[1978 Code § 13-1.1; Ord. No. 694 § 1]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L.
1983, Ch. 383) the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced
in the Township of Sparta.
[1978 Code § 13-1.2; Ord. No. 694 § 2]
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bureau of Fire Prevention
in the Sparta Township Fire Department.
[1978 Code § 13-1.3; Ord. No. 694 § 3]
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall enforce the Uniform Fire
Safety Act and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all buildings,
structures and premises within the established boundaries of the Township
of Sparta, 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.
[1978 Code § 13-1.4; Ord. No. 694 § 4]
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall carry out the periodic inspections
of life hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of
the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
[1978 Code § 13-1.5; Ord. No. 694 § 5]
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall be a part of the Sparta
Township Fire Department.
[1978 Code § 13-1.6; Ord. No. 694 § 6; Ord. No. 02-02 § 1; amended 11-28-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-21]
a.
Appointment of Fire Official. The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall
be under the direct supervision of a Fire Official hereinafter known
as the Fire Marshal who shall be appointed by the Township Manager.
This appointment shall be based upon consultation with the Fire Department
Chief and selection shall be made from at least one candidate recommended
by the Fire Department.
b.
Term of Office. The Fire Marshal shall serve for a term of one year,
after which he or she may be reappointed by the procedures established
in paragraph a. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.
c.
Inspectors and Employees. Such inspectors and other employees as
may be necessary for the Bureau of Fire Prevention to properly carry
out its responsibilities shall be appointed by the Township Manager
upon the recommendation of the Fire Marshal.
d.
Removal from Office. The Fire Marshall, Inspectors and other employees
of the Bureau of Fire Prevention shall be subject to removal by the
Township Manager for inefficiency or misconduct. The Fire Marshal,
each inspector or employee to be so removed shall be afforded an opportunity
to have a public hearing if he/she so desires.
[1978 Code § 13-1.7]
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act,
any person aggrieved by any order of the Bureau of Fire Prevention
shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals
of the County of Sussex.
[1978 Code § 13-1.8; Ord. No. 694 § 8; Ord. No. 842 § 1; Ord. No. 08-04 § 1; Ord. No. 08-24 § 5; Ord. No. 2016-19 § 3; amended 11-22-2022 by Ord. No.
22-16]
The application fees for a certificate of smoke detector, carbon
monoxide and fire extinguisher compliance are as follows:
[1978 Code § 13-1.9; Ord. No. 694 § 9; Ord. No. 842 § 2; Ord. No. 02-02 § 1; Ord. No. 2016-19 § 3; amended 11-22-2022 by Ord. No.
22-16; 11-28-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-21]
a.
The permit fees shall be in accordance with those set by the New
Jersey Uniform Fire Code.
b.
Non-Life Hazard Use inspection fees for all commercial occupancies
that do not meet the criteria for Life Hazard Inspection, as defined
in the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, are based on the square footage
of the occupancy as follows:
|
Size
|
Fee
|
|---|---|
|
20 to 500 square feet
|
$35
|
|
501 or more square feet
|
$60
|
c.
Annual
Life Hazard registration fees shall be collected and accounted for
by the State Division of Fire Safety. They shall annually bill for
and take such steps as may be necessary to collect these annual fees.
Sixty-five percent of these fees shall be remitted to the Township
of Sparta in accordance with the provisions of the New Jersey Uniform
Fire Code.
[Added 11-28-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-21[1]]
Failure to pay the required non-life-hazard use inspection fee(s)
within the timeframe indicated on an order to do so will cause a penalty
to be imposed in an amount equal to double the original fee(s). These
penalties will be in addition to the original fee due and must be
paid within 30 days after issuance of an Order to Abate Violation
and Pay Penalty. If the total fee(s) and penalties are not paid within
the 30 days, the matter may be referred to the Township Attorney for
summary collection under the New Jersey Penalty Enforcement Law, N.J.S.A.
2A:58-1 et seq., and enforcement of this section.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also renumbered former Subsection
16-1.10 as Subsection 16-1.11.
[1978 Code § 13-1.10; Ord. No.
694 § 10; amended 11-28-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-21]
The National Fire Codes of the National Fire Protection Association
shall be used for any fire safety hazard or condition not specifically
addressed by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.
[Former § 16-1.11, Annual Registration Fees, was repealed 11-28-2023 by Ord. No.
2023-21. Prior history includes 1978 Code § 13-1.11; Ord. No. 694 § 11.]
No person shall park, stop, stand a vehicle or otherwise obstruct
a fire lane or area which has been established in the Township of
Sparta pursuant to the Uniform Fire Safety Act of the State of New
Jersey.
[Added 8-22-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-18]
[Added 8-22-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-18]
As used in this section, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Shall refer to a device that automatically dials and relays
a prerecorded message to a central station or the Fire Department.
Refers to a system or assembly of piping, valves, controls,
and sprinklers, which are designed and installed to comply with the
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, which utilize
water, foam, carbon dioxide, or other gas to automatically react to
suppress fire.
An approved system of devices and equipment which automatically
detects a fire and discharges an approved fire-extinguishing agent
onto or in the area of a fire.
A fire alarm system that has initiation devices that utilize
smoke detectors for protection of an area such as a room or space
with detectors to provide early warning of fire.
