2006 New York Code - Television Special Effects.

 
    §  27-4213  Television  special  effects.  a.  The  provisions of this
  section shall apply to the use, storage, maintenance and  transportation
  of television special effects in connection with television programs.
    b. Definitions. For the purposes of this section:
    1.  The  term  "television  studio" shall mean any place in a building
  from which  television  broadcasts  are  made  or  rehearsed  and  which
  contains  television equipment, scenery or properties, fixtures or other
  special equipment used for production of television  broadcasts  whether
  or  not  the  use of motion picture film is an integral part and with or
  without seating area for an audience. A television studio  may  include,
  but  shall  not  be  limited  to, front and rear screen projection, film
  recording, kinescope recording, cutting and editing  rooms,  developing,
  screening  and  viewing  rooms,  storage  rooms  and telecine rooms. The
  televising of special events, such  as  news,  sports,  conventions,  or
  special  events  of  a generally similar nature in any place or building
  shall not constitute such place or building a television studio.
    2. The  term  "television  special  effect"  shall  mean  any  of  the
  materials  listed in subdivision c of this section and, in addition, any
  item, material or property of an explosive,  flammable,  combustible  or
  dangerous  nature,  approved by the commissioner as a television special
  effect.
    3. The term "flash compound" shall mean a  chemical  mixture,  with  a
  burning  rate  and  gas  producing  pressure  rate of lesser degree than
  commercial photographers' flash powder.
    4. The term "flash producing  paper"  shall  mean  a  paper  partially
  nitrated  or  treated  with  mixed acids and treated with a retardant to
  diminish its rate of burning.
    5. The term  "flash  producing  cotton"  shall  mean  ordinary  cotton
  partially nitrated.
    6.  The  term "matches" shall mean matches, other than safety matches,
  of a type approved by the commissioner.
    7. The term "television spark producing  device"  shall  mean  a  wood
  stick  about  one-eighth  inch in diameter and seven and one-half inches
  long dipped to an extent of about four and one-half inches.  Each  stick
  shall  hold  either  about five grams of a binder mixture, iron filings,
  aluminum and barium nitrate, or about two grams  of  a  binder  mixture,
  aluminum, barium nitrate and potassium perchlorate.
    8.  The  term  "toy  pistol  caps" shall mean toy pistol caps made and
  packed in compliance with the requirements of the federal department  of
  transportation.
    9.  The  term  "electric  ignitors"  shall mean a type approved by the
  commissioner, and shall contain  a  compressed  powdered  metal  and  an
  electrical  bridge  device  with a chemical igniting compound of pressed
  powder with a  small  amount  of  oxidiser  not  exceeding  five  grains
  surrounding the bridge.
    10.  The term "safety fuse or quick match" shall mean a fuse of a type
  approved by the commissioner, and shall consist of a very fine  core  of
  powder  surrounded  by  wound paper and/or yarn tape and pitch in such a
  manner so that the fuse will burn progressively.
    11. The term "television broadcaster" shall mean any person,  firm  or
  corporation operating one or more television studios within the city and
  engaged in the business of broadcasting television programs.
    12.  The  term "approved carrying case" shall mean a container clearly
  marked  "TV  special  effects"   and   conforming   to   the   following
  specifications:  Container  shall be constructed of .070 inch vulcanized
  fibre, with fibre sections formed under heat, riveted together  and  all
  exposed  edges  banded  with  metal  edging. The exterior corners on the
  cover and bottom shall be fitted with metal corner  reinforcing  pieces,


