See also the fee for the Fire Official during non-business hours at Code subsection 3-12.8 per Ord. No. 2010-22.
[Ord. #97-41, S 1; Ord. #2000-29, S 1; Ord. #2015-010; Ord. 2018-002]
a.
For the purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous,
or likely to become hazardous to life or property from fire or explosion,
that certain code known as "The Uniform Fire Code," N.J.A.C. 5:70-1.1
et seq., and all amendments and supplements thereto is hereby adopted
in its entirety as the Fire Prevention Code, rules, regulations, and
standards of the Township of Bedminster (the "Code"). A copy of the
Code, printed in book form, accompanies the introduction of this section.
Three copies of the Code have been placed on file in the office of
the Township Clerk, and will remain on file, for the use of an examination
by the public.
b.
The Fire Official shall be responsible for enforcing the Uniform
Fire Code within the Township of Bedminster for:
1.
All privately-owned premises subject to the Code, including, but
not limited to, premises leased but not maintained by the State, or
any of its boards, commissions, agencies or authorities;
2.
All premises owned by or leased to any municipal or local authority,
board, commission or agency;
3.
All premises owned by or leased to any county or regional authority,
or its boards, commissions, agencies or authority, or its boards,
commissions, agencies or authorities if no county enforcing agency
has been designated to enforce the Code, or if requested to do so
in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:71-2.9.
c.
The Fire Official shall carry out the periodic inspections of the
life hazard uses required by the Code on behalf of the Commissioner
of Community Affairs.
[Ord. #97-41, S 1; Ord. #2000-29, S 1; Ord. #2015-010; Ord. No. 2018-002]
a.
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983,
c383) (N.J.S.A. 52:27D- 202) and the applicable Department of Community
Affairs regulations including N.J.A.C. 5:71-3.2, the New Jersey Uniform
Fire Code (the "Code") shall be locally enforced in the Township of
Bedminster and be administered by the Fire Official.
b.
The Fire Official shall be responsible for enforcing the Uniform
Fire Code within the Township of Bedminster for:
1.
All privately-owned premises subject to the Code, including, but
not limited to, premises leased to but not maintained by the State,
or any of its boards, commissions, agencies or authorities;
2.
All premises owned by or leased to any municipal or local authority,
board, commission or agency;
3.
All premises owned by or leased to any county or regional authority,
or its boards, commissions, agencies or authority, or its boards,
commissions, agencies or authorities if no county enforcing agency
has been designated to enforce the Code, or if requested to do so
in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:71-2.9.
c.
The Fire Official and Fire Inspectors shall carry out the periodic
inspections of the State registered life hazard uses required by the
Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
[Ord. #97-41, S 1; Ord. #98-16, S 1, 3; Ord. #2000-29, S
1; Ord. #04-25, S 2; Ord. #2010-022, S 1; Ord. #2015-010; Ord. No. 2018-002]
a.
The Fire Official shall be appointed by the Township Committee for
a term of three years. Said Fire Official shall coordinate the activities
of any other inspectors or other staff, and shall be certified in
accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:71-4. The Fire Official shall enforce the
provisions of this section and the Code, as the Code and this section
may from time to time be amended. The Fire Official may serve simultaneously
as the Fire Subcode Official pursuant to the New Jersey Uniform Construction
Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23-1, et seq.), the terms for both positions to run
concurrently. A vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.
b.
The Township of Bedminster shall ensure that the Township has an
adequate number of inspectors to complete all necessary inspections
and review of all permit applications and act on them in a timely
manner, as well as sufficient staff to ensure that enforcement actions
are taken in a timely manner when violations are found and not corrected.
All inspectors engaged in Life Hazard Uses, Non-Life Hazard Use and
Fire Safety Permit inspections, shall be certified as specified in
N.J.A.C. 5:71.1, et seq.
c.
The Fire Official, additional inspectors and other local enforcement
agency personnel provided pursuant to this subsection shall be considered
public employees as set forth in N.J.A.C. 5:71-2.3.
d.
Removal from office. The Fire Official, inspectors and other employees
of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal by the Township
Committee for inefficiency or misconduct. Each official, inspector
or employee to be so removed shall be afforded an opportunity to be
heard by the appointing authority or a designated hearing officer
in accordance with the Township's Personnel Policies and Procedures
and applicable law.
[Ord. #97-41, S 1; Ord. #2000-29, S 1; Ord. #04-25, SS 3—7;
Ord. #2007-19 § 4; Ord. #2010-022, S 2; Ord. #2015-010; Ord. No. 2018-002; amended 5-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-005]
a.
State-Registered Life Hazard Uses. In accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.6,
the Fire Official shall make a survey of all buildings and businesses
within the Township of Bedminster considered to be life hazard uses.
