N.Y.C. Admin. Code § BC 905: Section BC 905: Standpipe Systems

905.1 General.

Standpipe systems shall be provided in buildings and structures in accordance with this section. Fire hose threads used in connection with standpipe systems shall be approved by the Fire Commissioner. Standpipe systems in buildings used for high-piled combustible storage shall be in accordance with the New York City Fire Code. Installation of standpipe systems shall comply with the special inspection requirements of Chapter 17 of this code.

Any space or room that contains equipment of such nature that the use of water would be ineffective in fighting a fire therein, or would be otherwise hazardous, shall have a conspicuous sign on each door opening on such space or room stating the nature of the use and the warning: "IN CASE OF FIRE, USE NO WATER."

905.1.1 Construction documents.

Construction documents for standpipe systems shall contain plans that include, at a minimum, the following data and information:

1. The locations and sizes of all risers, cross-connections, hose racks, valves, Fire Department connections, sources of water supply, piping, and other essential features of the system;

2. A floor plan for each group of floors that have typical riser locations and no special features within such group of floor levels, with the indication in title block of such plan indicating clearly the floors to which the arrangement is applicable;

3. A riser diagram showing the essential features of the system, including the risers, cross-connections, valves, Fire Department connections, tanks, pumps, sources of water supply, pipe sizes, capacities, floor heights, zone pressures, and other essential data and features of the system;

4. The available water pressure at the top and bottom floors of each zone, and at each floor where the pressure rating of piping, fittings, couplings, and valves are required to change, shall be shown on the riser diagram; and

5. For street pressure-fed systems and fire pumps, a statement from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, giving the minimum water pressure in the main serving the building.

905.2 Installation standards.

Standpipe systems shall be installed in accordance with this section and NFPA 14.

905.3 Required installations.

Standpipe systems shall be installed where required by Sections 905.3.1 through 905.3.9 and in the locations indicated in Sections 905.4, 905.5 and 905.6. Standpipe systems are allowed to be combined with automatic sprinkler systems.

Exception: Standpipe systems are not required in buildings occupied entirely by Group R-3.

905.3.1 Applicability.

Class III standpipe systems shall be installed throughout the following buildings:

1. In buildings two stories or more in height with floor area of 10,000 square feet (929 m

2

) or greater on any story;

2. In buildings three stories or more in height with floor area of 7,500 square feet (696.8 m

2

) or greater on any story;

3. In buildings of any area with a floor level having an occupant load of 30 or more that is located 55 feet (16 764 mm) or more above the lowest level of Fire Department vehicle access; and

4. In buildings of any area, constructed in accordance with Section 403, with occupied floors located 75 feet (22 860 mm) or more above the lowest level of Fire Department vehicle access.

Exceptions: The following exceptions are allowed as an alternative to the requirement of a Class III standpipe system:

1. Class I standpipes are allowed in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2 provided that the following additional requirements are met:

1.1. A locked noncombustible storage cabinet shall be provided on the main entrance floor. One additional locked storage cabinet shall be provided on every tenth floor above the main entrance floor, such that no occupant on any floor would have to travel more than five floors to reach a cabinet in a location within 15 feet (4572 mm) of each standpipe riser. Where one standpipe riser is installed in the building, such cabinet shall contain at least one fog nozzle, one 1 1/2-inch (38.1 mm) spanner wrench, one 2 1/2-inch (63.5 mm) spanner wrench, one 2 1/2-inch (63.5 mm) by 1 1/2 inch (38.1 mm) nonswivel reducing coupling, and 125 feet (38.1 m) of 1 1/2 inch (38.1 mm) hose.

1.1.1. The cabinet shall be kept locked, openable by a Fire Department citywide standard key.

1.1.2. The cabinet shall be labeled, "FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT USE ONLY."

1.1.3. A metal sign stating clearly where the storage cabinet is located shall be placed in each stair enclosure on the main entrance floor and on each floor where the cabinet is located.

1.2. Hose valves are capped with a hose valve cap fastened to the valve with a chain.

2. Class I manual standpipes are allowed in open parking garages where the highest floor is located not more than 150 feet (45 720 mm) above the lowest level of Fire Department vehicle access.

3. Class I manual dry standpipes are allowed in open parking garages that are subject to freezing temperatures, provided that the hose connections are located as required for Class III standpipes in accordance with Section 905.6.

