{"data":{"id":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-bc-904","jurisdiction":"us-nyc","citation":"N.Y.C. Admin. Code § BC 904","heading":"Section BC 904: Alternative Automatic Fire-Extinguishing Systems","body":"904.1 General.\n\nAutomatic fire-extinguishing systems, other than automatic sprinkler systems, shall be designed, installed, inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this section, the New York City Fire Code, and the applicable referenced standards.\n\n904.1.1 Construction documents.\n\nConstruction documents for alternative automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be approved by the Fire Department and shall contain plans that include at least the following data and information:\n\n1. Commercial kitchen suppression systems:\n\n1.1. Location of all surface, plenum and duct nozzles; surface dimensions and location of all cooking appliances; the location of automatic fuel shut-off and statement as to type (gas or electric); location and distance of the remote control or manual pull station;\n\n1.2. Identification of the grease filters to be used in any kitchen hood; the dimensions of all hoods and all related ducts, including termination of duct at the exterior of the building;\n\n1.3. Identification of: the fire suppression piping system; the make and model of the system; the type of extinguishing agent and number and size of agent containers; size, length, and type of all piping that will be used; the number and location of all fusible links or detectors and the temperature setting; any surface, plenum and duct nozzles.\n\n2. For extinguishing agent systems, the plan should also include type and concentration of the extinguishing agent, the method of providing power supply to smoke or heat detectors, fire rating of partitions, location of all audible/visible alarms within and outside the location involved and the details of construction of the room to contain the extinguishing agent. If the area is not sprinklered, the following information is required:\n\n2.1. The size and location of the reserve supply, and\n\n2.2 Information as to why it has been determined that water is not effective as an extinguishing agent for the fire hazard in such location.\n\n3. The plans must note whether the proposed system is connected to the building's fire alarm system.\n\nException: For that portion of a fire suppression piping system within an approved pre-engineered system, a schematic isometric diagram shall be acceptable in lieu of full plans, provided that the location and method of pressure relief must be indicated with areas and volumes to where said relief is taken.\n\n904.2 Where required.\n\nAutomatic fire-extinguishing systems installed as an alternative to the required automatic sprinkler systems of Section 903 shall be approved by the Fire Department. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall not be considered alternatives for the purposes of exceptions or reductions allowed by other requirements of this code.\n\n904.2.1 Hood system suppression.\n\nEach required commercial kitchen exhaust hood and duct system required by Chapter 5 of the New York City Mechanical Code to have a Type I hood shall be protected with an automatic fire-extinguishing system installed in accordance with this code and the New York City Fire Code.\n\n904.3 Installation.\n\nAutomatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be installed in accordance with this section.\n\n904.3.1 Electrical wiring.\n\nElectrical wiring shall be in accordance with the New York City Electrical Code.\n\n904.3.2 Actuation.\n\nAutomatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be automatically actuated and provided with a manual means of actuation in accordance with Section 904.12.1. Where more than one hazard could be simultaneously involved in fire due to their proximity, all hazards shall be protected by a single system designed to protect all hazards that could become involved.\n\nException: Multiple systems shall be permitted to be installed if they are designed to operate simultaneously.\n\n904.3.3 System interlocking.\n\nAutomatic equipment interlocks with fuel shutoffs, ventilation controls, door closers, window shutters, conveyor openings, smoke and heat vents and other features necessary for proper operation of the fire-extinguishing system shall be provided as required by the design and installation standard utilized for the hazard.\n\n904.3.4 Alarms and warning signs.\n\nWhere alarms are required to indicate the operation of automatic fire-extinguishing systems, distinctive audible and visible alarms and warning signs shall be provided to warn of pending agent discharge. Where exposure to automatic-extinguishing agents poses a hazard to persons and a delay is required to ensure the evacuation of occupants before agent discharge, a separate warning signal shall be provided to alert occupants once agent discharge has begun. Audible signals shall be in accordance with Section 907.5.2.\n\n904.3.5 Monitoring.\n\nWhere a fire alarm system is installed, automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be monitored by the fire alarm system in accordance with NFPA 72.\n\n904.4 Inspection and testing.\n\nAutomatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be inspected and tested in accordance with the provisions of this section and the New York City Fire Code prior to acceptance.\n\n904.4.1 Inspection.\n\nPrior to conducting final acceptance tests, all of the following items shall be inspected:\n\n1. Hazard specification for consistency with design hazard.\n\n2. Type, location and spacing of automatic- and manual-initiating devices.\n\n3. Size, placement and position of nozzles or discharge orifices.\n\n4. Location and identification of audible and visible alarm devices.\n\n5. Identification of devices with proper designations.\n\n6. Operating instructions.\n\n904.4.2 Alarm testing.\n\nNotification appliances, connections to fire alarm systems and connections to central supervising stations shall be tested in accordance with this section and Section 907 to verify proper operation.\n\n904.4.2.1 Audible and visible signals.\n\nThe audibility and visibility of notification appliances signaling agent discharge or system operation, where required, shall be verified.\n\n904.4.3 Monitor testing.\n\nConnections to protected premises and supervising station fire alarm systems shall be tested to verify proper identification and retransmission of alarms from automatic fire-extinguishing systems.\n\n904.5 Wet-chemical systems.\n\nWet-chemical extinguishing systems shall be installed, maintained, periodically inspected and tested in accordance with the New York City Fire Code.\n\n904.6 Dry-chemical systems.