UpCodes logo
Table of contentsContents
In addition to the requirements of Section 901.7 alternative protection measures shall be provided in accordance with this Appendix. Tables P102.1 (a) and P102.1 (b) shall be used by the impairment coordinator to determine the alternative protection measurers required.
For all impairments, both planned and emergency (unplanned), an impairment coordinator shall be designated per Section 901.7.1. An impairment coordinator is the person responsible for maintenance of a particular fire protection system. When an impairment coordinator is not designated the owner shall be considered the impairment coordinator.

The impairment coordinator is responsible for informing the Fire Prevention Bureau as to the nature of the impairment and its status, coordinating necessary repairs, tagging systems per Section 901.7.2 & 901.7.3 and implementing required alternative protection measures.

For all planned impairments, the impairment coordinator shall engage licensed contractors to conduct work needed on the fire protection systems. For all emergency impairments, the impairment coordinator shall contact the appropriate fire sprinkler, fire alarm or other fire protection system maintenance contractor to initiate emergency service response.
The maintenance contractor shall assess the impairment and provide a time estimate for the repair (impairment duration). The impairment coordinator shall use this time estimate and Tables P102.1(a) and P102.1(b) to determine the appropriate actions to take. Where the impairment is discovered during maintenance activities, the maintenance contractor shall contact ownership to request an impairment coordinator. The maintenance contractor shall estimate the time required for repair, and report the impairment in accordance with this section.
The impairment coordinator shall comply with impairment tables Tables P102.1 (a) and P102.1 (b). Alternative protection measures are categorized as:
  1. Notifying fire dispatch
  2. Instituting a fire watch within the building area where fire protection is impaired
  3. Providing other alternative protection measures as determined by the Fire Code Official on a case by case basis.
When required by Tables P102.1 (a) and P102.1 (b) the impairment coordinator shall notify the Fire Department dispatch center and fire code official.
When required by Tables P102.1 (a) and P102.1 (b) the impairment coordinator shall institute a fire watch within the building area where fire protection is impaired for the duration of the impairment. Fire watch shall be in accordance with the Fire Watch Guideline. Fire watch personnel shall be provided at a rate of 1 person per 100,000 square feet of building area, over the entire area of the building affected by the impairment. Fire watch personnel shall meet the following characteristics:
  1. Be capable of walking the building continuously during the shift. The fire watch shall walk over all assigned floor areas, including all exits from the floor areas assigned. Where the fire watch needs to take a break, another fire watch person shall cover the area during the break.
  2. Be equipped with a bullhorn, flashlight, and cellular phone
  3. Be capable of assisting employees and building occupants to evacuate the building in an emergency situation while utilizing the flashlight to illuminate the means of egress. This activity may be required within the assigned fire watch area, or in assistance to other fire watch personnel in other fire watch areas in the building.
  4. Be capable of calling emergency services by dialing 911 in case of fire. Upon discovery of fire, fire watch personnel shall first call 911, and then advise all other fire watch personnel of the emergency in order to obtain their assistance in notifying and evacuating employees and building occupants.
When determined necessary by the Fire Code Official, on a case-by-case basis, the impairment coordinator may be required to implement additional protection measures. The measure(s) available to the Fire Code Official include, but are not limited to, the following:
  1. Fire Prevention Bureau oversight of Fire Watch.
  2. Manning of equipment, such as manual release buttons for deluge systems.
  3. Discontinuance of hazardous activities, such as cooking, welding, and pyrotechnic displays.
  4. Removing hazard from building, i.e. as removing an airplane from a hangar.
  5. Have all fire doors and shutters closed.
  6. Manually activate smoke control.
  7. Shut down an elevator.
  8. Unlock stair door locks.
  9. Engine stand-by for supply to fire sprinkler/standpipe system.
  10. Partial evacuation of building.
  11. Full evacuation of building.
Any costs associated with providing alternative protection measures shall be borne by the building owner.
Groups A, E, H, I and R occupancies are deemed a high risk due to the characteristics of these occupancies. As such, alternative protection measures are tailored on a case-by-case basis in order to manage the risk in these occupancies. The impairment coordinator shall use the following tables P102.1 (a) and P102.1 (b) to address impairments to fire protection systems. When alternative protection measures are required by tables P102.1 (a) and P102.1 (b) the Fire Code Official shall be contacted.