  and  the  construction shall conform to standards and practices of fibre
  case manufacture. The inside dimensions shall be  sixteen  inches  long,
  eight  inches deep and six inches wide, with variances of one-half inch.
  Such  container  shall  be fitted with two or more spring loaded hinges,
  capable of effecting a  tight  closure  and  exert  enough  pressure  to
  prevent  the cover remaining in open position when released. The closure
  pressure of the combined hinges shall not exceed ten  (10)  pounds.  The
  cover  shall close freely without any binding action with spacers placed
  under the lower half of the spring hinge. The inside top  panel  of  the
  cover  shall be lined with one-eighth inch asbestos held in place with a
  fire  resisting  adhesive.  A   fibre   panel   covering   approximately
  three-fourths  inch  of  the asbestos around the inside perimeter of the
  cover shall be riveted to the inside of the cover as a fireproof  gasket
  between  the  cover and the four top edges of the box body. Apertures of
  four inches by four inches shall be placed at each end and  fitted  with
  flame  repellant  wire  mesh  barriers,  so  constructed  as  to allow a
  one-half inch separation between the two  panels  of  twenty  mesh  wire
  screen,  and  such  screens  shall be of stainless steel, cadmium plated
  copper or brass mesh. The barrier assemblies shall be secured with  6/32
  roundhead  machine  screws,  so constructed as to permit removal of mesh
  for cleaning or replacement. The carrying strap shall be one inch  woven
  webbing  attached  to  the ends of container by free floating "D" rings;
  the strap shall be capable of supporting a  carrying  weight  of  thirty
  pounds.  No varnish, paint, or treatment of any kind shall be applied to
  the fibre or asbestos portions of container.
    13. The term "central storage" shall mean the  storage  of  television
  special   effects   in   a   room   which   conforms  to  the  following
  specifications: Such room shall be enclosed by noncombustible partitions
  having a minimum fire resistive rating of at least a  one  hour,  and  a
  roof  having  a  fire  resistive  rating  of at least a one and one-half
  hours, and shall be used for no other  purpose.  The  location  of  such
  storage  room  shall  be  approved by the commissioner, and shall not be
  located below  street  level.  Door  openings  shall  be  provided  with
  self-closing  fireproof doors, having at least a one hour fire resistive
  rating, and marked "Central  storage--television  special  effects,"  in
  letters  not  less than four inches high. Such rooms shall be adequately
  ventilated to the outer air, with thin glass windows having an  area  of
  at  least one-half square inch per cubic foot of room capacity and shall
  be a distance of at least fifty feet to  any  window  or  other  opening
  exposed  thereby  and  not in the same plane and giving a distance of at
  least twenty-five feet to any fire escape on the same or  higher  level,
  and  provided  with  one  sprinkler  head for each eighty square feet of
  floor  space.  Metal  racks  shall  be  provided  for  the  storage   of
  containers,  and  all  compressed  gases  shall  be stored in an upright
  position. Such rooms shall  be  constructed  only  on  fireproof  floors
  having  a  minimum  fire  resistive  rating of at least one and one-half
  hours  and  adequate  to  sustain  the  proposed  loads,  or  shall   be
  constructed   directly   on   the  ground.  Where  there  are  practical
  difficulties in  conforming  strictly  to  the  provisions  herein,  the
  commissioner  may  vary or modify such provisions to such extent as such
  commissioner may deem necessary in the premises consistent  with  public
  safety.
    14.  The  term  "centrally  stored"  shall  mean  stored in a place of
  central storage as defined in paragraph thirteen of this subdivision.
    c. The following materials are approved as television special  effects
  and,  notwithstanding any other provisions of the code, but subject only
  to compliance with the provisions of  this  section,  may  be  centrally
  stored, and/or may be maintained, stored and used in television studios,


  and transported to and from television studios. For the purposes of this
  subdivision   and  subdivision  g  the  term  "maintain"  shall  include
  maintenance and storage at the television studio and  transportation  to
  and from the television studio:
    1. Flash compound. (a) A maximum of thirty-six ounces may be centrally
  stored  with  not  more  than  two  ounces  in any federal department of
  transportation approved container and with all such containers  kept  in
  approved carrying cases.
    (b)  A maximum of four ounces may be maintained for use, with not more
  than sixty grains in any plastic  vial  or  any  federal  department  of
  transportation  approved container and with all such vials or containers
  kept in approved carrying cases.
    2. Flash producing paper. (a) A maximum of one hundred square feet may
  be centrally stored with all such material enclosed  in  metal  foil  or
  other  material  approved  by  the commissioner and all kept in approved
  carrying cases.
    (b) A maximum of twenty square feet may be maintained for use enclosed
  in metal foil or other material approved by the commissioner and kept in
  approved carrying cases.
    3. Flash producing  cotton.  (a)  A  maximum  of  two  ounces  may  be
  centrally  stored  with  not  more  than  one-half  ounce  in  a plastic
  container and all such plastic  containers  kept  in  approved  carrying
  cases.
    (b)  A  maximum  of one-half ounce may be maintained for use, with all
  such material in a plastic  container  and  such  plastic  container  or
  containers kept in approved carrying cases.
    4.  Volatile  flammable  oils and flammable mixtures. (a) A maximum of
  five gallons of each may be centrally stored in safety cans  of  a  type
  approved by the commissioner.
    (b)  A  maximum  of  one  gallon  of each may be maintained for use in
  safety cans of a type approved by the commissioner.
    5.  Acetylene  gas.  (a)  Not  more  than  twenty-four  cylinders  not
  exceeding  one  hundred  forty  cubic inch capacity each approved by the
  federal department of transportation may be centrally stored.
    (b) A maximum of six such cylinders may be maintained.
    6. Household gas. (a) A maximum of twelve cylinders not exceeding five
  hundred cubic inch capacity each, approved by the federal department  of
  transportation, may be centrally stored.
    (b) A maximum of six such cylinders may be maintained for use.
    7.  Propane  gas.  (a)  A maximum of six propane cylinders, interstate
  commerce commission designation no. 4B240 or equivalent,  not  exceeding
  twenty pounds capacity each, may be centrally stored.
    (b) A maximum of two such cylinders may be maintained for use.
    8.  Butane  gas.  (a) A maximum of twenty-four cylinders not exceeding
  thirty  cubic  inch  capacity  each,  by  the  federal   department   of
  transportation, may be centrally stored.
    (b) A maximum of six such cylinders may be maintained for use.
    9.  Solidified alcohol. Solidified alcohol may be centrally stored and
  maintained, for use, in unlimited quantities in  cans  approved  by  the
  commissioner.
    10.  Matches.  (a)  A maximum of one thousand matches may be centrally
  stored in one or more approved carrying cases.
    (b) A maximum of fifty matches may be maintained, for use, in approved
  carrying cases.
    11. Spark producing device. (a) A maximum of  one  hundred  forty-four
  such  sticks  may  be centrally stored in separate hardened fibre boxes,
  all contained in approved carrying cases.


