[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Plainsboro 5-11-1981 as Ord. No. 0-81-7; amended in its entirety 5-12-2021 by Ord. No. 21-06. Amendments noted where applicable.]
B.Â
The local enforcing agency shall be the Township of Plainsboro Division
of Fire Prevention within the Department of Code Enforcement. The
Township of Plainsboro Division of Fire Prevention shall hereinafter
be known as the "local enforcing agency."
C.Â
Control. The Fire Official/Fire Marshal shall be the executive head
of the Division of Fire Prevention and is under the direct supervision
of the Director of Code Enforcement.
D.Â
Board of Appeals. Any person aggrieved by any action of the Township
of Plainsboro Division of Fire Prevention shall have the right to
appeal to the Middlesex County Construction Board of Appeals in accordance
with the procedures set forth in the Uniform Fire Safety Act.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.
E.Â
Fire Official.
(1)Â
The Fire Official shall be appointed by the Township Administrator,
and said individual is subject to all applicable personnel policies
adopted by the Township of Plainsboro.
(2)Â
The Fire Official shall be subject to removal from office by the
Township Administrator for inefficiency or misconduct. He/she shall
be afforded an opportunity to a hearing by the Township Committee
prior to final determination of termination.
(3)Â
Each candidate considered for appointment to the position of Fire
Official shall be required to submit to job-related written, oral
and other examinations as may be prescribed by the Director of Code
Enforcement in consultation with the Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners.
(4)Â
The application and qualifications of each candidate shall be reviewed
by the Township Administrator and the Director of Code Enforcement
in consultation with the Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners.
F.Â
Enforcement of the Uniform Fire Code.[4]
(1)Â
The Fire Official shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act[5] and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all
buildings, structures and premises within the Township of Plainsboro,
not to include owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings, and shall
faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Safety Act
and Uniform Fire Code.
[5]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.
(2)Â
The Fire Official shall conduct the periodic inspections of life
hazard uses as required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the
Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.
(3)Â
The Fire Official shall also conduct annual inspections of all buildings
and structures falling under the following International Building
Code use groups which are not identified or classified as life hazard
uses:
(4)Â
The Fire Official shall meet, at a minimum, once a month with representatives
of the Board of Fire Commissioners and the Director of Code Enforcement
to review and discuss the status of all fire inspections.
[4]
Editor's Note: See N.J.A.C. 5:70.
G.Â
Fees and permits.
(1)Â
An annual registration and registration fee shall be required for
each non-life-hazard occupancy as defined in § 14-18F(3)
as follows:
Occupancy
(square feet)
|
Fee
|
---|---|
Less than 500
|
$75
|
500 to 1,000
|
$100
|
1,001 to 3,000
|
$150
|
3,001 to 5,000
|
$200
|
5,001 to 10,000
|
$250
|
10,001 to 20,000
|
$300
|
20,001 to 50,000
|
$500
|
50,001 to 100,000
|
$750
|
Each additional 50,000
|
$100
|
Nonresidential commercial common areas - $125 per building per
floor
|
Residential common areas 2 stories or less - $100 per building
|
Residential common areas 3 or more stories but less than 7 stories
- $300 per building
|
(2)Â
The application fee for a permit shall be in accordance with N.J.A.C.
5:70-2.9.
(3)Â
Trade shows, craft shows, exhibits, expositions, auctions, art sales,
concerts, wrestling matches, festivals, dinners, dances, balls and
similar events, including non-school-type uses in school buildings,
cultural centers and convention centers, and any other uses requiring
inspection by the Fire Official or Fire Inspector shall be $150 per
event.
(4)Â
Asphalt (tar) kettles per job site shall be $60.
H.Â
Waivers. Any federal, state, county, municipal, school board or any
agency or instrumentality thereof shall be exempt from the local permit
and registration fees herein.
