[Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the
Borough of Closter as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-13-1991 as Ord. No. 1991:603
(Art. III of Ch. 39A of the 1967 Code)]
As used in this Article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or
occupancy, including but not limited to commercial, residential, educational,
governmental or any other place of public assembly.
The Borough of Closter Fire Official or his or her designated
representative as defined by N.J.A.C. 5:18-1.5 (Uniform Fire Code).
Any natural person or individual or any firm, partnership,
association, limited partnership, sole proprietorship, corporation,
other business entity or any government agency on its own.
A single-plane framework of individual structural members
connected at their ends to form a series of triangles to span a distance
greater than would be possible with any of the individual members
on their own.
A.
Upon inspection and identification of a building of
such truss construction, the owner/occupant shall be notified by the
Fire Official or his designee of the requirements of this Article
in accordance with the Uniform Fire Code of the State of New Jersey.
Any question concerning whether a truss-type structure, as defined
by this Article, must meet the provisions of this section shall be
decided by the Fire Official.
B.
Upon notification, the owner/occupant will be required
to permanently affix a Closter Bureau of Fire Prevention approved
emblem. The emblem shall be placed to the left side of the main entrance,
approximately six feet zero inches to eight feet zero inches above
ground level, or at other approved location(s) as designated by the
Fire Official.
C.
The emblem shall be an isosceles triangle 18 inches
across the base with a height of nine inches. The triangle shall be
constructed of a permanent material and be colored fluorescent orange
or white, whichever contrasts with the building color. Along the base
of the triangle there shall be three-fourths-inch-high black lettering
containing the words "FIRE DEPT." Above that in the center of the
triangle there shall be a minimum one-and-three-eighths-inch-high
black letter(s) corresponding to the truss-type construction as designated
by the Fire Official (R = Roof; F = Floor; R/F = Roof and Floor) and
the letter "S" to designate if the building is protected by a sprinkler
system.
D.
The owner/occupant shall be required to install and
maintain said emblem. The emblem shall be installed within 30 days
of receipt of written notice from the Fire Prevention Bureau. Missing
or damaged emblems shall be replaced within 10 days of written notice
from the Fire Prevention Bureau.
[Amended 1-3-1994 by Ord. No. 1993:663]
The form of identification is attached hereto
marked as Exhibit A;[1] said exhibit is also on file in the Fire Prevention Bureau.
The form of identification emblem can be changed by the Borough of
Closter at any time upon reasonable notice to the property owner/occupant.
Any cost associated relating to the change of the emblem shall be
borne by the owner/occupant.
[1]
Editor's Note: Consult municipal records for
said Exhibit A.
All residential structures are hereby exempted
from the provisions of this section.
[Adopted 12-9-1992 by Ord. No. 1992:637]
For the purpose of prescribing regulations governing
conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion,
the Mayor and Council hereby adopts by reference, as if set forth
herein at length, the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code ("Uniform Fire
Code"), N.J.A.C. 5:18-1.1 et seq., which Code is promulgated by the
Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs pursuant to the
authority of the Uniform Fire Safety Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-202, the Uniform
Fire Safety Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq., and the Uniform Fire
Code, N.J.A.C. 5:18-1.1. et seq., and all of the provisions of this
Article shall be locally enforced in the Borough of Closter.
The Closter Fire Prevention Bureau is hereby
created and designated to enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act and
the Uniform Fire Code and all of the provisions of this chapter in
all buildings, structures and premises within the Borough of Closter
and shall comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety
Act and Uniform Fire Code.
The Closter Fire Prevention Bureau established by § 106-8 hereof shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Official. The Fire Prevention Bureau shall consist of the Fire Official and other employees (inspectors, secretaries, etc.), the Fire Chief and all other line officers of the Closter Fire Department.
A.
Appointment of Fire Official. The Fire Official shall
be appointed by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Closter upon
the recommendation of the Fire Chief and the Fire Prevention Bureau.
The candidate shall be certified by the New Jersey Bureau of Fire
Safety as qualified to perform the duties of Fire Official. Preference
shall be given to members of the Closter Fire Department and New Jersey
State Exempt Fire Fighters who meet the qualifications of this section.
B.
Term of office for the Fire Official. The Fire Official
shall serve for a term of two (2) years. Any vacancy shall be filled
for the unexpired term.
C.
Appointment of inspectors and other employees. Such
inspectors and employees as may be necessary for the Fire Prevention
Bureau to carry out its responsibilities shall be appointed by the
Mayor and Council, upon the recommendation of the Fire Official and
the Fire Chief. Before appointment, any candidate for the position
of Fire Inspector must be certified by the New Jersey Bureau of Fire
Safety as qualified to perform the duties of Fire Inspector.
D.
Term of office for Fire Inspectors and other employees.
