Sprinklers for Addition?
We want to add a set back 4th floor addition on top of an existing 3-story house (not landmarked) as we gut reno it. It’s a 2-family, and we’re keeping it that way, so basement level is slightly below grade (that’s where rental would go). We recently learned of new code that requires you put…
We want to add a set back 4th floor addition on top of an existing 3-story house (not landmarked) as we gut reno it. It’s a 2-family, and we’re keeping it that way, so basement level is slightly below grade (that’s where rental would go). We recently learned of new code that requires you put in a sprinkler system throughout house when you add addition, but it seems sometimes you can get out of it. I know this has been discussed a bit before, but it’s confusing since I know of houses with additions finished as recently as last 1-2 years where this requirement was no imposed. Any tips on how to get a waiver? It’s a deal-breaker for us! And if you do get a spinkler system does that mean you’re dealing with lots of headaches (ugly aesthetics, potential leaks, etc.). Would love advice since we have to decide on whether to go for addition or not – thanks!
you can e-mail me at brooklynexpediter@gmail.com.
Waivers are job specific and must meet some criteria.
Hi Brooklynexpediter,
I was going to email YOU about this. As an expediter, do you think a waiver is possible? Of course, we have our own expeditor and architect and they are looking into this, but time is pressing and we need to decide whether to move forward, and this rule is relatively new so I’m doing a parallel search as to whether there have been recent exceptions to this rule, and if so, under what grounds.
Thanks!
The forum is not the point of discussion for actual mandates of the building code and it is not going to help you to come up to DOB examiner and show him coments from brownstoner that “Mr. A said it is required” but “Mr. B does not second his opinion” and examiner is gonna swing his head and say oh! is that so ? Really ? at the forum on brownstoner they said it’s not required ? wow!!! and waive the requirement right away pronto!!
File your job, have your architect deal with the examiner, get some expert people involved to maneuver thru DOB waivers if required and get the ball rolling.
Yes, Jock, our architect is the one that spoke to us about this — but at the same time, they said there is language in the code that can provide an opening for contesting the rule but it can take a long time and is not guaranteed to be successful. Also, I know people in the same neighborhood as us who built extensions as recently as 2009 and did not have to sprinkler. So my question is whether anyone has successfully contested and if so, how. Or at least, if anyone has had success keeping the sprinkler contained to just stairwells. Also, how likely such systems are to cause problems i. leaks, being overly sensitive and going off prematurely etc.
The sprinklers are required as the building is/will be more than 3 stories in height. 1 or 2 family homes , if more than 3 stories in height must be fully sprinklered. Also if on street less than 38 feet in width, even 1 or 2 family homes must be fully sprinklered. Your architect and or sprinkler engineer would/should know this.