Fire Department Of New York

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1 Fire Department Of New York Joseph Barracato Director Construction, Demolition & Abatement Unit (CDA Unit) Bureau of Fire Prevention,FDNY Joseph Barracato, Director Fire Department, City of New York Construction, Demolition & Abatement Unit (CDA Unit) 9 Metro Tech Center Brooklyn, NY Tel: Fax: joseph.barracato@fdny.nyc.gov The Requirements of Alterations / Renovations on Existing High Rise Buildings (Office/Hotel) New York City Fire Code Section : Fire protection systems shall be maintained in good working order at all times. Taking a standpipe and sprinkler systems out-of-service for any reason is considered Impairment The length of time a system is out-ofservice is important in determining: Notification requirements Temporary fire protection requirements FDNY Variance or Letter of No Objection New York City Fire Code Section Out of service systems. Where a required fire protection system is out of service, the department shall be notified immediately 1

2 Building shall be evacuated or a fire watch shall be maintained One person with an F-01 Certificate of Fitness as Citywide Fire Guard for Impairment shall be required for every 50,000 square feet of building floor or area in which the fire protection system is out-ofservice The Fire Guard(s) shall perform hourly patrols of the floor or area in which the fire protection system is out-of-service. or Any other actions as the Fire Commissioner may direct.until the fire protection system has been returned to service. Modification to an existing system: WHAT IS CONSIDERED PLANNED IMPAIRMENT? Changing the layout of sprinkler piping and heads. Addition or removal of sprinkler heads/piping. 2

3 Floor renovations and gut renovations that include changes or removal of the sprinkler system for new tenants : WHITEBOX Technology Management Bulletin 05-03/2013 will guide applicants thru the process of making the appropriate notification of impairment and clarifies procedures for submitting an application (BFP-MOD) to obtain a Letter of No Objection for the impairment of an existing sprinkler or standpipe system. Link to Tech Management Bulletin 05-03/ fireprevention/otmb pdf The application for variance: BFP-MOD (10/9) is required when an existing standpipe system is placed out of service or when a sprinkler system is impaired on more than five (5) contiguous floors. Link to BFP-MOD FDNY Variance Modification Application: prevention/modification_variances.pdf Notification Requirements For scope of work involving 5 or fewer contiguous floors. The applicant shall place the following note on the floor plan to be submitted to the DOB: Owner shall notify FDNY of sprinkler system disconnection by submitting a Letter of Notification. Letter of Notification shall indicate: Detailed scope of work Date, time & duration of disconnection Temporary fire protection measures to be provided in the affected area 3

4 Department of Buildings Bulletin 9 /2012 Requires temporary fire protection where alterations are proposed to a floor on which the sprinkler system is to be temporarily disconnected for the alterations. Link to Department of Buildings Bulletin 9/ bldgs_bulletins/bb_ pdf Temporary fire protection shall be required for the means of egress. Along the egress paths, corridors connecting all required exits, elevator lobbies, elevator openings and at the entrances to the exit stairways. Removal of sprinklers involving more than five contiguous floors requires a DOB filing for sprinkler removal, submission of FDNY form BFP-MOD for a Letter of No Objection to obtain a variance to the Fire Code When is temporary core sprinkler system required? 1. In an existing sprinklered building, where alterations are proposed to a floor on which the sprinkler system is to be temporarily disconnected or removed for the alteration. 4

5 2. In existing buildings subject to Local Law 5 of 1973, which is: Compartmentalized, not fully sprinklered and where the compartmentation of unsprinklered spaces is to be removed as part of the alteration. 3. In an existing building that is fully sprinklered, if an entire floor is to be unoccupied during an alteration, temporary core sprinkler protection is required. 4. In an existing building that is fully sprinklered, if a floor is to be partially occupied during an alteration the entire floor sprinkler system shall remain intact. 5. Existing Building: Alterations on unoccupied floors In an existing building that is fully sprinklered, if an entire floor is to be unoccupied during an alteration, the floor along the path of exit access shall be free of debris and all elevators shall be locked out from stopping on the floor undergoing alterations. Where compartmentation has been provided and the building is not fully sprinklered, the following shall apply: 1. Alteration of the entire floor. On a floor that is compartmented and unoccupied, and the entire floor is undergoing alteration, temporary sprinkler protection shall be in place prior to the removal of the compartmentation, and upon the new build out, either sprinklers shall be installed throughout the floor or compartmentation shall be restored.* 2. Alteration of a partial floor. On a floor that is compartmented and some areas remain occupied, and only part of the floor is undergoing alteration that involves the removal of any compartment walls, temporary sprinkler protection shall be in place prior to the removal of the compartmentation, and upon the new build out, sprinklers must be installed in the newly altered area and along the means of egress. Otherwise, compartmentation shall be restored.* 5

6 With center or core egress the sprinkler protection loops or encircles the stairwells and elevators. Sprinkler protection provided in the corridors, along the egress paths, at stairwells and elevator openings. There are many instances where the egress is on one side of the building, Making the name Temporary sprinkler protection more appropriate. The fire alarm system on the floor being altered shall be left functional. Smoke detectors may be removed from the floor but the pull stations and all other fire alarm notification appliances shall remain to the maximum extent possible. If the proposed work will be longer than one year, full temporary fire protection of the entire floor may be required. 6

BUILDING INSPECTION SAFETY PROGRAM MANUAL CHAPTER 5, REFERENCE # 1.4 August 1, 2009 OUT OF SERVICE (OOS) SPRINKLER AND STANDPIPE SYSTEMS

BUILDING INSPECTION SAFETY PROGRAM MANUAL CHAPTER 5, REFERENCE # 1.4 August 1, 2009 OUT OF SERVICE (OOS) SPRINKLER AND STANDPIPE SYSTEMS Note: For information on OOS Fire Alarms please see Inspectional