[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:
National Fire Protection Association Standards:
NFPA 70 National Electrical Code
NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code
Local Authorities Having Jurisdiction:
Township of Old Bridge, New Jersey
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.:
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:
UL 864
UOJZ, APOU Control Units for Fire Protection Signaling Systems
UL 268
Smoke Detectors for Fire Protective Signaling Systems
UL 268A
Smoke Detectors for Duct Applications
UL 521
Heat Detectors for Fire Protective Signaling Systems
UL 464
Audible Signaling Appliances
UL 1971
Visual Signaling Appliances
UL 346
Waterflow Indicators for Fire Protective Signaling Systems
UL 1481
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.
A. 
The "local enforcing agency" as that term is defined in N.J.A.C. 5:70 et seq. (the agency charged with enforcing the Uniform Fire Code) shall enforce the requirements of this article.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
Failure to comply with the provisions of this article shall be punishable by the penalties set forth in Chapter 1, Article II, Penalty.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
C. 
Each day during which a failure to comply with this article continues shall be deemed and considered a separate violation.