[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Blairstown as Sec. 10-1 (Ord. Nos. 49; 85-7) of
the 1977 Revised General Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety
Act (P.L. 1983, ch. 383)[1] the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced
in the Township of Blairstown.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et
seq.
The local enforcing agency shall be the Department
of Fire Inspections in the Township.
The local enforcement agency shall enforce the
Uniform Fire Safety Act and codes and regulations adopted under it
in all buildings, structures and premises within the Township of Blairstown,
other than owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings, and shall
faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety
Act and the Uniform Fire Code.
The local enforcing agency established by § 109-2 of this chapter shall carry out the periodic inspections of life hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
The local enforcing agency established by 109-2
of this chapter shall be a part of the Department of Fire Inspections
and shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Director,
Department of Fire Inspections of the Township.
A.
Appointment of fire inspection official. The local
enforcing agency shall be under the supervision of a fire official,
who shall be appointed by the Township Committee of the Township,
with the solicited recommendations of the Fire Chief of the Township.
B.
Term of office. The fire inspection official shall
serve a term of one year, commencing January 1 through December 31.
Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term. The fire inspection
official shall serve until any successor is appointed and qualified.
The fire inspection official shall be compensated in accordance with
the salary set forth in the annual Salary Ordinance.
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 of the Township of Blairstown,
Department of Fire Inspections, in accordance with personnel policies
of the Township.
D.
Removal from office. Inspectors and other employees
of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal at any time by
the Township Committee for violations of the Township personnel policies
or for inefficiencies or misconduct. Each inspector or employee to
be so removed shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the
Township Committee or a designated hearing officer.
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform
Fire Safety Act,[1] any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcement
agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of
Appeals of Warren County.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-206 and
52:27D-208, respectively.
In addition to the inspection and fees required
pursuant to the Act and the regulations of the Department of Community
Affairs and the Township of Blairstown, the following additional inspections
and fees shall be required: all other inspections (other than owner-occupied
and one- and two-family dwellings): annual fee of $25 with an inspection
schedule of once every 12 months.
The permit fees established by the Uniform Fire
Code shall be amended to be as follows:
|
Type 1
|
$25
|
|
Type 2
|
$100
|
|
Type 3
|
$200
|
|
Type 4
|
$300
|
|
Type 5
|
$1,000
|
May be adopted at a later time.
The penalty for violations of this code shall
be the penalty applicable for all violations of this chapter for which
penalties are not provided for under the Uniform Fire Safety Code
and applicable sections of the Administrative Code adopted pursuant
thereto.
[Added 10-9-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-25]
A.
FIRE CHIEF
HOSE COMPANY
LOCK BOX
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
The Chief of Blairstown Hose Company No. 1.
Blairstown Hose Company No. 1.
An Underwriter's-Laboratory-type secured box or vault
of a size and style approved by the Fire Chief or his designee, which
contains key(s) for the exclusive use of Blairstown Hose Company No.
1 to access the premises in an emergency.
B.
Key lock box required. The following structures equipped with or
required to be equipped with fire detection or fire suppression systems
or equipment shall have a key lock box installed at or near the main
entrance of each structure or such other location as required by the
Fire Chief or his designee:
(1)
Commercial or business structures protected by an automatic alarm
system or automatic suppression system, or such structures that are
secured in a manner that restricts access during an emergency.
(2)
Governmental structures, churches, schools and nursing care facilities.
(3)
Multifamily residential structures that have restricted access through
locked doors and have a common corridor for access to living units.
C.
Key lock box location, contents and installation.
(1)
The Fire Chief or his designee shall approve in writing the type
of key lock box to be installed.
(2)
The Fire Chief or his designee shall approve the installation location
of the key lock box.
(3)
The key lock box shall be installed as per manufacturer specifications
and installation approved by the Fire Chief or his designee.
(4)
The owner of each structure required to have a key lock box shall,
at all times, be required to keep the following in the key lockbox,
as required by the Fire Chief or his designee:
(a)
Keys to locked points of ingress, whether on interior or exterior
of such buildings.
(b)
Keys to the locked mechanical rooms.
(c)
Keys to the locked elevator rooms.
(d)
Keys to the elevator controls.
(e)
Keys to any fence or secured areas.
(f)
All access or combination codes to locked points of egress or
ingress, whether on interior or exterior of such buildings.
(g)
A business size card containing the emergency contact person
and phone number for such building or unit.
(h)
Keys to any and all alarm system panels, alarm controls, alarm
annunciators, and/or alarm devices (i.e., pull stations) that the
Hose Company would need to access or to reset to allow for alarm system
restoration.
(i)
Keys or reset codes for alarm system.
(j)
If not visible on the alarm panel, contact information for the
alarm system provider or monitoring company.
D.
Maintenance and associated cost. In the event the key to the structure
is changed or rekeyed, the owner/operator of the building shall immediately
notify the Fire Chief or his designee and provide the updated access
key. The key to the lock shall be secured in the key lock box. The
property owner shall assume all associated costs for the purchase
and installation of a key lock box(es).
E.
Compliance.
(1)
The owner(s) of a structure in existence on the effective date of
this section shall be exempt from compliance with this section. However,
such owner(s) that does not have a key lock box installed or elect
not to voluntarily install a key lock box shall execute a release
agreement which shall release the Township and Hose Company from all
liability for any damages resulting from the Township and the Hose
Company gaining access to such property in the case of an emergency.
Additionally, such release agreement shall state that the Township
and Hose Company are not responsible for securing such property after
entry is made. The release agreement shall be a form to be provided
by the Township and available from the Township Clerk.
(2)
In the case of any structure(s) which is exempt from the requirements of this section as set forth in Subsection E(1) above, said owner(s) shall be required to comply with this section in the following instances:
(3)
The owner(s) of each newly constructed structure subject to this
section shall have a key lock box installed and operational in accordance
with this section prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
F.
Exceptions to requirement to execute a release agreement. The following structures are exempt from the mandate of Subsection E(1) hereunder to execute a release agreement in the event the property owner(s) does not install a key lock box system:
(1)
Headquarters of the Hose Company; and
(2)
Rental storage facilities where there is a single lock on the separate
storage pods that are renter supplied; provided, however, the entry
security gates have a key lock box if electronically controlled, or
locked with a master key issued by the landlord to all tenants.
(3)
Mixed-use buildings that are occupied by the owner or operator as
a primary residence.
G.
Time for compliance. All new construction subject to this section shall have a key lock box installed and operational as required hereunder prior to occupancy. All structures in existence on the effective date of this section shall have 60 days from enactment date of this ordinance to execute the release agreement required by Subsection E(1) hereunder.
H.
Violations and penalties. Any building owner(s) or operator(s) violating
any provision of this key lock box ordinance shall be subject to a
fine of $100 for every violation of this section. The existence of
a violation for a period of up to 30 continuous days shall constitute
a single violation. The Fire Chief shall notify the responsible party(ies)
of any violation in writing. Within 30 days of the service of such
notice, the owner/operator shall correct the violation or show why
the structure was not subject to this section. The Fire Chief shall
consider such information, reaffirm or rescind the key lock box fine
and notify the owner(s) of his/her decision by mail.
