Village of Ridgefield Park, NJ Chapter 108 Alarm Systems

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Village of Ridgefield Park 8-11-1981 by Ord. No. 10-81 (Ch. 68 of the 1985 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Fire protection — See Ch. 188.

§ 108-1 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

ALARM SYSTEM

The combination of sensory apparatus and related hardware which, when activated by the appropriate stimulus, produces a signal making known the existence of an emergency situation and requiring immediate investigation and response by law enforcement agencies.

BUILDING OWNER

An individual, corporation, partnership or association owning a structure within the Village of Ridgefield Park used for residential, business, industrial, storage or charitable purposes or any related purpose.

FALSE ALARM

The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or the negligence of the owner or lessee of such alarm system or his family, employees or agents. "False alarm" shall not include alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or other acts of God.

POLICE CHIEF

The Ridgefield Park Chief of Police.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Ridgefield Park Police Department.

TENANT

Any individual, corporation, partnership or association renting a structure within the Village of Ridgefield Park used for residential, business, industrial, storage or charitable purposes or any related purpose.

§ 108-2 Assessments for false fire alarms.

[Amended 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]

After a maximum of two false alarms in any one thirty-day period, the owner or lessee of any alarm system shall be assessed a fee of $25 plus a matching fee of $25 for Fire Department use as per the Fire Code upon the occurrence of the third false alarm during such thirty-day period. Such fee shall be paid to the Ridgefield Park Fire Prevention Bureau after receipt of a written violation.

§ 108-3 Written notice of false alarm.

[Amended 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]

The Fire Official or his representative shall cause a written notice to be mailed to the owner or lessee of the alarm system within 30 days of the third and each additional false alarm, setting forth the fee due and payable under this chapter.

§ 108-4 Police reports of false alarms.

Police officers responding to all false alarms shall file a written report indicating all pertinent information pertaining thereto and a finding as to whether such false alarm was caused by human carelessness, mechanical failure or by any other cause.

§ 108-5 Repair of defective equipment.

[Amended 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]

If a determination is made by the Fire Prevention Bureau or the Fire Department that the false alarm was caused by a malfunction or mechanical failure of the equipment as opposed to human carelessness or other cause, written notice of such determination shall be given to the owner or lessee of the alarm system within 30 days thereof, who shall cause the same to be repaired promptly thereafter.

§ 108-6 Disconnection of defective system.

[Amended 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]

In addition to the fee or fees payable under § 108-3, if three or more false alarms are caused by malfunction or mechanical failure of the alarm system, the Fire Official shall have the right to require the owner or lessee of such alarm system to disconnect the same until such time as it has been repaired, and the Fire Official may order the building vacated or a fire watch established as outlined under § 108-10. Neither the Village nor the Fire Official shall be responsible during the period the same is disconnected for any losses incurred by the owner or lessee.

§ 108-7 Determination of cause of alarm.

Any owner or lessee may present evidence that a false alarm was in fact not caused by human carelessness or negligence or mechanical failure or malfunction, and the Police Chief may act upon such evidence and determine that such was not in fact a false alarm but was caused by hurricane, tornado or other violent act of God.

§ 108-8 Exemption of public buildings.

All public buildings maintained by the governing body of the Village of Ridgefield Park are specifically exempted from the provisions contained in this chapter.

§ 108-9 Alarm requirements; exemptions.

[Added 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]

A. All fire alarm systems shall utilize a common access code as determined by the Fire Official and the Fire Chief.

B. All new construction and new installations will be required to utilize this code prior to final approval by the Fire Subcode Official. Existing alarms will have one year from the most recent fire inspection to update the system to utilize the new access code.

C. Failure to update or maintain the alarm system in the allotted time and as required thereafter shall be a violation of this section, punishable by a monetary penalty issued by the Fire Official as permitted by the New Jersey State Fire Code.

D. This section shall not apply to single-family or two-family structures.

§ 108-10 Fire watches.

[Added 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]

A. There is hereby created a Fire Watch Program in the Village of Ridgefield Park.

B. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

FIRE WATCH

A temporary measure intended to ensure continuous and systematic surveillance of a building or portion thereof by one or more qualified individuals for the purpose of identifying and controlling fire and other hazards, detecting early signs of fire, raising an alarm of fire to the occupants, notifying the Fire Department and engaging in firefighting or other emergency activity.

C. A fire watch may be ordered by the Fire Official or his/her designee, except that in an emergency, or in his/her absence, the ranking Fire Department officer present may act on his/her own. Fire watches may be posted in any portion of the Village and in any public or privately owned buildings and/or properties as necessary. Such fire watches shall be paid for by the applicable building owner, tenant, lessee or management company of a specific property and are to be implemented under the following circumstances:

(1) Required fire protection systems are out of service.

(2) Fire watch is requested by the building owner, tenant, lessee or management organization.

(3) Public and private events with high occupancy loads as deemed appropriate by the Fire Official and his/her assigned designee.

(4) All other situations as deemed necessary by the Fire Official or his/her assigned designee.

D. Fire watches shall be performed by a member of Fire Prevention or a member of the Ridgefield Park Fire Department with a minimum of three years of experience.

E. Persons appointed to perform fire watch duties shall be considered hourly, at-will employees of the Village, subject to all ordinances, rules and regulations.

F. All fire watch services ordered for the protection of property shall be paid at a rate of $50 per hour, per individual, and there shall be a minimum fee of four hours per individual. If it is determined that a fire apparatus is required, it will be manned by three firefighters at the normal hourly rate per individual, plus a fee of $250 per hour for the use of each piece of Village fire apparatus. An administrative fee of 10% will be applied to all billings for fire watch services. All payments shall be made within 10 days after the services are provided, and payments shall be made payable to the Village of Ridgefield Park.