\n\nDry-chemical extinguishing systems shall be installed, maintained, periodically inspected and tested in accordance with the New York City Fire Code. New dry-chemical extinguishing systems are not permitted for the protection of kitchen equipment.\n\n904.7 Foam systems.\n\nFoam-extinguishing systems shall be installed, maintained, periodically inspected and tested in accordance with the New York City Fire Code.\n\n904.8 Carbon dioxide systems.\n\nCarbon dioxide extinguishing systems shall be installed, maintained, periodically inspected and tested in accordance with the New York City Fire Code.\n\n904.9 Halon systems.\n\nHalogenated extinguishing systems shall not be permitted. However, existing systems shall be maintained, periodically inspected and tested in accordance with the New York City Fire Code.\n\n904.10 Clean-agent systems.\n\nClean-agent fire-extinguishing systems shall be installed, maintained, periodically inspected and tested in accordance with the New York City Fire Code.\n\n904.11 Automatic water mist systems.\n\nAutomatic water mist systems shall be permitted in applications that are consistent with the applicable listing or approvals and shall comply with Sections 904.11.1 through 904.11.3.\n\n904.11.1 Design and installation requirements.\n\nAutomatic water mist systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with Sections 904.11.1.1 through 904.11.1.4.\n\n904.11.1.1 General.\n\nAutomatic water mist systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the New York City Fire Code.\n\n904.11.1.2 Actuation.\n\nAutomatic water mist systems shall be automatically actuated.\n\n904.11.1.3 Water supply protection.\n\nConnections to a potable water supply shall be protected against backflow in accordance with the New York City Plumbing Code.\n\n904.11.1.4 Secondary water supply.\n\nWhere a secondary water supply is required for an automatic sprinkler system, an automatic water mist system shall be provided with an approved secondary water supply in accordance with the New York City Fire Code.\n\n904.11.2 Water mist system supervision and alarms.\n\nSupervision and alarms shall be provided as required for automatic sprinkler systems in accordance with Section 903.4.\n\n904.11.2.1 Monitoring.\n\nMonitoring shall be provided as required for automatic sprinkler systems in accordance with Section 903.4.1.\n\n904.11.2.2 Alarms.\n\nAlarms shall be provided as required for automatic sprinkler systems in accordance with Section 903.4.2.\n\n904.11.2.3 Floor control valves.\n\nFloor control valves shall be provided as required for automatic sprinkler systems in accordance with Section 903.4.3.\n\n904.11.3 Testing, operation and maintenance.\n\nAutomatic water mist systems shall be tested, operated and maintained in accordance with the New York City Fire Code.\n\n904.12 Commercial cooking systems.\n\nThe automatic fire-extinguishing system for commercial cooking systems shall be of a type recognized for protection of commercial cooking equipment and exhaust systems of the type and arrangement protected. Preengineered automatic wet-chemical extinguishing systems shall be approved by the Fire Commissioner, tested in accordance with UL 300, and listed and labeled for the intended application. The protected area shall include the area under the hood and over the cooking equipment, the area above or behind the filters and the opening of the hood into the branch duct. Where a preengineered system is installed and the size of the protected area exceeds that allowed for a single preengineered system, additional pre-engineered systems arranged for simultaneous operation shall be provided. Other types of automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be listed and labeled for specific use as protection for commercial cooking operations. The system shall be installed in accordance with this code, its listing and the manufacturer's instructions. Only automatic fire-extinguishing systems of the following types shall be installed in accordance with the New York City Fire Code:\n\n1. Foam water sprinkler system or foam water spray systems.\n\n2. Wet-chemical extinguishing systems.\n\nAutomatic sprinkler systems, dry-chemical fire-extinguishing systems, and carbon dioxide fire-extinguishing systems shall not be installed to protect commercial cooking equipment and exhaust systems.\n\n904.12.1 Manual system operation.\n\nA manual actuation device shall be located at or near a means of egress from the cooking area not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) and not more than 20 feet (6096 mm), from the kitchen exhaust system. The manual actuation device shall be installed not more than 48 inches (1220 mm) or less than 42 inches (1066.8 mm) above the finished floor and shall clearly identify the hazard protected. The manual actuation device shall require a maximum force of 40 pounds (177.9 N) and a maximum movement of 14 inches (355.6 mm) to actuate the fire suppression system.\n\nException: Automatic sprinkler systems shall not be required to be equipped with manual actuation means.\n\n904.12.2 System interconnection.\n\nThe actuation of the fire suppression system shall automatically shut down the fuel or electrical power supply to the cooking equipment. The fuel and electrical supply reset shall be manual.\n\n904.13 Domestic cooking systems in Group I-2.\n\nIn Group I-2 occupancies where cooking facilities are installed in accordance with Section 407.2.6 of this code, the domestic cooking hood provided over the cooktop or range shall be equipped with an automatic fire-extinguishing system of a type recognized for protection of domestic cooking equipment. Preengineered automatic extinguishing systems shall be tested in accordance with UL 300A and listed and labeled for the intended application. The system shall be installed in accordance with this code, its listing and the manufacturer's instructions.\n\n904.13.1 Manual system operation and interconnection.\n\nManual actuation and system interconnection for the hood suppression system shall be installed in accordance with Sections 904.12.1 and 904.12.2, respectively.\n\n904.13.2 Portable fire extinguishers for domestic cooking equipment in Group I-2.\n\nA portable fire extinguisher complying with Section 906 shall be installed within a 30-foot (9144 mm) distance of travel from domestic cooking appliances.","path":["New York City Administrative Code","Title 28","Chapter 7: New York City Building Code"],"source_url":"https://files.amlegal.com/pdffiles/NewYorkCity/Admin/XML.zip","current_through":"Local Law 2026/135 (enacted August 31, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T02:48:57Z","sha256":"f70916d4226351c04b3c81d5707161165278204c23a717c2f0ddefb64f0784d6","source_id":"us-nyc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-bc-903","next":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-bc-905"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}