New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR)
Title 9 Part 1500
Executive Department
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Ask LawEngine about the NYCRR →Create a free account →All 23 titles. No credit card required.9 NYCRR 1500.1 - General requirements
Source version current through Sep 15, 2021
Later State Register activity may affect this section.
Dates and status
- NYCRR title agency
- Executive Department
- Section status
- Section source receipt
- Source version current through
- Sep 15, 2021
(a)New fire alarm systems installed pursuant to sections 61(1) and 62(1) of chapter 61-B of the Consolidated Laws (Multiple Residence Law) of the State of New York shall conform to the regulations as set forth herein, entitled Part 1500, Fire Alarm Systems in Hotels and Similar Dwellings.
(b)New fire alarm systems shall be located within the buildings to be protected and shall be designed and installed so as to warn all the occupants of such buildings in the event of fire or other emergency. Such fire alarm systems shall be electric signal systems of one of the following types:
(1)Non-coded closed circuit system consisting of manual fire alarm boxes and sounding devices operated on electrically supervised closed circuits so arranged that the manual operation of any box will actuate the sounding devices throughout all portions of the building.
(2)Coded closed circuit system consisting of manual fire alarm boxes and sounding devices operated on electrically supervised closed circuits so arranged that the manual operation of any box will actuate the sounding devices throughout all portions of the building in such a manner that rounds of coded signals are transmitted to indicate from where the alarm was sent.
(3)Pre-signal system consisting of a coded closed circuit system so arranged that the manual operation of any box will actuate the sounding device located at the main telephone switchboard or in the custodian's room or in the chief engineer's office or at another place within the building where an authorized person or a trained fire brigade is on duty at all times to receive the alarm and take proper action, and so arranged that the manual operation of any box by an authorized person in a special manner shall actuate all the sounding devices throughout the building.
(c)New installations of pre-signal systems shall be permitted only in hotels and similar dwellings having a central location where an authorized person or a trained fire brigade is available in accordance with the requirements for pre-signal systems.
(d)Where a hotel or similar dwelling is subdivided into sections by fire walls, each section shall be deemed a separate building when designing or installing new required fire alarm systems. One control board may be used to operate separately the signal devices in each section of the building.
(e)The component parts of a new fire alarm system shall be designed, made and assembled for fire alarm purposes and so as not to require frequent major replacements. Design, material and workmanship shall be adequate for the purpose and shall be capable of sustaining normal usage and handling without breakdown.
(f)Electrical wiring and equipment shall be designed and installed so as not to be a potential source of ignition of combustible material or a potential source of electrical hazard.
(g)Prior to making a new installation or an alteration or an addition to an existing installation, drawings and data showing complete details of the new installation, together with all pertinent details of the existing installation, if there be one, shall be furnished to the department, and approval obtained for the proposed work. Upon completion of the work, and as a condition of approval, the entire system shall be subjected to a test conducted in the presence of, and under the direction of, a representative of the department; and the entire system must prove satisfactory under such test.
9 NYCRR 1500.2 - Existing installations
Source version current through Sep 15, 2021
Later State Register activity may affect this section.
Dates and status
- NYCRR title agency
- Executive Department
- Section status
- Section source receipt
- Source version current through
- Sep 15, 2021
(a)Before existing fire alarm systems installed prior to July 1, 1952, may be approved as complying with the requirements of this Part, they shall be examined and tested by the department. Such systems shall be in operative condition, free of mechanical injury and structural defects, and shall present no potential source of electrical hazard.
(b)Extensions to existing fire alarm systems shall comply with all of the provisions of this Part applicable to new installations.
9 NYCRR 1500.3 - Manual fire alarm boxes
Source version current through Sep 15, 2021
Later State Register activity may affect this section.
Dates and status
- NYCRR title agency
- Executive Department
- Section status
- Section source receipt
- Source version current through
- Sep 15, 2021
(a)New fire alarm systems shall be provided with manually operated fire alarm boxes, each arranged to transmit an alarm signal to sounding devices, and located as follows:
(1)There shall be at least one box on each floor. Attics and basements that are used at any time for sleeping quarters, recreation purposes, dining facilities, offices, or where a person is on duty, shall be considered as a floor.
(2)Boxes shall be located so as to be readily accessible and in the natural path of escape from fire. Where practicable such boxes shall be located near a required means of egress.
(3)Boxes shall be located so that the horizontal distance from any point on a floor not divided into rooms, or from any door leading to a room or suite to the nearest fire alarm box shall not exceed 100 feet, except that for fireproof buildings the maximum distance may be increased to 150 feet.
