The provisions of this article shall govern the minimum fire safety facilities and equipment to be provided. All structures shall be constructed and maintained to prevent and avoid fire hazards, and in a manner conducive to fire safety. All fire safety facilities and equipment shall comply with the requirements herein prescribed insofar as they are applicable.
The owner or operator of a structure shall provide and maintain such fire safety facilities and equipment in compliance with these requirements and the Uniform Fire Code of the State of New Jersey. A person shall not occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for occupancy or use any premises which does not comply with the following requirements.
A safe, continuous and unobstructed means of egress shall be provided from the interior of any structure to the exterior at a street, or to a yard, court or passageway leading to a public open area at grade.
Every dwelling unit or guest room shall have access directly to the outside or to a public corridor. All exit ways shall be unobstructed. Exits from dwelling units, rooming units and other spaces shall not lead through other such units, toilet rooms, bathrooms or equipment rooms.
All doors in the required means of egress shall be readily operable from the inner side without the use of keys and shall not be locked.
All required fire escapes shall be maintained in working condition, structurally sound and free of debris and accumulations of ice and snow.
All exit signs shall be maintained illuminated and visible and not to be operated from a switch.
All emergency lighting units shall be maintained in good working order.
Waste, refuse or other materials shall not be allowed to accumulate in attics, basements, cellars, stairways, doors, windows, fire escapes or other means of egress.
Highly flammable or explosive matter such as paints, volatile oils and cleaning fluids, or combustible refuse such as waste paper, boxes and rags shall not be accumulated or stored on residential premises except in reasonable quantities consistent with normal usage.
A dwelling unit or rooming unit shall not be located within a structure containing an establishment handling, dispensing or storing flammable liquids.
Nonresidential structures shall be permitted to store combustible or flammable materials provided they are confined to approved storage areas and comply with applicable requirements of the building fire codes for the appropriate use group classification.
Floors, walls, ceilings and other elements and components required to develop a fire resistance rating shall be maintained so that the respective fire resistance rating of the enclosure, separation or construction is preserved.
All fire protection systems and equipment shall be maintained in proper operating condition at all times.
Fire alarms and detecting systems shall be maintained in proper operating condition at all times.
Fire suppression systems shall be maintained in good condition, free from mechanical injury and be certified yearly by a licensed agency. A copy of such certification shall be provided to the Code Official. Sprinkler heads shall be maintained clean, free of corrosion and paint and not bent or damaged.
Hose stations shall be identified and accessible. The hose shall be in proper position, ready for operation, and free of deterioration and leaks.
All portable fire extinguishers shall be visible and accessible, secured to a wall and maintained in an efficient and safe operating condition.
The owner or operator of any nonresidential structure, such as places of public assembly, shall not permit overcrowding in any space exceeding the posted occupancy.
Smoke detectors shall be installed in all one and two family dwellings and shall be Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (U.L.), Factory Mutual Research Corporation (F.M.) or other nationally recognized testing laboratory listed ionization or photo-electric type units. Single station units shall have the following features: integral alarms capable of emitting a minimum sound intensity of 85 dbA at a 10 foot distance, an easily seen and activated manual unit test button or approved alternative and a power source monitor light or trouble signal. All units shall be listed as conforming to the latest N.F.P.A No. 72E and No. 74 standards for design and performance.
All smoke detectors in all one and two family dwellings shall be battery powered single station units and may be installed in dwelling units provided that the following conditions are met:
a. 
The owner or occupant shall inspect and clean all units and replace batteries in all units annually or as otherwise required as per the manufacturer's printed recommendations.
b. 
The owner of a two family dwelling unit shall supply each occupant with a copy of the manufacturer's printed instructions for the testing of the installed unit(s).
c. 
The owner of a two family dwelling who has been notified either by an occupant or by the Code Official that such occupant is unable to perform the required monthly testing of the detector units in his dwelling or have this performed by a member of his household shall perform such monthly testing.
d. 
In all common areas of all dwellings and in dwelling units, the owner or occupant shall test all smoke detectors and/or detection systems monthly and maintain them as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
Dwelling units in one and two family dwelling shall have smoke detectors installed at locations as follows:
a. 
Each dwelling unit shall have a minimum of one approved single station smoke detector located in close proximity to each sleeping area. Smoke detectors shall be located so that the maximum distance from the detector to any sleeping area exit door shall not exceed 10 feet. If any required detector is to be located closer than five feet to a kitchen or bathroom area, it shall be of photo-electric type only.
b. 
A basement, cellar or attic directly connected to a dwelling unit, and used by the occupants of the unit only, shall have a minimum of one approved smoke detector located in the highest ceiling area or at the ceiling of the first floor sari landing or other approved location where the earliest detection of fire would activate the alarm(s).
Common areas in all buildings that do not comply with the minimum life safety requirements of the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code shall be required to have an approved system. Alarms shall be located so as to be effectively heard above all other sounds, by all occupants, in every occupied space within the building.
a. 
All corridors up to 30 feet in length which form part of a means of egress shall have a minimum of one approved smoke detector. An additional smoke detector shall be installed for every additional 30 feet or part thereof. Detectors shall be so located as to provide the most coverage.
b. 
All interior stairways in buildings not enclosed by a minimum one hour fire rated separation from other common areas and/or which function as a sole interior means of egress shall have approved smoke detectors installed at each floor level at either the ceiling of the landing or the high point of the sloped staircase soffit.
c. 
All basements, cellars or attics which lack a minimum of one hour fire rated smooth ceiling surface shall have approved smoke detectors installed at spacing not to exceed 300 square feet of floor space coverage per smoke detector, unless the detector is listed for a greater allowable spacing. One of such detectors shall be located at the ceiling of the first floor stair landing, or other approved location, where the earliest detection of fire would activate the alarm.
d. 
All basements, cellars or attics which have an existing approved minimum of one hour fire rated ceiling assembly shall have a minimum of one approved smoke detector per 625 square feet of area, unless the detector is listed for a greater allowable spacing. One of such detectors is to be located at the ceiling of the first floor stair landing, or other approved location, where the earliest detection of fire would activate the alarm.
Smoke detectors in all multiple dwellings shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of subsection 16-61.1, 16-61.2, 16-61.3 and 16-61.4 but shall not be battery operated. The power source shall be a direct connection to a dedicated electrical panel and said panel shall be marked as smoke detector circuits.
With the approval of the Code Official, heat detectors may be substituted for smoke detectors in those locations where frequent nuisance alarms would be likely to occur.