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.