[Adopted 11-26-1985 by Ord. No. 2012]
[Amended 10-13-1992 by Ord. No. 2375]
Pursuant to Section 11[1] of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et
seq.), the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced
in the Village of Ridgewood.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-202.
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bureau
of Fire Prevention in the Ridgewood Fire Department.
The local enforcement agency shall enforce the
Uniform Fire Safety Act[1] and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all
buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries
of the Village of Ridgewood, 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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et
seq.
The local enforcing agency established by § 149-2 of this article shall carry out the periodic inspections of life-hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
The local enforcing agency established by § 149-2 of this article shall be a part of the Village of Ridgewood Fire Department and shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Official who shall report to the Chief of the Ridgewood Fire Department.
A.
Appointment of Fire Official. The local enforcing
agency shall be under the supervision of the Fire Official who shall
be appointed by the Village Manager upon the recommendation of the
Chief of the Fire Department.
B.
Inspectors and employees. Such inspectors and other
employees as may be necessary in the local enforcing agency shall
be appointed by the Village Manager upon the recommendation of the
Chief of the Fire Department.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-206 and N.J.S.A.
52:27D-208 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act, any person aggrieved by
any order of the local enforcement agency shall have the right to
appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of the Village of Ridgewood.
A.
Additional fees are not required for life-hazard use structures which are regulated by the Uniform Construction Code. In addition to the inspections and fees required pursuant to the Act and regulations of the Department of Community Affairs, the inspections and fees as set forth in Chapter 145, Fees, shall be required.
B.
Buildings owned by the Board of Education and operated
solely for the Board of Education services, municipal libraries and
buildings owned by the Village of Ridgewood are exempt from the fees
imposed by this section.
C.
Owners of real estate, the use of which requires fees
to be paid for inspections, shall be responsible for the payment of
those fees. Inspections shall be conducted annually or more frequently
if so determined by the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
D.
Fire watch services fees shall be required as stated below in the Village of Ridgewood where the Village Fire Official or designee determines they shall be necessary to protect life, property, and the community. Applicable fees shall be as set forth in Chapter 145, Fees.
[Added 2-8-2023 by Ord.
No. 3937]
E.
A "fire watch" is defined as a temporary measure, ordered by the
Fire Official or their designated representative, intended to ensure
continuous and systematic surveillance of a building or portion thereof,
by one or more qualified individuals, for the purpose of reporting
fires, controlling fires, effecting occupant evacuation, coordinating
Fire Department response and other functions deemed appropriate by
the Fire Official or Fire Chief. Note: All statements of "Fire Official"
below will be understood as the "Fire Official or designated representative."
[Added 2-8-2023 by Ord.
No. 3937]
F.
A fire watch may be posted in any portion of the Village of Ridgewood-owned
buildings and also in any public and privately owned buildings and/or
properties, except owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings. As
the Village of Ridgewood may direct, a fire watch shall be paid for
by the Village of Ridgewood, or by a building owner, tenant, lessee,
or organization.
[Added 2-8-2023 by Ord.
No. 3937]
G.
A fire watch may be ordered by the Fire Official under the following
circumstances:
[Added 2-8-2023 by Ord.
No. 3937]
(1)
Required building fire protection systems are impaired or out of
service.
(2)
An "imminent hazard," as defined by N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.16, exists.
(3)
Hot work or the use of an open flame during the performance of construction
in an occupied building or the use of open flame or pyrotechnics before
a live audience.
(4)
A fire watch is requested by the building owner, tenant, or lessee.
(5)
Any other condition or event that may pose unusual hazards or risk
to the public or fire service when deemed necessary by the Fire Official.
(6)
Events where the posted occupancy load is exceeded with the approval
of the Fire Official.
H.
Fire watches shall be performed by any of the following:
[Added 4]
(1)
A member of the Ridgewood Fire Department certified in Firefighter
1.
(2)
In the event a required fire watch cannot be fulfilled with any certified
member of the Ridgewood Fire Department, the Fire Official is permitted
to fill the fire watch with other authorized personnel.
(3)
In the event of a fire incident, the fire watchers shall report to
the Fire Chief or Fire Department Incident Commander.
The permit fees established by the Uniform Fire Code shall be as set forth in Chapter 145, Fees. Fees for single-event individual permits shall be paid at the time of application. All other permit fees are annual permit fees and are to be paid on January 1 of each year for the calendar year but, when paid, shall cover only the balance of the calendar year for which the same is paid or payable. Permit fees for the year 1985 for annual permits, however, shall be assessed at 1/2 of the regular annual rate.
