[Ord. #95-19 § 801.1]
The provisions of this Article shall govern the minimum conditions
and standards for fire safety relating to structures and exterior
premises, including fire safety facilities and equipment to be provided.
[Ord. #95-19 § 801.2]
The owner of the premises shall provide and maintain such fire
safety 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 requirement of
this Article.
[Ord. #95-19 § 801.3]
The Uniform Fire Safety Act was adopted by ordinance by the
Township to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.
(Ordinance 93-54). Should any conflict arise between the Property
Maintenance Ordinance and Ordinance 93-54, the more stringent standard
shall prevail.
[Ord. #95-19 § 801.4]
All other Federal, State and local laws shall be applicable
to this Property Maintenance Ordinance.
[Ord. #95-19 § 802.1]
A safe, continuous and unobstructed means of egress shall be
provided from the interior of a structure to a public way.
[Ord. #95-19 § 802.2]
The capacity of the exits serving a floor shall be sufficient
for the occupant load thereof as determined by the New Jersey Uniform
Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23).
[Ord. #95-19 § 802.3]
In nonresidential buildings, every occupied story more than
six (6) stories above grade shall be provided with not less than two
(2) independent exits. In residential buildings, every story exceeding
two (2) stories above grade shall be provided with not less than two
(2) independent exits. In stories where more than one (1) exit is
required, all occupants shall have access to at least two (2) exits.
Every occupied story which is both totally below grade and greater
than two thousand (2,000) square feet shall be provided with not less
than two (2) independent exits.
Exception: A single exit is acceptable under any one of the
following conditions:
a.
Where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler
system and an automatic fire detection system with smoke detectors
located in all corridors, lobbies and common areas.
b.
Where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic fire
detection system and the exit is an approved smoke proof enclosure
or pressurized stairway.
[Ord. #95-19 § 802.4]
Exits from dwelling units, rooming units, guest rooms and dormitory
units shall not lead through other such units, or through toilet rooms
or bathrooms.
[Ord. #95-19 § 802.5]
All means of egress shall be indicated with approved "Exit" signs where required by the Building code listed in Article IX. All "Exit" signs shall be maintained visible and all illuminated "Exit" signs shall be illuminated at all times that the building is occupied.
[Ord. #95-19 § 802.6]
All corridors serving an occupant load greater than thirty (30)
and the openings therein shall provide an effective barrier to resist
the movement of smoke. All transoms, louvers, doors and other openings
shall be closed or shall be self-closing.
Exceptions:
a.
Corridors in occupancies in other than Use Group H which are equipped
throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.
b.
Patient room doors in corridors in occupancies in Use Group 1-2 where smoke bathers are provided in accordance with the Fire Prevention Code listed in Article IX, are not required to be self-closing.
c.
Corridors in occupancies in Use Group E where each room that is occupied
for instruction or assembly purposes has at least one-half (1/2) of
the required means of egress doors opening directly to the exterior
of the building at ground level.
[Ord. #95-19 § 802.7]
All corridors that serve more than one (1) exit shall provide
direct connection to such exits. The length of a dead-end corridor
shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet (10668 mm) where the building
is not equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system. The
dead-end travel distance limitation shall be increased to seventy
(70) feet (21336 mm) where the building is equipped throughout with
an automatic sprinkler system.
[Ord. #95-19 § 802.8]
Arrangements of chairs or tables and chairs shall provide for ready access by aisle accessways and aisles to each egress door. The minimum clear width of each aisle in occupancies in Use Groups A, E and 1-2 shall be maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Building Code listed in Article IX. In all other occupancies, aisles shall have a minimum required clear width of forty-four (44) inches (1118 mm) where serving an occupant load greater than fifty (50), and thirty-six (36) inches (914 mm) where serving an occupant load of fifty (50) or less. The clear width of aisles shall not be obstructed by chairs, tables or other objects.
[Ord. #95-19 § 802.9]
Every exterior and interior flight of stairs having more than
four (4) risers, and every open portion of a stair, landing or balcony
which is more than thirty (30) inches (762 mm) above the floor or
grade below shall have guards. Handrails shall not be less than thirty
(30) inches (762 mm) nor more than forty-two (42) inches (1067 mm)
high, measured vertically above the nosing of the tread or above the
finished floor of the landing or walking surfaces. Guards shall not
be less than thirty (30) inches (762 mm) high above the floor of the
landing or balcony.
[Ord. #95-19 § 802.10]
A sign shall be provided at each floor landing in all interior
stairways more than three (3) stories above grade, designating the
floor level above the floor of discharge. All elevator lobby call
stations on all floor levels shall be marked with approved signs in
accordance with the requirements for new buildings in the applicable
Building Code.
Exception: The emergency sign shall not be required for elevators
that are part of an accessible means of egress complying with the
applicable Building Code.
[Ord. #95-19 § 802.11]
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.
a.
