[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Deerfield
4-4-1990 by Ord. No. 1990-8 (Ch. 100 of the 1984 Code). Amendments noted where
applicable.]
Whenever the following terms are used in this chapter, they shall have
the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section as follows:
Any of the following: Underwriters Testing Laboratories, Factory
Mutual Research Corporation, National Bureau of Standards or NFPA Standard
No. 74, 1975.
Any building or portion of a building which is arranged as a rental
for the use by one or more individuals living alone or together which provides
living, sanitary and sleeping facilities, also including house trailers, but
not mobile trailers and tents. Examples of rental units: rooms, apartments
and one- and two-family house.
The Fire Code Official of the Township of Deerfield who is appointed
to enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act in said Township.
An instrument approved by an approved rating organization for the
detection of ionized gases or products of combustion produced by burning or
smoldering materials.
Each dwelling unit in the Township of Deerfield, including dwellings
consisting of three dwelling units, shall have a minimum of one electric-operated
(with battery backup) smoke-detector device for each sleeping area located
in said dwelling unit. Any such detector shall bear a seal, tested and listed
by an approved rating organization. and shall comply in design to all applicable
state, federal or industrial requirements.
The owner of each dwelling unit shall cause the same to be brought into
compliance with the terms and provisions of this chapter by Deerfield Township;
provided, however, that after the effective date of this chapter:
A.Â
No dwelling unit shall be sold or the occupancy thereof
changed unless and until the dwelling unit has been brought into compliance
with the terms and provisions of this chapter.
B.Â
No structural change or repair of a value in excess of
$500 shall be made to a dwelling unit unless and until the dwelling unit is
brought into compliance with the terms and provisions of this chapter.
Smoke detectors shall be capable of being installed and maintained by
the person or persons entitled to occupy the dwelling unit. Smoke detectors
shall consist of an assembly incorporating the detectors, control equipment
and the alarm-sounding device in one unit. Each smoke detector shall have
a power supply consisting of a monitored battery or shall be hard-wired directly
into a household one-hundred-ten-volt circuit. Two or more single-station
smoke detector assemblies may be connected so that actuation of one causes
all integral or separate audible alarms to operate.
Upon activation, the smoke detector shall provide an audible alarm which
is to be so distributed and have such character so that it can be heard in
all rooms of the dwelling unit with its doors closed. The audible signals
shall be distinctive from other audible signaling devices which may be used
for other purposes in the dwelling unit. The smoke detector shall be designed
for and shall be capable of either self-restoration or manual restoration
to normal conditions for operation. No provisions shall be made for deactivation
of the audible alarm other than by reactivation of the system.
The owner of any structure in the Township of Deerfield containing one
or more dwelling units, up to a maximum of three dwelling units in any one
multiple-family building, shall be responsible for installing smoke detectors
as defined in this chapter within 90 days of the enactment of this chapter.
The owner of a building containing one or more dwelling units shall
also be responsible for the maintenance of said detectors once they are installed.
However, the tenant of any dwelling shall be responsible for the periodic
testing of smoke detectors to ensure that they are operational during the
term of such tenancy. In the event of a defective smoke detector, the tenant
shall notify the owner within 24 hours. Each owner shall thereafter be responsible
to repair or correct the defective smoke detector within five days of being
notified that a detector is defective. Failure to correct a defective smoke
detector within five days after notification shall constitute a violation
of this chapter.
[Amended 7-2-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-3]
Township approval for occupancy in any dwelling unit located in a building
containing three or fewer dwelling units shall not be issued, unless the Fire
Official shall first inspect the dwelling unit to verify that smoke detectors
have been installed and operational. In the event that said inspection reveals
that no smoke detectors have been installed as required by this chapter or
that the detectors so installed do not comply with the requirements of this
chapter or that said detectors are not operational, no approval for occupancy
shall be issued until this chapter has been complied with.
The Tax Collector of the Township of Deerfield shall provide to each
person requesting a tax search from his/her office a statement calling attention
to the provisions of this chapter and shall inform the persons requesting
a tax search of the obligation of the owner and seller of real estate property
to obtain an inspection by the Housing Official and to install smoke detectors
as provided herein prior to final settlement on the property.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions
of this chapter or who shall fail to comply with the provisions herewith shall
be liable to a fine of not more than $500 or to imprisonment of not more than
30 days, or both. Each day such violation continues shall be deemed a separate
and distinct violation of this chapter.
