[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Bellmawr as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Department — See Ch. 36.
Alarm systems — See Ch. 124.
Brush, grass, weeds and debris — See Ch. 146.
Unfit buildings — See Ch. 151.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 170.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 341.
Vacant property — See Ch. 347.
[Adopted 4-28-2011 by Ord. No. 02:02-11]
A. 
The permit fees established by the Uniform Fire Code shall be as provided in the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70 et seq.
B. 
Any organization, association or corporation which has been duly organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey with a nonprofit status may have the permit fee waived as would otherwise be required under the New Jersey Uniform Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70 et seq., for the following permit types: Type 1 permit and Type 2 permit.
C. 
Any request for a waiver shall be in writing to the Fire Marshal setting forth the reasons for the request and the type of life-hazard use anticipated.
D. 
All municipally owned buildings, fire or EMS stations, and houses of worship shall be exempt from payment of non-life-hazard registration fees.
[Adopted 8-25-2011 by Ord. No. 07:14-11]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-202), the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced in the municipality of Bellmawr.
A. 
The local enforcement agency shall be the Borough of Bellmawr Bureau of Fire Safety, which is hereby created in the Municipal Fire Department (N.J.S.A. 40A:14-7), through its designated agents, employees and assigns.
B. 
The local enforcing agency shall be known as the "Bellmawr Fire Department, Bureau of Fire Safety."
A. 
The Bureau of Fire Safety shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.) and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all buildings, structures, and premises within the established boundaries of Bellmawr other than owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings and shall faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the Uniform Fire Code and related regulations.
B. 
The Bureau of Fire Safety responds to fire alarms, drives or accompanies fire apparatus, and assists in extinguishing fires.
C. 
The Bureau of Fire Safety shall meet all job description requirements.
The Bureau of Fire Safety established by § 222-3A of this article shall carry out the periodic inspections of life-hazard uses as required by the Uniform Fire Code and N.J.A.C. 5:70 et seq. on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
The local enforcement agency established by § 222-3A of this article shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Director of Public Safety of the Borough of Bellmawr and will be part of the Municipal Fire Department.
A. 
Appointment of Fire Official. The Bureau of Fire Safety shall be under the direct supervision of the Fire Marshal who shall be appointed by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Bellmawr, upon the recommendation of the Mayor.
B. 
The Fire Marshal shall serve for a term of one year, and fire inspectors and the Fire Prevention Specialist shall serve for a term of one year.[1]
[Amended 9-28-2023 by Ord. No. 08:09-23]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 73, Art. X, Fire Prevention Specialist.
C. 
Inspectors and other employees. Such inspectors and other employees as may be necessary in the local enforcement agency shall be appointed by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Bellmawr, upon recommendation of the Mayor.
D. 
Minimum requirements; qualifications of Fire Marshal and Fire Inspectors. The Fire Marshal shall be certified by the Department of Community Affairs as Fire Official and licensed as a fire protection inspector. Fire inspectors shall by certified by the Department of Community Affairs as fire inspector. All shall be certified Firefighter 1 from the Department of Community Affairs.
E. 
Removal from office. Inspectors and other employees of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal by the Mayor and Council for inefficiency or misconduct. Each employee so removed shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the accepting authority or a designated hearing officer.
[Amended 4-28-2016 by Ord. No. 03:04-16]
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-206 and 52:27D-208, any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcement agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of Camden County.
In addition to the annual registration fee required pursuant to the Uniform Fire Safety Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq., and the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70 et seq., including all acts, amendments, and supplements thereto and all regulations adopted pursuant thereto, the following registration fees for all other structures, buildings, and uses not defined as life-hazard uses shall be required:
A. 
All commercial buildings, premises and uses shall be registered with the Bureau of Fire Safety and shall pay an annual registration fee.
B. 
All commercial buildings, premises and uses other than one- and two-family dwellings shall be registered at least once each year.
C. 
