[Ord. No. 85:7 § 2; Ord. No. 2002:05]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L.
1983, p. 383) the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced
in the Borough.
[Ord. No. 85:7 § 2; Ord. No. 92:05 § I; Ord No. 2002:05]
The local enforcing agency shall be the New Milford Bureau of
Fire Prevention.
[Ord. No. 85:7 § 2; Ord. No. 2002:05]
The local enforcement agency shall enforce the Uniform Safety
Act and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all buildings,
structures and premises within the established boundaries of the Borough,
other than owner-occupied one and two family dwellings, and shall
faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety
Act and the Uniform Fire Code.
[Ord. No. 85:7 § 2; Ord. No. 2002:05]
The local enforcing agency established by subsection 13-1.2 of this section shall carry out the periodic inspections of life hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
[Ord. No. 85:7 § 2; Ord. No. 92:05 § II; Ord. No. 2002:05]
The local enforcing agency established by subsection 13-1.2 shall be a part of the New Milford Volunteer Fire Department and shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Official, who shall report to the Chief of the Fire Department.
[Ord. No. 85:7 § 2; Ord. No. 91:3 § 1; Ord. No. 92:05 § III; Ord. No. 2002:05; Ord. No. 2004:14]
a.
Appointment of Fire Official. The local enforcing agency (New Milford
Bureau of Fire Prevention) shall be under the supervision of the Fire
Official who shall be appointed by the Mayor and Council. In making
this appointment, the Mayor and Council may make this appointment
from a letter of recommendation provided by the Fire Advisory Board
with the Fire Chief's approval.
b.
Term of Office. The Fire Official shall serve for a term of one year.
Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.
c.
Inspector and Employees. Such inspectors and other employees as may
be necessary in the local enforcing agency shall be appointed by the
Mayor and Council. The appointments may be made upon recommendation
of the Fire Official.
d.
Removal From Office. The Fire Official shall be subject to removal
by the Mayor and Council for just cause. Inspectors and other employees
of the agency shall be subject to removal by the Fire Official with
the consent of the Fire Chief for just cause. All persons subject
to removal from office shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard
by the Mayor and Council or a hearing officer designated by the Mayor
and Council.
[Ord. No. 85:7 § 2; Ord. No. 92:05 § IV; Ord. No. 2002:05]
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act,
any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcement agency
shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals
of Bergen County.
[Ord. No. 85:7 § 2; Ord. No. 86:14 § 2; Ord. No. 89:16 § 1; Ord.
No. 90:22 §§ 1, 2; Ord. No. 92:05 § V; Ord.
No. 2001:02; Ord. No. 2002:05; Ord. No. 2004:14; Ord. No. 2009:15; 5-10-2021 by Ord. No. 2021:09]
a.
In addition to the inspection and fees required pursuant to the Act
and the regulations of the Department of Community Affairs the following
additional inspections and fees shall be required:
|
Business Properties
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Exceeding 50,000 square feet gross floor area
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$250
|
|
Exceeding 25,000 square feet gross floor area
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$200
|
|
Exceeding 10,000 square feet gross floor area
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$150
|
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Exceeding 5,000 square feet gross floor area
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$100
|
|
All other business properties not mandated by the
State Uniform Fire Code
|
$50
|
|
Storage of hazardous chemicals, pesticides, flammable
finishes not covered by the State Uniform Fire Code
|
$75
|
|
Multiple Dwellings
| |
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Up to 15 dwelling units
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$30
|
|
16 to 30 dwelling units
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$45
|
|
31 to 60 dwelling units
|
$60
|
|
61 to 100 dwelling units
|
$90
|
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101 to 200 dwelling units
|
$150
|
|
201 to 300 dwelling units
|
$225
|
|
301 to MAX dwelling units
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$300
|
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Any non-owner-occupied building in Use Group R-3
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$30
|
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Failure to pay permit
|
$100, plus permit fee
|
b.
Uniform Fire Code Permits. The permit fees established by the Uniform
Fire Code shall be the fees which shall be collected by the local
enforcing agency as listed:
|
Type 1
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$54
|
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Type 2
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$214
|
|
Type 3
|
$427
|
|
Type 4
|
$641
|
|
In addition, the NFPA Life Safety Code, 1985 Edition, is also
adopted by this section.
|
[Ord. No. 87:17 § 3; Ord. No. 2002:05]
No person, firm or corporation in possession of or having control
of any building or premises in the Borough shall permit or allow therein
or thereon any condition which by reason of not being installed, constructed
or maintained according to recognized standards and practices for
the prevention of fire creates or produces a danger to persons or
property from fire.
