Prior ordinance history includes portions of Ordinances
1973 Code § 5:2-2; Ord. No. 11-11-74; Ord. No. 8-8-85; Ord.
No. 97-628; Ord. No. 2003-680; Ord. No. 2013-796.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
There are hereby adopted by the Township Committee, of the Township
of Green Brook, for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing
conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion,
those certain codes known as the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983,
c. 383, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.) the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act, the New
Jersey Uniform Fire Code adopted as N.J.A.C. 5:70-1 et seq., shall
be enforced locally within the established limits of the Township
of Green Brook.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
The local enforcing agency shall be the Green Brook Bureau of
Fire Safety.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
The Bureau of Fire Safety is hereby established and shall be
part of the Fire Department of the Township.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
a.
The Fire Official, Fire Chief, and the Township Administrator or
the Township Administrator's designee shall serve as a committee
supervising the operation of the Bureau of Fire Safety.
b.
The Fire Official shall direct the daily operations of the Bureau
of Fire Safety.
c.
Fire Inspectors and other employees, as necessary to enforce and
administrate the Uniform Fire Code shall be appointed by the Township
Administrator.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
a.
The Bureau of Fire Safety shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act
and the Codes and Regulations under it in all buildings, structures,
and premises within the established boundaries of the Township of
Green Brook, other than owner-occupied one and two family dwellings,
and shall faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire
Safety Act and Uniform Fire Code.
b.
The duties of the Fire Official and Fire Inspectors shall be set
forth under N.J.A.C. 5:71-3.3.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
a.
The appointment of the Fire Official shall be made by the Township
Committee upon recommendation of the Fire Chief and Township Administrator.
The person appointed must be certified by the Commissioner of the
Department of Community Affairs at the time of appointment.
b.
The appointment of Fire Inspectors and other employees shall be made
by the Township Administrator upon the recommendation of the Fire
Official and Fire Chief. Persons appointed as Fire Inspectors shall
be certified by the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs
at the time of appointment.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
a.
The Fire Official shall serve for a term of three years commencing
on January 1 of the appointment year. Any vacancy shall be fulfilled
within 45 days for the unexpired term.
b.
Fire Inspectors and other employees shall serve a term of one year.
The term of appointment shall commence on January 1, and expire on
December 31, or until their successor is appointed. Any appointment
to fill a vacancy or added position shall expire on December 31 of
the appointment year.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
a.
Any employee of the Bureau of Fire Safety not maintaining the required
level of certification under the New Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act
shall be deemed to have resigned their appointment.
b.
Inspectors and other employees of the enforcing agency shall be subject
to removal by the Township Administrator upon recommendation of the
Fire Official and/or Fire Chief for inefficiency or misconduct.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
All businesses and buildings other than one and two family owner
occupied dwellings located within the established limits of the Township
of Green Brook shall register with the Bureau of Fire Safety.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
The Bureau of Fire Safety shall register and carry out the periodic
inspections of life hazard uses as required by the Uniform Fire Code
on behalf of the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
The Bureau of Fire Safety shall register and inspect all buildings,
structures, and premises, other than owner occupied one and two family
dwellings within the established boundaries of the Township of Green
Brook.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
Permits shall be required and obtained from the Bureau of Fire
Safety for all activities specified in N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.7, except where
they are an integral part of a process or activity by reason of which
a use is required to be registered and regulated as a life hazard
use. Permits shall at all times be kept in the premises designated
therein and shall at all times be subject to inspection by the Bureau
of Fire Safety.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
All life hazard use fees shall be collected and distributed
by the State of New Jersey, Division of Fire Safety as provided in
N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9. The Bureau of Fire Safety shall assist the Division
of Fire Safety in collection of fees when required.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
The inspection fee for all inspections not otherwise established
shall be at a rate of $60 per hour. The minimum inspection fee shall
be $30 and the Fire Official shall have the discretion to limit the
fee to $60 or waive any portion of the inspection fees over $60.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
Permit fees shall be consistent with the prevailing fees established
by the Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9 and collected by the Bureau
of Fire Safety.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
Pursuant to Section 15 and Section 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety
Act, any person aggrieved by any order of the Bureau of Fire Safety
shall have the right to appeal to the Somerset County Construction
Board of Appeals as provided for in N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.19.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
The Bureau of Fire Safety shall issue and collect penalties,
dedicated penalties, and Fire Department costs pursuant to N.J.A.C.
