2006 New York Code - Fire Extinguishing Appliances.

 
    § 27-4265 Fire extinguishing appliances. a. The owners and proprietors
  of  all  multiple  dwellings,  factories,  office buildings, warehouses,
  stores and offices, theatres, and music halls, and  the  authorities  or
  persons  having  charge  of  all  hospitals  and asylums, and of all the
  public schools and other public buildings,  churches  and  other  places
  where  large numbers of persons are congregated for purposes of worship,
  instruction or amusement, and all piers, bulkheads, wharves, pier sheds,
  bulkhead sheds or other waterfront structures shall  provide  such  fire
  hose,  fire  extinguishers,  buckets,  axes,  fire hooks, fire doors and
  other means of preventing and extinguishing fires  as  the  commissioner
  may direct.
    b.   Sprinkler  systems  in  garment  factories  and  factories  using
  flammable oil for processing:
    1. A one source automatic wet pipe sprinkler system shall be  provided
  in every non-fireproof building in which there is a garment factory or a
  factory  engaged  in  the  processing  of  combustible  fabrics  with  a
  flammable oil, and which exceeds three stories in height  and  in  which
  more than fifty persons are employed above the street floor.
    2.  The provisions of subdivision a shall not apply to a factory which
  is incidental to the conduct of  a  retail  business  on  the  premises,
  provided  not  more  than  six  persons are employed at any time in such
  incidental manufacturing.
    3. For the purposes of this section, a  flammable  oil  is  one  which
  emits a flammable vapor below one hundred twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit
  when tested in a Tagliabue open cup tester.
    4.  Garment  factory  shall  include those factories engaged in making
  underwear, dresses, suits and coats.
    5. The commissioner may accept an automatic dry pipe sprinkler  system
  in   place   of  an  automatic  wet  pipe  sprinkler  system  where  low
  temperatures or other conditions would prevent the installation of a wet
  pipe system.
    6. The sprinkler systems shall  be  provided  in  all  parts  of  such
  buildings.
    7.  The  provisions  of this section shall apply to existing buildings
  and to buildings hereafter erected.
    c. Sprinkler and/or standpipe system maintenance and inspections.
    1. In all buildings and spaces, except buildings and spaces classified
  in occupancy group J-2 or J-3:
    (a) Automatic and non-automatic sprinkler systems shall  be  inspected
  at  least  once  a  month by a competent person holding a certificate of
  fitness, employed by the owner, to see that all parts of the system  are
  in  perfect  working  order,  and that the fire department connection or
  connections, if any, are ready for immediate use by the fire department.
  A detailed record of each inspection shall be kept for examination by  a
  representative of the fire department.
    (b)  There  shall  be  kept  available  at all times in the premises a
  supply of at least six extra sprinkler heads  to  replace  promptly  any
  fused  or  damaged  sprinklers.  There  shall  be  one or more employees
  instructed in the maintenance of sprinkler systems.
    (c) Upon order of the fire commissioner, but at least once every  five
  years,  the  fire  department  connection  or connections, if any, for a
  sprinkler and/or standpipe system shall be subjected  to  a  hydrostatic
  pressure test and the standpipe system shall also be subjected to a flow
  and  pressure  test  to  demonstrate its suitability for fire department
  use. The test shall be conducted at the owner's  risk,  by  his  or  her
  representative and before a representative of the fire department.
    2. In buildings and spaces classified in occupancy group J-2 with four
  or more dwelling units:


    (a)  Automatic  and non-automatic sprinkler systems shall be inspected
  at least once a month by a competent person  holding  a  certificate  of
  fitness,  employed by the owner, to see that all parts of the system are
  in perfect working order, and that the  fire  department  connection  or
  connections, if any, are ready for immediate use by the fire department,
  provided,  however,  that  in any such building that does not exceed six
  stories or seventy-five feet in height and in which a secondary means of
  egress is provided for all dwelling units and occupiable spaces used  by
  building  occupants,  and  in any such space in a building that does not
  exceed six stories or  seventy-five  feet  in  height  and  in  which  a
  secondary  means  of  egress  is  provided  for  all  dwelling units and
  occupiable spaces used by building occupants, a sprinkler  system  shall
  be  inspected  at  least  once  every  six months by a competent person,
  employed by the owner, holding a certificate of fitness  issued  by  the
  fire  department,  a  fire  suppression contractor license issued by the
  department of buildings, or, for a sprinkler system with not  more  than
  thirty  sprinkler  heads, holding a master plumber license issued by the
  department of buildings. Such inspection shall include a  check  of  the
  valve on the main supply to the system making certain the valve is fully
  open  and  sealed  in  such  open  position,  a check to insure that all
  sprinkler heads  are  in  place  and  such  other  requirements  as  the
  commissioner  may  prescribe. A detailed record of each inspection shall
  be kept for examination by a representative of the fire department.