I.Â
Special events. When it is determined by the Fire Official to be
necessary for the purpose of public safety to have a Fire Inspector
present during special events, the owner, operator, organizer, sponsor,
person, or organization responsible, for said event shall pay the
cost of said inspector at the rate of $100 per hour for the duration
of the event.
J.Â
Fire watch. If the Fire Official, Fire Inspector, or member of Plainsboro
Fire District No. 1 is required to inspect, monitor, or patrol a building
to detect circumstances that might immediately result in a fire while
a building's fire protection system is inoperative, the owner
of said building shall reimburse the Township and, where applicable,
the Plainsboro Fire District No. 1 for said fire watch services. The
rate of such services are $200 per hour. Additionally, where applicable,
the Plainsboro Fire District No. 1 shall be reimbursed at the rates
outlined in the current FEMA Schedule of Equipment Rates for equipment
and apparatus and the current hourly pay rate for the cost of manpower.
There shall be a minimum fee of $200 for fire watch, provided that
no fee shall be assessed if, within 30 minutes of being notified of
the commencement of the fire watch services, the building owner or
his or her representative arrives at the building and assumes control
of the fire watch from the Fire Official, Fire Inspector or Plainsboro
Fire District No. 1. The cost of providing fire watch services shall
be certified by the Fire Official to the building owner within 10
days of their completion. The building owner shall reimburse the Township
within 30 days thereof.
K.Â
Fire alarms and reporting.
(1)Â
The Fire Official or his or her designee shall investigate, or cause
to be investigated, the activation of any fire alarm, fire detector
or fire protection system occurring within the Township. The Fire
Official or his or her designee shall determine the cause for such
activation and determine whether the alarm, detector or protection
system has been properly restored to full service.
(2)Â
Failure to report. It shall be a violation of this section for any
person or persons, having knowledge of same, to fail to immediately
report to the Plainsboro Fire District No. 1 the activation of any
fire protection system or device; the occurrence of any fire; any
attempted arson; or the spill or leakage of any flammable or combustible
liquid or gas or of any hazardous material.
L.Â
Key boxes requirements. All buildings or structures protected by
fire alarms shall be provided with a key box approved by the Fire
Official. The key box shall contain keys to provide access to all
areas of the building or structure and shall be installed in a location
approved by the Fire Official; such key box shall only be utilized
in response to a report of a fire or fire protection system activation
or other emergency call.
(1)Â
The key box shall be located in a lighted location not higher than
5Â 1/2 feet above grade.
(2)Â
Key boxes shall be installed within 90 days of receiving a notice
from the Fire Official.
(3)Â
Key box keys shall be issued to the Fire Official. Each individual
receiving keys shall be responsible for the security of same at all
times.
(4)Â
Buildings or structures occupied 24 hours a day, seven days per week,
by personnel possessing keys to all areas shall be exempt from the
requirements of this subsection, provided, however, that residential
complexes containing locked common areas and/or master key capabilities
shall be provided with a key box.
M.Â
Fire apparatus access roads (fire lanes).
(1)Â
Proposed apparatus access roads for new commercial and mixed-use
developments shall be designed and constructed in accordance with
the International Fire Code. New residential developments and residential
parts of developments that are discrete and separate from planned
commercial parts of the same development shall comply with the rules
of the Residential Site Improvement Standards.[6] The Fire Official shall have the authority to require
or permit modifications to the International Fire Code to meet the
public safety objectives of the jurisdiction.
[6]
Editor's Note: See N.J.A.C. 5:21.
(2)Â
Existing fire apparatus access roads shall be maintained as originally
approved. Additional markings to better delineate existing fire apparatus
access roads shall not conflict with prior approvals issued by the
Planning and/or Zoning Boards unless the administrative authority
for the Planning and/or Zoning Board grants approval.
N.Â
Fire hydrants. New and existing private fire hydrants on public and/or
private property shall be painted red with a yellow top/bonnet.
O.Â
Penalties. Any person or persons who violate or fail to comply with
any provision of this section is subject to municipal summons of not
less than $200 nor more than $1,000.