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903.2.11 Specific Building Areas and Hazards
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An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed for building design or hazards in the locations set forth in Sections 903.2.11.1 through 903.2.11.13.
An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout every above- or below-grade story of all buildings where the floor area exceeds 1,500 square feet (139.4 m2) and where there is not provided at least one of the following types of exterior wall openings:
- Openings below grade that lead directly to ground level by an exterior stairway complying with Section 1009 or an outside ramp complying with Section 1010. Openings shall be located in each 50 linear feet (15 240 mm), or fraction thereof, of exterior walls facing onto a street, public way or frontage space, in the story on at least one side. The required openings shall be distributed such that the lineal distance between adjacent openings does not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm).
- Openings entirely above the adjoining ground level totaling at least 20 square feet (1.86 m2) in each 50 linear feet (15 240 mm), or fraction thereof, of exterior walls facing onto a street, public way or frontage space, in the story on at least one side. The required openings shall be distributed such that the lineal distance between adjacent openings does not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm).
Such openings shall have a minimum dimension of not less than 30 inches (762 mm). Such openings shall be accessible to the Fire Department from the exterior and shall not be obstructed in a manner that fire fighting or rescue cannot be accomplished from the exterior.
Where such openings in a story are provided on only one side and the opposite wall of such story is more than 100 feet (30 480 mm) from such openings, the story shall be equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system, or openings as specified above shall be provided on at least two sides of the story.
Where any portion of a below-grade story is located more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) from openings required by Section 903.2.11.1, the below-grade story shall be equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system.
An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout every above-grade story of buildings below a height of 100 feet (30 480 mm), other than the first story or ground floor, on which access is not provided directly from the outdoors by at least one window or readily identifiable access panel within each 50 feet (15 240 mm) or fraction thereof of horizontal length of every wall that fronts on a street or frontage space required pursuant to Section 501.3.1.
Such windows shall be openable from the inside or breakable from both the inside and the outside, and shall have a size when open of at least 24 inches by 36 inches (610 mm by 914 mm). Such panels shall be openable from both the inside and outside and shall have a height when open of 48 inches (1219 mm) and a width of at least 32 inches (813 mm). The sill of the window or panel shall not be higher than 36 inches (914 mm) above the inside floor. Where not all of the windows are openable or breakable, the windows intended to satisfy the requirements of this section shall be readily identifiable.
An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout every first basement or cellar story below grade of buildings on which access is not provided directly from the outdoors within each 100 feet (30 480 mm) or fraction thereof of horizontal length of every wall that fronts on a street or frontage space required pursuant to Section 501.3.1.
Exception:
- One- and two-family dwellings need not provide direct access.
- Any building classified in Occupancy Group R-2 not more than three stories in height and with not more than two dwelling units on any story need not provide direct access when such first basement or cellar story is used for dwelling units or for uses accessory to the residential use in the building.
- Except as provided in Exception 2, above, for Group R-1 and R-2 occupancies, only one direct access from the outdoors to the first basement or cellar story consisting of a stair or door shall be required when such story is used for dwelling units or for uses accessory to the residential use in the building.
Such access shall be by stairs, doors, windows or other means that provide an opening 48 inches (1219 mm) high and 32 inches (813 mm) wide, the sill of which shall not be higher than 36 inches (914 mm) above the inside floor. If an areaway is used to provide below grade access, the minimum horizontal dimension shall be at least one-third the depth of the areaway or 6 feet (1829 mm), whichever is less.
Where wall signs are erected to cover doors or windows of existing buildings, access panels shall be provided as necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 903.2.11.
Nothing in Section 903.2.11 shall be construed so as to supersede any applicable provisions of Section 54 of the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law relating to access to cellars or basements in multiple dwellings.
An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed at the top of rubbish and linen chutes, in chute access rooms, and in their terminal rooms. Chutes extending through three or more floors shall have additional sprinkler heads installed within such chutes at alternate floors. Chute sprinklers shall be accessible for servicing.
An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout buildings with a floor level having an occupant load of 30 or more that is located 55 feet (16 764 mm) or more above the lowest level of Fire Department vehicle access.
Where required by the New York City Mechanical Code, automatic sprinklers shall be provided in ducts conveying hazardous exhaust, or flammable or combustible materials.
Exception: Ducts in which the largest cross-sectional diameter of the duct is less than 10 inches (254 mm).
Exception: Ducts in which the largest cross-sectional diameter of the duct is less than 10 inches (254 mm).
An automatic sprinkler system shall not be
installed in a commercial kitchen exhaust hood and duct system. Fire-extinguishing
systems shall be installed in commercial cooking systems in accordance with this code and the New York City Fire Code.
*Section BC 903.2.11.9 was amended by Local Law 195 of 2018. This law has an effective date of May 30, 2019.
*Section BC 903.2.11.9 was amended by Local Law 195 of 2018. This law has an effective date of May 30, 2019.
