Source: https://www.ecode360.com/14802780
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 12:40:50+00:00

Document:
§ 212-1 Code to be locally enforced.
§ 212-4 Inspections of life hazard uses.
§ 212-5 Supervision and control by Township Committee.
§ 212-9 Key boxes required on certain properties; definitions.
§ 212-10 Locations requiring key boxes; request for exception; appeals.
§ 212-11 Key box installation and maintenance.
§ 212-12 Enforcement; violations and penalties.
§ 212-13 Registration of non-life hazard uses.
§ 212-14 Misuse of key box by fire company personnel.
Smoke-sensitive alarm devices — See Ch. 110, Art. II.
Uniform construction codes — see Ch. 165.
Fire zones — See Ch. 218.
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383) (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.), the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced in the municipality of the Township of Upper Deerfield.
There is hereby established a Bureau of Fire Prevention within the Township of Upper Deerfield composed of the fire chiefs of all fire companies formed and operating in the Township of Upper Deerfield, which Bureau shall be the local enforcing agency for the purpose of administrating and enforcing the Uniform Fire Safety Act, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The fire chiefs shall be designated by the respective fire companies. A temporary or acting chief may be designated by any fire company to function during the absence or disability of the fire chief representing such company. A majority of the members of the Bureau shall constitute a quorum.
The local enforcing 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 Upper Deerfield, other than owner-occupied one- or two-family dwellings, and shall faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.
The local enforcement agency established by § 212-2 of this chapter shall carry out the periodic inspections of life hazard uses required by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
The local enforcing agency established by § 212-2 of this chapter shall be a part of the municipal government of the Township of Upper Deerfield and shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Township Committee or any member or committee thereof duly designated by the Township Committee for this purpose from time to time.
Fire Official. The duties of the enforcing agency shall be administered by a Fire Official, who shall be appointed by the Township Committee of the Township of Upper Deerfield, upon the written recommendation of the Bureau of Fire Prevention of the Township of Upper Deerfield. The Fire Official shall be the administrative officer of the local enforcing agency and shall carry out the duties of enforcing the Uniform Fire Safety Act, subject to the supervision of the Bureau of Fire Prevention of the Township of Upper Deerfield.
Term of office. The Fire Official shall serve for a term of one year and until his successor has been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term. A temporary or Acting Fire Official may be appointed by the Township Committee, upon written recommendation of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, during the temporary absence or disability of the Fire Official. In the event of a vacancy or the temporary absence or disability of the Fire Official, if no recommendation has been made by the Bureau of Fire Prevention, then the Township Committee may appoint a qualified person as temporary or Acting Fire Official to serve until an appropriate recommendation has been made and acted upon.
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 Upper Deerfield, upon the written recommendation of the Fire Official, to serve at the discretion of the Township Committee. An equal number of inspectors shall be appointed from among the members of each fire company formed and operating within the Township, so long as qualified persons are available for this purpose.
Removal from office. The Fire Official, inspectors and other employees of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal by the Township Committee of the Township of Upper Deerfield for inefficiency or misconduct, provided that each such person shall first be afforded a hearing by the Township Committee or before a hearing officer designated by the Township Committee for this purpose, after reasonable notice thereof and in accordance with the duly adopted personnel policies of the Township of Upper Deerfield.
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the New Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act, any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcing agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of the County of Cumberland.
Editor's Note: See N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.19 for provisions relating to appeals.
Inspections shall be made and permits issued for all uses, including life hazard uses, in the manner required by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code. Annual registration fees for life hazard uses shall be paid in the amounts fixed in said Fire Code, as promulgated from time to time by the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs of the State of New Jersey. The application fee for other permits required by said Fire Code are similarly set and amended from time to time.
Editor's Note: See N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9.
The Fire Marshal shall have the authority to require a key box to be installed in or on any property within the Township of Upper Deerfield deemed to be necessary pursuant to and within the authority provided in this chapter.
Whenever access to a property, structure or area within the Township of Upper Deerfield is restricted because of a lock, barrier, gate or other security device or mechanism, and the Fire Marshal determines that the use and placement of a key box is necessary for purposes of allowing immediate access to such location by Fire Departments or other emergency personnel in order to conduct life-saving or fire-fighting activities thereon, the owner, tenant or other person or persons occupying or otherwise in charge of such location shall install a key box in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
The Fire Marshal of the Township of Upper Deerfield or his/her representative.
