Toms River City Zoning Code
§ 348-8.14
Fire hydrants in residential areas.
[Amended 6-11-1985 by Ord. No. 2329-85; 8-12-1986 by Ord. No. 2429-86; 12-26-2017 by Ord. No. 4569-17]
A.
Proximity of residential structures to hydrants. No construction permit shall be issued for any residential structure located in an area served by a public or private water company unless the distance from the midpoint of the frontage of such premises to a fire hydrant as measured down the center line of connecting public streets is no more than 250 feet. All hydrants, both existing and proposed, are to be shown on subdivision plats. All temporary roads shall be accessible to fire apparatus by way of an approved temporary driving surface capable of supporting the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing at least 75,000 pounds. Existing fire hydrants on public streets are allowed to be considered as available. Existing fire hydrants on adjacent properties shall not be considered available unless fire apparatus access roads extend between properties and easements are established to prevent obstruction of such roads.
B.
Major subdivision. No preliminary subdivision plat shall be approved by the approving authority unless fire hydrants are indicated on the preliminary plat in accordance with the requirement herein contained as to location of and distances between fire hydrants. Prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, such hydrant shall be full functioning and shall have been tested and approved by the Toms River Township Bureau of Fire Prevention.
C.
Hydrants in cul-de-sac turnarounds. No fire hydrant shall be placed at the closed end of a turnaround of a cul-de-sac unless the distance between the open end and the closed end is greater than 400 feet, in which event, the fire hydrants shall be placed at both the open end and the closed end of the cul-de-sac. Where a waterline dead ends at a hydrant, such waterline shall be no less than eight inches in diameter. Hydrants shall be set plumb with nozzles 18 inches above the ground or, where they are to be placed in hose houses, 18 inches above the floor. Where a fire hydrant is located on a fire apparatus access road, the minimum road width shall be 26 feet. Prior to any certificate of occupancy, facilities, buildings or portions of buildings hereafter constructed shall be accessible to fire department apparatus by way of an approved fire apparatus access road with an asphalt, concrete or other approved driving surface capable of supporting the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing at least 75,000 pounds. Dead-end fire apparatus access roads in excess of 150 feet in length shall be provided with a minimum width of 26 feet and turnaround provisions in accordance with the following: 150 feet to 750 feet in length: ninety-five-foot cul-de-sac or one-hundred-twenty-foot hammerhead or other configuration acceptable to the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention. The minimum turning radius for all buildings and structures shall be determined by the fire official.
D.
Installation in subdivision required prior to issuance of certificate of occupancy. The installation of fire hydrants with respect to any subdivision shall not be considered a subdivision improvement to be included in the bonding requirements of this chapter, but rather the proper installation of fire hydrants shall be a condition of the issuance of certificates of occupancy.
E.
Fire flow requirements for residential structures. The procedure for determining fire flow requirements for buildings or portions of buildings hereafter constructed shall be in accordance with the latest edition of the New Jersey adoption of the International Fire Code and its Appendix B and any subsequent appendices.
F.
All fire hydrants shall be painted in accordance with the following schedule:
(1)
All public hydrants, i.e., those to be maintained by a public water company or authority, shall be painted in a color combination of yellow tops and nozzle caps and silver barrels.
(2)
All private hydrants, i.e., hydrants other than public hydrants, shall be entirely painted in yellow.
(3)
Each public hydrant shall be marked or identified by numbers no less than three inches high and placed above the steamer connection and below the bonnet, where feasible, indicating the size main, in inches, to which the hydrant is connected. Such markings or identification shall be painted on each hydrant and shall face the street or, in the absence of a public street, the direction from which it would be reasonably expected fire apparatus would respond. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the size and color of such markings or identification shall be readily visible to a person with 20/20 vision from a distance of 75 feet in clear weather in daylight.
(4)
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall inspect such hydrants to ensure compliance herewith.
(5)
The owners of existing public hydrants shall comply with this section by December 31, 1985, provided that the hydrants owned by public water companies or authorities operating within Toms River Township shall conform to this section by June 30, 1985.
G.
(Reserved)
H.
All fire hydrants installed in the municipality shall have no less than two two-and-one-half-inch hose connection nozzles and one four-and-one-half-inch pumper nozzle. All threads are to be National Standard fire hose threads.
I.
Hydrants shall be set plumb with nozzles 18 inches above the ground or, where they are to be placed in hose houses, 18 inches above the floor.
J.
Fire stations. The location of fire stations and fire lanes shall be designated by the Bureau of Fire Prevention. Fire hydrants of a type designated by the Bureau of Fire Prevention shall be located at each fire station. At waterfront fire stations, a fire hydrant and suction line shall be installed in accordance with the approved details and a detailed design to be submitted to and approved by the Township Engineer in each case.