(4)Boxes shall be located in a public hall or passageway so as to be accessible on every floor without passing through a fire door.
(b)New and existing fire alarm boxes shall be in a position and ready at all times to operate when actuated.
(c)New fire alarm boxes shall be used only for fire protection purposes or other emergency.
(d)New coded systems shall be provided with pull-lever type boxes capable of transmitting at least four rounds of the coded signal. Mechanism shall be designed so that when once started there can be no interference with the proper transmission of signals.
(e)New non-coded systems shall be provided with boxes the manual operation of which will cause an alarm to sound continuously on all sounding devices. It shall be impossible to interfere with the signal except by the resetting of the box mechanism or by a time-limit device.
(f)New boxes shall be installed with handles approximately five feet above the floor.
9 NYCRR 1500.4 - Sounding devices
Source version current through Sep 15, 2021
Later State Register activity may affect this section.
Dates and status
- NYCRR title agency
- Executive Department
- Section status
- Section source receipt
- Source version current through
- Sep 15, 2021
(a)New sounding devices within a hotel or similar dwelling shall be of the same type and shall sound a clear audible signal that is distinct from all signals by other sounding devices used in the vicinity.
(b)New sounding devices shall be located approximately eight feet above floor level wherever practicable.
(c)New fire alarm systems shall have no more than 14 sounding devices connected on a single direct current circuit, nor more than 10 sounding devices connected on a single alternating current circuit.
9 NYCRR 1500.5 - Electrical requirements
Source version current through Sep 15, 2021
Later State Register activity may affect this section.
Dates and status
- NYCRR title agency
- Executive Department
- Section status
- Section source receipt
- Source version current through
- Sep 15, 2021
(a)General.
(1)New electrically operated interior fire alarm systems shall be constantly supervised by the continuous flow of an electric current through the system. Any interruption of electric current through the system or any circuit trouble shall cause a trouble signal to be sounded which is audible to an authorized person satisfactory to the department. Such trouble signal shall sound until silenced by manual means or restoration of supervisory current flow by correction of circuit trouble. Silencing of trouble signal by manual means shall automatically transfer such signal to a red lamp. Trouble signal shall be operated from the auxiliary source of power, except that where a single source of power is permitted, the trouble signal shall be operated from a side or phase of the power supply separate from that operating the signaling system. Sounding devices not readily susceptible to electrical supervision, such as vibrating bells, will not be required to be so supervised provided such sounding devices are alternately connected to separate circuits and are approximately equally distributed throughout the building.
(2)New electric equipment shall be designed and constructed to operate satisfactorily at voltages of 25 per cent above or below normal, or in accordance with generally accepted standards as set forth in the appendix to these rules.*
(3)Circuits used for the transmission of alarms shall be used for fire protection purposes only and shall be arranged and installed so that there can be no interference with the operation of the sounding devices.
(b)Electrical wiring.
(1)New electrical wiring for fire alarm systems shall have a rating of not less than 300 volts, except that on systems designed for operation at 50 volts or less, electrical wiring having a rating of not less than 150 volts may be used for circuits where the input is limited to 100 volt-amperes with current not exceeding five amperes.
(2)Sizes of such electrical wiring shall be in accordance with generally accepted standards as set forth in the appendix to these rules. *
(3)New electrical wiring shall be satisfactorily protected against damage due to corrosion, moisture or mechanical injury.
(4)New electrical wiring shall be protected by a metallic raceway or armor, except that such raceway or armor shall not be required for wiring installed at least seven feet above the floor for circuits where the input is limited to 100 volt-amperes with current not exceeding five amperes on systems designed for operation at 50 volts or less.
(5)New raceways, boxes, fittings and cabinets containing fire alarm conductors shall not contain wiring used for any purpose other than fire protection.
(c)Power supply.
(1)A new fire alarm system shall be supplied with electrical energy from a main source and, in case of failure of the main source, from an auxiliary source, except that where electric service of three, four, or five-wire type is obtained from a reliable underground network distribution system, the auxiliary source shall not be required. The following are acceptable sources for main and auxiliary power supplies: central electric power station (local utility company) and an electric generator or one set of storage battery units continually charged; two electric generators; two sets of storage battery units continually charged; one electric generator and one set of storage battery units continually charged. A sufficient number of heavy duty primary batteries of suitable type and of adequate capacity shall be permitted as the auxiliary source of power supply when approved by the department.
