COUNTY FIRE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

DIVISION UPDATES – April 2009

 

 

  • New Jersey weekend is scheduled for June 27 & 28, 2009 at the National Fire Academy.  Applications may be downloaded from the Division website at www.state.nj.us/dca/dfs.  The DFS must receive your completed application and check by May 1st.

 

  • The Division of Fire Safety has updated the Registration Guide.  For your convenience, we have posted a copy to the DCA DFS Fire Officials Library.

 

  • The Local Assistance Unit has received numerous phone calls regarding the provisions of Subchapter 4 nightclubs.  Please note that Bulletin 2009-1 contains guidance concerning the retrofit requirements for nightclubs and is attached to this email and may also be retrieved from the DFS WEB page.  Additionally, when enforcing the nightclub provisions, FO/FI’s may need to refer back to N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.3 to determine the applicability of the provisions in UCC buildings.  See the exception below.

            5:70-4.3 Relationship to Uniform Construction Code                  

            (a) A building in full compliance with the subcodes adopted pursuant to the Uniform        Construction Code Act and regulations in force at the time of its construction and     possessing a    valid certificate of occupancy shall not be required to conform to the more restrictive          requirements established by this subchapter except as may be required by (a)5 and (a)7       below.                            

      Exception to (a) above: A building or portion thereof of Use Group A-2 nightclub shall be            required to conform to the more restrictive requirements established by this subchapter unless     the building is in full compliance with the Building Officials and Code Administrators National Building Code, 1990 edition or a later edition of the building subcode of the Uniform Construction             Code, and possesses a valid certificate of occupancy.  

 

  • The IFC 2006 NJ Edition Code Update seminars scheduled in December have been rescheduled.  They are continuing as follows: 3/28/09, Hunterdon County Fire Academy 4/17/09, Ocean County Fire Academy;  4/18/09, Warren County Fire Academy; 4/24/09, Burlington County ESTC; 4/25/09, Bergen County Fire Academy; 5/1/09, Mercer County Fire Academy; 5/2/09, Burlington County ESTC; 5/11/09, Cumberland County Fire Academy; 5/20/09, Middlesex County Fire Academy; 5/21/09, Bergen County Fire Academy; 5/26/09, Mercer County Fire Academy; 6/5/09, Camden County Fire Academy; 6/9/09, Passaic County Fire Academy; 6/11/09,    Morris County Fire Academy; 6/13/09, Middlesex County Fire Academy; 6/16/09, Gloucester County Fire Academy; 6/18/09, Ocean County Fire Academy; 6/23/09, Cape May County Fire Academy;

            6/30/09, Somerset County Fire Academy; 3/5/09, Passaic County Fire Academy; 3/6/09, Mercer   County Fire Academy; 3/7/09, Middlesex County Fire Academy.

 

  • All Fire Officials and Fire Inspectors must take the code update course within their current recertification cycle pursuant to 5:71-4.5(c).

 

  • Peer Review Board will be convening sometime in April initiating sanctions against several fire officials.

 

  • THE DFS NFIRS Unit will conduct a one-day seminar designed to assist local fire departments in reporting fire incident data.  Course topics to include: Importance of NFIRS / Requirements needed to receive AFG grants / Reporting & Submission guidelines / DFS form completion / How to receive free resource materials. To register, please call (908) 737–0230. Locations are: April 8, 2009, Burlington County ESTC; June 2, 2009, Kean University, CAS 106; Seminars begin at 9:30 a.m.
  • The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with

            the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer       product.  Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise         instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC’s Web       site at   www.cpsc.gov.) This recall involves the Kidde XL Fire Extinguishers with model             numbers           FX340SC, FX340H, FX340GW, XL5MR, FX210R, FX340SC-2, FX210W, XL2.5TCZ-4,       XL2.5TCZ-3, XL5TCZ-1, E-340-3 and with manufacture dates between             September 2007 and     April 2008. “Kidde” and the model number can be found on the      label on the front of the             extinguisher.

 

 

Page 2

Division Updates - continued

 

  • You will need to have the following documents to properly enforce the new fire code:
    1. The New Jersey Uniform Fire Code – which contains Subchapter 1 (General Provisions), Subchapter 2 (Administration and Enforcement), Subchapter 3 (Language enabling the use of the International Fire Code), and Subchapter 4 (Retrofit Provisions). This is available from the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety. The fire code book and 1 year subscription service is $100.00 and code book without the subscription service is $75.00. Additional information and orders can be obtained by contacting Marylain Kemp at (609) 633-7129.
    2. The 2006 International Fire Code – New Jersey Edition – which contains the fire prevention code. This is available from the International Code Council. The 2006 International Fire Code – New Jersey Edition with a three-year subscription service is $116.00 for ICC members and $145.00 for non-members. The book can be ordered from the International Code Council http://www.iccsafe.org/e/prodshow.html?prodid=3400L06NJ&stateInfo=EaMljrijffddnrGP3692|5

 

·         The Division has established a section on the DFS Website at www.state.nj.us/dca/dfs where 2006 IFC code questions can be submitted to DFS staff for answers.  Please look for the 2006 code book, click on http://fs6.formsite.com/dca_dfs/InternationalFireCode/index.html and submit your questions.

  • For LEA’s using computer software, you need to contact your software provider to obtain that information. Each software vendor must negotiate a licensing agreement with the International Code Council. The Division of Fire Safety has no involvement in this process.

 

  • There is an error on the preface page of the new fire code relating to how violations should be cited.  Attached is the proper way violations should be cited:

Code sections preceded by a double vertical line in the margin (││) have been modified, added to or edited by the Department of Community Affairs.

 

Unlike the previous Fire Prevention Code it is not necessary to distinguish between amended and un-amended provisions when citing violations.

 

Therefore, all violations will be cited as follows without respect to whether they are amendments or not:

Example:          (Testing of Emergency and Standby Power Systems)

                        Cite as: N.J.A.C. 5:70-3, 604.3.1.1

Example:          (Automatic fire extinguishing system tests)

                        Cite as: N.J.A.C. 5:70-3, 904.5.1

 

·         The 2008 Annual Report has gone paperless and was sent out electronically to all LEA’s on December 23, 2008.   Please check your electronic mail through the portal access.  The Annual Report was required to be submitted to the DFS by January 31, 2009.  If you have any questions or require assistance, please reach out to Ms. Karen Luckie via email Karen.luckie@dca.state.nj.us, include a telephone number where you can be reached and she will contact you as soon as possible.   There are still several LEA’s that have not submitted their reports for 2008.

  • Just a reminder, that when a town or District has a FO vacancy or new FO, please provide Marylain Kemp or Local Assistance Rep. with the following:  Original Resolution or documentation from the appointing authority, letter from FO indicating acceptance of the appointment on town letterhead (letterhead should contain contact info for the town);FO/FI Certification number; effective date of appointment and email address.

 

·         Please remember that anytime there is a change is LEA information, to please complete and forward a LEA Survey form.  Local Assistance Reps. can provide you with the form or it may be obtained from the DFS Web site.

 

  • Our DFS Spring 2009 training brochure will be posted on the DFS website.  No more mailed brochures.  A post card will be mailed out to certified fire officials/inspectors and fire instructors informing them of this change.  Registration dates will be:  1st session begins 2/17; 2nd session begins 2/23; open session begins 3/2.

 

 

Page 3

Division Updates – Continued

 

 

  • The Division of Fire Safety (DFS) has received approximately 15,000 smoke detectors from ABC7.  The DFS will distribute the fire detectors to local fire departments throughout New Jersey.  Those local departments will in turn hand out these detectors to residents, specifically focusing on senior citizens, lower income households, and those households with children.  For further information on the DFS, please log on to http://www.nj.gov/dca/dfs/, or contact Charlie Luxton at (cluxton@dca.state.nj.us).

 

  • Effective immediately Janet Dunigan will assume the duties of Sylvester Swanson who was our Regulatory Affairs Officer.  Marylain Kemp is now our OPRA custodian and is responsible for the updates of the LEA Registry.

 

·         Records Retention Schedule for fire prevention records may be obtained by contacting your Local Assistance Representative.

·         Local Enforcing Agencies can view their anticipated revenues on the NJ Portal.

  • Contractors Unit, N.J.A.C. 5:74:

 

  1. A Fire protection / Equipment contractor is one with a “Business Permit” to operate not just a certification.
  2. Licensed Electric Contractors (those with a business license to operate from Consumer Affairs as a contractor can do any type fire alarm work.
  3. A company with a business permit may not use a non- permitted contractor to do work as business permits and certifications are not transferrable.
  4. A company with a License from Consumer Affairs for Fire Alarm does not need a business permit or certification from us to do fire alarm work.
  5. A company with a special hazard certification may do Kitchen Systems (per regulations).
  6. A contractor can only do work within their scope but realize that A fire sprinkler contractor may install all related system components including detection. (per regulations)  Example pre action systems
  7. Nothing in our regulation undermines or overrides the regulations concerning electrical contractor’s example only an electrical contractor can install line voltage smoke alarms. Note these devices can be tested by anyone and should not be found in commercial property except were permitted by the building code or AHJ approval.
  8. Homeowners (primary home) may do their own fire protection work per the UCC.
  9. Complaints are to be reported to the unit @ 609-324-3560 and followed up in writing with all related material. 
  10. Note contractors who tag work example, Kitchen Suppression systems that do not meet manufactures / code requirements hydro etc are to be reported to this office.

      Uniform Code enforcement is the best way to improve the quality of all fire     protection work.