N.Y.C. Admin. Code § FC 903: Section FC 903: Sprinkler Systems

903.1 General.

Sprinkler systems shall comply with the requirements of this section.

903.2 Where required.

Sprinkler systems shall be provided in buildings, structures, premises, or parts thereof, when required by the construction codes, including the Building Code, this code or the rules.

903.2.1 Reserved.

903.2.2 Reserved.

903.2.3 Reserved.

903.2.4 Reserved.

903.2.5 Reserved.

903.2.6 Reserved.

903.2.7 Reserved.

903.2.8 Reserved.

903.2.9 Reserved.

903.2.10 Reserved.

903.2.11 During construction.

Sprinkler systems required during construction, alteration and demolition operations shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 33 of the Building Code and FC 3314.

903.2.12 Reserved.

903.2.13 Other required fire extinguishing systems.

In addition to the requirements of FC 903.2, the provisions indicated in FC Table 903.2.13 also require the installation of a fire extinguishing system for certain buildings and areas.

FC Table 903.2.13 Additional Required Fire Extinguishing Systems

Section

Subject

314.5.1

Covered kiosks, displays, booth or concession stands

315.7.2.1

Indoor additional storage of solid fuel

317.4.3.3

Defueling area

321.4

Construction shanties and construction storage facilities and areas – fixed guideway transit and passenger rail systems

322.4

Construction shanties and construction storage facilities and areas – road tunnels, bridges and other limited access highways

501.4.3.1

Altered buildings on substandard width public streets and fire apparatus access roads

503.2.10

Buildings fronting on substandard width fire apparatus access roads

503.3.2

Buildings fronting on substandard width public streets

608.9.4

Energy storage system, stationary (NFPA 13 system, where required/allowed)

1027.6

Equipment storage in Group I-2 building hallway corridors

2108.2

Newly-established dry cleaning facilities

2108.3

Lawfully existing dry cleaning facilities

2306.8

Flammable liquid motor fuel-dispensing areas

2308.7.4

Indoor CNG compressing, storage and dispensing areas

2309.3.4.2

Hydrogen motor fuel-dispensing areas under canopies

2311.8.2

Repair garage for vehicle fueled by lighter-than-air motor fuel

2404.3.3

Spray rooms and spray booths

2405.2

Dip-tank rooms

2405.3.4

Dip tanks

2405.4.4

Hardening and tempering tanks

2406.3.3.1

Powder coating rooms and booths

2407.3.2.1

Electrostatic spray finishing operations

2408.2.2

Spraying operations involving the use of organic peroxides and other dual-component coatings

2409.2.1

Resin application areas

2703.10

HPM facilities

2703.10.1.1

HPM work station exhaust

2703.10.1.2

HPM combustible tools

2703.10.2

HPM gas cabinets and exhaust enclosures

2703.10.3

HPM corridors

2703.10.4

HPM exhaust

2703.10.4.1

HPM noncombustible ducts

2703.10.4.2

HPM combustible ducts

2903.4

Organic coating manufacturing facility

3006.1

Class A and B furnaces

3006.2

Class C and D furnaces

FC Table 3206.2

High-piled storage fire protection

3206.4

High-piled storage

3207.2

Solid-piled and shelf storage

3208.2

Rack storage

3208.5.1

Extra-high-rack combustible storage

3209.2

Automated storage

3704.5

Storage of more than 1,000 cubic feet of loose combustible fibers

3706.6

Combustible fibers, storage at waterfront structure

4003.5.1

Distilleries

5003.8.4.1

Gas rooms

5003.8.5.3

Exhausted enclosures

5004.5

Indoor storage of hazardous materials

5005.1.8

Indoor handling and use of hazardous materials

5104.4.1

Aerosol warehouses

5106.3.2

Retail aerosol displays over 8 feet high

5306.2.1

Medical gas rooms

5306.2.3

Medical gas cabinets

5606.7

Storage of small arm ammunition, powder-actuated tool loads, black powder or smokeless propellant

