Smoke Detectors And Fire Alarms In NYC
November 8, 2013
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Question: smoke detectors and fire alarms in NYC
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Ken,
I am having some difficulty as a licensed alarm installer in NYS understanding the requirements set forth by NYFD in regards to installing Smoke alarms in Single family residences.
I have 2 central stations. One of them agrees that if a single family home is doing major renovations or if it is new construction in NYC and the 5 boroughs, it is required that a Licensed electrical contractor must install hardwired smoke detectors. I would never interfere with that. In many cases the home owner wants Central station to be notified in the event of a smoke alarm. In addition to the smokes installed for life safety in sleeping areas by the electricians they would like additional smokes in rooms that are not covered for property protection.
Usually I put redundant smokes connected to my alarm panel in ALL rooms covered by electricians and for rooms in addition to the electricians that DO report to central station. My first Central Station agrees that this is OK.
My other central station is telling me that I am not allowed to put smoke detectors in ANY home in NYC and the 5 boros without plans from the FDNY and with that since I'm not a master electrician cannot install the ANY smoke detectors at all. Common sense would make me believe that I WOULD be allowed to ADD protection to the approved smoke alarm system for additional protection.
Can you clarify?
Would you advise me to purchase the most recent all in one contract and does it cover specific verbiage regarding NYC fire codes and my responsibilities as it would defer to electricians for life safety and my system for sole purpose of ADDITIONAL protection for property and not life safety as required by code otherwise.
Please help me simplify this as I am very confused on what I can and cannot do regarding smoke alarms in NYC.
Thanks so much.
Regards,
Adam
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comment
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Ken,
Please include this in your discussions.
The IBC decided to write a code and NYS decided to enforce the latest 2010 residential code section R313.1
Part of this reads;
"The household fire alarm system shall provide the same level of smoke detection and alarm as required by this section for smoke alarms in the event the fire panel is removed or the system is not connected to a central station".
I understand that some townships are either not allowing installed fire alarm systems or only allowing installed fire alarm systems if one figures out how to keep the smokes active if the installed fire alarm panel is removed. We have come up with a wiring fix for this however I feel that we should not have to do this.
I believe the code was written for rented, leased, and wireless systems. Should we have to follow this code if the system is hardwired and will remain part of the real property?
R103.3 allows the code official to accept an alternate method if the method complies with the intent of the code and is equivalent to (in this case) the safety issues of the code. In short; the code can be satisfied with a hardwired fire alarm system.
When purchasing a home the home inspector will check for operational smokes and the new homeowner will sign a paper stating that the home has operational smoke detectors, so the check and balances are there.
What are your thoughts? Work-around?
Mike
CSS
NY
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Answer
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Fire alarms raise the bar - for the system, the supervision, the exposure and the contract you should be using. The number one reason to use the Commercial Fire All in One or the Residential All in One, is that both make it crystal clear that it's the AHJ who is in charge; the AHJ requirements override the contract, manufacturer specifications, whatever you think the code requires. The AHJ wants to be in charge -- then let him. Make sure thre AHJ signs off on anything he tells you to do.
I asked a fire expert to respond. Here is his response:
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Ken
The answer to this question is simple. At this time the FDNY has no jurisdiction for fire alarm installation in a single family residence. The existing building code calls for 110v with battery backup smoke detector to be in sleeping areas and hallways, this is normally installed by a NYC licensed master electrician to comply with the building code.
A home owner can elect to install additional smoke and heat detectors on a separate system and those devices may or maynot be monitored. The additional smoke detectors can only be supplemental devices and can not replace the required 110v devices.
This s it for smokes tied into a panel. As for battery operated smokes you can have as many as you want as it is a local device and not part of any system and has no monitoring.
Sincerely,
Wayne M. Wahrsager
Commercial Fire & Security, Inc.
Freeport, NY
(516) 642-4187
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Any other fire experts care to comment????
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