[Amended 4-5-82 by Ord. No. 12-82; repealed 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025]
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Township of Monroe as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-7-78 as Ord. No. 361]
[Added 4-5-82 by Ord. No. 12-82; repealed 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025]
[Repealed 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025]
[Added 11-9-83 by Ord. No. 30-83; repealed 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025]
[Added 10-6-80 by Ord. No. 30]
A. WATER SYSTEM
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any fire hydrant, gate valve or appurtenance belonging to or forming part of the publicly owned water distribution system which is operated by the Monroe Township Municipal Utilities Authority pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:14B-1 et seq.
B.
Use approval. A person shall not use or operate any fire hydrant intended for use of the Fire Department for fire suppression purposes unless such person first secures a permit for such use from the Board of Fire Commissioners or the Monroe Township Municipal Utilities Authority.
This section shall not apply to the use of such hydrants by a person acting on behalf of the Monroe Township Board of Fire Commissioners or the Monroe Township Municipal Utilities Authority.
C.
Disorderly conduct. A person shall be guilty of disorderly conduct if he:
(1)
Shall at any time or in any manner open or operate any fire hydrant, gate valve or other appurtenance of the water system or tamper with or damage any part of the water system or destroy or cause to be removed any part of the water system.
(2)
Has in his possession or on his person any hydrant or hydrant part belonging to the Monroe Township Municipal Utilities Authority.
(3)
Opens or operates, turns on, turns off, interferes with, attaches any pipe or hose to or connects anything with any fire hydrant, gate valve or other appurtenance of the water system or in any manner molests or interferes with same.
D.
Penalties. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding 90 days, or both. Each such violation shall constitute a separate offense.
[Adopted 8-5-85 as Ord. No. 18-85]
[Amended 5-7-07 by Ord. No. O-5-2007-019]
The State of New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be enforced locally within the established limits of Fire District No. 1, Fire District No. 2 and Fire District No. 3 of the Township of Monroe, County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey.
[Amended 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025]
The local enforcing agency for Monroe Township Fire District # I shall be the Monroe Fire Prevention Bureau District I.
The local enforcing agency for Monroe Township Fire District # II shall be the Monroe Fire Prevention Bureau District II.
The local enforcing agency for Monroe Township Fire District # III shall be the Monroe Fire Prevention Bureau District III.
[Amended 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025; 5-7-07 by Ord. No. O-5-2007-019]
The local enforcing agencies shall enforce the State of New Jersey Uniform Fire Code and the codes and regulations adopted under Article II in all buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries of their respective fire districts, other than owner occupied one and two-family dwellings, and shall faithfully comply with the requirements of the State of New Jersey Uniform Fire Code. Any bureau of the fire prevention or fire prevention agency created by any said fire districts, in addition to the duties assigned herein, shall enforce within each fire district the State of New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.
[Amended 5-7-07 by Ord. No. O-5-2007-019]
Each local enforcing agency established by Section 43-5 of this article shall carry out the periodic inspections of life hazard uses required by the State of New Jersey Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
[Amended 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025]
The local agencies established by Section 43-5 of this article shall each be a part of the fire district for which it has been established and shall be under the supervision of the Board of Fire Commissioners of each respective district. Such funds as may be necessary to support the organizations of each local enforcing agency shall be raised by the representative Board of Fire Commissioners in the manner provided by law.
The Monroe Fire Prevention Bureau District I shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Monroe District I Fire Official, who shall report to the Monroe District I Board of Fire Commissioners.
The Monroe Fire Prevention Bureau District II shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Monroe District II Fire Official, who shall report to the Monroe District II Board of Fire Commissioners.
The Monroe Fire Prevention Bureau District III shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Monroe District III Fire Official, who shall report to the Monroe District III Board of Fire Commissioners.
[Amended 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025]
A.
Fire Official. Code enforcement shall be under the direct supervision of a Fire Official who shall be appointed by the local enforcing agency. Such Fire Official shall be the chief administrative and inspection official for such agency.
