Senate, No. 1357 state of new jersey 218th legislature

SENATE, No. 1357



STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 1, 2018

Sponsored by:

Senator JEFF VAN DREW

District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)

SYNOPSIS

Amends State construction code to increase fire safety at certain construction sites.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

An Act concerning fire safety at certain construction sites and supplementing 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. The adoption of the International Building Code, 2015, by the Commissioner of Community Affairs is modified as follows:

a. In addition to any fire safety requirements applicable during construction of a Residential Group R-1 or R-2 building or structure, there shall be established a fire watch to be active at all times when construction personnel are not engaging in construction activity on the premises.

b. The requirement for the fire watch shall begin when the framework of the structure begins to be constructed. The requirement shall cease upon the installation of an operational automatic sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13 or NFPA 13R, as appropriate, and the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the structure.

c. As used in this section, “fire watch” means at least one dedicated person with expertise in fire safety, whose responsibilities are limited to monitoring a construction site for fire related dangers while there is no construction activity taking place on the site.

2. The Commissioner of Community Affairs shall take whatever administrative actions as are necessary to correct code adoptions to conform them with section 1 of P.L.    , c.    (C.    ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). Whenever the commissioner adopts a code or subcode pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-123), the commissioner shall modify the adoption to conform it with the provisions of section 1 of P.L. , c.    (C.    ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would require a fire watch be established at any construction site for the development of a Residential Group R-1 or R-2 structure The fire watch would be active at all times when construction personnel are not engaging in construction activity on the premises.

The requirement for the fire watch would begin when the framework of the structure begins to be constructed. The requirement would expire upon the installation of an operational automatic sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13 or NFPA 13R, as appropriate, and the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the structure.

Under the bill, “fire watch” means at least one dedicated person with expertise in fire safety whose responsibilities are limited to monitoring a construction site for fire related dangers while there is no construction activity taking place on the site.