The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall
have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY
The Department of Code Enforcement of Plainsboro Township
which is authorized to administer the provisions of this chapter.
AGENT
A person who is legally empowered to act for the owner of
property by the expressed or implied authority of the owner.
APPLIANCE
A device which utilizes fuel or other energy to produce heat,
power refrigeration, air conditioning or perform a specific mechanical
function, including but not limited to washers, dryers, dishwashers,
refrigerators, etc.
APPROVED
Approved by the Housing Division of Plainsboro Township or
its duly authorized representative.
ATTIC
The unfinished space between the ceiling assembly and the
roof assembly.
BASEMENT
That portion of a building that is partly or completely below
grade.
BATHROOM
Any enclosed space containing one or more bathtubs, or showers,
or both, and which also may contain water closets, lavatories or fixtures
serving similar purposes.
BUILDING
A structure built, erected and framed of component structural
parts designed for the housing, shelter, enclosure and support of
individuals, animals or property of any kind which is enclosed within
exterior walls on all sides.
BUYER
A person or persons who buy property or a part thereof, including
a single-family home, a townhome or condominium unit.
CEILING HEIGHT
Vertical distance between the finished floor and the finished
ceiling.
CHIMNEY
A primary vertical structure containing one or more flues,
for the purpose of carrying gaseous products of combustion and air
from a fuel-burning appliance to the outside atmosphere.
CODE OFFICIAL
The official who is charged with the administration and enforcement
of this code, or any duly authorized representative.
CONDOMINIUM
The form of ownership of real property under a master deed
providing for ownership by one or more owners of units, together with
an undivided interest in common elements appurtenant to each such
unit.
COOPERATIVE
A housing corporation or association which entitles the holder
of a share or membership interest thereof to possess and occupy for
dwelling purposes a house, apartment or other structure owned or leased
by said corporation or association, or to lease or purchase a dwelling
constructed or to be constructed by said corporation or association.
COURT
A space, open and unobstructed to the sky, located at or
above grade level on a lot and bounded on three or more sides by walls
or a building.
CRAWL SPACE
An underfloor space that is not a basement.
DESIGN WINTER CONDITIONS
The design temperature at the nearest locality reported in
the latest edition of the Handbook of the American Society of Heating,
Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
DETERIORATION
To weaken, disintegrate, corrode, rust or decay and lose
effectiveness.
DUCT
A tube or conduit utilized for conveying air. The air passages
of self-contained systems are not to be construed as air ducts.
DWELLING
Any building that contains one or two dwelling units used,
intended, or designed to be used, rented, or leased to be occupied,
or that are occupied for living purposes.
DWELLING UNIT
A single unit providing complete independent living facilities
for one or more persons living as a single housekeeping unit, including
permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.
EGRESS or MEANS OF EGRESS
A continuous and unobstructed path of travel from any point
in a building or structure to a public way and consists of three separate
and distinct parts: the exit access; the exit; and the exit discharge.
A means of egress comprises the vertical and horizontal means of travel
and shall include intervening room spaces, doors, hallways, corridors,
passageways, balconies, ramps, stairs, enclosures, lobbies, escalators,
horizontal exits, courts, aisles and yards.
FLOOR AREA
The projected horizontal area enclosed inside of walls, partitions,
or other enclosed construction.
FLUE
An enclosed passageway in a chimney to carry products of
combustion to the outer air.
GARBAGE
Rubbish and refuse as defined in this section.
GRADE
A reference plane representing the average of finished ground
level adjoining the building at all exterior walls.
HABITABLE ROOM
A residential room or space, having an area exceeding 59
square feet in which the ordinary functions of domestic life are carried
on, and which includes bedrooms, living rooms, studies, recreation
rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, and other similar spaces, but does
not include closets, halls, stairs, laundry rooms, or bathrooms.
INFESTATION
The presence, within or contiguous to a structure or premises,
of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests.
KITCHEN
Any room or part of a room used for cooking or the preparation
of food.
LEADER
A vertical drainage pipe for conveying stormwater from roof
or gutter drains to a building house storm drain, building house drain
(combined) or other means of disposal. The leader shall include the
horizontal pipe to a single roof drain or gutter drain.
LIVE LOAD
All occupants, materials, equipment, constructions or other
elements of weight supported in, on or by a building that will or
are likely to be moved or relocated during the expected life of the
building.
MAINTENANCE PERSON
A person employed to provide janitorial services, make minor
repairs, clean common areas, prepares rental units for reoccupancy
and provide twenty-four-hour emergency service.
MANAGING AGENT
The person who may be contacted at any time and who has authority
to make emergency decisions concerning the building and any repair
thereto or expenditure in connection therewith.
MECHANICAL VENTILATION
The process of introducing outdoor air into or removing vitiated
air from a building or room by mechanical means. A mechanical ventilating
system may include air heating, air cooling or air conditioning components.
MINOR
Any person who is under the age of 18.
MULTIPLE DWELLING
A.
Any building or structure and any land appurtenant thereto,
and any portion thereof, in which three or more dwelling units are
occupied or intended to be occupied by three or more persons living
independently of each other. "Multiple dwelling" also means any group
of 10 or more buildings on a single parcel of land or on contiguous
parcels under common ownership, in each of which two dwelling units
are occupied or intended to be occupied by two persons or households
living independently of each other, and any land appurtenant thereto,
and any portion thereof.
B.
"Multiple dwelling" does not include those buildings and structures
that are excluded by statute.