5:70-12 and 12A.
[Ord. No. 2016-831; amended 2-19-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-860]
Before any one- and two-family or attached single-family structure
is sold, leased or otherwise made subject to a change of occupancy
for residential purposes, the owner shall obtain a Certificate of
Smoke Alarm, Carbon Monoxide Alarm and Portable Fire Extinguisher
Compliance (CSACMAPFEC), evidencing compliance with N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.19,
from the appropriate enforcing agency.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
The enforcing agency is the Bureau of Fire Safety of the Township
of Green Brook, and the issuing officer shall be the Fire Official
or his/her duly designated deputy. In lieu if inspection, the Fire
Official may accept written verification from a licensed architect,
licensed electrician, professional engineer, Fire Protection Subcode
Inspector, certified Fire Official or Fire Inspector.
[Ord. No. 2016-831; amended 2-19-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-860; 4-1-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-863]
The fee for a Certificate of Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide
Alarm Compliance shall be [consistent with the prevailing fee structure
set forth in N.J.A.C.5:70-2.9] based on when the application is received
as follows: more than 10 business days prior to change of occupant
$50; 4 to 10 business days prior to change of occupant $90; less than
4 business days prior to change of occupant $161. A CSACMAPFEC shall
not be transferable. If the change of occupancy specified in the application
for a CSACMAPFEC does not occur within six months, a new application
and fee shall be required. The inspection fee will cover the initial
inspection plus one re-inspection. If the required smoke detectors
or carbon monoxide alarms are not present and functioning properly
upon re-inspection, a new application and $50 fee shall be required.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
The Bureau of Fire Safety shall conduct the required inspection
within two weeks of receiving the application.
[Added 2-19-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-860]
Smoke Alarms shall not remain in service longer than 10 years
from date of manufacture, unless otherwise provided by the manufacturer’s
published instructions. Combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms shall
be replaced when the end of life signal activates or 10 years from
the date of manufacture, whichever comes first, unless otherwise provided
by the manufacturer’s published instructions.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
All prior ordinances of the Township of Green Brook relating
to Fire Prevention and the Bureau of Fire Prevention are hereby repealed.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
If any provision of this ordinance or the application thereof
to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity shall
not affect other provisions or applications of the ordinance which
can be given effect and to this end the provisions of the ordinance
are severable.
[Ord. No. 2016-831]
When any provision of this ordinance is found to be in conflict
with any zoning, safety, health, or other applicable law, ordinance
or code, the provision which establishes the higher standard for the
promotion and protection of the safety and welfare of the public shall
prevail.
[Ord. No. 2000-659 § 1]
The following words, as used in this section, shall have the
meanings set forth below unless the context in which the word is used
clearly requires a different meaning.
Shall mean any of the structures or buildings described in subsection 11-6.2 below.
Shall mean July 1, 2001, the date by which all affected structures
and affected buildings in Green Brook Township must be fitted with
an approved rapid entry box system.
Shall mean the instrument used to gain access to the various
rapid entry system boxes to be utilized as a result of the provisions
of this Ordinance. The Fire Chief shall establish a system of security
and procedure to limit access to Master Keys to authorized personnel
in times of emergency. The Fire Chief shall, to the extent feasible
and practical, use the latest technological advances available to
preserve and enhance the security of Master Keys.
Shall mean a residential building containing three or more
dwelling units.
Shall mean a locking vault-like container permanently mounted
into the affected structure or building and accessible from the outside
of such structure or building and being capable of being opened by
a master key.
