WHEREAS, the Uniform Fire Safety Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et
seq., establishes a system for the enforcement of minimum firesafety
standards throughout the State of New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 5:18-1.4C provides that a municipality may,
by ordinance, make its fire code more restrictive than the standards
contained in the Uniform Fire Code; and
WHEREAS, the proliferation of high-rise buildings has provided
a severe strain on the services of the North Hudson Regional Fire
Department; and
WHEREAS, it should be incumbent upon property owners to supply
needed safety information to the North Hudson Regional Fire Department
upon its arrival; and
WHEREAS, the safety of the occupants will be significantly increased
if a Fire Safety Manager was established in all high-rise buildings;
and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Town of West New
York to have the Fire Safety Manager requirements enforced by West
New York personnel locally:
This article shall apply to all buildings or structures more
than six stories above grade or more than 75 feet above the lowest
level accessible to the North Hudson Regional Fire and Safety apparatus.
This includes buildings or structures of lesser height which are not
accessible to the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue apparatus
because of setbacks or restricted approaches.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
FIRE COMMAND STATION
The central control station which shall contain where applicable
the public address system panel; the North Hudson Regional Fire and
Safety dispatch center; fire detection and alarm system annunciator
panels; status indicators and control for air-handling systems; and
status indicators and a telephone for North Hudson Regional Fire and
Safety use with controlled access to the public telephone system.
FIRE DRILL AND EVACUATION
The method and practice of a systematic, safe and orderly
evacuation of an area or building by and of its occupants in case
of fire or other emergency in the least possible time; also, the use
of such available fire appliances (including sounding of alarms) as
may have been provided for the controlling or extinguishing of fire
and safeguarding of human life.
FIRE OFFICIAL
A person certified by the Commissioner of the Department
of Community Affairs and appointed to direct the enforcement of the
Uniform Fire Code of the State of New Jersey by the appointing authority
in the Town of West New York.
HIGH-RISE BUILDING
Any building or structure having occupied floors located
more than six stories above grade or more than 75 feet above the lowest
level accessible to North Hudson Regional Fire and Safety apparatus.
This includes buildings or structures of lesser height which are not
accessible to North Hudson Regional Fire and Safety apparatus because
of setbacks or restricted approaches.
OWNER
A person who owns, purports to own, manages, rents, leases,
or exercises control over a building, structure or premises.
USE GROUP "A"
Includes theaters and other buildings used primarily for
theatrical or operatic performances and exhibitions, places of public
assembly, amusement, entertainment or recreation, churches, grandstands,
bleachers, coliseums, stadiums, tents or similar structures.
USE GROUP "B"
Includes buildings 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 simple purposes.
USE GROUP "I"
Includes buildings housing individuals who, because of age,
mental instability, physical limitations, security or other reasons,
must live in a supervised environment.
USE GROUP "M"
Includes buildings used for display and sales purposes involving
stocks of goods, wares or merchandise incidental to such purposes
and accessible to the public.
USE GROUP "R-1"
Includes all hotels, motels and similar buildings arranged
for shelter and sleeping accommodations and in which the occupants
are primarily transient in nature, making use of the facility for
a period of less than 30 days.
USE GROUP "R-2"
Includes all multiple-family dwellings having more than two
dwelling units and shall also include all dormitories, rooming houses
and group rentals where the occupants are living independently of
each other and similar buildings arranged for shelter and sleeping
accommodations in which the occupants are not transient in nature.
In buildings where compliance would cause practical difficulty
or undue hardship, the Fire Official, at his discretion, may modify
the requirements of these rules and accept alternatives fulfilling
the intent of these requirements consistent with public safety.
Any person who shall violate, or refuse, or neglect to comply
with any provision of this Code shall, upon conviction thereof, be
punished by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding
six months, or both, and any such person shall also, for each offense,
be subject to the payment of a penalty in the sum of $250 to be recovered
in a civil action brought in the name of the Fire Official.