[Adopted 5-11-1998 by Ord. No. 41-98]
The Township Council believes that requiring monitored central-station-type
fire alarms in multi-resident buildings such as apartment buildings is necessary
to protect the public interest. The Township Council believes that such buildings
if constructed under the Uniform Construction Code (1977 to present) meet
minimum acceptable fire safety standards. Buildings constructed prior to January
1, 1977, should be required to install monitored alarms as set forth herein.
The requirements imposed by this article are authorized by the Uniform
Fire Safety Act[1] and specifically N.J.S.A. 52:27D-202b which permits a municipality
to adopt a more restrictive ordinance dealing with fire safety than required
by the Fire Safety Act or regulations promulgated thereunder (the Uniform
Fire Code of the State of New Jersey).
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.
A.
The requirements of this article shall apply to all buildings
within the Township of Old Bridge described in the Uniform Construction Code
as Use Group R-2, including multiple dwellings if such buildings were constructed
in whole or in part prior to January 1, 1977.
B.
This article shall not be deemed to apply to any building
for which a construction permit authorizing initial construction was issued
pursuant to the Uniform Construction Code.
C.
This article shall not apply to any building conforming
in all respects to the requirements of the Uniform Construction Code Act,
P.L. 1975, c. 217 (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq.).
For all buildings to which this article applies, the following requirement
is imposed:
A.
Such buildings shall have fire alarm initiating devices
as that term is defined in NFiPA 72 in all common areas, laundry areas and
storage/maintenance areas.
B.
The said fire alarm initiating devices shall be connected
to a UL listed central station.
C.
The fire alarm initiating devices shall be connected
to an on-site system which is equipped with interior and exterior mounted
audible/visual devices.
D.
The installation, testing and maintenance of the fire
alarm system described above shall be in accordance with NFiPA 72.
E.
Installation and testing. This subsection provides the
requirements for the installation of an addressable analog alarm and fire
detection systems. The systems shall include, but shall not be limited to,
control panels, alarm initiating and indicating peripheral devices, annunciators
and also all conduit, wire and accessories required to furnish a complete
operational system.
(1)
Installers' qualifications. All installations under this
article shall be performed by a licensed New Jersey State alarm contractor
or a licensed electrician.
[Amended 1-25-1999 by Ord. No. 4-99]
(2)
Standards. The equipment and installations shall comply
with the current provisions of the following standards:
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National Fire Protection Association Standards:
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NFPA 70 National Electrical Code
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NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code
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Local Authorities Having Jurisdiction:
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Township of Old Bridge, New Jersey
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Underwriters Laboratories Inc.:
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The systems and all components shall be listed by Underwriters Laboratories
Inc. for use in fire protective signaling systems under the following standards
as applicable:
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UL 864
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UOJZ, APOU Control Units for Fire Protection Signaling Systems
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UL 268
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Smoke Detectors for Fire Protective Signaling Systems
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UL 268A
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Smoke Detectors for Duct Applications
| |
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UL 521
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Heat Detectors for Fire Protective Signaling Systems
| |
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UL 464
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Audible Signaling Appliances
| |
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UL 1971
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Visual Signaling Appliances
| |
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UL 346
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Waterflow Indicators for Fire Protective Signaling Systems
| |
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UL 1481
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Power Supplies for Fire Protective Signaling Systems
| |
(3)
General requirements.
(a)
Design and prints.
[1]
The contractor shall insure that the system is installed
in accordance with all applicable codes and referenced standards for the required
devices and locations as well as insuring the system is installed in strict
conformance with the equipment manufacturer's instructions.
[2]
No one circuit, signaling line, data line, power supply,
output, input or database shall be loaded to more than 70% of its manufacturer's
specified capacity.
[3]
Each initiating device must be individually addressable.
Any off normal status must be displayed at the main control panel or annunciator
with an English language description. Display must be capable for programming
a minimum of 40 characters. All text to be displayed shall be approved by
the Fire Subcode Official. A numeric zone indication with a printed zone list
shall not be acceptable.
[4]
System shall be equipped with a UL listed fire alarm
digital communicator installed in compliance with the most recent edition
of NFPA 72.
[5]
Alarm reports to the monitoring station shall be of sufficient
detail to isolate an alarm to a specific building within the complex. The
alarm signaling shall be sent to the UL listed monitoring station upon the
activation of any two alarms in the system.
(4)
Plans and specifications required.
(a)
The contractor shall be responsible for developing all
required system prints and shop drawings for plan review. All such prints
shall be developed and signed by a licensed fire protection engineer who has
at least four years of current experience in the design of multiplex networked
fire protection and detection systems or a NICET Level IV or a senior engineering
technician with at least 10 years' experience in the subfield of fire alarm
systems.
(b)
The contractor shall submit three complete sets of all
documentation. The documentation shall include the type, size, rating, style,
catalog number, manufacturer's names, photos and catalog data sheets for all
items to be utilized to ensure compliance with these requirements. This equipment
shall be subject to approval by the Fire Subcode Official. The following items
shall be included in the plan and specification package:
[1]
Complete one-line riser diagram showing all equipment
and the size, type and number of all conductors.
[2]
A detailed drawing of the fire control panel, including
all proposed module/component locations and panel point-to-point wiring diagram,
including all field circuit termination points.