Fire Inspectors shall be appointed annually, with the term of office
expiring at the first regular meeting of the Mayor and Council of
the Borough of Closter each year. All other employees shall be employed
as necessary by the Mayor and Council, upon the recommendation of
the Fire Official and Fire Chief.
E.
Removal from office. The Fire Official, inspectors
and any other employees of the Bureau shall be subject to removal
by the Mayor and Council for inefficiency, misconduct or other good
cause consistent with applicable law. The Fire Official, inspector
or employee subject to such removal shall be afforded an opportunity
to be heard by the Mayor and Council or a hearing officer designated
by the Mayor and Council.
[Amended 10-8-2003 by Ord. No. 2003:905]
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-206 and N.J.S.A.
52:27D-127, any person aggrieved by any order of the Borough of Closter
Fire Prevention Bureau shall have the right to appeal to the Bergen
County Construction Board of Appeals.
A.
In addition to the registration of life-hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code, the following non-life-hazard uses shall annually register with the Closter Fire Prevention Bureau and pay a fee as set forth in Chapter A301, Fees and Deposits.
[Amended 1-3-1994 by Ord. No. 1993:663]
(1)
Mercantile Use Group. This group shall include all
uses categorized in Use Group M, as defined in N.J.A.C. 5:18-1.5(14).
(2)
Business Use Group. This group shall include all uses
categorized in Use Group B, as defined in N.J.A.C. 5:181.5(7).
(3)
Storage Use Group. This group shall include all storage
uses categorized in Use Groups S-1 and S-2, as defined in N.J.A.C.
5:18-1.5(18) and (19).
(4)
Factory Use Group. This group shall include all factory
uses categorized in Use Group F, as defined in N.J.A.C. 5:18-1.5(9).
(5)
Residential Use Group. This group shall include all
uses categorized in Use Group R-2 and R-3 (except owner-occupied one-
and two-family dwellings), as defined in N.J.A.C. 5: 18-1.5(16) and
(17).
B.
R1 Class shall be inspected only upon sale or a change
of occupancy. The registration fee shall be additional to the certificate
of smoke detector compliance fee.
C.
Uses not classified above will be classified as a
business use.
D.
Uses required to register with the Bureau of Fire
Safety as a life-hazard use shall not be required to register under
this section.
E.
Mixed use occupancies will be charged the registration
fee of the largest use and 1/2 the fee of any additional uses, except
that no additional fee shall be charged for an incidental use, as
that term is defined in N.J.A.C. 5:18-1.5.
F.
Vacant buildings which are completely devoid of all
chattels or personal property shall not be required to annually register
and pay a fee. However, vacant buildings which contain chattels or
personal property shall register and be charged according to the building's
last use.
A.
In addition to the permits required under N.J.A.C. 5:18-2.7, permits shall also be required to engage in any of the businesses or activities set forth with the fees therefor in Chapter A301, Fees and Deposits.
[Amended 1-3-1994 by Ord. No. 1993:663]
B.
This section shall apply to all uses, including life-hazard
uses required to be registered pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:18-2.4.
The annual fee for registration of life-hazard
uses, as required by N.J.A.C. 5:18-2.4, shall be as set forth in N.J.A.C.
5:18-2.8(a) and (b). The fees for permits required pursuant to N.J.A.C.
5:18-2.7 shall be as set forth in N.J.A.C. 5:18-2.8(c).
[Amended 1-3-1994 by Ord. No. 1993:663]
The application fee for a certificate of smoke detector compliance as required by N.J.A.C. 5:18-2.20, shall be as set forth in Chapter A301, Fees and Deposits.
[Amended 1-3-1994 by Ord. No. 1993:663]
In accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:18-2.18, any owner or bona fide purchaser of a building or structure may request a certificate of fire code status from the Closter Fire Prevention Bureau. The fee for such certificate shall be as set forth in Chapter A301, Fees and Deposits.
The provisions of § 106-18 shall supplement the Uniform Fire Code herein adopted and to be enforced in the Borough of Closter.
A.
In addition to the requirements set forth at N.J.A.C.
5:18-3.3(f), all buildings or parts thereof used for the storage and
handling of hazardous materials shall have placards affixed to the
exterior of such buildings in accordance with the specifications of
NFPA Standard 704. Said placards shall indicate the most hazardous
material on the premises and the quantity thereof. The Fire Official
shall direct the placement of such placards.
B.
In addition to the general precautions set forth in
N.J.A.C. 5:18-3.3(a) through (v), the following precautions shall
also be taken:
(1)
A high-security key vault shall be installed, as follows,
to permit the Fire Department to gain access without force during
a fire:
(2)
The limits in which storage of flammable liquids in
outside aboveground tanks is prohibited and the limits in which bulk
storage of liquefied petroleum gas is restricted are hereby established
as follows: All that area beginning at a point on the northerly side
of High Street, distant 250 feet westerly from the center line of
Old Closter Dock Road, running thence northerly and always 250 feet
southerly from the center line of Old Closter Dock Road and Main Street
to the easterly side of West Street, distant 250 feet southerly from
the center line of Main Street; thence northerly and along the easterly
side of West Street to a point 250 feet northeasterly from the center
line of Old Closter Dock Road; thence southerly and parallel with
the center line of Old Closter Dock Road and always 250 feet distant
northeasterly therefrom to the northerly side of High Street; thence
westerly along the northerly side of High Street to the point or place
of beginning.