5704.3.5.1

Below grade storage of combustible liquids

5704.3.7.5.1

Flammable and combustible liquid storage rooms

5704.3.8.4

Flammable and combustible liquid storage warehouses

5705.3.7.3

Flammable and combustible liquid Group H-2 or H-3 areas

5706.4.10.5

Bulk plants and terminals

5706.4.10.5.1

Cargo tank loading racks

5806.3.2

Sterilization systems

6004.1.2.2

Gas cabinets for highly toxic and toxic gas

6004.1.3.1

Exhausted enclosures for highly toxic and toxic gas

6004.2.2.6

Gas rooms for highly toxic and toxic gas

6004.3.3

Outdoor storage for highly toxic and toxic gas

6109.9

Storage of LPG within buildings accessible to the public

6304.1.4

Solid and liquid oxidizer storage areas

6404.2.2

Outdoor storage areas of pyrophoric materials with overhead construction

6504.1.1

Pyroxylin plastic storage cabinets and vaults

6504.1.3

Pyroxylin plastic storage vaults

6504.2

Pyroxylin plastic storage, handling and use

Building Code

Sprinkler requirements as set forth in the construction codes, including the Building Code

For SI: 1 cubic foot = 0.023 m

3

.

903.3 Installation requirements.

Except as otherwise provided in this code, sprinkler systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with the construction codes, including the Building Code.

903.3.1 Inspector's test gauge.

A pressure gauge shall be installed at or near the inspector's test connection in Group R-2 occupancies, converted dwellings, and single room occupancies to enable persons responsible for inspecting or testing the sprinkler system, including certificate of fitness holders, plumbers, master fire suppression contractors and department representatives, to visually confirm the static pressure in the system. Installation of a pressure gauge shall constitute an operational requirement of this code.

903.4 Sprinkler system supervision and alarms.

All valves controlling the water supply for sprinkler systems, pumps, tanks, water levels and temperatures, critical air pressures, and water-flow switches on all sprinkler systems shall be electrically supervised by the fire alarm system where a fire alarm system is required by Section 907 of the Building Code.

Exceptions:

1. Sprinkler systems protecting Group R-3 occupancies.

2. Reserved.

3. Sprinkler systems installed in accordance with NFPA 13R, as modified by FC Appendix B, where a common supply main is used to supply both domestic water and the sprinkler system, and a separate shutoff valve for the sprinkler system is not provided, except where the Building Code requires such sprinkler system to be supervised.

4. Jockey pump control valves that are sealed or locked in the open position.

5. Control valves to commercial kitchen hoods, paint spray booths or dip tanks that are sealed or locked in the open position.

6. Valves controlling the fuel supply to fire pump engines that are sealed or locked in the open position.

7. Trim valves to pressure switches in dry, preaction and deluge sprinkler systems that are sealed or locked in the open position.

903.5 Maintenance.

Sprinkler systems shall be periodically inspected, tested, serviced and otherwise maintained in accordance with FC 901.6 and the rules. Except as otherwise provided in FC 903.5.1 through 903.5.3, sprinkler systems shall be inspected and otherwise maintained as follows:

1. Sprinkler systems shall be inspected at least once a month by a person holding a certificate of fitness, employed by the owner, to ensure that all parts of the system are in perfect working order, and that the department connections, if any, are ready for immediate use by the department. A detailed record of each inspection shall be kept for examination by any representative of the department.

2. There shall be one or more employees instructed in the maintenance of sprinkler systems.

3. There shall be kept available at all times in the premises a supply of at least six extra sprinkler heads, representative of the sprinkler heads installed on the sprinkler system, to replace promptly any fused or damaged sprinklers.