[3]
Calculations to support the size of standby batteries
submitted for the panel.
[4]
Calculations for signal circuit and power supply loading
showing the amount of devices per circuit, the alarm current per circuit and
alarm current per power supply output.
[5]
A complete list of all system points to be monitored
and controlled as they relate to the individual fire alarm control panel's
initiating, signaling and control circuits.
[6]
Documentation of intent to provide the complete life
safety software in both hardcopy and disk format to the building owner and
the Fire Subcode Official 10 days prior to checkout for verification of system
software routines and functions.
(5)
Acceptance testing.
(a)
Upon the completion of the system's installation, a comprehensive
acceptance test shall be conducted by the contractor. The inspection shall
comply with the requirements of the applicable NFPA standards and in addition
a complete list of each and every initiation, signaling, control, supervisory
and auxiliary device shall be provided to the facility and the Fire Subcode
Official with information as to the location of the device, the date tested,
the status of the device and the circuit or point as related to the system.
(b)
The report shall also include the following:
[1]
A total inventory of all system field devices, including
the manufacturer, model number and manufacturer's date codes for each device.
[2]
A complete set of battery test results for the panel:
[a]
Charger output voltage under normal conditions.
[b]
Charger output current under normal conditions.
[c]
Open battery voltage.
[d]
Supply voltage under primary power failure.
[e]
Support current under primary power failure.
[f]
Supply current under primary power failure and a system
alarm that has activated all of the panel's audible, visual and control circuits.
[3]
Calculations utilizing the battery test data obtained
to determine a minimum battery capacity of 60 hours under normal conditions
and a five-minute alarm condition.
[4]
A system-generated printout of the analog field devices
printed by address.
(c)
Provide two copies of the following to the owner's representative
and Fire Subcode Official at the time of final acceptance testing:
[1]
Installation and programming manuals covering all components
utilized on the project.
[2]
Point-to-point diagrams of the entire system as installed,
including the number of all conductors with indications of all terminations
and splices.
[3]
The final life safety program as loaded into system in
both hard copy and disk format. Program listings must be generated from actual
files loaded into systems.
[4]
A complete control panel generated and printed system
sensitivity report shall be provided showing all sensors with their address,
associated sensitivity levels.
[5]
A full acceptance test report of inspection shall be
provided. The report shall contain the complete information as specified above.
(6)
Products.
(a)
Equipment manufacturers. Acceptable manufacturers shall
be engaged in the manufacture of multiplexed audio/fire panels for at least
seven years and have a fully equipped, factory trained and authorized service
organization.
(b)
Approved equipment suppliers. Equipment, materials and
system engineering shall be provided by factory authorized systems distributors
that have on their local office staff a full-time NICET Level III or greater
certified technician in the fire protection engineering technology subfield
of fire alarm systems, certified AET or CET. The name or names of the individuals
along with their certification numbers shall be provided when submitting permits.
(c)
General equipment and material requirements. All equipment
shall be new and unused. All components and systems shall be designed for
uninterrupted duty. All equipment, materials, accessories, as devices, shall
be the best suited for the intended use and shall be provided by a single
manufacturer or, if provided by different manufacturers, recognized as compatible
by both manufacturers.
(7)
Control panel requirements.
(a)
Description.
[1]
Control panels shall be of a multiplex type providing
point annunciation of all initiating devices.
[2]
Communication loop shall be capable of operating on any
type of UL listed FPL, FPLR, FPLP or MC cables. Systems requiring special
wire or home run connection shall not be acceptable. "T" tapping shall be
permitted.
[3]
No volatile software or firmware. All system programming
shall be permanently stored in EEPROM memory to ensure no programming is lost
during momentary power loss.
(b)
Installation.
[1]
Methods and materials.
[2]
All wire and terminating hardware and equipment shall
be installed in a workmanlike manner in accordance with approved manufacturer's
instructions. The contractor shall furnish all conduit, wiring, outlet boxes,
junction boxes, cabinets and similar devices necessary for the complete installation.
[3]
The protection afforded by existing fire alarm systems
shall not be compromised in any way during the installation of the required
system without the contractor's staff working at the project. Full protecting
must be restored prior to the contractor's personnel leaving the site for
any period of time.
[4]
All penetration of floor slabs and fire walls shall be
fire stopped in accordance with applicable fire code.
[5]
The equipment shall be installed and fully tested under
the supervision of the Fire Subcode Official. All wiring circuits shall be
demonstrated to be continuous from terminal point to terminal point with circuit
resistance and capacitance in line with the length of the wire run. All circuits,
including audible circuit shields, shall be free from grounds.
The owner(s) of any building to which this article is applicable shall comply with the following minimum timetable and deadlines for the installation of the fire alarm system described in § 26-23:
A.
Within six months of the effective date of this article, owner(s) must have secured a contract for installation of the fire alarm system described in § 26-23 which shall specifically obligate the contractor to diligently and continuously prosecute all work necessary to complete installation of the said system.
B.
Within 12 months from the effective date of the permit
issuance from Code Enforcement, owner(s) must have the said fire alarm system
fully installed, tested and operational.
C.
A copy of the permit and contract must be forwarded to
the applicable local enforcing agency upon issuance.