    (b) There shall be kept available at  all  times  in  the  premises  a
  supply  of  at  least six extra sprinkler heads, to replace promptly any
  fused or damaged sprinklers, except that a  supply  of  at  least  three
  extra  sprinkler  heads shall be kept available for any sprinkler system
  installed in accordance with reference standard RS 17-2A. There shall be
  one or more employees instructed in  the  location  and  status  of  the
  sprinkler system control valves.
    (c) A flow test shall be conducted of a sprinkler system at least once
  every thirty months. Such test shall be conducted at the owner's risk by
  his  or  her  representative,  who shall be a licensed master plumber or
  licensed master fire suppression contractor. A report of such test, on a
  form prepared by  the  fire  department,  shall  be  certified  by  such
  licensed  master  plumber or licensed master fire suppression contractor
  and shall be kept for not less than five  years  for  examination  by  a
  representative of the fire department.
    (d)  Upon order of the fire commissioner, but at least once every five
  years, a hydrostatic pressure  test  shall  be  conducted  of  any  fire
  department  connection or connections for the sprinkler and/or standpipe
  system, a flow and pressure test shall be  conducted  of  the  standpipe
  system  to  demonstrate its suitability for fire department use, and, as
  required by paragraph c of  this  subdivision,  a  flow  test  shall  be
  conducted  of  the sprinkler system. The tests shall be conducted at the
  owner's risk, by his or her representative and before  a  representative
  of the fire department. A report of such test, on a form prepared by the
  fire  department,  shall  be  kept  for  not  less  than  five years for
  examination by a representative of the fire department.
    (e) The owner or  managing  agent  of  any  building  subject  to  the
  requirements  of this section shall maintain a record of each inspection
  and test and a listing of all outstanding violations issued pursuant  to
  this  section.  Such  records  and  listing  shall be made available for
  inspection by occupants of such residential  building  or  space  during
  normal business hours.
    3.  A  system  of  automatic  sprinklers  in  buildings  classified in
  occupancy group  J-2  with  not  more  than  three  dwelling  units  and


  buildings  classified  in  occupancy  group  J-3  shall be maintained in
  perfect working order.
    d. Qualified operators for standpipe systems:
    1.  In  every structure having a required standpipe system there shall
  be an  engineer,  superintendent  or  other  person  in  charge  of  the
  standpipe  system,  who  shall  submit  to  an  examination  by the fire
  commissioner and upon evidence of fitness to maintain  and  operate  the
  standpipe  system  properly,  shall be granted a suitable certificate as
  provided in paragraph two of subdivision (b) of section 27-4026. Subject
  to the limitations contained in paragraphs two, three, four and five  of
  this  subdivision, this paragraph shall not be construed to require more
  than one person having a certificate to be  in  charge  of  a  group  of
  structures,  when  such structures are under one ownership, are situated
  on contiguous lots and where  the  structures  have  either  independent
  standpipe  systems  or  interconnected  standpipe systems connected to a
  central water supply service.
    2. At least one such qualified operator shall always be  available  in
  every  structure  less  than  two  hundred  fifty feet in height that is
  equipped with a standpipe system and is supplied by a required fire pump
  with a capacity of one thousand gallons or more per minute.
    3. At least one such qualified operator shall always be  available  in
  every  structure  over two hundred fifty feet in height that is provided
  with a required fire pump.
    4. At such times as are deemed necessary by the fire commissioner, one
  such  qualified  operator  shall  be  available  on  premises,  such  as
  industrial  plants  and  amusement  parks,  which  are  equipped  with a
  standpipe system.
    5. At least one such qualified operator shall be on duty during  every
  performance  in  a  theatre  or other place of amusement equipped with a
  standpipe system.
    e. Maintenance and inspections of standpipe and  sprinkler  pumps  and
  accessories:
    1.  Valves,  hose,  tools and other accessory fire fighting appliances
  shall be kept readily available and in good working  order.  Fire  pumps
  shall  be  operated  at least once in thirty days in a manner which will
  subject the standpipe system to a hydrostatic pressure of at least fifty
  pounds per square inch at the  top  story  hose  outlet.  The  qualified
  operator  shall maintain a suitable record of his or her compliance with
  this requirement for inspection by the fire department.