B.
Term of office. The Fire Official shall serve for such term as shall be established by each Board of Fire Commissioners. Each Board of Fire Commissioners shall appoint their respective Fire Official to a term no less than three years. The Fire Official is subject to removal by their respective Board of Fire Commissioners.
C.
Inspectors. Each local enforcing agency shall appoint such inspectors as may be necessary to carry out all required inspection activity in the fire district. Such inspectors shall be under the supervision and control of the Fire Official.
D.
Removal. Inspectors and other employees of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the district served by such inspector or employee for inefficiency or misconduct. Each inspector or employee to be so removed shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the appointing authority or a designated hearing officer.
[Amended 5-7-07 by Ord. No. O-5-2007-019]
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the State of New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, any person aggrieved by the order of the local enforcement agency or agencies shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey.
[Amended 2-3-86 by Ord. No. 2-86; 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025]
A.
In addition to the inspections and fees required pursuant to the Act and the regulations of the Department of Community Affairs, annual non-life hazard use registration and inspections shall be required for all commercial properties and other public places not outlined or falling under the life hazard category. Such commercial and other public places shall include but not be limited to the following uses: mercantile, professional offices, business offices, warehouses, storage buildings, eating establishments, banks, churches and synagogues, maintenance buildings and clubhouses.
B.
The non-life hazard use registration and inspections required by this section are not transferable and shall be issued by the Bureau of Fire Prevention of each fire district in which the property or use is located. Said non-life hazard use registration and inspection shall be valid January 1 through December 31 and must be reviewed by March 1. Any non-life hazard use registration and inspections not reviewed by March 1 will be assessed a penalty of double the registration fee for each month in arrears.
[Amended 5-7-07 by Ord. No. O-5-2007-019]
[Amended 12-30-85 by Ord. No. 31-85; 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025; 5-7-07 by Ord. No. O-5-2007-019]
Fees shall be consistent with all fire districts within the Township of Monroe as outlined in the Code of the Township of Monroe Section 39-3. The fees for enforcement of this article payable to the local enforcing agencies established in the State of New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, life hazard registration fees, permit fees and other fees prescribed by the State of New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be the applicable fees utilized by the fire districts.
[Amended 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025; 9-2-2020 by Ord. No. O-8-2020-015]
A.
All fees outlined in Chapter 39 of this Code not otherwise collected for distributions as outlined by the New Jersey State Uniform Fire Code or the State of New Jersey, shall be collected by and be payable to the enforcing agency; provided however, that to the extent allowable by law, no fees shall be required for the inspection of any municipality owned or operated facility and no municipal agency shall be required to pay permit fees.
B.
All required transaction fees required by federal or state regulations for online and/or point of sale transactions shall be collected as outlined by the State of New Jersey.
[Added 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025]
1.
General. Public and private fire hydrants, connections and appliances shall be installed and maintained in accordance with this section.
2.
Fire hydrant local standards: Sections 2.1-2.4 shall be considered minimum standards for the installation and placement of public or private fire hydrants.
2.1.
All hydrants shall be identified by color or tag to indicate size of main in accordance with N.F.P.A.
2.2.
Fire Department Connections: All new connections shall be located so that immediate access can be made by the fire department and be visible on a street front or in a location approved by the authority having jurisdiction. Obstructions such as fences, bushes, trees, walls, or any other similar object shall not be permitted for new or existing installations. A reflective metal sign with raised letters at least one inch (25mm) in height shall be mounted on the fire department connection serving sprinklers or standpipes. Such signs shall read "Automatic Sprinklers" and/or "Standpipe Connection."
In areas where the fire department connection is not visible or where a sign cannot be mounted to the connection, i.e. a freestanding curb-side connection, a metal sign as described above shall be mounted on posts within close proximity to the connection.
2.3.
Markings: all fire protection system components shall be red and reflective in color.
