EST's Engineer Guide to the NYC Building Code Fire Alarm Requirements

1
A – Assembly
B – Business 2
E- Education (K–12)
F - Factory 3
H-5 – Hazardous 4
I – Institutional
5 9
M- Mercantile R-2 Apartments
14
R-1 Hotel
R-2 Student Apts. 6 (not Student Apartments/Dorms)
Atriums 7
Aerosol Storage
Lumber Mills
Underground Buildings
Covered Malls > 50,000 sq. ft.
System Type Temporal 3 Fire Alarm system or Voice Sprinkler and Smoke Detection
Evacuation (see red section below for voice evac) Add One-Way voice if > 125 ft tall.
Pull Stations:
At the main panel No Yes (NFPA 72 6.8.5.1.2)
At all Egress Exits on every floor Yes (907.3.1) No
Mounted within 5 feet from door Yes (907.3.1) N/A
Distance to Next Nearest Station < 200 ft (NFPA72 5.12.8) N/A
Mounting Height 42 to 48 Inches AFF (907.3.2) 42 to 48 Inches AFF (907.3.2)
Must be Painted Red Must be Red (907.3.3) Must be Red (907.3.3)
Pull Stations Can Be Eliminated I-3 Prison – (907.2.6.2) N/A
Instructions (code card) at station No No
White Strip for Central Station No No
Smoke Detectors:
Equip Rooms (Elect, Mech, & Similar) Yes - All (907.2) If over 75 Sq. ft. (907.2.9)
In Elevator Lobbies Yes (appendix K 2.27.3.2.1) Yes (907.2.9)
At Top of Elevator Shaft Yes if Sprinklered or Hatch (NFPA72 6.15.3.6) Yes (appendix K 2.27.3.2 (d), 907.2.9)
In Elevator Mechanical Room Yes (907.2) Yes (907.2.9)
Waiting Areas/spaces open to Corridor I Occupancies (407.2, 407.6, 907.2.6) N/A
10 20
In Corridors R-1, R-2 Dorm , and I-2 ccupancies No
At Top of Stair Shaft for Hatch Yes Yes
Above Smoke Doors with Door Holders Yes Yes
12
Housing, Day Rms, Common Spaces I-3 Occupancies No
Partial Detection if Un-sprinklered B and M Occupancies 17 No
R-2 with Student Apartments10 10
In Student Use Rooms R-2 with Student Apartments
In Sleeping Rooms8 Yes in R-1 Hotels and R-2 Dorm Occupancies No (see smoke alarm section below)
11
In Spaces Open to Corridors I-2 Nursing Homes, Detox No
Entrance to Stairwell for Pressurization If > 75 ft tall and no Smokeproof enclosure 15 If > 75 ft tall and no Smokeproof enclosure 15
Above FACP if its in Unoccupied Area Yes Yes
For Smoke Dampers See MC607.3.2.1 See MC607.3.2.1
Sleeping Room Smoke Alarms:
Each Sleep Room, Egress, & Level Yes in I-1, R2, R3 (907.2.10.1.1). Yes (907.2.10.1.1)
<15 feet from Sleeping Room Door Yes in I-1, R2, R3 (907.2.10.1.1) Yes (907.2.10.1.1)
Must Be Interconnected (activate in tandem) Yes in I-1 R2, R3 (907.2.10.3) Yes (907.2.10.3)
Use Smoke Detector in Sleeping Room Yes in R-1 Hotels and R-2 Dorm Occupancies Optional
Heat Detectors:
In Boiler Rooms Yes Yes
At Top of Elevator shaft Include it if a Sprinklered Shaft Include it if a Sprinklered Shaft
In Elevator Mechanical room No (it’s un-sprinklered – 3006.5) No (it’s un-sprinklered 3006.5)
Stages Yes if Proscenium Curtain (410.3) N/A
Duct Detectors:
> 2,000 cfm On AHU Return Yes (606.2.1) Yes (606.2.1)
> 2,000 cfm On AHU Supply Yes (606.2.4) Yes (606.2.4)
Each Return if > 1 story & > 15,000 cfm Yes (if AHU covers > 1 floor -- see 606.2.3) Yes (if AHU covers > 1 floor -- see 606.2.3)
On Return if Common/Supply Return Yes if > 2,000 cfm (see 606.2.2) Yes if > 2,000 cfm (see 606.2.2))
On Return of R-1 Over 5,000 cfm Yes (see 907.2.12.1) NA
Within 5 ft of the Smoke Damper See MC607 See MC607