4. Fire department connections shall be hydrostatically tested at least once every 5 years, in accordance with FC 912.6.

903.5.1 Sprinkler systems in converted dwellings and single room occupancies.

In any converted dwelling or tenement used in whole or in part for single room occupancy, regardless of occupancy classification, in which a sprinkler system has been installed pursuant to the requirements of the Multiple Dwelling Law, such sprinkler system shall be inspected and otherwise maintained as follows:

1. Sprinkler systems shall be inspected at least once a month by a person employed by the owner, holding a certificate of fitness issued by the department, a fire suppression contractor license issued by the Department of Buildings, or, for a sprinkler system with not more than thirty sprinkler heads, a plumber, to ensure that all parts of the system are in perfect working order, and that the department connections, if any, are ready for immediate use by the department. Such inspection shall include a check of all control valves on the system, including the main supply control valve, making certain the valves are fully open and sealed in such open position; a check of the static pressure in the sprinkler system from a pressure gauge located at or near the inspector's test connection, making certain the system design pressure is being maintained; a check 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 any representative of the department.

2. There shall be one or more employees instructed in the location and status of the sprinkler system control valves.

3. There shall be kept available at all times in the premises a supply of at least six extra sprinkler heads, representative of the sprinkler heads installed at the premises, 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 NFPA 13R, as modified by FC Appendix B.

4. Fire department connections shall be hydrostatically tested at least once every 5 years in accordance with FC 912.6.

5. A flow test of the sprinkler system shall be conducted at least once every year. Such test shall be conducted at the owner's risk by his or her representative, who shall be a plumber or licensed master fire suppression contractor. Upon order of the commissioner, but at least once every 5 years, such flow test shall be conducted before a representative of the department. A report of each test, on an approved form, shall be certified by such plumber or licensed master fire suppression contractor and shall be kept for not less than 5 years and made available for inspection by any representative of the department.

6. 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 buildings during regular business hours.

903.5.2 Sprinkler systems in other R-2 occupancies.

Except as otherwise provided in FC 903.5.1, in Group R-2 occupancies, sprinkler system shall be inspected and otherwise maintained as follows:

1. Sprinkler systems shall be inspected at least once a month by a person employed by the owner, holding a certificate of fitness issued by the department, a fire suppression contractor license issued by the Department of Buildings, or, for a sprinkler system with not more than thirty sprinkler heads, a plumber, to ensure that all parts of the system are in perfect working order, and that the department connections, if any, are ready for immediate use by the department. Such inspection shall include a check of all control valves on the system, including the main supply control valve, making certain the valves are fully open and sealed in such open position; a check of the static pressure in the sprinkler system from a pressure gauge located at or near the inspector's test connection, making certain the system design pressure is being maintained; a check 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 any representative of the department.

2. There shall be one or more employees instructed in the location and status of the sprinkler system control valves.

3. There shall be kept available at all times in the premises a supply of at least six extra sprinkler heads, representative of the sprinkler heads installed at the premises, 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 NFPA 13R, as modified by FC Appendix B.

4. Fire department connections shall be hydrostatically tested at least once every 5 years in accordance with FC 912.6.

5. A flow test of the sprinkler system shall be conducted upon order of the commissioner, but at least once every 30 months. Such test shall be conducted at the owner's risk by his or her representative, who shall be a plumber or licensed master fire suppression contractor. Upon order of the commissioner, but at least once every 5 years, such test shall be conducted before a representative of the department. A report of each test, on an approved form, shall be certified by such plumber or licensed master fire suppression contractor and shall be kept for not less than 5 years and made available for inspection by any representative of the department.

6. 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 buildings during regular business hours.

903.5.3 Sprinkler systems in Group R-3 occupancies.

Sprinkler systems in buildings classified in Group R-3 occupancies shall be maintained in perfect working order.

903.5.4 Sprinkler system control valve signage.

A sign identifying the location of the sidewalk box housing the sprinkler system control valve shall be conspicuously posted on the exterior wall of the building directly opposite the sidewalk box. Such sign shall have red letters 1 inch (25 mm) in height on a white background and read: "Sprinkler System Shutoff Valve (indicate distance

) Feet Opposite This Sign" or other approved design.

903.6 Dry pipe sprinkler system valves.

In addition to the maintenance requirements set forth in FC 903.5, any dry pipe valve installed in a sprinkler system shall be trip tested at least once every 5 years and whenever the system is altered. Such trip test shall be conducted at the owner's risk, with the control valve fully open and the quick-opening device, if provided, in service, by a master fire suppression contractor licensed by the Department of Buildings before a representative of the department.