sprinkler alarm monitoring system requirements for three family house
Code indicates that while sprinkler monitoring is not required for 1 or 2 family houses, it is required for a three family. However, it seems like overkill to require the same level of monitoring for a three family as would be expected of a large apartment building, but here neither the DOB or FDNY provide any nuance as far as I can tell. Any insights from architects or homeowners as to the systems/vendors they employed to satisfy this requirement would be much appreciated!
qbert
in Dept. of Buildings (DOB) 9 years and 9 months ago
4
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4 replies
qbert | 9 years and 9 months ago
Thanks everyone for the responses. The requirement for a sprinkler alarm monitoring system is something separate from the periodic inspection requirements, and I’m guessing most three family houses with older sprinkler systems don’t have one. Here is my attempt to summarize the ongoing requirements for a sprinkler system in a three family house: -monthly visual inspection, can obtain Certificate of Fitness for smaller systems (30 heads or less) with S-11 test, larger systems with S-12 test (?). Otherwise, this can be contracted to a plumbing firm for approx. $1000/year. -flow test every 30 months (min), performed by plumber -5 year flow test, performed by plumber in presence of FDNY representative – yearly test of the back flow prevention device by plumber, must be filed with DEP -sprinkler alarm monitoring station, plans filed with DOB and FDNY, also requires contract for monitoring/system inspection (@1k/year)
housepoor | 9 years and 9 months ago
My understanding is that for a 3 family you need to do a hydrostatic test, witnessed by the Fire Dept., every three years. Depending on your plumber, it usually runs a couple hundred dollars plus the FDNY fee. Also, a monthly visual inspection is required although owners can easily take the FDNY test, get the license, and do it themselves. It is Category S11\. Take a look at http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/cof_study_material/s_11_noe.pdf
Guest User | 9 years and 9 months ago
We have a 3-family and a sprinkler system. We needed to get the system checked when we bought our building, at which time we used Stanley Lewis Plumbing to do the inspection. Many plumbers offer this service. From what I was told — and you can search the forum because this has been discussed a number of times — you don’t need an annual inspection unless the fire dpt happens to come by and authorize you to do so. At that point, it becomes an annual thing (knock on wood we still haven’t had to do it annually). When it does, you can hire a plumber or you can get a “certificate of authority” and get certified to do it yourself. You have to take a test — I can’t remember all the details, but it’s no big deal.
jcarch | 9 years and 9 months ago
Maybe someone else out there has a different take on this, but to DOB, a 3 unit building is the same as a 300 unit building. There may be some exceptions in the code for buildings with small footprints, or below a certain number of floors. Go to DOB’s website, and you can view the code online: [here](http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/apps/pdf_viewer/viewer.html?file=2014CC_BC_Chapter_9_Fire_Protection_Systems.pdf§ion=conscode_2014). Good Luck jcarch ???????? [James Cleary Architecture](http://www.jcarchitecture.com)