[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Ewing as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Code enforcement — See Ch. 18.
Building construction — See Ch. 114.
[Adopted 11-24-1998 by Ord. No. 98-13 as Ch. 108 of the 1998 Code; amended in its entirety 10-10-2017 by Ord. No. 17-26]
[Amended 2-8-2022 by Ord. No. 22-04]
Pursuant to the State Uniform Fire Safety Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq., the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70-1 et seq., shall be enforced locally in the Township of Ewing, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:70-1 et seq.
[Amended 2-8-2022 by Ord. No. 22-04]
A. 
There is hereby established the title of Fire Official UFD, also known as the "Fire Official," who shall be appointed pursuant to Title 11A under the New Jersey Civil Service Act and shall possess a current and valid Fire Official Certificate issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
B. 
The Ewing Township Fire Prevention Bureau shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Official, who shall serve under the direct supervision and control of the Director of Public Safety and/or the Administrative Fire Director.
C. 
The Fire Official shall administer and direct the enforcement of provisions of relevant fire safety codes and related regulations, establish day-to-day operating routines of the code enforcement agency, coordinate and supervise the activities of any fire safety specialists or other staff employed by the Division, and respond to fire alarms and participates in extinguishing fires.
[Amended 2-8-2022 by Ord. No. 22-04]
A. 
There is hereby established the Ewing Township Fire Prevention Bureau within the Ewing Township Fire Department, which shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Official, who shall serve under the direct supervision and control of the Director of Public Safety and/or the Administrative Fire Director.
B. 
The local enforcing agency shall be the Ewing Township Fire Department.
[Amended 2-8-2022 by Ord. No. 22-04; 6-9-2025 by Ord. No. 25-19]
A. 
Appointments shall be as follows:
(1) 
Fire Official. An inspector, who has obtained all of the requirements for the appointment as Fire Official, may be appointed by the Director of Public Safety and/or the Administrative Fire Director.
(2) 
Acting Fire Official. An inspector, who has obtained all of the requirements for the appointment as Fire Official, may be appointed by the Director of Public Safety and/or the Administrative Fire Director with the advice and recommendation of the Fire Official. The Acting Fire Official may perform all of the duties of the Fire Official upon the Fire Official's absence, unavailability, or unwillingness to perform the duties of Fire Official.
(3) 
Fire Inspectors and employees. Fire Inspectors and other employees as may be necessary in the local enforcing agency shall be appointed by the Director of Public Safety and/or the Administrative Fire Director with the advice and recommendation of the Fire Official.
B. 
Terms of office and removal from office.
(1) 
Terms of Office. No term should be specified for Fire Official, Acting Fire Official, or Fire Inspector.
(2) 
Removal. The Fire Official, Fire Inspectors and other employees of the local enforcing agency shall be subject to removal for inefficiency or misconduct in accordance with local and state law.
[Added 6-9-2025 by Ord. No. 25-19[1]]
The Ewing Township Fire Prevention Bureau shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code and all related regulations in all buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries of the Township of Ewing.
A. 
Exceptions:
(1) 
Owner-occupied one- and two-family or attached single family structures used exclusively for dwelling purposes.
(2) 
Buildings owned or operated by the Federal government, the State, and interstate agencies.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also renumbered former §§ 187-5 through 187-15 as §§ 187-6 through 187-16 respectively.
[Amended 2-8-2022 by Ord. No. 22-04]
The Ewing Township Fire Prevention Bureau shall carry out the periodic inspections of life-hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.
Pursuant to the Uniform Fire Safety Act, any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcing agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of Mercer County.
[Amended 6-9-2025 by Ord. No. 25-19]
A. 
In addition to the fees required pursuant to the Uniform Fire Safety Act, the Uniform Fire Code and any other applicable regulations, fees shall be required as set forth in Chapter 172, Fees.
B. 
In addition to the inspections required by the State of New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, the following non-life-hazard uses shall be inspected by the Bureau of Fire Prevention. These non-life-hazard uses shall be inspected periodically except buildings deemed by the Fire Official to be inspected more frequently for possible fire hazards and compliance with State of New Jersey Uniform Fire Codes. These non-life-hazards shall pay an inspection fee as set forth in Chapter 172, Fees.
C. 
Registration. The owner of any premises required to be inspected under Subsection B above shall register with the local enforcing agency on forms to be provided by the agency. Upon any transfer of ownership, the new owner shall register with the agency within 30 days. The provisions of this section shall not apply to life-hazard uses which register with the state only.
[Adopted 2-14-2006 by Ord. No. 06-02]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
KNOX BOX
A secure rapid-entry system that is designed to be used by Fire Department personnel in the event of an emergency to gain entry into a structure by using the enclosed owner-provided key(s). This box is usually mounted on the exterior of the building in a location that is specified by the local Fire Official. All boxes shall be certified by UL (Underwriters' Laboratories) and approved by the Township Fire Official.
All new commercial buildings shall have installed a Knox Box, of a UL type and size approved by the Township Fire Official, in a location specified by the Township Fire Official, prior to the issuance of the permit of occupancy.
All existing commercial buildings constructing improvements that require Planning Board approval shall have installed a Knox Box, of a UL type and size approved by the Township Fire Official, in a location specified by the Township Fire Official, prior to the issuance of the construction permit.
[Amended 6-9-2025 by Ord. No. 25-19]
All existing commercial buildings equipped with automatic fire-detection and/or fire-suppression system shall have installed a Knox Box, of a UL type and size approved by the Township Fire Official, in a location specified by the Township Fire Official, within six months of the effective date of this article.
All multifamily residential structures that have restricted access through locked doors and have a common corridor for access to the living units shall have installed a Knox Box, of a UL type and size approved by the Township Fire Official, in a location specified by the Township Fire Official, within six months of the effective date of this article.
All Knox Boxes shall contain labeled keys, easily identified in the field, to provide access into the property and/or building and to any locked areas within the said building as the Township Fire Official may direct.
Any property or building owner failing to comply with or in violation of the terms of this article after notice from the Township Fire Official shall be subject to a fine of $100.
[Added 6-9-2025 by Ord. No. 25-19]
All commercial properties and multiple-family buildings and complexes must provide the Bureau of Fire Prevention with a list of the emergency contacts and service companies for use by emergency personnel on forms to be provided by the agency within 30 days of notice. Upon any transfer of ownership, the new owner shall update the emergency contact and service companies with the agency within 30 days.