New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 5 - COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Chapter 23 - UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE
Subchapter 6 - REHABILITATION SUBCODE
Section 5:23-6.3 - Definitions

The words and terms used in this subcode shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Any term not defined herein which is defined in any of the other subcodes of the Uniform Construction Code shall have the meaning as defined in that subcode. Where a term is defined in this subcode and is also defined in another subcode, then the term shall have the meaning as defined herein wherever it is used in this subcode.

"Addition" means an increase in the footprint area of a building or an increase in the average height of the highest roof surface or the number of stories of a building.

"Alteration" means the rearrangement of any space by the construction of walls or partitions or by a change in ceiling height, the addition or elimination of any door or window, the extension or rearrangement of any system, the installation of any additional equipment or fixtures and any work which reduces the loadbearing capacity of or which imposes additional loads on a primary structural component.

"Change of use" means a change from one use to another use in a building or tenancy or portion thereof.

"Commercial energy code" means the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standard 90.1 adopted at 5:23-3.18 and applicable to all buildings other than residential buildings as defined at "residential energy code."

"Dormitory" means a building, or portion thereof, containing rooms which are provided as residences or for overnight sleeping for individuals or groups, and includes those residences utilized by fraternities or sororities which are recognized by or owned by a school or institution of higher education, but does not include those residences or multiple dwellings utilized by students which are not recognized by or owned by a school or institution of higher education. "Dormitory" is not to include a building used primarily to house faculty or a multiple dwelling in which occupancy of each dwelling unit is limited to persons who are members of a single family group.

"Equipment" or "fixture" means plumbing, heating, electrical, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigerating and fire protection equipment, elevators devices, boilers, pressure vessels and other mechanical facilities or installations, which are related to building services and shall not include manufacturing, production or process equipment, but which shall include any connections from building services to process equipment.

"Group" means the group classification of the building subcode.

"Load bearing element" means any column, beam, joist, girder, wall, floor or roof sheathing which supports any load in addition to its own weight.

"New building element" means any one of the elements listed in 5:23-6.9 that did not exist previously.

"Nursing home" means a building used for nursing or custodial care on a 24-hour basis for more than five persons where evacuation is impractical (a group that, even with staff assistance, cannot reliably move to a point of safety in a timely manner) as defined in Section 22-1.3 of NFPA 101-97. This shall include intermediate care facilities, skilled nursing facilities and long term care facilities.

"Primary function space" means a room or space housing a major activity for which the building or tenancy is intended including, but not limited to, office area, auditorium, assembly space, dining room, bar or lounge, warehouse, factory, dwelling, care, confinement, retail, and educational spaces, but not including kitchens, bathrooms, storage rooms or other spaces supporting a primary function space; a building or tenancy may contain more than one primary function space.

"Primary structural component" means any component of the primary load bearing structure of a building including footings, piles, foundations, columns, girders, beams, joists, wind or seismic bracing but not including, for the purposes of this subcode, sheathing or subflooring.

"Reconstruction" means any project where the extent and nature of the work is such that the work area cannot be occupied while the work is in progress and where a new certificate of occupancy is required before the work area can be reoccupied. Reconstruction may include repair, renovation, alteration or any combination thereof. Reconstruction shall not include projects comprised only of floor finish replacement, painting or wallpapering, or the replacement of equipment or furnishings. Asbestos hazard abatement and lead hazard abatement projects shall not be classified as reconstruction solely because occupancy of the work area is not permitted.

"Rehabilitation" means the repair, renovation, alteration or reconstruction of any building or structure.

"Renovation" means the removal and replacement or covering of existing interior or exterior finish, trim, doors, windows, or other materials with new materials that serve the same purpose and do not change the configuration of space. Renovation shall include the replacement of equipment or fixtures.

"Repair" means the restoration to a good or sound condition of materials, systems and/or components that are worn, deteriorated or broken using materials or components identical to or closely similar to the existing.

"Residential energy code" means the International Energy Conservation Code adopted at N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.18 and applicable to residential buildings as defined as Group R-3 and R-5 buildings, as well as Group R-2 and Group R-4 buildings three stories or less in height above grade. Group R-5 buildings requirements are denoted in parentheses for the equivalent requirement in the one- and two-family dwelling subcode.

"System" means the primary structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, or occupant service components of a building including any equipment, fixtures, connections, conduits, wires, pipes, ducts, as well as any associated sensors, controls, distribution or safety elements.

"Technically infeasible" means, in connection with accessibility requirements, a change that has little likelihood of being accomplished because the existing structural conditions require the removal or alteration of a loadbearing member that is an essential part of the structural frame, or because other existing physical or site constraints prohibit modification or addition of elements, spaces or features which are in full and strict compliance with the minimum requirements for new construction and which are necessary to provide accessibility.

"Tenancy" means an entire building or that portion of a building or story which is or is intended to be under the control of a single owner or tenant.

"UFC fire barrier" means a continuous membrane, either vertical or horizontal, such as a wall or floor assembly, that is designed and constructed with a specified fire resistance rating and located to limit the spread of fire and restrict the movement of smoke. Such barriers may have protected openings when a specific fire resistive rating is indicated by this subcode.

"Use" means that portion of a building or tenancy which is devoted to a single group or special use or occupancy as defined in the building subcode or as established by the provisions of any other subcode for the purpose of specifying special requirements applicable to that portion of a building or tenancy.

"Work area" means any entire use, primary function space, or tenancy comprising all or part of a reconstruction project as delineated on the approved permit application and/or plans.