4. Class I standpipes are allowed in below-grade stories equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.

5. Standpipe outlets may be omitted in portions of first floors or basements that are completely separated from the entrance hall or enclosed stairways leading to the upper floors, provided that portable fire extinguishers are installed, subject to the approval of the Fire Commissioner.

905.3.2 Group A.

Class I automatic wet standpipes shall be provided in nonsprinklered Group A buildings having an occupant load exceeding 1,000 persons.

Exceptions:

1. Open-air-seating spaces without enclosed spaces.

2. Class I automatic dry and semiautomatic dry standpipes or manual wet standpipes are allowed in buildings where the highest floor surface used for human occupancy is not more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest level of Fire Department vehicle access. Dry standpipes are permitted only where subject to freezing temperatures.

905.3.3 Covered mall buildings.

Covered mall buildings and buildings connected thereto shall be equipped throughout with a Class I automatic wet standpipe system, except as permitted by Sections 905.3.3.1 through 905.3.3.3.

905.3.3.1 Covered-mall building height.

Covered-mall buildings where the highest occupied floor level is located not more than 30 feet (9144 mm) above the lowest level of the Fire Department vehicle access shall be permitted to be provided with Class I hose connections connected to the mall sprinkler system in accordance with Section 8.17.5.2 of NFPA 13 regarding hose connections for Fire Department use and under the following conditions:

1. Any individual outlet shall be capable of delivering water flow at a rate of 250 gallons per minute (946.4 L/m) while concurrently supplying the mall sprinkler demand; and

2. Each of the two most hydraulically remote outlets shall be capable of concurrently delivering 250 gallons per minute (946.4 L/m) at a pressure of 100 pounds per square inch (689.4 kPa) with no mall sprinkler demand, based on a supply pressure at the system Fire Department connection of not more than 175 pounds per square inch (1206.6 kPa). Adequacy of the water supply available to the Fire Department shall be demonstrated through hydraulic calculations provided by the registered design professional.

905.3.3.2 Location of hose connections.

Hose connections shall be provided in accordance with Section 905.4 and at each of the following locations:

1. Within the mall at the entrance to each exit passageway or exit.

2. At each floor-level landing within interior exit stairways opening directly on the mall.

3. At exterior public entrances to the mall of a covered mall building.

4. At public entrances at the perimeter line of an open mall building.

5. At other locations as necessary so that the distance to reach all portions of a tenant space does not exceed 150 feet (45 720 mm) from a hose connection.

905.3.3.3 Installation standard.

Except as provided in Sections 905.3.3.1 and 905.3.3.2, the Class I hose connections and Fire Department connections shall be designed in conformance with NFPA 14.

905.3.4 Stages.

Stages greater than 1,000 square feet in area (92.9 m

2

), or any assembly occupancy having an occupant load of 1,000 or more with a stage of any size, shall be equipped with a Class III wet standpipe system with a hose station on each side of the stage. Such hose stations shall comply with Section 905.6 and shall have sufficient hose to provide protection for the entire stage area from either standpipe location. The exceptions allowed under Section 905.3.1 shall not apply to these hose stations.

905.3.5 Underground buildings.

Underground buildings shall be equipped throughout with a Class I automatic wet or manual wet standpipe system.

905.3.6 Helistops and heliports.

Buildings with a helistop or heliport that are equipped with a standpipe shall extend the standpipe to the roof level on which the helistop or heliport is located in accordance with the New York City Fire Code. All portions of the helistop and heliport area shall be within 150 feet (45 720 mm) of a 2 1/2-inch (63.5 mm) outlet on a Class I or III standpipe, in accordance with the New York City Fire Code.

905.3.7 Marinas and boatyards.

Standpipes in marine terminals, piers, wharves, marinas and boatyards shall comply with the New York City Fire Code or other requirements of the Fire Department.

905.3.8 Rooftop gardens, landscaped roofs and green roofs.

Buildings with a rooftop garden, landscaped roof, green roof, or roof used for any purpose other than weather protection or maintenance that are equipped with a standpipe system shall extend the standpipe system to the roof level on which the rooftop garden, landscaped roof, green roof, or roof used for any purpose other than weather protection or maintenance is located.

