The bill amends New Jersey laws to enhance safety and compliance standards for fire escapes and exterior stairways. It mandates that inspections for these structures must be conducted by either a structural engineer or an employee of a certified fire escape inspection company, ensuring that qualified professionals oversee their maintenance. Additionally, the bill introduces a new classification for contractors, termed "Fire Escape Contractor," who will be authorized to install, service, repair, inspect, and maintain fire escapes and exterior stairways. The bill also expands the definition of "fire protection equipment" to include these structures and emphasizes the need for certification and proper training for contractors involved in fire safety.

Moreover, the bill stipulates that a certificate of occupancy cannot be issued for new constructions or alterations unless all work complies with relevant codes and laws, particularly concerning fire escapes and exterior stairways. Inspections for compliance must be performed by qualified professionals, and construction or subcode officials enforcing fire code regulations must also be structural engineers or certified inspection company employees. The Commissioner of Community Affairs is tasked with adopting regulations for the certification of fire escape inspection companies, thereby ensuring effective enforcement of fire safety standards across the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:27D-25, 52:27D-121, 52:27D-126, 52:27D-133, 52:27D-203