[Ord. No. 2000-659 § 2]
The following structures or buildings shall have installed a
Rapid Entry Box System by July 1, 2001:
a.
Buildings having automatic fire detection or suppression systems;
b.
Industrial or warehouse buildings or structures;
c.
Hotels, motels or multiple dwellings which have locked main entrances
at any time during the day or night or which have locked boiler rooms,
electrical rooms, basements, sprinkler control rooms or elevator control
rooms:
d.
Educational and day care buildings or structures;
e.
Mercantile buildings or structures including shopping centers;
f.
Office buildings or structures; and
g.
Buildings or structures of public assembly, including churches, restaurants
and movie theatres.
[Ord. No. 2000-659 § 3]
In addition to the above, the following properties shall be
equipped with a high- security padlock or a high security key switch:
all commercial and industrial properties protected by fences, gates
and related barriers which are secured by padlocks, electronically
operated or automatic gates, or other control circuits.
[Ord. No. 2000-659 § 3]
The following buildings or structures are exempt from the requirements
of this Ordinance:
[Ord. No. 2000-659 § 5]
a.
Each affected building or structure shall have an appropriate rapid
entry box permanently mounted at the main entrance to the building
or at the main gate into the property. The rapid entry box should
be accessible from outside the structure or building and placed at
a minimum height of five feet and a maximum height of six feet above
final grade, or as otherwise approved by the Fire Chief. The location
on the outside of the building or structures shall be of a type conforming
to general specifications promulgated by the Fire Chief so as to achieve,
as nearly as possible, uniformity among similar types of structures
in order to promote quick accessibility upon arrival of fire personnel
at the scene of an emergency. Each rapid entry box shall be of sufficient
size and configuration to allow the required contents as set forth
in subsection 11- 6.6 below to be conveniently stored therein. In
order to assure acceptability of the rapid entry box chosen, each
owner, tenant, or other responsible party of each affected structure
or building must request approval from the Fire Chief as to the size
and configuration of the proposed rapid entry box prior to installation.
b.
All rapid entry boxes, high security padlocks or key switches installed
pursuant to this section must be Underwriter Laboratories certified
and approved by the Fire Chief.
c.
High security padlocks or key switches shall be installed in a location
approved by the Fire Chief.
[Ord. No. 2000-659 § 6]
The rapid entry box for each building or structure shall contain
a separately and clearly labeled key for each locked area within the
building or structure (for example, boiler rooms, electrical rooms,
sprinkler control rooms, elevator control rooms, etc.)
[Ord. No. 2000-659 § 7]
The rapid entry box for each building or structure which is
equipped with a building security system shall be connected to the
security system.
[Ord. No. 2000-659 § 8]
The owner, tenant or other responsible party for any affected
structure not in compliance after July 1, 2001 is subject to an initial
minimum fine of $200 and additional fines of $50 for each calendar
month or fraction thereof during which the structure remains noncompliant.
[Ord. No. 2007-724]
Except for detached one and two-family residential structures
of R-3 Use Classification:
a.
No cooking equipment, including but not limited to barbecue grills,
charcoal grills, hibachi grills, propane and other gas-fueled grills,
and electric grills shall be stored or used on any porch, balcony,
deck or other similar portion of a building or under any building
overhang.
b.
No outdoor cooking equipment, including those specifically listed
above, shall be used within any room or space of a building, within
10 feet of any combustible exterior wall, or within 10 feet vertically
or horizontally of an opening in any wall.
c.
There shall be no storage of propane or any other fuel on any porch,
balcony, deck or other similar portion of a building, within any room
or space of a building, or within 10 feet vertically or horizontally
of an opening in any wall.
[Ord. No. 2007-724]
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions
of the code or failing to comply with any order issued pursuant to
any section thereof, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by
a fine not exceeding $2,000, or by imprisonment in the County Jail
for not exceeding 90 days or any combination of the above.
[Ord. No. 2007-724]
This section shall take effect October 1, 2007 following publication
after final adoption as provided by law.