The annual registration fees shall be reflected in Chapter 210, Fees.
[Added 9-28-2023 by Ord. No. 08:09-23]
A. 
Signs and markings. Fire lanes and fire zones shall be appropriately posted with signs indicating the words "No Parking - Fire Lane" or "No Parking - Fire Zone" in red letters on a white background, with a red line bounding the perimeter of the sign, said sign to be a minimum of 12 inches by 18 inches, made with rust-resistant reflectorized coating, posted at the ends of each fire lane and at 100-foot intervals therein. Fire zone areas shall also be designated by covering the face and top of the curb or painting a four-inch line on the pavement of the prohibited area with a solid yellow color of paint. The above criteria for the painting of fire areas is to be considered the minimum, and additional painting may be placed on the site consisting of crosshatches, solid yellow areas or such other designations, in addition to the curb or four-inch strip on the pavement as may serve as to act as deterrent to parking in fire zones.
B. 
Fire lane enforcement.
(1) 
It shall be unlawful for anyone to park, block, or obstruct a fire lane or emergency access road at any time.
(2) 
The Fire Marshal and Fire Inspectors of the designated local enforcing agencies of the Borough of Bellmawr Fire Safety Bureau are empowered to issue summonses to any offending party.
(3) 
All such summonses will be on a form cognizable before the Municipal Court of the Borough of Bellmawr, and any and all hearings to be held in connection with any summonses issued hereunder shall be held before said Municipal Court pursuant to the penalty enforcement Law, N.J.S.A. 2A:58-10 et seq.
(4) 
The penalty for violation of Subsection B(1) shall be a maximum fine of $100 and, in addition thereto, the Police Department of the Borough of Bellmawr shall have the authority to cause said vehicle found in violation to be towed and stored at the owner's expense.
(5) 
Towing expense. Any vehicle that is towed as a result of a violation of this section shall be towed at the expense of the registered owner of such vehicle.
[Added 9-28-2023 by Ord. No. 08:09-23]
Chapter 3 of the International Fire Code New Jersey Edition shall be supplemented as follows:
A. 
For the purposes of this section, an approved outdoor fire shall be classified as any fire taking place on a residential property within Borough of Bellmawr for the sole purpose of providing warmth, recreation, heating, cooking, and ceremonial use.
(1) 
Fuel for outdoor fires shall be limited to seasoned firewood, natural gas or propane.
(2) 
Fire pits shall not exceed three feet in diameter and two feet in height total fuel area.
(a) 
Fire pits shall not be located within 25 feet of a structure, combustible materials, combustible vegetation and/or property lines.
(3) 
Fire in approved containers are defined as chimineas and/or other commercially manufactured containers designed and built for its specific use for seasoned firewood, natural gas, or propane.
(a) 
Approved containers shall not be located within 15 feet of a structure, combustible materials, combustible vegetation and property lines.
(b) 
Approved containers shall not be located in or on any residential/apartment unit; porch, balcony, covered patio area or any other private area of an apartment or multifamily dwelling unit.
B. 
Outdoor fire enforcement.
(1) 
The Fire Marshal, Fire Inspectors and Fire Chief(s) of the Bellmawr Fire Department or mutual aid personnel acting on their behalf are empowered to have any outdoor fire extinguished for the following reasons:
(a) 
A complaint is filed in regards to a smoke condition.
(b) 
Any unsafe condition is determined by the fire department.
(c) 
If NJ's forestry service has determined drought conditions.
[Added 9-28-2023 by Ord. No. 08:09-23]
Chapter 5 of the New Jersey International Fire Code New Jersey Edition shall be supplemented to add as follows:
All doorway entrances and/or exits for commercial establishments shall have printed thereon, in block letters, at least three inches high and approximately six inches from the top of the doorway, in conspicuously contrasting colors, the name of the commercial establishment located therein; provided, however, that there shall be exempt from this requirement such main entrance or entrances as are otherwise conspicuously and clearly marked with the identity of the commercial establishment located therein. It is the intent of this provision that emergency personnel arriving at the scene of a fire or other emergency have immediate identification of access routes to commercial occupancies located in a particular commercial building or buildings.