Locks Permitted. Locks or fasteners shall not be installed on egress
doors except in accordance with the following conditions:
1.
In mental, penal or other institutions where the security of inmates
is necessary, in which case properly trained supervisory personnel
shall be continuously on duty and approved provisions are made to
remove occupants safely in case of fire or other emergency.
2.
In problem security areas, special-purpose door alarms or locking
devices shall be approved prior to installation. Manually operated
edge or surface-molded flush bolts are prohibited.
[Ord. #95-19 § 802.12]
Every sleeping room located in a basement in an occupancy in
Use Group I-1 or R shall have at least one (1) openable window or
exterior door approved for emergency egress or rescue; or shall have
access to not less than two (2) approved independent exits.
Exception: Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic fire
suppression system.
[Ord. #95-19 § 803.1]
Rubbish, garbage or other materials shall not be stored or allowed
to accumulate in stairways, passageways, doors, windows, fire escapes
or other means of egress.
[Ord. #95-19 § 803.2]
Combustible, flammable, explosive or other hazardous materials, such as paints, volatile oils and cleaning fluids, or combustible rubbish, such as wastepaper, boxes and rags, shall not be accumulated or stored unless such storage complies with the applicable requirements of the building code and the Fire Prevention Code listed in Article IX.
[Ord. #95-19 § 804.1]
The fire resistance rating of floors, walls, ceilings, and other
elements and components shall be maintained.
[Ord. #95-19 § 804.2]
All required fire doors and smoke barriers shall be maintained
in good working order, including all hardware necessary for the proper
operation thereof. Fire doors shall not be held open by door stops,
wedges and other unapproved hold-open devices.
[Ord. #95-19 § 805.1]
All systems, devices and equipment to detect a fire, actuate
an alarm, or suppress or control a fire or any combination thereof
shall be properly maintained.
[Ord. #95-19 § 805.2]
A minimum of one (1) approved single-station or multiple-station
smoke detector shall be installed in each guest room, suite or sleeping
area in occupancies in Use Groups R-1 and I-1, and in dwelling units
in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms in occupancies in Use Groups
R-2 and R-3. In all residential occupancies, smoke detectors shall
be required on every story of the dwelling unit, including basements.
In dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door
between the adjacent levels, a smoke detector installed on the upper
level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the
lower level is less than one (1) full story below the upper level,
as per the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23).
a.
Installation. All detectors shall be installed in accordance with
the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23). When actuated,
the smoke detectors shall provide an alarm suitable to warn the occupants
within the individual room or dwelling unit.
b.
Tampering. Anyone tampering or interfering with the effectiveness
of a smoke detector shall be in violation of this Code.
[Ord. #95-19 § 805.3]
Fire suppression systems shall be in proper operating condition
at all times.
a.
Valves. Control valves shall be in the fully open position.
b.
Sprinklers. Sprinklers shall be clean and free of corrosion, paint
and damage. Stock shall be at least eighteen (18) inches (457 mm)
below sprinkler deflectors.
c.
Piping. Piping shall be properly supported and shall not support
any other loads.
[Ord. #95-19 § 805.4]
Standpipe systems shall be in proper operating condition at
all times.
[Ord. #95-19 § 805.5]
All portable fire extinguishers shall be visible, provided with
ready access thereto, and maintained in an efficient and safe operating
condition. Extinguishers shall be of an approved type.
a.
Power Source. The power source for smoke detectors shall be either
an AC primary power source or a monitored battery primary power source.
[Ord. #95-19 § 805.6]
Fire protective signaling systems shall be in proper operating
condition at all times.
a.
Control Panel. The "power on" indicator shall be lit. Alarm or trouble
indicators shall not be illuminated.
b.
Manual Fire Alarm Boxes. All manual fire alarm boxes shall be operational
and unobstructed.
c.
Automatic Fire Detectors. All automatic fire detectors shall be operational
and free from any obstructions that prevent proper operation, including
smoke entry.
[Ord. #95-19 § 805.7]
A complete written record of all tests and inspections of fire
protection systems shall be maintained on the premises by the owner
or occupant in charge of the premises.
[Ord. #95-19 § 806.1]
All elevators having a travel distance of twenty-five (25) feet
(7620 mm) or more above or below the primary level of elevator access
for emergency firefighting or rescue personnel shall conform to the
requirements of Rule 211.3 of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
(ASME) A17.1.
[Ord. #95-19 § 807.1]
Approved smoke or heat detectors shall be installed in return air ducts or plenums in each recirculating air system with a capacity of more than two thousand (2,000) cfm and serving more than one (1) floor in buildings that exceed six (6) stories in height in accordance with the Mechanical Code listed Article IX. Actuation of the detector shall stop the fan(s) automatically and shall be of the manual-reset type. Automatic fan shutdown is not required where the system is part of an approved smoke control system.