MUTUAL HOUSING CORPORATION
A not-for-profit corporation incorporated under the laws
of the State of New Jersey on a mutual or cooperative basis within
the scope of the Lanham War Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1501
et seq., which acquired a National Defense Housing Project pursuant
to said act.
NATURAL VENTILATION
Ventilation by opening to outer air through windows, skylights,
doors, louvers or stacks with or without wind-driven devices.
NFPA
The National Fire Protection Association.
OCCUPANCY
The purpose or activity for which a building or space is
used or is designed or intended to be used.
OCCUPANT
Any person or persons, including guests, in actual physical
possession or occupancy of a unit of dwelling space on a regular basis.
For purposes of assigning specific duties or responsibilities, the
term "occupant," unless the text indicates otherwise, shall mean the
tenant, lessee, head of the family or household, or other adult person
or emancipated minor assuming basic responsibility for the continued
renting or occupancy of the dwelling space.
OCCUPIABLE ROOM
A room or space, other than a habitable room, designed for
human occupancy or use, in which persons may remain for a period of
time for rest, amusement, dining, shopping, storing goods or other
similar purposes, or in which persons may be engaged at work.
ORDER
A directive issued by an authorized agency mandating action
or forbearance.
OWNER
Any person, firm or corporation who has legal title to any
dwelling or dwelling unit, with or without accompanying actual possession
thereof; or shall have charge, care or control of any dwelling or
dwelling unit as owner, executor, administrator, administrative trustee
or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any person representing the
"owner" shall be his agent and bound to comply with the provisions
of this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto,
to the same extent as if he were the owner. Usage of the term "owner"
herein shall include and encompass the owner's agent and employee.
PARTITION
A vertical unit or assembly of materials that separates one
space from another within any story of a building.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, association, or other entity.
PLUMBING
The practice, materials, and fixtures used in the installation,
maintenance, extension, and alteration of all piping, fixtures, appliances,
equipment and appurtenances in connection with any of the following:
sanitary drainage or storm drainage facilities, the venting system
and the public or private water supply systems, within or adjacent
to any building; also the practice and materials used in the installation,
maintenance, extension or alteration of stormwater, liquid waste,
or sewerage, and water-supply systems of any premises and their connection
with any point or public disposal or other acceptable terminal.
PLUMBING FIXTURES
Installed receptacles, devices, or appliances that are supplied
with water or which receive or discharge liquids or liquid-borne waste.
POTABLE WATER
Water free from impurities present in amounts sufficient
to cause disease or harmful physiological effects. Its bacteriological
and chemical quality shall conform to the requirements of the Department
of Health.
PREMISES
Land, improvements thereon, or any part thereof.
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Any equipment, device, system or apparatus required or permitted
to be constructed or installed for the protection of occupants, intended
occupants or the general public.
REFUSE
All putrescible solid waste (except body waste), including
but not limited to garbage, rubbish, ashes, street cleanings, dead
animals, abandoned automobiles, and solid market and industrial wastes.
ROOF
The topmost slab or deck of a building, either flat or sloping
with its supporting members, not including vertical support.
RUBBISH
Nonputrescible solid waste consisting of both combustible
and noncombustible waste, such as paper, wrappings, cigarettes, tin
cans, yard clippings, leaves, wood, glass, bedding, crockery and similar
materials.
SELF-CLOSING
As applied to an opening protective, means a door, window,
damper, or other device and its assembly that is normally kept in
a closed position and that is equipped with an approved device to
insure immediate closing after having been opened for use.
SHALL
As in this chapter, is to be construed as mandatory.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL
Rental or lease of any primary or secondary dwelling unit
or sleeping unit, in whole or part, to any person(s) for exclusive
transient use for not more than 30 days, in instances where the dwelling
unit is only approved for permanent residential occupancy and not
approved for transient use is prohibited.
SINK
A plumbing fixture located in a kitchen area and used exclusively
for food preparation operations.
SLEEPING UNIT
A room or space in which people sleep, which can also include
permanent provisions for living, eating and either sanitation or kitchen
facilities, but not both. Such rooms and spaces that are also part
of a dwelling unit are not sleeping units.
STORY
That portion of a building that is between a floor level
and the next higher level or roof above.
STREET
A thoroughfare dedicated or devoted to public use by legal
mapping or other lawful means.
STRUCTURE
That which is built or constructed.
TRANSIENT
Occupancy of a dwelling unit or sleeping unit for not more
than 30 days.
USABLE FLOOR AREA
That part of the floor area within a unit of dwelling space
that can be considered usable for general living purposes, excluding
areas devoted to built-in equipment, such as wardrobes, cabinets,
closets, kitchen units, and equipment or fixtures which are not readily
available for use as floor area.
VENTILATION
The natural or mechanical process of supplying conditioned
or unconditioned air to, or removing such air from, any space.
WATER DISTRIBUTION PIPING
The pipes in a building or premises that convey water from
the water service pipe to the plumbing fixtures and other water outlets.
WATER SERVICE PIPE
The pipe from the water (street) main or other source of
water supply to the building served.
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
The water service pipe, the water distribution piping, and
all of the necessary connecting pipes, fittings, control valves, and
appurtenances used for conveying water in the plumbing system.
WORKMANLIKE
Executed in a skilled manner, e.g., generally plumb, level,
square, in line, undamaged and without marring adjacent work.
WORKMANSHIP
All work shall be conducted, installed and completed in a
workmanlike and acceptable manner so as to secure the results intended
by this code.