905.3.9 High-piled stock or rack storage.

Where exit passageways are required in accordance with Chapter 10 of this code, a standpipe system shall be provided in accordance with the New York City Fire Code in all buildings containing high-piled stock or rack storage.

905.4 Location of Class I standpipe hose connections.

Class I standpipe hose connections shall be provided in all of the following locations:

1. In every required stairway, a hose connection shall be provided for each floor level above or below grade. Hose connections shall be readily accessible and located at the riser on each floor-level landing and on the entrance floor above the standpipe riser control valve. Nonrequired enclosed stairways that do not serve as a means of egress are not required to have hose connections. Stairways without hose connections shall have a sign on the door to the stairway stating, "No standpipe connections in stairway."

2. On each side of the wall adjacent to the exit opening of a horizontal exit.

Exception: Where floor areas adjacent to a horizontal exit are reachable from exit stairway hose connections by a 30-foot (9144 mm) hose stream from a nozzle attached to 100 feet (30 480 mm) of hose, a hose connection shall not be required at the horizontal exit.

3. In every exit passageway at the entrance from the exit passageway to the other areas of a building.

Exception: Where floor areas adjacent to an exit passageway are reachable from exit stairway hose connections by a 30-foot (9144 mm) hose stream from a nozzle attached to 100 feet (30 480 mm) of hose, a hose connection shall not be required at the entrance from the exit passageway to other areas of the building.

4. In covered mall buildings, in accordance with Section 905.3.3.2.

5. Where the roof has a slope of less than four units vertical in 12 units horizontal (33.3-percent slope), each standpipe shall be provided with a hose connection located either on the roof or at the highest landing of a stairway with stair access to the roof. An additional hose connection shall be provided at the top of the most hydraulically remote standpipe for testing purposes. This additional hose connection shall not be required when a roof manifold is installed in accordance with NFPA 14.

6. Where the most remote portion of a floor or story is more than 150 feet (45 720 mm) from a hose connection, additional hose connections shall be provided in approved locations. For the purposes of this section, a penthouse with an occupant load greater than 10 shall be considered a story.

7. In any staircase where the change in elevation between floor landings is more than 25 feet (7620 mm), in addition to the hose connections required by Item 1, a hose connection shall be installed at the first intermediate stair landing below the higher floor level.

905.4.1 Protection.

Risers and laterals of Class I standpipe systems not located within an enclosed stairway or pressurized enclosure shall be protected by a degree of fire resistance equal to that required for vertical enclosures in the building in which they are located. No standpipe riser shall be placed in any shaft containing a gas or fuel pipeline.

Exception: In buildings equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system, laterals that are not located within an enclosed stairway or pressurized enclosure are not required to be enclosed in fire-resistance-rated construction.

905.4.2 Interconnection.

In buildings where more than one standpipe is provided, the standpipes shall be interconnected in accordance with NFPA 14.

905.5 Location of Class II standpipe hose connections.

Class II standpipe hose connections shall be prohibited.

905.5.1 Reserved.

905.6 Location of Class III standpipe hose connections.

Class III standpipe systems shall have 2 1/2-inch (63.5 mm) hose connections located as required for Class I standpipes in Section 905.4. At each hose connection, there shall be a hose station. The hose stations shall be equipped with a minimum of 125 feet (38 100 mm) but not more than a maximum of 150 feet (45 720 mm) of 1 1/2-inch (38.1 mm) fire hose connected to an adjustable fog nozzle. The hose shall be attached to the 2 1/2-inch (63.5 mm) hose connection by a 2 1/2-inch (63.5 mm) by 1 1/2-inch (38.1 mm) non-swivel reducing coupling. The hose shall be mounted on a rack and may be located in a cabinet, in accordance with Section 905.7. A pressure restricting device shall be installed when required by NFPA 14. Such pressure restricting device and reducing coupling shall be installed in such a manner that they are readily removable by the Fire Department.

905.6.1 Protection.

Risers and laterals of Class III standpipe systems shall be protected as required for Class I systems in accordance with Section 905.4.1.

905.6.2 Interconnection.

In buildings where more than one standpipe is provided, the standpipes shall be interconnected in accordance with NFPA 14.

905.7 Cabinets.

Cabinets containing firefighting equipment such as standpipes, fire hoses, fire extinguishers or Fire Department valves shall not be blocked from use or obscured from view.

