COUNTY FIRE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

DIVISION UPDATES – June 2009

• Homeland Security Safety Conference will be held on June 12, 2009 at Kean University.

• Swine Influenza Alert is posted on the DFS website.

• NFIRS “Fire in New Jersey 2007” is posted on the DFS website.

·         The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) provided the Department of Homeland Security with $210,000,000 to fund the construction and modification of fire stations.  The Catalog of Domestic Federal Assistance (CFDA) number for the ARRA Assistance to Firefighters Station Construction Grant is 97.115. Completed applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, July 10, 2009.  More detailed information may be found on the Division website.  OHS help desk is at firegrants@dhs.gov

·         The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (AARA) (Public Law 111-5). The Act, which provides $787billion in stimulus funds to the Nation, lays out new requirements for Federal agencies in their grants processes to allow for more transparency and accountability across all programs. Under this funding, AARA provides $150 million in stimulus funding for the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). Completed applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM ET, June 29, 2009.  More detailed information may be found on the Division website.  OHS help desk is at firegrants@dhs.gov

• Safety Alert concerning the use of a Partner K-12 and the failure of the saw blade. The blade was a Target EH series 14” hand-held high speed DRY/WET cutting diamond blade. As a result of this failure, a 2” x 2” piece of blade propelled toward a service member’s upper right foot and cut through his combat boot behind the protective toe. The service member suffered a severed artery, veins, a cut tarsal bone and several severed tendons.  The alert is posted on the Division website.

• Bulletin 2009-2 has been issued by the Division concerning Section 314.4, condition 1, the requirement to disconnect the batteries for vehicles being displayed and whether this provision applied to vehicles being displayed inside of a dealership showroom.  It was determined that this section was originally intended to apply to vehicles being displayed in areas other than dealership showrooms such as malls and larger mercantile uses. After reviewing the code section and situation, it was determined that the repeated connection/disconnection of the battery in any location presented a greater potential for a possible accident than leaving the battery constantly connected.  The bulletin can be viewed at www.nj.gov/dca/dfs

·         Please remember that anytime there is a change is LEA information, 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.  Many LEA’s have not sent their 2009 LEA Survey in yet.  Please complete the survey and remit it to Marylain Kemp at mkemp@dca.state.nj.us.

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Division Updates – June 2009

• FO/FI’s are reminded that the Contractors Unit continues to receive calls concerning the need for enforcement of NFPA 25 and the maintenance requirements of NFPA 72. Please ensure strict compliance with theses standards as referenced in the 2006 IFC-NJ Edition.  Also many FO’s still do not understand that a company licensed through the “Division of Consumer Affairs” is permitted to do fire alarm work.  The phone number for Consumer Affairs is 973-504-6245.  

• For your information…Our Division newsletter FIRE FOCUS has returned and is now an e-newsletter only. You will find it at our website www.state.nj.dca/dfs/

            In addition we have a new outreach to local public education called State Fire        Marshal Message. It is a monthly email. If you are interested in being added to           the       mailing list for it please email: fireprevention@ dca.state.nj.us

• The IFC 2006 NJ Edition Code Update seminars scheduled in December have been rescheduled.  They are continuing as follows: 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.

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

• 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.