TABLE P102.1(a)
SUPPRESSION-BASED SYSTEMSUSE GROUPS A, E, H, I, R
Impairment Description Building/ Location
Height — Stories Above
Grade
Impairment
Duration 
Fire
Watch
Req'd
Notify
Dispatch and
Fire Code
Official for
possible
additional
measures per
section
P101.4.3
Fire Pump
(standalone)
1 ≤ 3 hours Y N
 > 3 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 2 hours Y N
> 2 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 1 hour Y N
> 1 hour Y Y
Fire Pump
 with back-up fire pump
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 6 hours N N
> 6 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hour  N N
> 3 hour N Y
Feed Main/ Standpipe Out of
Service (does not affect
sprinkler system supplies)
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 6 hours N N
> 6 hours N Y
Feed Main/ Standpipe Out of
Service (interrupts supply to
more than one sprinkler system) 
1 ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 2 hours Y N
> 2 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 1 hour Y N
> 1 hour Y Y
Underground fire service main
out of service — redundant main
and tank
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 6 hour N N
> 6 hour N Y
Underground Supply Out of
Service (No secondary water
supply)
1 ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 2 hours Y N
> 2 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 1 hour Y N
> 1 hour Y Y
Underground Supply Out of
Service (built-in secondary water supply)
1 ≤ 6 hours N N
> 6 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 2 hours N N
> 2 hours N Y
Waterflow switch not functional
(system still operational)
1 ≤ 6 hours N N
> 6 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 2 hours N N
> 2 hours Y N

Sprinkler System
Repair/Sprinkler System out of
Service
1 ≤ 6 hours Y N
> 6 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 4 hours Y N
> 4 hours  Y Y
6 or more ≤ 2 hours Y N
> 2 hours Y Y
Water Spray Fixed Systems
(NFPA 15)
NA ≤ 8 hours N N
> 8 hours Y Y
Foam-water system 1 ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y
Kitchen exhaust hood and duct
extinguishing system
NA ≤ 2 hours N N
> 2 hours Y Y
 Clean-agent (with sprinkler
system inside the space)
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N N
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N N
6 or more ≤ 6 hours N N
> 6 hours Y N
 Clean-agent (without sprinkler
system inside the space)
1 ≤ 6 hours Y N
> 6 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 4 hours Y N
> 4 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 2 hours Y N
> 2 hours Y Y
 Water storage tank (including
pools used as tanks) - with redundant water mains

1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N N
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N N
6 or more ≤ 6 hours N N
> 6 hours N Y

Water storage tank (including
pools used as tanks) - without
redundant water mains and tank acts as secondary supply only

 
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 6 hours N N
> 6 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hours N N
> 3 hours N Y


Water storage tank (including
pools used as tanks) - without
redundant water mains and tank acts as break tank for primary supply

 
1 ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 2 hours Y N
> 2 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 1 hours Y N
> 1 hours Y Y
 Obstructions in water supply —
Lack of Flushing/MIC 
1 ≤ 8 hours N N
> 8 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 6 hours N N
> 6 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y


Fire department access (fire
hydrant, fire command center,
fire pump and FDC access)



1 ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y

TABLE P102.1(b)
FIRE-ALARM SYSTEMSUSE GROUPS A, E, H, I, R
Impairment (Fire Alarms
Systems, Groups A, E, H, I, R)
Building Height -
Stories
Estimated
Repair Time1
Fire
Watch
Req'd
Notify
Dispatch and
Fire Code
Official for
possible
additional
measures per
section
P101.4.3
Main FACU Not Operational (No Stand-alone Nodes) 1 ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 2 hours Y N
> 2 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 1 hour Y N
> 1 hour Y Y
Main FACU Not Operational
(Stand-alone Nodes are
available)
1 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
Node FACU panel is down 1 ≤ 4 hours Y N
> 4 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 2 hours Y N
> 2 hours Y Y
Strobe power supply is down 1 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hours N N
> 3 hours N Y
Audio Panel is down 1 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 4 hours Y N
> 4 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
Single detection circuit is down 1 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
Single notification circuit is down 1 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
Single detection device not
operational
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
Single Notification Device not
operational
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
Monitoring Panel not operational
(fire sprinkler and fire alarm
systems still operational)
1 ≤ 12 hours N N
> 12 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 12 hours N N
> 12 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 12 hours N N
> 12 hours Y Y
Ground Fault 1 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours Y N
Single Notification Card in Panel 1 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
Single Detection Card in Panel 1 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
Recall 1 NA NA NA
2-5 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours N Y
Automatic Doors not Releasing
Automatically
1 ≤ 2 hours N N
> 2 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 2 hours N N
> 2 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 2 hours N N
> 2 hours N Y
Smoke Control Panel
(automatic mode works)
1 ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours  N Y
2-5 ≤ 3 hours N N
> 3 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 2 hours N N
> 2 hours N Y
 Smoke Control Panel
(automatic mode does not
works)
NA NA N Y
 Fire fighter communication
systems (fire phones and radio
systems)
NA NA N Y
  1. 1 If the building is protected with a fire sprinkler system, the "Estimated Repair Time" hours shown in this column may be doubled.
Groups B, F, M and S Occupancies are considered lower hazard occupancies. As such, the impairment guideline is tailored to manage the risks associated with those occupancies. Mitigation shall be in accordance with Table P103.1(a) and Table P103.1(b).