    2. The installation of fire and booster  pumps  shall  be  subject  to
  inspection  and/or  test in the presence of an inspector from the bureau
  of fire prevention.
    f. Standpipe systems in structures in course of erection:
    1. In structures under erection for which a standpipe system  will  be
  required,  provision shall be made for the use of standpipes by the fire
  department whenever the construction has progressed so that  floors  are
  in  place  above  the seventh story or more than seventy-five feet above
  the curb level. The standpipe equipment thus provided may be a temporary
  installation.
    2. A temporary standpipe system shall be one which  may  be  used  for
  water  supply during the construction operations. Temporary risers shall
  be at least four inches in diameter for structures  of  less  than  four
  hundred  fifty  feet  in  height and at least six inches in diameter for
  structures four hundred fifty feet or more in height. There shall be  as
  many  risers  as  will  be  required for the permanent system. Each such
  riser shall have a siamese hose connection at the street  level  and  be
  equipped  on  each  floor  enclosed  in exterior walls with hose outlets
  equipped with two and one-half inch hose valves. The installations shall


  be made so that each riser, cross-connection and branch  line  shall  be
  watertight  when  work  is not being done on the system. The location of
  the  siamese  hose  connection  shall  be  placarded,  kept  free   from
  obstruction and indicated by a red light.
    g. Fire alarm system maintenance and inspections.
    1.  The installation of interior fire alarm systems, thermostatic fire
  alarm systems, smoke detector alarm systems and other special fire alarm
  and/or activating systems,  whether  voluntary  or  required,  shall  be
  subject  to inspection and test in the presence of an inspector from the
  bureau of  fire  prevention.  Thereafter,  all  such  systems  shall  be
  maintained  in  proper  working order. A person holding a certificate of
  fitness shall be in charge of the supervision  and  maintenance  of  all
  such  required  fire  alarm  and/or  activating  systems.  A  city  wide
  certificate of fitness may  be  issued  for  alarm  systems  other  than
  interior  fire alarm systems. Such person shall inspect the system under
  his or her care at least once a month to determine that all parts of the
  system are in proper working  order  and  ready  for  immediate  use.  A
  detailed   record  of  such  inspection  shall  be  kept  available  for
  examination by  the  fire  department.  The  name  and  address  of  the
  certificate  of  fitness  holder  under the number or expiration date of
  such certificate shall be displayed at the control board of the system.
    2. Every required interior fire alarm  system  shall  be  tested  each
  morning immediately after commencement of working hours, or as otherwise
  permitted  by  the  commissioner,  and  each  interior fire alarm system
  sending station shall be tested at least once a month.
    3.  A  complete  record  of  monthly  tests,  fire  drills  and  other
  operations  of  the  interior  fire  alarm  system  shall  be  kept  for
  examination by the fire department.
    4. All interior fire alarm system apparatus requiring rewinding  shall
  be rewound after each operation and kept in normal condition.
    5.  If any fire alarm system becomes inoperative at any time, it shall
  be the duty  and  responsibility  of  the  owner  or  person  holding  a
  certificate  of  fitness  for  the  supervision  and maintenance of such
  system to notify all occupants of the building protected by such  system
  and  to  take immediate action to have the fire alarm system restored to
  proper working order. Placards shall be placed on all fire  alarm  boxes
  indicating that the system is inoperative.
    6.  If,  for any reason, it becomes necessary to disconnect the source
  of current of any fire alarm system,  the  owner  or  person  holding  a
  certificate  of  fitness  for  the  supervision  and maintenance of such
  system,  shall  notify  the  fire  department   in   advance   of   each
  disconnection, stating the reasons therefor.
    7.  For  fire  alarm  systems  equipped  with break glass type sending
  stations, at least one extra glass for each station of the system  shall
  be kept available on the premises.
    h.  Gas  shutoff  tools.  As  required  by section P115.5 of reference
  standard RS-16 of the appendix to chapter  one  of  title  twenty-seven,
  applicable  utilities  shall  provide  the fire department with suitable
  tools for operation of outside gas service line valve or  other  outside
  emergency  shutoff  device  or method. The number of such tools required
  for supplying fire department units shall  be  determined  by  the  fire
  department.
    i.     Fire     suppression     system     inspections.    All    fire
  suppression/protective systems, including  but  not  limited  to  halon,
  automatic  sprinkler,  standpipe,  rangehood,  carbon dioxide, foam, dry
  chemical or smoke control systems, shall be inspected pursuant  to  this
  section  and/or  such  rules  and  regulations  as  promulgated  by  the
  commissioner.