Bill Text: NJ S2287 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires fire suppression systems in new single and two family homes.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-08 - Transferred to Senate Economic Growth Committee [S2287 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S2287-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator ANTHONY R. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris)
SYNOPSIS
Requires fire suppression systems in new single and two family homes.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning new home fire safety and supplementing the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "New Home Fire Safety Act."
2. As used in this act:
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
"Fire suppression system" means an engineered or pre-engineered system that suppresses a fire using an extinguishing agent distributed through fixed piping and nozzles that are activated either manually or automatically. The system may include containers, nozzles, controls, automatic detection, manual releases, equipment shut downs, and alarms. In such systems, an extinguishing agent is discharged through fixed pipes and nozzles into or over a potential fire hazard.
"Manufactured home" means a unit of housing manufactured in accordance with the standards promulgated for a manufactured home by the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to the "National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974," Pub.L.93-383 (42 U.S.C. s. 5401 et seq.).
"New home" means a structure not previously occupied as of the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and intended for residential use by not more than two households, but shall not mean a manufactured home.
3. A certificate of occupancy shall not be issued to any new one- or two-family home until the officer or agency responsible for its issuance has determined that the new home is equipped with a fire suppression system that conforms to the requirements promulgated by the Commissioner, pursuant to the State Uniform Construction Code and section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
4. The commissioner shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), promulgate rules and regulations, requiring the installation of fire suppression systems in all new one- and two family homes pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
5. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and shall not apply to new homes built as part of a development plan or building permit approved on or before the effective date of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the installation of a fire suppression system in new single and two family homes during the home's construction. This requirement would be instituted by a municipal ordinance. In order to ensure compliance with an ordinance requiring the installation of a fire suppression system in new single and two family homes, this bill would condition the issuance of a certificate of occupancy upon the installation of the system. All fire suppression systems required by such ordinances would have to conform to the requirements promulgated by the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
The Commissioner of Community Affairs is responsible for the State Uniform Construction Code, which includes the residential building subcode. Including provisions incorporating fire suppression systems in one- and two-family homes will provide protection for the State's residents and firefighters.
