N.Y.C. Admin. Code § FC 505: Section FC 505: Premises Identification

505.1 Address numbers.

Buildings and structures shall have their lawful address numbers, building numbers and/or other approved building identification placed at a location on or near a building that allows such building identification to be plainly discernible from the public street or frontage space. These numbers shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numerals or alphabet letters. Numbers shall be a minimum of 4 inches (102 mm) high with a minimum stroke width of 1/2 inch (12.7 mm). Address numbers shall additionally comply with the requirements of the Building Code, New York City Housing Maintenance Code and the borough president of the borough in which such building is located.

505.1.1 Identification of buildings in developments.

Buildings located within outdoor shopping malls, office parks, housing complexes or other developments shall be identified in compliance with the requirements of FC 505.1. Where required by the commissioner, approved signage identifying the street address of each building in the development and, in outdoor shopping malls, each tenant space or similar occupancy, and the direction to such building or tenant space, shall be provided. Such signage shall be clearly visible at the intersection of the public street and any fire apparatus access road that provides access to buildings in the development. In any development in which one or more buildings does not have a separate street address, or in any outdoor shopping mall in which one or more tenant spaces or similar occupancies does not have a separate street address, the commissioner may require approved signage indicating the location and direction to each such building or tenant space upon a determination that such signage is necessary to enable firefighting or other emergency response personnel to expeditiously locate such buildings or tenant spaces within the development.

505.2 Street or road signs.

Streets and roads within developments shall be identified with approved signs in accordance with the requirements of the New York City Department of Transportation. Temporary signs shall be installed at each street intersection when construction of new roadways allows passage by motor vehicles. Signs shall be of an approved size, weather resistant and be maintained until replaced by permanent signs.

505.3 Identification of apartment and guest rooms.

The location of, and entrance to, each dwelling unit (guest room or sleeping room) in a Group R-1 building or occupancy, and each dwelling unit in a Group R-2 building or occupancy, shall be identified in accordance with this section and the rules to assist emergency response personnel responding to fires, medical emergencies and other emergencies at the premises.

505.3.1 Apartment and guest room numbers.

Each dwelling unit shall be identified on the public corridor side of the door by a room number and/or letter marking or sign conspicuously and durably printed or posted on or adjacent to at least one entrance door.

505.3.2 Public entry and corridor signage.

In a Group R-1 or R-2 building or occupancy with more than eight dwelling units on a floor, a sign shall be conspicuously posted in the elevator lobby or other public entry on each floor, and in the public corridor opposite each stairwell entrance, identifying by directional arrows and dwelling unit numbers and/or letters, the direction to each dwelling unit. Such signage need not be provided in the public entry or opposite any stairwell entrance in any building or on any floor where the entrances to dwelling units are located in a single direction from such entry or stairwell entrance.

505.3.3 Existing installations.

Existing buildings and occupancies shall comply with the operational requirements for marking and signage set forth in FC 505.3.1 and 505.3.2 within 2 years of the effective date of this section.

505.4 Apartment, guest room and stairwell fire emergency markings.

Dwelling units (apartments, guest rooms and sleeping rooms) and stairwell entrances in Group R-1 and Group R-2 buildings and occupancies shall be marked in accordance with this section and the rules to facilitate firefighting and emergency rescue operations at the premises.

505.4.1 Multi-floor dwelling units.

The entrance door to a multi-floor dwelling unit in a Group R-1 or Group R-2 building or occupancy shall be identified on the door jamb on the public corridor side of the door by an approved fire emergency marking, not more than 12 inches (305 mm) from the bottom of the door, indicating the dwelling unit number and/or letter. In addition, every door of each such multi-floor dwelling unit that opens to a public corridor or other means of egress shall be identified on the public corridor side of the door by one or more upward or downward-pointing arrows indicating the direction(s) of the other floor(s) to which the multi-floor dwelling unit is connected.

505.4.2 Apartment and sleeping rooms.

Except as otherwise provided in FC 505.4.1, and except in buildings protected throughout by a sprinkler system, in a Group R-1 or R-2 building or occupancy with more than eight dwelling units on a floor, each dwelling unit shall be identified on the door jamb on the public corridor side of the door by an approved fire emergency marking, not more than 12 inches (305 mm) from the bottom of the door, indicating the dwelling unit number and/or letter.

505.4.3 Stairwell signage.

Except in buildings protected throughout by a sprinkler system, each stairwell door in a building or occupancy subject to compliance with the requirements of FC 505.4.1 or FC 505.4.2 shall be identified as a stairwell door on the door jamb on the public corridor side of the door with an approved marking or sign not more than 12 inches (305 mm) from the bottom of the door, unless such stairwell entrance has been marked in compliance with Section 1024* of the Building Code.

505.4.4 Design and materials.

The fire emergency markings for dwelling unit entrance doors shall be of photoluminescent, retroreflective or other approved material, durable, water-resistant and securely affixed and shall use Arabic numerals and/or English alphabet letters. The fire emergency marking on multi-floor dwelling units shall be a minimum of 3 inches (76 mm) high and 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) wide with a stroke width of 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) and the fire emergency markings required by FC 505.4.2 and 505.4.3 shall be in accordance with the rules. Any approved fire emergency marking may be used provided that the same type of marking is consistently used throughout the building. Photoluminescent markings and signs shall comply with the Building Code requirements for photoluminescent exit path markings.

505.4.5 Existing installations.

Existing buildings and occupancies shall comply with the operational requirements for marking and signage set forth in FC 505.4.1 within 2 years of the effective date of this section, and with the operational requirements for marking and signage as set forth in FC 505.4.2 and 505.4.3 within 3 years of the effective date of this section.

505.5 Covered mall exterior door signage.

Each exterior door that provides access directly to a tenant space in a covered mall or to a corridor serving as an exit passageway from one or more such tenant spaces shall be provided with signage or markings identifying the business occupying such space or spaces. Such identification shall be durably and conspicuously posted or marked on or adjacent to the outdoor side of the exterior door such that the business name is readily discernible from nearby parking lot lanes.