The following additional requirements are hereby
adopted and shall become part of the Uniform Fire Code of the Borough
of Closter.
The Fire Chief or duly authorized representatives
as may be in charge at the scene of a fire or other fire-related emergencies
involving the protection of life and/or property shall direct such
operations as may be necessary to extinguish or control any suspected
or reported fires, gas leaks or other hazardous conditions or situations
and shall take any other action necessary in the reasonable performance
of their duty. The Fire Chief may prohibit any person, vehicle or
object from approaching the scene of a fire or other emergency and
may remove or cause to be removed from said scene any person, vehicle
or object which may impede or interfere with the operations of the
Fire Department. All persons ordered to leave a hazardous area shall
do so immediately and shall not reenter the area until authorized
to do so by the Fire Chief.
It shall be unlawful to interfere with, attempt
to interfere with, conspire to interfere with, obstruct or restrict
the mobility of or block the path of travel of any Fire Department
emergency vehicle in any way or to interfere with, obstruct or hamper
any Fire Department operation.
"Authorized emergency vehicles" shall mean those
which are so defined and authorized under the laws of the State of
New Jersey.
A person shall not, without proper authorization
from the Fire Officer in charge of said Fire Department emergency
equipment, cling to, attach himself to, climb upon or into, board
or swing upon any Fire Department emergency vehicle, whether the same
is in motion or at rest; or sound the siren, horn, bell or other sound-producing
device thereon; or manipulate or tamper with or attempt to manipulate
or tamper with any levers, valves, switches, starting devices, brakes,
pumps or any equipment or protective clothing on or a part of any
Fire Department emergency vehicle.
It shall be unlawful for any person to damage
or deface or attempt to conspire to damage or deface any Fire Department
emergency vehicle at any time or to injure or attempt or conspire
to injure Fire Department personnel while performing departmental
duties.
It shall be unlawful to obscure from view, damage,
deface, obstruct or restrict the access to any fire hydrant or any
Fire Department connection for the pressurization of fire-suppression
systems, including fire hydrants and Fire Department connections that
are located on public or private streets and access lanes or on private
property. If, upon the expiration of the time mentioned in a notice
of violation, obstructions or encroachments are not removed, the Fire
Chief or Fire Official shall proceed to remove the same. Cost incurred
in the performance of necessary work shall be paid from the municipal
treasury upon certification of the Fire Chief or Fire Official, and
with the approval of the Borough Administrator, the Borough Attorney
shall institute appropriate action for the recovery of such costs
against the person or persons in violation of this section.
A person shall not use or operate any fire hydrant
intended for the use of the Fire Department for fire-suppression purposes
unless such person first secures a permit for such use from the Fire
Official and the water company having jurisdiction. This section shall
not apply to the use of such hydrants by a person employed by and
authorized to make such use by the water company having jurisdiction.
The Fire Official shall recommend to the Borough
Administrator the location or relocation of new or existing fire hydrants
and the placement or replacement of water mains located upon public
property and deemed necessary to provide an adequate fire flow and
distribution pattern. A fire hydrant shall not be placed into or removed
from service until approved by the Fire Official.
All new and existing oil storage plants, lumberyards,
amusement or exhibition parks and educational or institutional complexes
and similar occupancies and uses involving high fire or life-hazard
uses and which are located more than 150 feet from a public street
or which require quantities of water beyond the capabilities of the
public water distribution system shall be provided with fire hydrants
supplying flow and placed as required by the Fire Chief or Fire Official.
Such fire hydrants shall be connected to a water system in accordance
with accepted engineering practices. The Fire Chief or Fire Official
may require the installation of sufficient fire hose and equipment
houses in accordance with the approved rules and may require the establishment
of a trained fire brigade when the hazard involved requires such measures.
Private hydrants shall not be placed into or removed from service
until approved by the Fire Official.
[Added 7-26-1995 by Ord. No. 1995:700]
Where sprinkler and/or standpipe systems exist
or are required to be installed, all Fire Department connections shall
be identified by a red light. This light shall be installed directly
above the connection, at least six feet but not more than eight feet
above ground level. Illumination shall be with a twenty-five-watt
bulb and shall be in operation at all times. It shall be the responsibility
of the property owner to install and maintain this equipment.
[Added 7-13-2011 by Ord. No. 2011:1099]
Open public fires on Borough property or any public property
within the Borough is hereby prohibited unless under the supervision
of the Fire Code official or his designee.