Control valves for fire system water supplies and risers shall be provided with a sign identifying the area it controls, i.e. "RISER 1, RISER 2, HYDRANT LOOP," etc.
The lettering of such sign shall be of conspicuous color and shall be at least 4 inches in height. Where control valves are located in separate rooms, the sign(s) shall be provided on the entrance door.
2.4.
Hydrants out of service: Hydrants out of service shall be conspicuously marked.
[Added 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025]
1.
Equipment rooms designed specifically to be enclosed: no storage of any kind shall be permitted within any mechanical equipment, electrical, furnace, or boiler room.
2.
(Reserved)
3.
Floor Plans: Operators of new and existing storage warehouse facilities shall submit a drawing of the storage, arrangement, including aisles, corridors, exits, elevators to the Fire Official.
Any changes in arrangement that effects egress or height of storage shall be approved by the Fire Official.
3.1.
Plans: Nonresidential occupancies shall be required to provide the Fire Official with to-scale drawings of the site and interior floor plans with detail as required by the Fire Official, such as: exterior drives, fire lanes, exterior fire protection equipment, doorways, corridors, aisles, use of rooms, high hazard materials, utility controls and shall not be required to be sealed.
3.2.
Material Information: All occupancies shall be required to provide the Fire Official with full information concerning materials stored or utilized, including amounts, storage arrangement, flow charts and/or Material Safety Data Sheets.
3.3.
Access: All buildings or structures protected by fire suppression systems or fire alarms and all other areas required by the Fire Official shall be provided with a key box or locking device approved by the Fire Official. The key box shall contain keys to provide access to all areas of the building or structure and shall be installed in a location(s) approved by the Fire Official, such key box shall only be utilized in response to a report of a fire or fire protection system activation or other emergency call from the police communications center.
Exceptions:
3.3.1.
Key Box: The key box shall be provided with a monitored tamper switch and shall be located in a lighted location, seven feet above grade, in a location approved by the Fire Official.
3.3.2.
Installation: Key boxes shall be installed within 90 days of receiving a notice from the Fire Official.
3.4.
Identification: All rear doors of commercial occupancies shall be marked with the name of the occupant. Such lettering shall not exceed 2 inches (50 mm) in height and shall be of reflective or contrasting color to the background. Rear doors also providing access to fire protection equipment shall identify these doors with a sign stating fire protection equipment inside and be permanently fastened to the door.
4.
Numbering: All new and existing structures shall be numbered with the correct street address.
4.1.
Size: Numbers shall be a minimum of three inches in height, shall be placed in a location that can be viewed from the street, and shall be permanently fastened to the structure.
4.2.
Color: Numbers shall be of a distinctive color and be different than that of the background color.
4.3.
Rural areas: In rural areas where the structure/structures are located more than 100 feet from the edge of the road surface the numbers shall be mounted close to the street at a distance from the road surface not to exceed 20 feet. (i.e. mailbox).
4.4.
Obstructions: At no time shall the numbers required above be obstructed from view from the street.
[Added 6-9-99 by Ord. No. 0-6-99-025]
1.
Abandonment of tanks: Any flammable or combustible liquid or hazardous material tank no longer in use shall comply with 1.1. to 1.4.
1.1.
Tanks "temporarily out of service:" shall have the fill line, gauge opening and pump connection secured against tampering. Vent lines shall remain open and be maintained.
1.2.
Any tank not used for period of 90 days shall be properly safeguarded or removed in a manner approved by the Fire Official.
2.
Tank markings: Above ground tanks or containers for flammable or combustible liquids or hazardous materials, or structures housing same shall be provided with decals and lettering identifying their contents. Such marking shall include the product name, U.N. classification number and N.F.P.A. 704 designation or industry equivalent approved by the Fire Official.
3.
Temporary tank/container installations: Temporary above ground tank/container installations for flammable or combustible liquids or hazardous materials shall comply with N.F.P.A. 30.
Temporary: Tank installations shall be considered temporary when the following apply: