The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has approved regulations that will adopt the 2015 International Fire Code, with New Jersey-specific amendments, as the State Fire Prevention Code. The state currently utilizes the 2006 International Fire Code. This new code will take effect on July 1, 2018.
Additionally, the state is amending the New Jersey Fire Safety Code, which imposes retrofit standards on existing buildings, to require that apartment owners utilize 10-sealed lithium ion smoke alarms. NJAA had submitted comments on the sealed lithium ion battery mandate, and in response to those comments, the DCA is delaying the deadline to January 1, 2019.
We encourage the membership when replacing smoke alarms to replace them with 10-year sealed lithium ion battery smoke alarms immediately and to plan to replace existing equipment that is not in compliance with the new standards.