(2)One source of power shall be connected to the fire alarm system at all times. The auxiliary source shall be automatically controlled so that when the primary source fails, the auxiliary source will be connected automatically to the system and the transfer shall be indicated by a signal. Immediate steps shall be taken to return the system to the primary source of supply.
(3)A new fire alarm service connection to a central power station supply shall be made as close as practicable to the main service entrance with either of the following arrangements: connection made on the street side of the service switch, or connection made on the house side of the meter and as close to the meter as possible without intervening interrupting devices.
(4)Between fire alarm service connection, as described in paragraph (3) above, and the control board, only one set of protective devices will be permitted; no additional devices are permitted.
(5)A new fire alarm service connection to a power supply other than that from a central power station shall be made with only one set of protective devices in addition to any set of devices used to protect the main source of supply.
(6)Fire alarm system protective devices shall be contained in a locked or sealed metal cabinet which shall be conspicuously identified. The use of open link or screw plug fuses shall not be permitted.
9 NYCRR 1500.6 - Installation
Source version current through Sep 15, 2021
Later State Register activity may affect this section.
Dates and status
- NYCRR title agency
- Executive Department
- Section status
- Section source receipt
- Source version current through
- Sep 15, 2021
Installation of a new fire alarm system in conformity with generally accepted standards set forth in the appendix to these rules* shall be deemed to comply with this Part.
9 NYCRR 1500.7 - Instruction and identification of new and existing systems
Source version current through Sep 15, 2021
Later State Register activity may affect this section.
Dates and status
- NYCRR title agency
- Executive Department
- Section status
- Section source receipt
- Source version current through
- Sep 15, 2021
(a)Adequate printed instructions relative to their purpose and use shall be posted in a conspicuous manner at fire alarm boxes and at control boards.
(b)Fire alarm boxes shall be identified and shall have a conspicuous exterior color.
(c)There shall be permanently mounted at right angles to the wall a durable sign at least eight inches square with conspicuous letters reading, FIRE ALARM BOX. Such sign shall be located above every fire alarm box, and approximately seven feet above the floor.
9 NYCRR 1500.8 - Maintenance of new and existing systems
Source version current through Sep 15, 2021
Later State Register activity may affect this section.
Dates and status
- NYCRR title agency
- Executive Department
- Section status
- Section source receipt
- Source version current through
- Sep 15, 2021
(a)Fire alarm systems shall be maintained in operating condition at all times except when the buildings are unoccupied for a period longer than one week. If any fire alarm system becomes defective during periods of occupancy, the following precautionary measures shall be taken:
(1)Notify all occupants of building.
(2)Where watchman's clock system is provided, the frequency of watchman's patrols shall be increased to twice that normally required, or where a watchman's clock system is not provided, patrol routes shall be established so that all parts of the building are visited at hourly intervals by authorized persons.
(3)Notices shall be placed on alarm boxes indicating that the system is out of order and giving instructions that, in the event of fire, the alarm be transmitted to the management by telephone or other means.
(4)System shall be restored to working order within a reasonable time as specified by the department.
(b)Fire alarm boxes shall not be obstructed and shall be in full view at all times.
(c)Fire alarm systems shall be tested daily during periods of occupancy and all fire alarm boxes and sounding devices tested at least once a month. Tests shall be made under the direct supervision of the owner or a qualified person representing the owner, and shall be satisfactory to the department. Such person shall be responsible for the making of all tests. A complete record shall be kept of the tests and operation of the system, and records shall be open to examination by the department. After each test, the system shall be restored to normal operating conditions. Occupants of building shall be notified in advance as to time of testing of sounding devices. Such tests shall be held during daylight hours.
(d)It shall be the responsibility of the owner to notify the fire department immediately in the event of fire.
9 NYCRR 1500.9 - Standards for compliance
Source version current through Sep 15, 2021
Later State Register activity may affect this section.
Dates and status
- NYCRR title agency
- Executive Department
- Section status
- Section source receipt
- Source version current through
- Sep 15, 2021
The construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of a new fire alarm system in accordance with the generally accepted standards listed in the appendix to these rules and regulations*, to the extent that such standards are consistent with these rules and regulations, shall constitute compliance with this Part or any applicable provision thereof.
9 NYCRR Appendix S-2 - Earlier source heading: 9 CRR-NY App. S-2
Related State Register notice: Proposed rule PSC-28-21-00013-P. Published Jul 14, 2021.
Dates and status
- NYCRR title agency
- Executive Department
- Section status
- Section source receipt
- Related Register notice
- PSC-28-21-00013-P · Proposed rule
- Related notice published
- Jul 14, 2021
Current section text is not available here.