TABLE P103.1(a)
SUPPRESSION-BASED SYSTEMSUSE GROUPS B, F, M, S
Impairment (Water-Based
Systems, Groups B, F, M and S)
Building/ Location
Height — Stories Above
Grade
Estimated
Repair Time
Fire
Watch
Req'd
Notify
Dispatch and
Fire Code
Official for
possible
additional
measures per
section
P101.4.3
Fire Pump 1 ≤ 10 hours Y N
> 10 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 4 hours Y N
> 4 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 2 hour Y N
> 2 hour Y Y
Fire Pump with back-up fire pump 1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
Feed Main/ Standpipe Out of
Service (does not affect
sprinkler system supplies)
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 8 hours N N
> 8 hours N Y
Feed Main/ Standpipe Out of
Service (interrupts supply to
more than one sprinkler system)
1 ≤ 10 hours Y N
> 10 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 4 hours Y N
> 4 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 2 hour Y N
> 2 hour Y Y
Underground fire service main
out of service — redundant main
and tank
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 8 hours N N
> 8 hours N Y
Underground Supply Out of
Service (No secondary water
supply)
1 ≤ 10 hours Y N
> 10 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 4 hours Y N
> 4 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 1 hour Y N
> 1 hour Y Y
Underground Supply Out of
Service (built-in secondary water
supply)
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 2 hours N N
> 2 hours N Y
Waterflow switch not functional (system still operational) 1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 6 hours N N
> 6 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 3 hours N N
> 3 hours Y N
Sprinkler System
Repair/Sprinkler System out of
Service
1 ≤ 10 hours Y N
> 10 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 6 hours Y N
> 6 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
Water Spray Fixed Systems
(NFPA 15)
NA ≤ 8 hours N N
> 8 hours Y Y
Foam-water system 1 ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y
Kitchen exhaust hood and duct
extinguishing system
NA ≤ 2 hours N N
> 2 hours Y Y
Clean-agent (with sprinkler
system inside the space)
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N N
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N N
6 or more ≤ 8 hours N N
> 8 hours Y N
Clean-agent (without sprinkler
system inside the space)
1 ≤ 8 hours Y N
> 8 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 6 hours Y N
> 6 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
Water storage tank (including
pools used as tanks) - with
redundant water mains
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N N
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N N
6 or more ≤ 8 hours N N
> 8 hours N Y
Water storage tank (including
pools used as tanks) - without
redundant water mains and tank
acts as secondary supply only
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 6 hours N N
> 6 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hours N N
> 3 hours N Y
Water storage tank (including
pools used as tanks) - without
redundant water mains and tank
acts as break tank for primary
supply
1 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 1 hours Y N
> 1 hours Y Y
Obstructions in water supply —
Lack of Flushing/MIC
1 ≤ 8 hours N N
> 8 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 6 hours N N
> 6 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y
Fire department access (fire
hydrant, fire command center,
fire pump and FDC access)
1 ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 4 hours N N
> 4 hours Y Y

TABLE P103.1(b)
FIRE ALARM SYSTEMSUSE GROUPS B, F, M, S
Impairment (Fire Alarm System,
Groups B, F, M and S)
Building Height -
Stories
Estimated
Repair Time1
Fire
Watch
Req'd
Notify
Dispatch and
Fire Code
Official for
possible
additional
measures per
section
P101.4.3
Main FACU Not Operational (No
Stand-alone Nodes)
1 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 2 hours Y N
> 2 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 1 hour Y N
> 1 hour Y Y
Main FACU Not Operational
(Stand-alone Nodes are
available)
1 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y Y
Node FACU panel is down 1 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 4 hours Y N
> 4 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
Strobe power supply is down 1 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours N Y
Audio Panel is down 1 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 4 hours Y N
> 4 hours Y Y
Single detection circuit is down 1 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y Y
Single alarm circuit is down 1 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y Y
Single detection device not
operational
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
Single Notification Device not
operational
1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
Monitoring Panel not operational
(fire sprinkler and fire alarm
systems still operational)
1 ≤ 24 hours N N
> 24 hours Y Y
2-5 ≤ 24 hours N N
> 24 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 24 hours N N
> 24 hours Y Y
Ground Fault 1 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
6 or more ≤ 10 hours N N
> 10 hours Y N
Single Notification Card in Panel 1 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
Single Detection Card in Panel 1 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours Y N
2-5 ≤ 5 hours Y N
> 5 hours  Y Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hours Y N
> 3 hours Y Y
Recall 1 NA NA NA
2-5 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hours N N
> 3 hours N Y
Automatic Doors not Releasing
Automatically 
1 ≤ 2 hours N N
> 2 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 2 hours N N
> 2 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 2 hours N N
> 2 hours Y Y
Smoke Control Panel
(automatic mode works)
1 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours N Y
2-5 ≤ 5 hours N N
> 5 hours N Y
6 or more ≤ 3 hours N N
> 3 hours N Y
Smoke Control Panel
(automatic mode does not
works)
NA NA N Y
Fire fighter communication
systems (fire phones and radio
systems)
NA NA N Y
  1. 1 If the building is protected with a fire sprinkler system, the "Estimated Repair Time" hours shown in this column may be doubled.