[Ord. No. 87:17 § 3; Ord. No. 2002:05; Ord.
No. 2004:14]
a.
A Fire Advisory Board in the Borough Fire Department is hereby established.
The Board shall consist of the following: the Chief, Assistant Chief,
Deputy Chief, Captain and Lieutenant of each fire company of the Borough,
the Fire Marshal, two members of each fire company to be selected
by the individual companies, appointed by the Mayor with the consent
of the Borough Council, and a member of the Borough Council chosen
by it. All references in this section to Fire Inspector shall mean
the Fire Marshal or Fire Official.
b.
Alarm Bureau Established; Composition. An Alarm Bureau is hereby
established within the Bureau of Fire Prevention. The Bureau shall
consist of four members, selected by the fire companies, to make minor
repairs and keep the Fire Advisory Board apprised of the condition
of the system and to advise when improvements are warranted. The Chairperson
of the Bureau shall have a vote in the business of the Fire Advisory
Board. The Chairman of the Bureau shall be selected by the members
of the Board.
[Ord. No. 87:17 § 3; Ord. No. 2002:05; Ord.
No. 2004:14]
All members of the Board, Secretary of the Board and the Fire
Marshal shall serve for one year, commencing January 1 of the year
in which they are appointed.
[Ord. No. 87:17 § 3; Ord. No. 2004:14]
The Fire Marshal shall be an active member of the Fire Department
and shall have been an officer of the Department for not less than
five years. The Fire Marshal shall be responsible for the enforcement
of the provisions of this chapter and enforce the rules and regulations
of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, and the Secretary of the Board shall
keep all records and minutes of the Board. The Fire Marshal shall
submit monthly reports of his activities to the Fire Prevention Bureau.
[Ord. No. 87:17 § 3]
Where sprinkler systems and/or standpipes are required under
the BOCA Fire Prevention Code or the National Fire Protection Association
Code adopted by the Borough, all Fire Department connections shall
be identified by a red light. This light shall be installed directly
above the connection, at least six (6') feet and not more than eight
(8') feet above the ground level. Illumination shall be provided by
a bulb no smaller than 25 watts and shall be in operation at all times.
It shall be the responsibility of the property owner or his agent
to install and maintain this equipment.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 13-4, Automatic Heating Equipment,
previously codified herein and containing portions of Ordinance No.
87:17 was repealed by Ordinance No. 2004:14.
[Ord. No. 87:17 § 3; Ord. No. 96-02; Ord. No.
2004:22]
a.
Designation. The Fire Official may require and designate public or
private fire lanes and zones as deemed necessary for the efficient
and effective use of fire apparatus. He may also require the owner
or owners to provide, erect, and maintain metal signs at such locations.
The signs so designating fire zones or lanes are to be of design and
quality approved by the New Milford Fire Prevention Bureau.
1.
Violations and Penalties. Any person convicted of a violation of
a provision of this section or any supplement thereto shall be liable
to a penalty of $47 for each day of occurrence.
b.
Obstructions. Designated fire lanes or zones shall be maintained
free of obstructions and marked in a manner prescribed by the Fire
Official. Any vehicles parked within 10 feet of a multiple dwelling,
town house or cooperative shall be considered in the fire zone. Parking
on grass within 10 feet of a building, blocking the egress of the
occupants or the access of fire department equipment shall be considered
a fire zone.
1.
Violations and Penalties. Any person convicted of a violation of
a provision of this section or any supplement thereto shall be liable
to a penalty of $75 for each day of occurrence.
[Amended 4-25-2022 by Ord. No. 2022:13]
[Ord. No. 87:17 § 3; Ord. No. 2004:14]
No waste, combustible material or garbage shall be stored in
bins or sheds outside buildings unless the same are fireproof or metal
lined; are sufficient in size to handle such material; are completely
emptied of all accumulation of waste, combustible material and garbage
at least every second day, are easily accessible for firefighting;
and are constructed in such a manner as to furnish reasonable protection
from fire to life and property. Plans or specifications for such storage
bins or sheds shall be approved as complying with the foregoing standards
by the Fire Prevention Bureau.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 13-7, Electrical Wiring, previously
codified herein and containing portions of Ordinance No. 87:17 was
repealed in its entirety by Ordinance No. 2004:14.