In addition to the requirements of Section 903.2, the provisions indicated in Table 903.2.11.10 also require the installation of a suppression system for certain buildings and areas. Suppression systems shall also be required as provided for in other sections of this code, the New York City Fuel Gas Code, and the New York City Mechanical Code.
| OCCUPANCY GROUP, SPECIFIED USE, MATERIALS OR EQUIPMENT (in alphabetical order) |
CODE SECTION |
| Aerosol warehouses | FC 2804.4.1 |
| Atriums | BC 404.3 |
| Automated storage; buildings with | FC 2309.2 |
| Chutes; refuse and laundry | BC 708.13 |
| Chute vestibules | BC Appendix Q 21.16.2.1.1 |
| Cold storage buildings: ice plants, food plants and food processing rooms with foam insulation up to 10 inches in thickness |
BC 2603.3 |
| Combustible fibers; storage at waterfront structures | FC 2906.6 |
| Combustible fibers, loose; storage of more than 1,000 sq ft of |
FC 2904.5 |
| Commercial cooking systems | BC 904.11 FC 904.11 |
| Commercial cooking systems with solid fuel storage | FC 904.11.7 |
| Commercial cooking system with Type I hood | BC 904.2.1 MC 509.1 |
| Covered mall and open mall buildings | BC 402.9 |
| Dead end public streets; buildings on | FC 503.8.1 |
| Dip tank rooms | FC 1505.1 |
| Dip tanks | FC 1505.6.1 |
| Dry cleaning machines | FC 1208.3 |
| Dry cleaning plants | FC 1208.2 |
| Drying rooms | BC 417.4 |
| Elevator lobbies | BC 708.14.1 |
| Exhausted enclosures | FC 2703.8.5.3 |
| Extra-high-rack combustible storage; buildings with | FC 2308.5.1 |
| Flammable and combustible liquid in Group H-2 or H-3 areas |
FC 3405.3.7.3 |
| Flammable and combustible liquid storage rooms | FC 3404.3.7.5.1 |
| Flammable and combustible liquid storage warehouses | FC 3404.3.8.4 |
| Flammable finishes | BC 416.5 |
| Fuel-oil tanks and fuel-oil burning equipment; rooms containing |
MC 1305.13.3 |
| Furnaces: Class A and B | FC 2106.1 |
| Furnaces: Class C and D | FC 2106.2 |
| Gas rooms | FC 2703.8.4 |
| Glazing in smoke partition | BC 711.2 |
| Group H-2 | BC 415.6.2.4 |
| Group H-5, including but not limited to: workstations, gas cabinet, exhausted enclosures, pass-throughs in exit access corridors and exhaust ducts |
BC 415.8 |
| Group I-2 | BC 407.5 |
| Hardening and tempering tanks | FC 1505.8.4 |
| Hazardous exhaust system ducts | MC 510.7 |
| Hazardous materials; indoor handling or use of | FC 2705.1.8 |
| Hazardous materials; indoor storage of | FC 2704.5 |
| Hazardous Production Material ("HPM") corridors | FC 1803.10.3 |
| Hazardous Production Material ("HPM") exhaust ducts | FC 1803.10.4 |
| Hazardous Production Material ("HPM") facilities | FC 1803.10 |
| Hazardous Production Material ("HPM") gas cabinets | FC 1803.10.2 |
| Hazardous Production Material ("HPM") work station exhaust |
FC 1803.10.1.1 |
| High Pressure Gas Installations; buildings with | FGC G.2.3 |
| Highly toxic and toxic compressed gases; exhausted enclosures for |
FC 3704.1.3 |
| Highly toxic and toxic compressed gases; gas cabinets containing |
FC 3704.1.2 |
| Highly toxic and toxic compressed gases; gas rooms utilizing |
FC 3704.2.2.6 |
| Highly toxic and toxic compressed gases; outdoor storage of |
FC 3704.3.3 |
| High-rise buildings | BC 403.3 |
| Incidental uses | BC 509.4.2 |
| Equipment platforms | BC 505.5.2 |
| Kiosks in covered mall buildings | BC 402.11 |
| Kiosks, displays, booths, or concession stands; covered | FC 314.5.1 |
| Laboratory units; non-production | BC 424.6.1 |
| Liquefied petroleum gas ("LPG") within buildings accessible to the public; storage of |
FC 3809.9 |
| Liquids, Class II and III, below grade storage of | FC 3404.3.5.1 |
| Liquids, Class II and III, below grade storage of, accessory to retail |
BC 414.2.5.1 |
| Medical gas; storage of | FC 3006.2.1 |
| Organic coatings; manufacturing of | BC 418.1 |
| Oxidizer, solid and liquid; storage areas | FC 4004.1.4 |
| Plastic light diffusing system | BC 2606.7.4 |
| Pyroxylin plastic; areas with | FC 4204.1.1 |
| Pyroxylin plastic; storage and manufacturing | FC 4204.2 |
| Pyroxylin plastic; storage vaults | FC 4204.1.3 |
| Rack storage | FC 2308.2 |
| Radioactive materials and radiation-producing equipment; uses and occupancies involving |
BC 425.3.4 |
| Resin application areas | FC 1511.3 |
| Silane gas; exhausted enclosures or gas cabinets for | FC 4106.2.2 |
| Small arms ammunition and primers, black powder or smokeless propellant; storage of |
FC 3306.7 |
| Solid-piled and shelf storage | FC 2307.2 |
| Smoke-protected assembly seating | BC 1028.6.2.3 |
| Special amusement buildings | BC 411.4 |
| Spray booths and rooms | FC 1504.6 |
| Spray booths involving the use of organic peroxide coatings |
FC 1509.6 |
| Spray finishing in Group A, E, I or R | FC 1504.1 |
| Stages | BC 410.6 |
| Sterilization systems; rooms with | FC 3506.3.2 |
| Storage | FC Table 2306.2 FC 2306.4 |
| Substandard width public streets; buildings on | FC 503.8.2 |
| Textile ceiling finish | BC 803 |
| Textile wall coverings | BC 803 |
| Underground buildings and spaces | BC 405.3 |
| Unlimited area buildings | BC 507 |
An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout all steel-plated or similarly reinforced or secured vault-like occupancies regardless of area.
An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout all areas used for the storage and sorting of refuse and recyclables.
An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in spaces in which two or more clothes drying machines are installed. Sprinkler heads shall be spaced to cover the areas 5 feet (1524 mm) on all sides of the drying machines.
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