An automatic sprinkler system, for fire protection purposes,
is an integrated system of underground and overhead piping designed
in accordance with fire protection engineering standards. The system
includes a suitable water supply. The portion of the system above
the ground is a network of specially sized or hydraulically designed
piping installed in a structure or area, generally overhead, and to
which automatic sprinklers are connected in a systematic pattern.
The system is usually activated by heat from a fire and discharges
water or the fire area.
A central office, connected to remote alarm and supervisory
signaling devices, where personnel is in attendance at all times to
monitor the system activity and investigate signals. The central-station
personnel take immediate and appropriate action upon receipt of an
alarm signal.
The fire official or fire inspector certified by the Commissioner
of the Department of Community Affairs and appointed or designated
to direct the enforcement of the code by the appointing authority
of a local enforcing agency.
A limited issue key of special or controlled design to be
carried by Fire Department officials in command which will open Key
Boxes on specified properties.
Shall refer to the Fire Chief or his/her designee.
Hard cut physical key; electronic locking keys, e.g., fobs,
key cards, etc.
A secure device with a lock operable only by a Fire Department
master key, and containing building entry keys and other keys that
may be required for access in an emergency. This box is usually mounted
on the exterior of the building in a location that is specified by
the Fire Official and Construction Official.
Shall refer to a wet or dry system of piping, valves, outlets
and related equipment designed to provide water at specified pressures
and installed exclusively for the fighting of fires.
[Added 8-22-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-18]
Where required. Where access to or within a structure or an
area is restricted because of secured openings or where immediate
access is necessary for lifesaving or firefighting purposes, the fire
code official is authorized to require a Key Box to be installed in
an approved location. The Key Box shall be of an approved type listed
in accordance with UL 1037, as same may be updated, amended or replaced,
and shall contain keys to gain necessary access as required by the
fire code official.
Unless otherwise determined, in writing, by the Fire Official,
the following structures shall be equipped with a Key Lock Box of
a type and size and at a location approved by the Fire Official and
Construction Official:
a.
All new commercial buildings shall be equipped with a Key Box prior
to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
b.
All existing commercial buildings constructing additions, major renovations,
or changes of use that require Township Zoning or Planning Board approval
shall be equipped with a Key Box prior to the issuance of any necessary
permits.
c.
All existing commercial buildings with new occupancies by tenants
shall be equipped with a Key Box prior to the issuance of a Certificate
of Continued Occupancy.
d.
Each building protected by an automatic fire suppression and/or standpipe
system and not manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
e.
Each building protected by an automatic fire alarm system (automatic
dialer, central station, external audible/visual alarm) and not manned
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
f.
Multifamily residential structures that have restricted access through
locked doors but have a common corridor for access to the living units,
including, but not limited to, condominium buildings.
g.
Schools, whether public or private.
h.
Governmental structures and nursing care facilities, unless the building
is staffed or open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
i.
Driveways to structures defined above with controlled access (fences,
gates, etc.) shall have a Key Box installed at the gate to facilitate
entry in to the property.
[Added 8-22-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-18]
The property owner is required at all times to keep a key(s)
in the Key Box that will allow access to the structure. The Key Box
shall contain, but not be limited to, the following items as designated
by the Fire Official:
a.
Labeled keys to locked points of ingress and egress, whether in interior
or exterior of such buildings;
b.
Labeled keys to the locked mechanical rooms;
c.
Labeled keys to locked elevator rooms and controls;
d.
Labeled keys to any fence or secured areas;
e.
Labeled keys to areas of the building where fire alarm panels and
fire protection systems are located;
f.
Labeled keys and access codes to any other areas that may be required
by the Fire Official;
g.
A card containing the emergency contact names and phone numbers for
such buildings;
h.
Floor plans of the rooms within the building showing locations of
shutoffs;
i.
Hazardous materials information; and
j.
An inventory of the keys.
k.
Fire protection system reset codes and written instructions.
The property owner shall notify the Township Fire Department
when any or all of the locks or keys have been changed and shall keep
the immediate area of the Key Box free and clear of any and all obstructions.
Key Box maintenance. The operator of the building shall immediately
notify the fire code official and provide the new key where a lock
is changed or rekeyed. The key to such lock shall be secured in the
Key Box.
[Added 8-22-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-18]
The property owner shall apply for a registration for a Key
Box on forms provided by and obtained from the Fire Official. A registration
is required prior to the installation of a Key Box in order to verify
the proper size, mounting location and installation of said Key Box.
The Key Box shall be installed at a location approved by the Fire
Official and the Construction Official. No Key Box shall be installed,
voluntarily or otherwise, without first obtaining the approval of
the Fire Official and the Construction Official. The property owner
shall be responsible for the cost to purchase, install, and maintain
the Key Box.
[Added 8-22-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-18]
All existing buildings required to have a Key Box shall comply
with this section one year from its effective date. All newly constructed
buildings not yet occupied or buildings currently under construction
and all buildings or businesses applying for a certificate of occupancy
shall comply immediately upon passage of this section. In any event,
the owner of any structure in the Township shall comply with this
section within 60 days from receipt of written notice from the Fire
Official. The cost of purchasing and installing, along with any cost
associated with implementation of the program at a specific property,
will be borne by the property owner.
[Added 8-22-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-18]
Any property owner that fails to comply with this section shall
be subject to the penalties and dedicated penalties as provided for
under the New Jersey Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.12 and N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.12A.