905.7.1 Cabinet equipment identification.

Cabinets shall be identified in an approved manner by a permanently attached sign with white letters not less than 2 inches (50.8 mm) high and a red background color, indicating the equipment contained therein.

Exceptions:

1. Doors not large enough to accommodate a written sign with 2-inch lettering shall be marked with a permanently attached pictogram indicating the equipment contained therein, in addition to corresponding smaller white lettering on a red background adjacent to such pictogram.

2. Doors that have either an approved visual identification clear glass panel or a complete glass door panel are not required to be marked.

905.7.2 Locking cabinet doors.

Cabinets shall be unlocked.

Exceptions:

1. Visual identification panels of glass or other approved transparent frangible material that is easily broken and allows access.

2. Approved locking arrangements.

3. Locking of cabinets shall be permitted in Group I-3.

905.8 Dry standpipes.

Dry standpipes shall not be installed.

Exception: Where subject to freezing and in accordance with NFPA 14.

905.9 Valve supervision.

Valves controlling water supplies shall be supervised in the open position so that a change in the normal position of the valve will generate a supervisory signal at the central supervising station required by Section 903.4. Where a fire alarm system is provided, a signal shall also be transmitted to the fire alarm system.

Exceptions:

1. Valves to underground key or hub valves in roadway boxes provided by the city or a public utility do not require supervision.

2. Valves locked in the normal position and inspected as provided in this code in buildings not equipped with a fire alarm system.

905.10 During construction.

Standpipe systems required during construction, alteration and demolition operations shall be provided in accordance with Section 3303.8.

905.11 Painting of dedicated standpipes.

Dedicated standpipes and the handles of valves serving standpipes shall be painted and such painting certified in accordance with Sections 905.11.1 through 905.11.6. In addition to painting, standpipe piping may also be identified by lettered legend in accordance with ANSI A13.1. Where the piping is required to be listed and labeled such painting shall not obscure such labeling.

Exceptions:

1. Attachments, gauges, valves and operable parts of standpipes other than valve handles.

2. Where different color coding may be required by Section 3406 of the New York City Fire Code for facilities storing, handling, and using flammable and combustible liquids in connection with special operations.

905.11.1 New buildings.

All portions of a standpipe system and the handles of valves serving the standpipe system in new buildings, including buildings constructed pursuant to Section 28-101.4.2 of the Administrative Code, shall be painted red prior to the hydrostatic pressure test whether or not they are intended to be enclosed at the end of construction.

905.11.2 Alterations.

Existing handles of valves serving existing standpipe systems and existing unpainted standpipe risers that are exposed during alterations, including alterations pursuant to Section 28-101.4.2 of the Administrative Code shall be painted red. Where the alteration requires a hydrostatic pressure test such painting shall be completed prior to such test.

905.11.3 Retroactive requirement for completed buildings.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all portions of exposed standpipe systems and handles of valves serving the standpipe system of completed buildings in existence on March 2, 2010 shall be painted red.

905.11.4 Buildings under construction on March 2, 2010.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, where construction documents were approved and permits issued for the construction of a new building or alteration of an existing building prior to March 2, 2010, and the work is not signed off by the department prior to such date, all exposed portions of the standpipe system and handles of valves serving the standpipe system shall be painted red prior to the hydrostatic pressure test, including portions that will be enclosed at a later point in time.

Exception: Portions of the standpipe system enclosed prior to March 2, 2010, need not be painted.

905.11.5 Combination standpipe and sprinkler systems.

Where a standpipe system that is used as a combination standpipe and sprinkler system is required to be painted pursuant to Section 905.11.1, 905.11.2, 905.11.3 or 905.11.4, the sprinkler risers and cross connections that are also used for the standpipe system shall be painted red, and the handles of valves serving such combination standpipe and sprinkler system shall be painted yellow.

905.11.6 Certification of completion of system painting.

For all buildings where standpipe and combination sprinkler and standpipe systems are not subject to a special inspection pursuant to Section 1705.30 of this code, a licensed master plumber, licensed master fire suppression piping contractor, registered design professional or an individual holding an appropriate certificate of fitness from the Fire Department for the operation and/or maintenance of such system shall certify on forms provided by the department that all required painting has been completed in accordance with Section 905.11. Such certification shall be maintained on the premises and made available for inspection by the department and the Fire Department.