A locked physical device within or on a property, of a type, make and model approved by this chapter and the Fire Marshal, which shall contain keys or other access devices necessary for gaining entry to the building, structure or area, and which is installed for the sole purpose of allowing Fire Departments or other emergency personnel to gain access necessary for life-saving or fire-fighting purposes. Access to key boxes by the Fire Departments of Upper Deerfield Township shall be through the use of a key or other proprietary entry device in the possession of the Fire Departments.
Shall have the same meanings and definitions as in the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.
When used in this chapter with respect to key boxes shall refer to any physical location, whether occupied or vacant, whether improved or unimproved, which is located within the Township of Upper Deerfield.
Any nonresidential building or property with an automatic fire alarm or sprinkler system.
Any nonresidential location that has any type of security gate which otherwise prevents unrestricted access.
Any building which contains large quantities (as determined by the Fire Marshal) of hazardous materials, as such materials are defined by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.
Any nonresidential location that has a history of chronic false fire alarms or nuisance fire alarms.
Any other location which, in the opinion of the Fire Marshal after review of all circumstances, shall require a key box in order to provide adequate means of access for fire-fighting and life-saving purposes.
Exceptions. Any owner, tenant or occupant otherwise required by this chapter to install a key box, who seeks a variance from such requirement, shall submit a letter to the Fire Marshal stating the reasons why such installation should not be required. The letter shall be submitted within 10 days of being ordered or otherwise required to make the installation. Upon submission, the Fire Marshal shall review the variance request along with the information submitted and make a determination. In the event that the variance request is denied, the applicant shall have a right of appeal to the Township Committee of Upper Deerfield by submitting a letter requesting same no later than seven days after receipt of the Fire Marshal's decision.
Key boxes, when required to be installed by this chapter, shall be installed at the sole cost and expense of the property owner, tenant or other occupant of the property.
Upon notice from the Fire Marshal, an owner, tenant or other occupant of a property shall have 30 days to order and obtain a key box. Prior to the purchase and installation of a key box, the owner, tenant or occupant responsible to install it shall meet with the Fire Marshal and obtain approval for the required size, placement and contents of the key box to be installed. Upon receipt of the key box, the party installing same shall meet with the Fire Marshal, who shall approve the placement and contents of the key box prior to installation. The key box shall be installed and ready for use no later than 10 days after receipt. Any delays to the above required time frames which are caused by the Fire Marshal or key box vendor shall not be the responsibility of the party installing it.
It shall be the responsibility of the owner, tenant or occupant of the property using a key box to ensure that it is maintained properly. Such responsible party shall permit the Fire Marshal to annually check each key box and note any repairs which may be necessary, which repairs, upon notification, shall be completed within a reasonable time frame specified by the Fire Marshal. It shall also be the obligation of such person to inform the Fire Marshal any time a key needs to be added or changed from the key box or any other modification of the key box becomes necessary.
The Fire Marshal shall enforce the provisions of this chapter regarding key boxes. Any person or entity that fails to comply with the provisions hereof, or any order or directive of the Fire Marshal enforcing same, shall be in violation of the provisions of this chapter. Upon citation by the Fire Marshal for noncompliance, the alleged violation shall be heard in the Municipal Court for Upper Deerfield Township. Any conviction thereof shall subject the violator to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for each violation. Each day of noncompliance shall constitute a separate violation.
In addition to the registration of life hazard uses required by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, the following non-life hazard uses shall be required to register with the Fire Marshal or the Bureau of Fire Prevention and pay an annual registration fee as listed herein. All such uses shall be subject to inspection by the Fire Marshal not less than once every three years. Uses not classified below that are subject to the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be classified as business uses. Any vacant structure will be charged a fee and inspected according to the immediate previous use of the structure. Uses required by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code to be registered with the State of New Jersey as life hazard uses shall not be required to register under this section.
The use of any key box is for the exclusive purpose of conducting life-saving or fire-fighting activities. Persons authorized to use a key box shall at all times respect the privacy of the property owners, their businesses and clientele. Any misuse of the key box by any Fire Company person shall be a violation of this chapter giving rise to grounds for immediate dismissal, and punishable by fines up to $500 per occurrence. Nothing contained herein shall prevent prosecution for any violation of state law arising out of the use and/or misuse of the key box.

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