[Added 9-28-2023 by Ord. No. 08:09-23]
Chapter 10 of the International Fire Code New Jersey Edition shall be supplemented as follows:
A. 
In all motels/hotels, R-1, and business occupancies more than three stories in height, the building owner will have the responsibility to install the following:
(1) 
On all stair tower doors placed on the stair side of the door, six-inch reflective lettering that will designate the Fire Department division by letter A, B, C, or D, as designated and approved by the Fire Marshal, followed by a dash, then the number which corresponds to the floor.
Example: A stair tower that exits to the front of the building will identify that you are on the seventh floor; the door marking would be A-7.
(2) 
The above-described lettering will be in the door itself, six inches to eight inches from the floor (stairwell side).
(3) 
The color of the lettering will be of a contrasting color to the door, legible during both daylight and night vision.
[Added 9-28-2023 by Ord. No. 08:09-23]
Chapter 3 of the International Fire Code New Jersey Edition shall be supplemented as follows:
A. 
Trash enclosures, dumpsters, and compactors containing combustibles shall not be placed in buildings of within 15 feet of exterior of a building wall, openings, or roof eave line.
Exception: Area protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with N.F.P.A. 13.
[Added 9-28-2023 by Ord. No. 08:09-23]
Chapter 5 of the International Fire Code New Jersey Edition shall be supplemented as follows:
A. 
Criteria for requirements. The owner, tenant, and/or occupant(s) of the following types of building(s) or structure(s) to have installed on their building(s) or structure(s) a rapid-entry key box, to be located in an accessible location, as determined by the Fire Marshal:
(1) 
All hotels, motels or multiple dwellings that are occupied throughout the day or night and have common corridors to living units or spaces.
(2) 
Any property that utilizes a locked gate to control vehicle access to the property.
(3) 
All structures protected by an automatic alarm system or automatic fire-suppression system.
(4) 
Any building equipped with an elevator.
(5) 
Any structure deemed by the Fire Official that would be difficult to access because of secured openings.
(6) 
Exception: any property protected by on-site twenty-four-hour, seven-days-a-week security guard service, maintenance or nursing staff; one- and two-family dwellings.
B. 
Approval of system type; keys. The type of rapid-entry-key-box system to be installed shall be approved by the Bureau of Fire Safety prior to the purchase of same. The Bureau of Fire Safety may request, and the owner of the building or structure concerned shall provide, two sets of keys for the following areas within the building or structure: pass or master keys, as may be available; boiler rooms; sprinkler rooms and control valves; fire alarm control panel; electrical rooms; elevators and elevator control rooms; and such other room(s) or door(s) requested by the Fire Department where entry may be required.
C. 
Additional materials as deemed necessary. In addition to keys, combination access codes for locks and doors shall be stored within the rapid-key-box-entry system. Material safety data sheets, emergency contact numbers and other pertinent information as may be deemed necessary to deal with emergencies at the site may be required to be within the rapid-key-box-entry system as well.
D. 
Time frame for compliance. All new buildings meeting the criteria of § 222-15, constructed after the effective date of this section, shall have a rapid-entry key box installed and operational prior to issuance of certificate of occupancy, and all existing buildings, within 90 days of the effective date of this article, shall be provided with a rapid-entry key box.
E. 
Privacy protection. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other subsection of this section, no official, employee or member of the Bureau of Fire Safety or Fire Department shall request, nor shall an owner be required to provide, a key to any self-contained, individual living space area, unit or room.
F. 
Keys and information kept up-to-date. The owner or operator of any occupancy or structure that requires a rapid-entry-key-box system shall be required to have kept therein updated keys and documents for all locks and structures as required at all times.
G. 
Violations and penalties. Violators of this article shall be subject to penalties as set forth in the Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.12.
[266A]