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A – Assembly1
B – Business 2
E- Education (K–12)
F - Factory 3
H-5 – Hazardous 4
I – Institutional
5 9
M- Mercantile R-2 Apartments
14
R-1 Hotel
R-2 Student Apts. 6 (not Student Apartments/Dorms)
Atriums 7
Aerosol Storage
Lumber Mills
Underground Buildings
Covered Malls > 50,000 sq. ft.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors:
Inside Each Dwelling Sleeping Unit Yes in I-1, R1, R-3 If Fossil Fuel 18 Yes if Fossil Fuel or Indoor Parking 18
And Outside Dwelling Room < 15 ft Yes in I-1, R1, R-3 If Fossil Fuel 18 Yes if Fossil Fuel or Indoor Parking 18
On each story of Dwelling Unit Yes in I-1, R1, R-3 If Fossil Fuel 18 Yes if Fossil Fuel or Indoor Parking 18
Interconnected if more than 1 per Unit Yes in I-1, R1, R-3 If Fossil Fuel 18 Yes if Fossil Fuel or Indoor Parking 18
CO Detectors Must be Monitored8 In R1 & unoccupied E, I-2 and I-4 w/ Fossil Fuel
19 No
In Spaces w/CO Producing Equipment Yes in E, I-2 and I-4 (908.7.2)
19 No (just in the Dwelling Units)
Spaces above&below story of CO Equip Yes in E, I-2 and I-4 (908.7.2)
No (just in the Dwelling Units)
In Spaces above/below story of an Yes in E, I-2 and I-4 (908.7.2) 19
No (just in the Dwelling Units)
enclosed garage
Monitor Waterflows, Tampers, etc. Yes (903.4) Yes (903.4)
Monitor Generator Yes Yes
Monitor Fire Pump Yes (run, trouble, phase rev) Yes (run, trouble, phase rev)
Elevator Recall Yes (3003.2) Optional – But Recommended
Elevator Shunt Trip Include it (and Heat detector) if a Sprinklered Include it (and Heat detector) if a Sprinklered
Shaft – Sprinkler in the Shaft is Optional Shaft – Sprinkler in the Shaft is Optional
Remote Annunciator Required Recommended if the Panel is not in the Lobby Recommended if Panel is not in Lobby
Trouble, Waterflow, and Alarm Bells No No
Required above the Fire Panel
Open Wire Allowed Above 8 ft. Yes if NYC 150oC wire Yes if NYC 150oC wire
Conduit required in Suppression and
Extinguishing systems. Yes Yes
Rigid to 8ft. in mechanical rooms,
loading docks etc. Yes Yes
Fuse Disconnect/Cut Out Required Yes (NYC Electrical Code 4000-06) Yes (NYC Electrical Code 4000-06)
Secondary Power Source Horns: 24 Hour Supervision and 15 min of alarm 24 Hour Supervision and 5 min of alarm

Voice Evacuation: 24 Hour Supervision and 45

minutes of alarm
Flashing Fire Sign at Main Control No No
Central Station Connection Required Yes (901.6.2) Yes if > 20 Sprinklers (901.6.1)
Evacuation - Horns Horns – General Alarm None

Evacuation Tone Temporal 3 No

Horns Strobes Yes – All Common Spaces No
Mounting Height 80 inches AFF to Strobe Lens No
Strobe Only Locations Toilets, Conference Rooms generally required No
Split A/B Wiring Not required by NYC Electrical Code N/A
Evacuation Alerts Staff Only I-3 (prisons) No
Dwelling Audible and Visual Alarms I-1 and R–1 (see 907.9.1.3 for Qty.) No

The following section is for voice

evacuation and fire fighters telephone.

