[HISTORY: 1973 Code §§ 21-1—21-11 as
amended through October 13, 2016. Amendments noted where applicable.]
For the purposes of this chapter, the terms herein are defined
as follows:
A power-operated, water-cooled, or air-cooled device connected
to a duct system, designed for human comfort cooling, but excludes
a fixed or movable type of air conditioner installed in a room or
window or through a wall, intended to cool an individual room.
No central air conditioner shall hereafter be installed to serve any existing dwelling erected on a lot located in any residence district delineated on the Zoning Map mentioned and referred to in § 107-10 of Code Chapter 107, Zoning and land use unless a permit so to do is first obtained from the Building Inspector. Where the condensing unit, fan, circulator or water tower of such central air conditioner is to be placed outside the confines of such dwelling, the same shall be located in the rear yard or the side yard of the lot. All such condensing units, fans, circulators or water towers placed in the side yard shall be screened with shrubbery at least four feet in height as approved by the Building Inspector. All screening shall be maintained as originally approved. If the screening is not so maintained, any permit granted is subject to revocation by the Building Inspector.
No central air conditioner shall be installed to serve any dwelling
hereafter erected on a lot located in any such residence district,
where the condensing unit, fan, circulator, or water tower of such
central air conditioner is to be placed outside the confines of such
dwelling, unless the same is located as set forth in the preceding
section.
The condensing unit, fan, circulator, or water tower of a central
air conditioner hereafter installed to serve a building or structure
erected or to be erected in any zoning district other than a residence
district, if not located upon the roof of such building or structure,
shall be so placed as to comply with the setback provisions of the
zoning district in which the lot is located.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, where, by reason of exceptional
narrowness, shallowness, or shape of a specific piece of property,
or by reason of exceptional topographic conditions, or by reason of
other extraordinary and exceptional situation or condition of such
piece of property, or in the case of a corner lot, the strict application
of the foregoing provisions respecting the location of the condensing
unit, fan, circulator or water tower of a central air conditioner
would result in peculiar and exceptional practical difficulties to
the owner of such property, then, upon application to and approval
by the Mayor and Council, the Building Inspector may be authorized
to issue a permit for the location of the same at a place other than
as herein specified, provided the Council is satisfied that such alternative
location will not substantially impair the intent and purpose of this
chapter and will not result in loud, offensive or unnecessary noise
to the occupants of any adjoining dwelling or structure.
Application, in duplicate, on forms supplied by the Building
Inspector, for the installation of a central air conditioner in accordance
herewith, shall be accompanied by a survey prepared by a licensed
land surveyor of the State of New Jersey, showing the property lines
of the lot, the location of the building or structure, the front,
side and rear yard dimensions, and the proposed location, drawn to
scale, of the condensing unit, fan, circulator or water tower. The
application shall specify the following information:
A.
Name and address of the applicant.
B.
Name and address of the owner of the property, if other than applicant.
C.
Address of the premises where the installation is proposed to be
made, including the block and lot numbers, and the zoning district
in which located.
D.
Name of the manufacturer of the air conditioner, and the manufacturer's
identification or classification of the unit.
All new and existing buildings, including, but not limited to,
private dwelling units, installing a central air conditioner, as hereinabove
defined, after the effective date of this section, shall contain and
provide a fire and smoke detector and control system as hereinafter
described.
A.
The fire and smoke detector shall be of the ionization type. It shall
operate on the ionization principle and shall be designed to activate
by the presence of combustion products. The detector shall be listed
and approved by Underwriters Laboratories.
B.
Upon activation, the detector shall provide an audible alarm which
is to be so distributed and of such character that it can be heard
in all rooms of the building with their doors closed. This audible
signal shall be distinctive from audible signaling devices which may
be used for other purposes in the building. The detector system shall
be designed for and capable of either self-restoration or manual restoration
to normal condition after each test or alarm and shall remain in normal
condition for operation. No provisions shall be made for deactivation
of the audible alarm other than by reactivation of the detector system.
C.
The detector alarm system shall be operated from the building's main
electrical supply through a branch supply circuit designated and utilized
only for the detector alarm system. The detector shall have a light
or other signaling device indicating that the unit is in operation.
The detector shall have no moving parts other than the audible signaling
device.
D.
The detector shall be so connected to the central air conditioner
that activation of the detector will deactivate the central air conditioner's
main power supply in addition to sounding the alarm.
E.
The detection units shall be installed in the ceiling so as to provide
detection in at least the following locations in a dwelling house:
(1)
Landing area at the head of each staircase in a dwelling of two or
more stories.
(2)
Hall or passageway between the living quarters and sleeping quarters
of a single-story dwelling, or in hallway between sleeping quarters
where only the second story of a two-story dwelling is centrally air
conditioned.
F.
Detection units may be installed in return air ducts at the cooling
unit of the central air conditioner, provided that cleaning maintenance
is not required or the design of the detector is such that improper,
or the lack of, cleaning maintenance will result in sounding the alarm
and disconnecting the central air conditioner.
All fans of the so-called "attic-fan type," that is, large high-volume
fans used to withdraw air from an entire dwelling through pressure
and/or mechanically activated louvers in the ceiling of the upper
parts of a dwelling house, installed after the effective date of this
section, shall have installed at the louvers a suitable safety switch
of the fusible-link type which is sensitive to high temperatures and
the effects of fire. Said switch is to be electrically connected to
the drive motor of the fan so as to disable the fan if abnormally
high temperatures due to fire are encountered. Operation of the thermally
sensitive switch shall not impair the closing of the louvers.