[Ord. No. 87:17 § 3]
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any public
utility corporation subject to regulations by the Board of Public
Utility Commissioners of New Jersey.
[Ord. No. 2011:22]
To insure access to fire hydrants in the Borough of New Milford
for the safety and welfare of the public, a clear area of (3') three
feet must be maintained in all directions from the fire hydrant as
well as meeting the road side parking requirements.
The owner or lessee of any multi-family or commercial property
within three (3') feet of a fire hydrant shall be responsible to see
that a three (3') foot clear space is provided in all directions from
the fire hydrant. The requirements of this section shall be completed
by the responsible party not later that 24 hours after any natural
obstruction such as snow shall prevent access to the fire hydrant
and within 12 hours of any other type of obstruction.
Upon the failure of any person in maintaining the open space
for all fire hydrants in accordance with this section, shall be deemed
a violation of the Fire Safety Code.
[Ord. No. 89:4 § 2]
As used in this section:
Shall mean any structure used or intended for supporting
or sheltering any dwelling use or occupancy. The term "building" shall
be construed as if followed by the words or portions thereof.
[Ord. No. 89:4 §§ 2,3]
a.
The use of charcoal burners, portable kerosene stoves or other similar
fuel burning appliances using highly flammable liquids or gases is
prohibited in or on any multiple dwelling building.
b.
No charcoal burners, portable gas stoves, propane barbecue stove,
portable kerosene stove or any similar appliance using highly flammable
gases or liquids may be used within fifteen (15') feet of any building.
[Ord. No. 89:4 § 4]
In all instances when any of the above appliances are used they
must be of a type that has been approved by a certified testing agency.
[Ord. No. 89:4 § 5]
In the cases of propane the size of the bottle will be limited
to 20 pounds and they shall be Department of Transportation type only.
At no time will highly flammable fuels or gases be stored within a
building where propane is being used as a fuel. Only one bottle will
be kept on hand at any one time.
[Ord. No. 89:4 § 6]
The use of materials such as gasoline, kerosene, motor oil,
lighter fluid, naphthalene, etc. and devices such as blow torches,
propane type plumbers torches or like as a source of ignition are
prohibited.
[Ord. No. 89:4 § 7]
In case of propane barbecues such appliances shall not be left
unattended, unless proper means of securing the appliance are affected.
This shall mean that the valve handle must be removed to prevent tampering
or vandalism and the gas discharge opening must be secured with a
positive seal plug. This subsection shall apply not only to units
that are temporarily not being used, but shall apply to the storage
of any bottle stored outside a building.
[Ord. No. 2011:12]
a.
Key Boxes Required. The Fire Official shall require a "Key Box Rapid
Entry System" ("Knox" or similar) to be installed in an accessible
location where immediate access is necessary to verify the existence
of a fire or other emergency in these buildings equipped with or required
to be equipped with, fire detection or fire suppression systems or
equipment.
All new commercial and/or manufacturing buildings constructed
after the effective date of this section, all existing commercial
and/or manufacturing buildings which undergo remodeling in excess
of $1,000 after the effective date of this section (adopted June 27,
2011), and all existing commercial and/or manufacturing buildings
when requested by the Borough Fire Official, shall be provided with
a master key Key Box Rapid Entry System at a location approved by
the Fire Prevention Bureau. Such box shall be provided with master
keys necessary for access to all portions of the premises. Such box
and keys shall be provided prior to occupancy and/or final inspection.
All buildings equipped with elevators shall be provided with
a master key Key Box Rapid Entry System as in the preceding paragraph.
b.
Type, Contents, Installation. The key box shall be of a type approved
by the Fire Official; shall contain keys to gain necessary access
as required by the Fire Official, and shall be installed in a manner
approved by the Fire Official. The Fire Official shall require a key
box tamper switch connected to the building's fire alarm system.
c.
FDC Caps. FDC Caps shall be required to be installed on all Fire
Department sprinkler connections, and Fire Department stand pipes.
d.
Penalties. Any building owner violating the requirements of this
section, after receiving due notice by the Fire Official shall be
subject to a fine up to $500.