Those owners shall file with the Commissioner, on forms provided by
the Commissioner, appropriate application and certificate of registration
of the location and use of those buildings and businesses. Fees for
such registration shall be charged and collected by the State of New
Jersey, Division of Fire Prevention, and distributed to the local
enforcement agency in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.6.
b.
Municipally Registered Non-Life Hazard Business Uses.
1.
In addition to the state life hazard use registrations required by
the Uniform Fire Code, all businesses not specifically included in
the state listing of life hazard uses shall register with the local
enforcing agency, pay an annual registration fee and be inspected
each year. The annual registration fee is:
(a)
Businesses up to 2,500 sq. ft. of occupied space: $50.
(b)
Businesses 2,501 sq. ft. to 5,000 sq. ft. of occupied space:
$75.
(c)
Businesses 5,001 sq. ft. to 10,000 sq. ft. of occupied space:
$100.
(d)
Businesses 10,001 sq. ft. to 20,000 sq. ft. of occupied space:
$200.
(e)
Businesses 20,001 sq. ft. to 50,000 sq. ft. of occupied space:
$300.
(f)
Businesses 50,001 sq. ft. to 100,000 sq. ft. of occupied space:
$400.
2.
Owners of multitenant business locations, condominiums, apartment
complexes and executive stay locations that are responsible for common
and assembly areas, fire alarm systems, automatic sprinkler systems
and alarms, elevators, mechanical and electrical equipment rooms will
be assessed on the net square footage after any tenant area is subtracted
from the gross building area. A tenant list with square footage of
their responsibility and total building area is required to be given
annually to the local enforcing agency so it can maintain its records.
3.
The registration fee to be assessed will be equal to the amounts
listed above for the net square footage.
4.
In the event of a vacancy, that area will be added to the owners
assessed area and billed accordingly at the next annual billing cycle.
5.
Owners of multitenant locations that do not have common areas but
are still responsible for any of the services listed above will be
registered and assessed a $50 fee annually to cover the registration
and administration of test reporting requirements of the systems required
by the State Uniform Fire Code.
6.
The hangar units of local airport and storage facilities, with the
exception of those registered as a life hazard use, will be registered
and inspected annually, with a fee being charged in the amount of
$100 to cover the entire complement of units as of January 1, 2017.
Any future hanger locations will require a revision in the annual
fee to be charged.
c.
Fire Safety Permits and Fees.
1.
Note: Examples of activities given for each permit type are the most
common, but are not limited to those listed.
(a)
Type 1: $54. Required for bonfires and open burning, use of
any open flame at any public gathering, storage or handing of any
flammable or combustible liquid less than 660 gallons, tents larger
than 900 sq. ft.
(b)
Type 2: $214. Required for carnivals employing mobile enclosed
structures, storage of LP-gas cylinders when part of a cylinder exchange
program.
(c)
Type 3: $427. Required for storage or discharging of fireworks.
(d)
Type 4: $641. Required for storage and handling of flammable
or combustible liquids more than 660 gallons; storage of flammable
and nonflammable compressed gases of more than 2,000 cu. ft.
2.
Permit fees are subject to change in accordance with the New Jersey
Uniform Fire Code [(N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9(c)].
3.
All residential and business locations are required to obtain appropriate
permits for tents and cooking operations when used for assembly purposes.
4.
Food trucks at all events within the Township are required to obtain
all permits that are required by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.
Fire Safety permits may be granted on a seasonal basis.
[Ord. No. 2018-002]
a.
Owners of multi-tenant business locations are required to provide
up-to-date information concerning their management companies and a
tenant listing, including suite numbers and area of responsibility
in square footage. These listings are to be forwarded to the Fire
Official on a yearly basis.
b.
All rear doors to shopping centers shall be marked with the name
and address of the store. All numbers and or letters shall be at least
two (2") in height and be reflective.
c.
All home-owner associations are to supply the Fire Official with
up-to-date information concerning their current management company
including contact information of responsible parties. This information
is to be supplied to the Fire Official on a yearly basis and updated
if a new management company is retained.
[Ord. #04-25 SS 12—15; Ord. #2010-022, S 3; Ord. #2015-010; Ord. No. 2018-002; 5-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-005]
a.
Prior to the sale or lease of any structure or any change in occupancy
for residential purposes, the owner shall obtain a certificate of
smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance (CSDCMAC) with
the Township Fire Official. The application fee for a certificate
of smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance (CSDCMAC) shall
be based upon the amount of time remaining before the change of occupancy
as follows:
1.
Requests for a CSDCMAC received more than 10 business days prior
to the change of occupant: $50.
2.
Requests for a CSDCMAC received four to 10 business days prior to
the change of occupant: $80.
3.
Requests for a CSDCMAC received fewer than four business days prior
to the change of occupant: $135.
b.