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A – Assembly1
B – Business 2
E- Education (K–12)
F - Factory 3
H-5 – Hazardous 4
I – Institutional
5 9
M- Mercantile R-2 Apartments
14
 R-1 Hotel
R-2 Student Apts. 6 (not Student Apartments/Dorms)
Atriums 7
Aerosol Storage
Lumber Mills
Underground Buildings
Covered Malls > 50,000 sq. ft.
Voice Evacuation - Speakers Voice Evacuation Only in: One Way Voice Paging – No Evacuation
A-1 with > 3001 Required If > 125 Ft. Tall
Any Assembly with > 10001
High Rise Buildings > 75 ft. 13
B > 100,000 sq. ft. or > 75 ft.2
A, E or M with an Atrium7
Underground Buildings > 30 ft.
Covered Malls > 50,000 sq. ft
Evacuation Tone Speakers – Fire floor, below and floor Above
Tone, Then Live Voice None
Horns Strobes No No
Speaker Strobes Yes – All Common Spaces No
Speakers in Stairwells Yes (NFPA72 6.9.7.3) 16 Yes – Every Other Floor if > 125 Ft. Tall
Mounting Height 80 inches AFF to Strobe Lens 80 – 96 inches AFF
Strobe Only Locations Toilets, Conference Rooms generally required None
Dwelling Room Speakers R-1 Hotel and Dorm16 Yes in R2 > 125 Ft.9
Dwelling Audible and Visual I-1 and R–1 (see 907.9.1.3 for Qty.) No
Split A/B Wiring Not required by NYC Electrical Code NA
Class A Wired Dwelling Speaker Circuit No Yes
Full Time Fire Safety Director Yes (see NYC Fire Code for Details) No
Fire Fighters Warden Stations Yes – In High-Rise Buildings (907.2.12.3) No (907.2.12.3 exception2)
Required in
Every Elevator lobby and enclosed stairwells on
each floor, elevators, emergency power room, fire
pump room, areas of refuge
Fire Fighter Phone Jacks Allowed No (Appendix Q – 6.9) N/A

Notes:

1 - Assembly (907.2.1): A fire alarm system is required if the occupant load is greater than 300 or is a cabaret with
an occupant load > 75. A-1 with an occupant load > 300 or any other A occupancy with > 1,000 requires one
way voice evacuation (see 907.2.1 for details – exception for “E” education occupancies). FDNY does not want
total evacuation in large (>1000) assembly spaces.– contact EST for a suggested sequence.



     

2 – Business (907.2.2): A fire alarm system is required if the occupant load is 500 or more or more than 100 people
above or below the lowest level of exit discharge (907.2.2). High Rise B buildings over 75 ft. tall or more than
100,000 sq. ft require voice evacuation and fire fighters telephone (907.2.2.1 and 907.2.12). See note 13.
3 - Factory (907.2.4): A Fire Alarm system is required if >2 stories in height and have an occupant load of more
than 100 or if 25 people or more are above or below the lowest level of exit.
4 – H-5 Hazardous (907.2.5): A manual and automatic fire alarm system is required in H-5 occupancies and in
occupancies used for the manufacture of organic coatings. In addition automatic smoke detection system is
required for highly toxic gases, organic peroxides and oxidizers and shall be connected to a central station.
5 – Mercantile (907.2.7): A fire alarm system is required if the Fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet, Fire area is
located more than three stories above grade, combined fire areas on all floors including mezzanines exceeds 24,000
square feet, or Fire area in a below-grade story exceeds 1,500 square feet. Unsprinklered M occupancies require
partial smoke detection (see note 17 for details).

