[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Woolwich 10-7-1985 by Ord. No. 85-2. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 1-20-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-01; 7-19-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-31; 12-30-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-27]
A. 
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383),[1] the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code (N.J.A.C. 5:70-1 et seq.) shall be locally enforced in the Township of Woolwich.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-202.
B. 
All applications shall be submitted to the Fire Bureau Official's office prior to the JLUB taking action on any application for major site plan or major subdivision.
C. 
Plans shall provide a plan of action for fire safety, pavement marking, fire zones, hydrant locations, FDCs, safe fire truck access, clear zones, etc., at the time of preliminary site plan or subdivision application.
D. 
Any local approvals should be contingent upon the applicant obtaining approval of the development from the Fire Bureau Official.
[Amended 1-20-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-01; 7-19-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-31]
The local enforcing agency shall be the Swedesboro Fire Bureau. The Swedesboro Fire Bureau shall hereinafter be known as the local enforcement agency.
[Amended 1-20-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-01; 7-19-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-31]
A. 
The local enforcing agency shall enforce the Uniform Fire Code in all buildings, structures, and premises within the established boundaries of the Township of Woolwich other than one- and two-unit owner-occupied dwellings used exclusively for dwelling purposes and buildings, structures and premises owned or operated by the federal government, interstate agencies or the state.
B. 
The local enforcing agency shall faithfully comply with all the pertinent requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the Uniform Fire Code.
[Added 7-19-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10;[1] amended 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-31]
The Township of Woolwich shall defer to the Swedesboro Fire Bureau Ordinance for matters governed by organization, appointments, qualifications, term of office, removal, inspections of both life hazard uses and non-life-hazard uses, permits and inspection fees, Board of Appeals, enforcement, violations and penalties, and any other provisions of the Swedesboro Fire Bureau Ordinance not otherwise inconsistent with this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance superseded former § 99-4, Life hazard uses, as amended 1-20-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-01.
[Added 7-19-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10; amended 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-31]
This chapter shall be effective upon passage and publication as required by law along with the release of the executive order prohibiting LEA transfers (Order No. 103).
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 99-5, Organization, was repealed 1-20-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-01.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 99-6, Appointments; terms of office; removal, was repealed 1-20-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-01. The following former sections, amended as noted, were superseded 7-19-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10 (see § 99-4, Miscellaneous provisions, above): § 99-7, Appeals, amended 1-20-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-01; § 99-8, Additional required inspections and fees, amended 9-16-2002 by Ord. No. 02-13; § 99-9, Permits for activities and uses, amended 5-5-1986 by Ord. No. 86-4; 3-6-1989 by Ord. No. 89-3; 9-16-2002 by Ord. No. 02-13; § 99-10, Notice of violation, amended 1-20-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-01; § 99-11, Violations and penalties, added 3-15-1999 by Ord. No. 99-6. In addition, original Section 11, added 3-6-1989 by Ord. No. 89-3, regarding pallet yard operations and wood chipping, which immediately followed former § 99-10, was deleted 3-15-1999 by Ord. No. 99-6. See now § 99-12, Pallet yard operations and storage, including wood chipping operations.
A. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PALLET
A portable platform of wood or other material for handling, storage or movement of materials and packages in warehouses, factories, or vehicles, including those portable platforms in partial disrepair.
WOOD CHIPPING
Pallets or other wood products such as construction lumber, stumps or trees, which are ground, chipped or pulverized.
B. 
Yard maintenance and storage.
(1) 
Outside storage of pallets shall be piled with due regard to stability of piles and in no case higher than 12 feet.
(2) 
Wood chipping shall be piled no higher than 12 feet, with side slopes no greater than 60°.
(3) 
Driveways shall be so spaced that maximum grid systems for pallets is not over 50 feet by 150 feet. Grid systems for wood-chip piles being no larger than 30 by 90 feet in length and width. Pile-to-pile clearance of at least 30 feet at the base of the piles shall be provided.
(4) 
Driveways shall have a minimum width of 15 feet and an all-weather surface capable of supporting fire department apparatus.
(5) 
Where the yard has earth or crushed stone drives, boundary posts with signs designating stack limits shall be provided to indicate yard area and alley limits. In paved yard areas, painted boundary limits can be used instead of posts and signs.
(6) 
The entire yard shall be surrounded by a suitable fence at least six feet high to prevent access by unauthorized persons.
(7) 
An adequate number of gates shall be provided in the surrounding fence or other barrier so as to permit ready access of fire apparatus. The number and placing of such gates for each pallet/chipping yard shall be determined by the Fire Department.
C. 
Smoking, weeds and debris.
(1) 
Smoking shall be prohibited. Large "NO SMOKING" signs shall be posted throughout all buildings. Large "NO SMOKING" signs shall be painted on exterior buildings' walls and on signs erected at driveway edge.
(2) 
Weeds shall be kept down throughout the entire yard and shall be sprayed as often as needed with a satisfactory weed killer or cut or grubbed out. Dead weeds shall be removed.
(3) 
Debris such as loose portions of pallets and chippings shall be removed regularly from piling areas and not less frequently than quarterly. Proper housekeeping shall be maintained at all times.
D. 
Buildings in outside storage areas. Piles are not to be less than 15 feet from any buildings. Buildings of wood-frame construction or housing hazardous operations or storage of flammable liquids, the distance shall be increased to at least 50 feet.
E. 
Portable fire extinguishers. At least one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum Class 4A rating shall be provided within 50 feet of travel distance to any machine producing shaving, chips or sawdust. Fire extinguishers shall be property protected against freezing, where necessary. A minimum of one Class 4A rating portable fire extinguisher shall be provided on all vehicles operating on the pile and a minimum Class 20BC rating portable fire extinguisher in the vehicle for the vehicle.
F. 
Inside storage of idle pallets, wood shavings or chips.
(1) 
There shall be no inside storage of wood shavings or chips and areas producing such and shall be cleaned on a regular basis.
(2) 
Inside storage of pallets shall conform with NFPA 13.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 99-13, Operating funds, added 1-20-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-01, which immediately followed this subsection, was superseded 7-19-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10.