All certificates and inspections under this § 10-3 are subject to compliance with the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70-1, et seq. All fees under this section are subject to change in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9(d).
c.
Reinspections of premises that are found to be not accessible on
the scheduled day will be required to be rescheduled with the appropriate
fee paid again. A single reinspection for a failed function of the
smoke detector will be granted with no fee required only for conditions
that are not identified in the smoke detector and carbon monoxide
alarm compliance (CSDCMAC) handout.
d.
Locations that contain a fire alarm detection system that is central
station monitored, maintained and is the only fire alarm system on
location, are required to have the system inspected and certified
by their system provider, not more than 90 days prior to scheduled
inspection date, with a copy of the NFPA 72 inspection report, at
the time of inspection, for the Fire Official.
e.
Any request for a duplicate CSDCMFE, less than six months old, shall
require a fee of $20 per certificate.
f.
Certificate of SDCMFE inspections for management companies with responsibility
for weekly or monthly rentals of residential units, hotels and executive
stay locations will remain valid for a period of six months from the
inspection date. It is the responsibility of the management company
to maintain the six-month scheduling of the test requirements.
[Ord. No. 2018-002]
The entities below shall be exempt from local registration and
permit fees but will be required to be registered, inspected and obtain
permits for functions specifically run by the ownership of the entity.
a.
Bedminster Township Administration Offices & Entities.
b.
Bedminster Township Police Department.
c.
Far Hills-Bedminster Fire Department.
d.
Pottersville Volunteer Fire Company.
e.
Far Hills-Bedminster First Aid Squad.
f.
Bedminster Elementary School.
g.
Bedminster Township Library.
h.
Jacobus Vanderveer House.
i.
The Center for Contemporary Art.
[Ord. No. 2018-002]
All occupancies shall be totally evacuated upon activation of
any fire alarm and shall remain so until clearance is given by the
responding fire company Officer in Charge, to return to the building.[1]
[Ord. No. 2018-002]
See Chapter 18, Secured Openings Key Boxes For specific requirements. The following shall be required to install a key access box that will allow responding fire companies to gain entry to the facility to determine cause of any alarm activation.
a.
All commercial and industrial properties that are protected by an
automatic central alarm and/or sprinkler system.
b.
All churches, schools and other places of public assembly. All multi-family
dwelling locations that contain common areas, specific locations for
storage or contain automatic central alarms or sprinkler systems.
c.
It is recommended, but not required, that residential properties
which are protected by automatic central alarm systems or sprinkler
systems comply with this requirement.
d.
The key box shall be the type that is administered by the Township
of Bedminster, installed in a location that is approved by the Fire
Chief of the primary responding fire company, and contain keys to
locked points of interior and exterior egress and locked mechanical,
electrical and elevator control rooms.
[Ord. #97-37, S 1; Ord. #04-25, S 17; Ord. #2015-010; Ord. No. 2018-002]
a.
In the event of a fire emergency, a fire company shall be authorized
to enter private property, residential or commercial, located within
Bedminster Township, and to utilize any private water source including,
but not limited to, swimming pools, fountains, ponds or streams. Private
water sources shall be used only if no sufficient, easily accessible
public water supply is available. Such determination shall be made
by the chief of the local volunteer fire company responding to the
fire emergency, or his designated representative at the scene of a
fire emergency.
b.
Any person with knowledge or information regarding a private water
source shall, in the event of a fire emergency, disclose such information
to the fire company responding to such fire emergency, or to any other
emergency personnel.
[Ord. #2000-28, S 1; Ord. #04-25, S 18; Ord. #2015-010; Ord. No. 2018-002]
a.
Permission Required. Except as set forth in paragraph b below, no
person, firm, corporation or entity shall open, use or turn on, or
assist in the use, opening or turning on of, any public or private
fire hydrant within the Township without first obtaining a Type I
permit from the Township Fire Official.
b.
Nonapplicability to Fire Companies. Paragraph a shall not apply to
the use of any fire hydrant by a fire company or fire department rendering
public fire service.
c.
Damage to Hydrants. No person, firm, corporation or entity shall
damage, injure or deface, or assist in the damaging, injuring or defacing
of, any fire hydrant.
1.
Clear space around hydrants. A three (3') foot (914mm) clear space
shall be maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants except
as otherwise approved.
2.
It is the responsibility of the homeowner or property owner to clear
snow from the area of the hydrant, as per above dimensions, to allow
fire service personnel access to the hydrant within eight hours of
the completion of snowfall.
3.
Private fire service mains and water tanks. Private fire service
mains and water tanks shall be periodically inspected, tested and
maintained in accordance with NFPA 25.
d.
Violations and Penalties. Any person, firm, corporation or entity
who is found guilty of violating any provisions of this section shall
be subject to a fine of $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for subsequent
offenses or imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed
90 days, or both.
