New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 5 - COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Chapter 23 - UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE
Subchapter 6 - REHABILITATION SUBCODE
Section 5:23-6.4 - Repairs

Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 5:23-6.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024

(a) Repairs, as defined in 5:23-6.3, shall comply with the requirements of this section. There is no limit to the amount of repair work which may be undertaken.

1. The following work shall be considered renovation, alteration, or reconstruction, as appropriate, and not repair work:
i. The cutting away of any wall, partition, or portion thereof;

ii. The permanent, partial or complete removal of any primary structural component;

iii. The removal or rearrangement of any part of a required means of egress; and

iv. Addition to, alteration or relocation of:
(1) Any fire protection system piping;

(2) Water supply, sewer, drainage, gas, oil, waste, vent, or similar piping;

(3) Electrical wiring, other than wiring for a low voltage communication system in a one or two family dwelling;

(4) Mechanical system components such as ductwork; or

(5) Elevator devices.

(b) All work shall be done in a workmanlike manner.

(c) The work shall not cause any diminution of existing structural strength, system capacity or mechanical ventilation below that which exists at the time of application for a permit or that which is required by the applicable subcodes of the Uniform Construction Code, whichever is lower.

1. Newly introduced fixed loads shall not exceed the uniformly distributed live loads or concentrated live load criteria of Table 1607.1 of the building subcode or Table R301.5 of the one- and two-family dwelling subcode, as applicable, and shall not create deflection that exceeds the standards set forth below. As used in this section, fixed loads shall mean uniform or concentrated loads and shall include, but not be limited to, equipment, files, library stacks, or similar loading conditions. (Building)
i. For wood frame construction, deflection shall not exceed L/180 for roofs with a slope of 3 in 12 or less or L/120 for roofs with a slope of greater than 3 in 12 and for floors.

ii. For steel frame construction, deflection shall not exceed L/240 for roofs with a slope of 3 in 12 or less or L/180 for roofs with a slope of greater than 3 in 12 and for floors.

iii. For concrete construction, deflection shall not exceed L/180 for roofs or L/240 for floors.

2. Fire protection systems may be removed if the requirements of 5:23-6.6(c)2 or 6.7(c)2 are met, as applicable. (Fire)

3. No work shall be undertaken that diminishes accessibility below that which is required by Chapter 11 of the building subcode. (Building)

(d) The following products and practices shall not be used:

1. Wood paneling being used as an interior finish not in conformance with Table 2 of N.J.A.C. 5:23-6.11 of this subcode; (Building)

2. Carpet used for floor covering that fails to meet the DOC FF-1 "Pill Test" (Consumer Product Safety Commission 16 CFR 1630); (Plan review - Building/Fire. Inspection - Building)

3. Electrical materials/supplies: Unlisted or unapproved electrical products. As stated in the National Electrical Code (sections 90.7, 110.2, 110.3, and article 100), only electrical products listed, labeled, approved, and identified are acceptable. Approval is to be based on tests and listings of testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), Factory Mutual (FM) or Canadian Standards Association/Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (CSA/NRTL), etc.; and (Electrical)

4. Plumbing materials and supplies:
i. All purpose solvent cement;

ii. Clear PB (polybutylene) piping;

iii. Flexible traps and tailpieces;

iv. Sheet and tubular copper and brass trap and tailpiece fittings less than B&S (Brown & Sharpe) 17 gauge (.045 inch); and

v. Solder having more than 0.2 percent lead shall not be used in the repair of potable water systems. (Plumbing)

5. The following practices shall not be used on painted surfaces in all buildings of Group R that were constructed before 1978, Group E and Group I-4 buildings used as child-care facilities unless the painted surface has been tested and found to be free of lead-based paint:
i. Open flame burning or the use of high temperature (in excess of 1100 degrees Fahrenheit) heat guns;

ii. Power sanding or sandblasting, unless a special HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter equipped vacuum attachment is used to contain dust;

iii. Uncontained water blasting or power washing; or

iv. Dry scraping or sanding more than two square feet per room (interior) or 10 square feet or more per building (exterior). (Building)

6. A mirror shall not be placed in or adjacent to any means of egress so as to confuse the direction of egress or give the appearance of a doorway, exit, or passageway. Draperies or similar hangings shall not obscure an exit.
i. Exception: Within dwelling units of Groups R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5. (Plan review - Building/Fire. Inspection -Building)

(e) The following products and practices shall be required, when applicable:

1. Replacement glass shall comply with the "Safety Glazing" requirements of the building subcode and shall be installed in the "Hazardous Locations" as specified by Sections 2406.4 and 2406.5 of the building subcode or by Section R308.4 of the one- and two-family dwelling subcode, as applicable. (Building)

2. Plug fuses of the Edison-base type shall be used only for replacements where there is no evidence of over fusing or tampering per Section 240.51(B) of the electrical subcode. (Electrical)

3. Non-"hospital grade" receptacles in patient bed locations of health care facilities, Group I-2, shall be replaced with "hospital grade" receptacles. (Electrical)

4. When door hardware is replaced in buildings required by Chapter 11 of the building subcode to be accessible, replacement hardware shall comply with ICC A117.1, Section 404.2.6. (Building)

5. Newly installed and replacement handrails and guardrails shall comply with Sections 1011.11, 1012.8, 1014, and 1015 of the building subcode, respectively, or Sections R311.7.8, R311.8.3, and R312.1 of the one- and two-family dwelling subcode, respectively, as applicable. Where 50 percent or more of a handrail or guardrail on a flight or on a level is replaced, then this shall be considered a complete replacement and shall comply with the above referenced sections. The repair or replacement of less than 50 percent of a handrail or guardrail shall be permitted to match the existing handrail or guardrail. (Building)

6. When the refrigerant in existing equipment is replaced with a different refrigerant, the requirements of the mechanical subcode applicable to the new refrigerant, if any, shall be met. (Plumbing)

7. Existing roof covering shall be removed before installing new roof covering when any of the following conditions occur:
i. The existing roof or roof covering is water soaked or has deteriorated to the point that the existing roof or roof covering is not adequate as a base for additional roofing;

ii. The existing roof covering is wood shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile; or

iii. The existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering. (Building)

8. When the work being performed exposes wood framing of any wall, floor, ceiling, or roof, fireblocking shall be provided as required by section 718.2 of the building subcode or section R302.11 of the one- and two-family dwelling subcode, as applicable. The fireblocking material shall comply with section 718.2.1 of the building subcode or section R302.11.1 of the one- and two-family dwelling subcode, as applicable.

(f) In buildings of Groups R-3, R-4, and R-5 and in dwelling units of Group R-2, smoke alarms shall be installed and maintained on each level of the structure, outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and located on or near the ceiling. Battery-operated units shall be permitted, but shall not replace any AC-powered smoke alarms or a household fire alarm system. (Fire)

(g) In buildings containing a fuel burning appliance or having an attached garage, carbon monoxide detection equipment shall be installed in accordance with Section 915 of the building subcode or Section R315 of the one- and two-family dwelling subcode, as applicable. (Fire)

1. Exception: Battery-powered or plug-in devices shall be accepted for purposes of meeting the requirements of this section.

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