord. No. 09-2017]

All new commercial buildings shall have installed a security box containing key(s) or code for access (Knox Box), of a type and size approved by the Fire Official, in a location specified by the Fire Official prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

All existing commercial buildings constructing improvements that require Planning Board approval shall have installed a security box containing key(s) or code for access (Knox Box), of a type and size approved by the Fire Official, in a location specified by the Fire Official prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

All existing commercial buildings equipped with automatic fire detection and/or suppression system shall have installed a security box containing key(s) or code for access (Knox Box), of a type and size approved by the Fire Official, in a location specified by the Fire Official, within five years of the effective date of this section.

All multifamily residential structures that have restricted access through locked doors and have a common corridor for access to the living units shall have installed a security box containing key(s) or code for access (Knox Box), of a type and size approved by the Fire Official, in a location specified by the Fire Official, within five years of the effective date of this section.

All security boxes containing key(s) or code for access (Knox Box), shall contain labeled keys, easily identified in the field to provide access into the property and/or building, and to any locked areas within the building as the Fire Official may direct.