    (b) A maximum of thirty-six such sticks may be maintained, for use, in
  hardened fibre boxes all contained in approved carrying cases.
    12.  Toy  pistol caps. (a) A maximum of two thousand five hundred such
  caps in approved carrying cases may be centrally stored.
    (b) A maximum of five hundred such caps may be maintained, for use, in
  approved carrying cases.
    13. Electric ignitors. (a) A maximum of four hundred such ignitors may
  be centrally stored in approved carrying cases.
    (b) A maximum of one hundred fifty such ignitors  may  be  maintained,
  for use, in approved carrying cases.
    14.  Safety  fuse or quick match. (a) A maximum of two hundred feet of
  each type may be centrally stored with not more than two hundred feet of
  either type or combination of the two types kept  in  approved  carrying
  cases.
    (b)  A maximum of twenty feet of each type may be maintained, for use,
  with not more than twenty feet of either type or combination of the  two
  kept in approved carrying cases.
    15.  Blank  cartridges.  A  maximum  of  one  hundred  boxes  of  such
  cartridges, in approved carrying  cases,  may  be  centrally  stored  or
  maintained for use.
    16.  Slow  burning  smoke  producing compound. (a) A maximum of twelve
  pounds may be centrally stored in approved carrying cases.
    (b) A maximum of two pounds may be maintained, for  use,  in  approved
  carrying cases.
    17.  Candles  may  be  centrally  stored,  maintained and used without
  limitation.
    18. Lycopodium powder may be centrally  stored,  maintained  and  used
  without limitation.
    d.  It  shall  be  unlawful  to maintain, use or store in a television
  studio or to transport to or from a television studio television special
  effects, as defined in this section, except upon issuance  of  a  permit
  therefor  by  the  commissioner  and  except  upon  compliance  with the
  provisions of this section and the terms of  such  permit.  The  use  of
  special   effects   employing   flammable,   combustible,  explosive  or
  pyrotechnical materials shall be monitored by the fire department.
    e. It shall be  unlawful  to  store  television  special  effects,  as
  defined  in  this  section,  in  a place of central storage, except upon
  issuance of a permit  therefor  by  the  commissioner  and  except  upon
  compliance  with  the  provisions  of this section and the terms of such
  permit.
    f.  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  in   this   chapter,   the
  commissioner  shall issue such permits to any television broadcaster who
  complies with  the  provisions  of  this  section,  and  the  rules  and
  regulations  of the commissioner promulgated in the manner prescribed in
  section eleven hundred five of the charter to carry out  the  provisions
  of  this section, provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall
  relieve any person from  complying  with  any  requirement  of  law  for
  obtaining a certificate of fitness.
    g.   Television   special   effects  in  quantities,  as  provided  in
  subdivision c of this section may be maintained for use, in cabinets  in
  television   studios   provided  such  television  special  effects  are
  contained in approved carrying cases, when required in subdivision c  of
  this  section,  and stored in cabinets at such location in the studio as
  may be approved by the commissioner, in no  event  to  be  below  street
  level and in accordance with the following:
    1. Said location in theatre type television studios shall be as far as
  practicable  from  the  audience area and in all other televison studios
  are far as practicable from the performing area.


    2. Cabinets shall be  clearly  marked  "TV  special  effects"  and  be
  constructed  either  of one-fourth inch asbestos board on a framework of
  one and one-fourth by one and one-fourth  by  one  and  one-eighth  inch
  angles  or  shall  be made of 18 United States gauge metal double walled
  with one and one-half inch air space. Racks or shelves shall be of metal
  so  arranged  that  cylinders  of  compressed gas shall be secured in an
  upright position.
    3. Doors shall be so arranged as to remain normally closed  and  shall
  be provided with catches at three points.
    4.  Cabinets shall be provided with a vent to the outside of building.
  Vent shall have a minimum area of one-half square inch per cubic foot of
  cabinet capacity.
    5. Vent flues inside of building shall be of a construction equivalent
  to 18  United  States  gauge  metal,  covered  with  one  inch  of  heat
  insulating material.
    6.  Each  cabinet  shall  be  provided  with  an  automatic  sprinkler
  connected to an adequate source of water supply.