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Township of Bernards, NJ
Somerset County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (7) Index
Public Documents
Resolutions (1)
[Ord. #1379, 3-27-2001, adopted; Ord# 2453, 9-29-2020, amended]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383), the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced in the Township of Bernards. This chapter supplements the State Uniform Fire Safety Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
[Ord. #2453, 9-29-2020,[1] added]
a. 
The definitions contained within the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be included herein by reference and shall be applicable to this chapter.
b. 
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AGRICULTURAL BURNING
The burning of herbaceous or infested plant life, the burning of orchard prunings and cuttings, prescribed burnings and the clearing of agricultural land by burning.
ANNUAL MOBILE FOOD VENDOR PERMIT
A permit issued by the Fire Official for a mobile food vendor who may be operating in Bernards Township several times in a calendar year. An annual mobile food vendor permit will only be available for a calendar year expiring on December 31 of that year.
DAILY/SINGLE EVENT MOBILE FOOD VENDOR PERMIT
A permit issued by the Fire Official for a daily, single use of a mobile food vendor.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
A system or portion of a combination system consisting of components and circuits arranged to monitor and annunciate the status of fire alarm or supervisory signal-initiating devices and to initiate the appropriate response to those signals.
FIRE LANE
A road or other passageway developed to allow the passage of fire apparatus. A fire lane is designated by the Fire Official and properly posted and marked in accordance with this chapter. The terms "fire lane" and "fire zone" shall be interchangeable.
FIRE OFFICIAL
A person certified by the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs and appointed by the Township Committee. The terms "Fire Official" and "Fire Marshal" shall be interchangeable.
GREASE LADEN VAPORS
Vapors produced when cooking and/or preparing foods that contain animal fat, vegetable shortening, and other such oily matter.
MOBILE FOOD VENDOR
A unit of closed construction designed to be driven or towed from place to place, with equipment to cook, prepare, serve, or sell food. This shall include but not be limited to mobile canteens, food trucks, food trailers, and food carts.
OPEN BURNING
The burning of materials wherein products of combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed chamber.
OUTDOOR FIREPLACE
An outdoor, solid-fuel-burning fireplace that may be constructed of steel, concrete, clay, or other noncombustible material. An outdoor fireplace may be portable, open in design, or may be equipped with a small hearth opening and a short chimney or chimney opening in the top.
PERMIT
An official document or certificate issued by the Fire Official that authorizes performance of a specified activity.
RECREATIONAL FIRES
An outdoor fire burning materials other than rubbish where the fuel being burned is not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, portable outdoor fireplace, barbeque grill, or barbeque pit and has a total fuel area of three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also renumbered former §§ 14-1.2 through 14-1.6 as §§ 14-1.3 through 14-1.7, respectively.
[Ord. #1379, 3-27-2001, adopted; Ord. #2453, 9-29-2020, amended]
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bernards Township Bureau of Fire Prevention. The terms "Bureau of Fire Prevention" and "Bureau of Fire Safety" shall be equally recognized within this chapter and shall be interchangeable.
[Ord. #1379, 3-27-2001, adopted]
The local enforcement agency shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries of the Township of Bernards and shall faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and Uniform Fire Code.
[Ord. #1379, 3-27-2001, adopted]
The local enforcing agency established by this section shall carry out the periodic inspections of life hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
[Ord. #1379, 3-27-2001, adopted]
The local enforcing agency established by this section shall be the Bernards Township Fire Prevention Bureau and the Fire Official shall serve as the Chief Administrator.
[Ord. #1379, 3-27-2001, adopted]
a. 
Appointment of Fire Official. The Fire Official shall be under the direct supervision of the Township Engineer and shall be appointed by the Township Committee with consideration to the recommendation of the Township Administrator and Director of Human Resources in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Bernards Township General Ordinances.
[Ord. #1839, 1-24-2006, amended]
b. 
Term of Office. The Fire Official shall serve for a term of one year from January 1 in the year in which his appointment is made.
c. 
Inspectors and Employees. Such inspectors and other employees as may be necessary in the local enforcing agency shall be appointed by the Township Committee upon the recommendation of the Fire Official, Township Administrator and Director of Human Resources.
[Ord. #1839, 1-24-2006, amended]
d. 
Identification Card. The Fire Official and inspectors of the enforcing agency shall be issued a Township identification card and shall be subject to carry said identification at all times as evidence of the authority of the local enforcing agency.
[Ord. #2453, 9-29-2020, amended]
e. 
Removal from Office. The Fire Official, inspectors and other employees of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal by the Township Administrator for inefficiency or misconduct. Each inspector or employee to be so removed shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the appointing authority or a designated hearing officer in accordance with the Township's Employee Handbook of Personnel Policies and Procedures, Employee Rights and Obligations, Disciplinary Actions Procedures and Termination.
[Ord. #1839, 1-24-2006, amended]