[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the City of Union City 12-6-2016. Amendments noted where applicable.]
AUTOMATIC DIALER
Shall refer to a device that automatically dials and relays a prerecorded message to a central station or the Fire Department.
AUTOMATIC FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
Refers to a system or assembly of piping valves, controls, and sprinklers, which are designed and installed to comply with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, which utilize water, foam, carbon dioxide, or other gas to automatically need to suppress fire.
CENTRAL STATION
Shall refer to an office of a private company to which remote alarm and supervisory signaling devices are transmitted and where personnel are in attendance at all times to supervise the circuits and investigate signals.
CONSTRUCTION OFFICIAL
Shall refer to the City's Construction Code Official or his/her designee.
FIRE CHIEF
Shall refer to the Chief of the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue or his/her designee.
FIRE OFFICIAL
Shall refer to the City's Fire Official or his/her designee.
KEY LOCK BOX
Shall refer to a secure rapid entry system that is designated to be used by Fire Department personnel in the event of an emergency to gain entry into a structure by using the enclosed-provided key(s). This box is usually mounted on the exterior of the building in a location that is specified by the Construction Official. All boxes shall be Underwriters Laboratories ("UL") certified, Knox Box® brand, and approved by the Construction Official and the Fire Official.
STANDPIPE SYSTEM
Shall refer to a wet or dry system of piping, valves, outlets and related equipment designated to provide water as specified pressures and installed exclusively for the fighting of fires.
Unless otherwise determined in writing by the Construction Official, the following structures shall be equipped with a key lock box of a type and size at a location approved by the Construction Official:
A. 
All new commercial buildings shall be equipped with a key lock box prior to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
B. 
All existing commercial buildings constructing additions, major renovation, or changes of use that require the City Zoning or Planning Board approval, shall be equipped with a key lock box prior to the issuance of any necessary permits.
C. 
All existing commercial buildings with new occupancies by tenants shall be equipped with a key lock box prior to the issuance of a certificate of continued occupancy.
D. 
Each building protected by an automatic fire suppression and/or standpipe system and not manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
E. 
Each building protected by an automatic fire alarm system (automatic dialer central station, external audible/visual alarm) and not manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
F. 
Multifamily residential structures with 10 or more units that have restricted access through locked doors but have a common corridor for access to the living units, including but not limited to condominium buildings.
[Amended 5-16-2017]
G. 
Schools, whether public or private.
H. 
Governmental structures and nursing care facilities, unless the building is staffed or open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A. 
The property owner is required at all times to keep a key(s) in the key lock box that will allow access to the structure. The key lock box shall contain, but not be limited to, the following items as designated by the Fire Official:
(1) 
Labeled keys to locked points of ingress and egress, whether in interior or exterior of such buildings;
(2) 
Labeled keys to the locked elevator rooms and controls;
(3) 
Labeled keys to locked elevators rooms and controls;
(4) 
Labeled keys to any fence or secured areas;
(5) 
Labeled keys to areas of the building where fire alarm panels and fire protection systems are located;
(6) 
Labeled keys to any other areas that may be required by the Fire Official;
(7) 
A card containing the emergency contact names and phone numbers for such buildings;
(8) 
Floor plans of the rooms within the building showing locations of shutoffs;
(9) 
Hazardous materials information; and
(10) 
An inventory of keys.
B. 
The property owner shall notify the Fire Department when any or all of the locks or keys have been changed and shall keep the immediate area of the key lock box free and clear of any and all obstructions.
The property owner shall apply for a registration for a key lock box on forms provided by and obtained from the Fire Official. A registration is required prior to the installation of a key lock box in order to verify the proper size, mounting location and installation of said key lock box. The key lock box shall be installed at a location approved by the Construction Official. No key lock box shall be installed, voluntarily or otherwise, without first obtaining the approval of the Construction Official. The property owner shall be responsible for the costs to purchase, install, and maintain the key lock box.
All existing buildings required to have a key lock box shall comply with this chapter one year from its effective date. All newly constructed buildings not yet occupied or buildings currently under construction and all buildings or businesses applying for a certificate of occupancy shall comply immediately upon passage of this chapter. In any event, the owner of the structures in the City shall comply with this chapter within 60 days from receipt of written notice from the Construction Official. The cost of purchasing and installing along with any cost associated with implementation of the program at a specific property will be borne by the property owner.
Any property owner failing to comply with this chapter shall be subject to a fine of not more than $300 for each day of violation or noncompliance to be issued by the Construction Official or Fire Official.
The provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable and if any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof for any reason be held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not effect the validity of the remaining sections, subsections, sentences, clauses and phrases of this chapter, but shall remain in effect; it being the legislative intent that this chapter shall stand notwithstanding the invalidity of any part.
All ordinances or parts thereof in conflict or inconsistent with this chapter are hereby repealed, but only, however, to the extent of such conflict or inconsistency, it being the legislative intent that all ordinances or part of ordinances now existing or in effect unless the same be in conflict or inconsistent with any provision of this chapter shall remain in effect.