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6 – R-2 Student Apartments (907.2.9.1): A Fire alarm system is required in accordance with section 907.2.8 (design
requirements same as Hotel) - include Manual and Automatic, Corridor Smoke Detection, Monitored Dwelling Smoke
detectors. Note: If the “Main Use” is NOT Student Apartments, but the apartment building has 15 or more student
apartments: Include a manual and automatic fire alarm system except that the system does not activate notification
devices, it sends a signal to a constantly attended location or a central station. A fire alarm system is not required
(dorm or apartment building with student apartments) if < 2 stories with 1-hour fire separation and egress exit to
outside.
7 – Atriums connecting more than two stories (907.2.13): A fire alarm system is required in occupancies with an
atrium that connects more than two stories. Atriums in occupancies Group A, E or M shall be provided with an
emergency voice/alarm communication system complying with the requirements of Section 907.2.12.2.
8 – Monitored Smoke or CO detectors: Fire Alarm system must annunciate the device by point. Include addressable
smoke detectors with a Sounder Base. Include smoke symbol with a subscript SB. Include a 24 Vdc CO detector
that includes a relay output, monitor relay output with a Monitor Module.
9 – R2 Apartments (907.2.9 & 907907.2.12.2 exception): No automatic evacuation. If over 125 ft. tall include one-way
voice and speakers in every other floor in stairwell as well as speakers each apartment. Apartment speakers must
be wired Class A.
10 –R2 with 15 or more Student Apartments (907.2.9.1): A manual and automatic system without notification devices
is required. Smoke detectors are required in all public corridors serving student apartments and student related
uses. Student related uses include common spaces such as recreation rooms, lounges, dining rooms, laundry
rooms, and storage rooms. This section of code was added for spaces that are partially (15 or more) occupied by
student apartments and includes added smoke detection. If the building is predominantly a dorm, smoke detection is
required in the corridors (per 907.2.9.1 and 907.2.8.2), not in the other locations listed above. Note: They can be
added voluntarily.
11 - Corridors in nursing homes (907.2.6.1): (both intermediate-care and skilled nursing facilities), detoxification
facilities and spaces open to the corridors require an automatic fire detection system.
12 – I-3 Smoke Detection (907.2.6.2.3): Smoke detectors are required throughout resident housing areas, including
sleeping areas and contiguous day rooms, group activity spaces and other common spaces normally accessible to
residents. Exceptions: 1. Other smoke detection providing equivalent protection including, placing detectors in
exhaust ducts from cells or behind protective guards listed for the purpose are allowed when necessary to prevent
damage or tampering. 2. Sleeping units in Use Conditions 2 and 3. 3. Smoke detectors are not required in sleeping
units with < four occupants in smoke compartments that are equipped throughout with an approved automatic
sprinkler system.
13 – High Rise (907.2.12): Any building > 75 feet tall (curb to slab). Exceptions to High Rise voice evacuation
requirements: Open Parking garages, A-5 (Stadiums, Amusement Parks), Low Hazard, H-1, H-2, H-3.
14 – R1 Exceptions (907.2.8.1): A manual fire alarm system is not required in buildings not over two stories in height
where all individual dwelling units and contiguous attic and crawl spaces are separated from each other and public or
common areas by at least 1-hour fire partitions and each individual dwelling unit has an exit directly to a public way,
exit court or yard. An automatic fire detection system is not required in buildings that do not have public corridors
serving dwelling units and each dwelling unit has a means of egress door.
15 – Stair Pressurization: 1019.1.8 Smokeproof enclosures. In buildings required to comply with Section 403.13 or
405.8.2, each of the exits of a building that serves stories where the floor surface is located more than 75 feet above
the lowest level of Fire Department vehicle access or more than 30 feet below the level of exit discharge serving
such floor levels shall be a smokeproof enclosure or pressurized stairway in accordance with Section 909.20. A
Pressurized stair alternative is acceptable if the building is sprinklered.
16 – Speakers (907.2.12.2): required in elevator lobbies, corridors, rooms and tenant spaces > 1,000 sq. ft., R-1
dwelling units, and areas of rescue. Exceptions: I-1, I-2, and R-2. Speaker only locations: Non Handicap Guest
Rooms and in stairwells (every 4 floors provides adequate audibility). Speakers strobes are required is all other
public spaces. This section also applies to occupancies when the main use is a Student Apartment.
17 – Partial smoke detection (Appendix Q 5.5.2.2): is defined by NFPA 72 as modified by Appendix Q. as follows:
common areas and work spaces, such as corridors, lobbies, storage rooms, equipment rooms, and other spaces.
18 – CO Alarms 908.7.1.1 Affected dwelling units. Carbon monoxide alarms or detectors shall be required within the
following dwelling units:
1. Units on the same story where carbon monoxide producing equipment or enclosed parking is located.
2. Units on the stories above and below the floor where carbon monoxide producing equipment or enclosed
parking is located.
3. Units in a building containing a carbon monoxide producing furnace, boiler, or water heater as part of a central
system.

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4. 4. Units in a building served by a carbon monoxide producing furnace, boiler, or water heater as part of a
central system that is located in an adjoining or attached building.
908.7.1.1.1 Required locations within dwelling units. Carbon monoxide alarms or detectors shall be located
within dwelling units as follows:
1. Outside of any room used for sleeping purposes, within 15 feet of the entrance to such room.
2. In any room used for sleeping purposes.
3. On any story within a dwelling unit, including below-grade stories and penthouses of any area, but not
including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics.
19 - 908.7.2 Group E, I-2 and I-4 occupancies. Listed carbon monoxide alarms or detectors shall be installed as
follows:
1. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed within any occupied space containing carbon monoxide producing
equipment and in all occupied spaces above and below the story where carbon monoxide producing equipment
or enclosed parking is located.
2. Carbon monoxide detectors and audible notification appliances shall be installed within any unoccupied space
containing carbon monoxide producing equipment. Such detector shall activate an audible alarm at a constantly
attended location.
Note: Section 908.7.2 has some rather vague requirements for CO Alarms. Use good engineering judgment.
20 – 407.6: Section 407.6 has exceptions for corridor smoke detection when smoke detectors are provided in each
patient sleeping unit with a remote indicator provided in the hallway and alarm annunciation at each nurses station.

Note: Please read the appropriate section of the code for details. In some cases exceptions are not all included. Also,
as with any code, many items are subject to interpretation.

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