A/C in one of two fire escape windows?

Hi there, I have been searching for a definitive answer with no luck. Our fire escape is outside our bedroom. Spans two windows, a few feet apart. I know that you cannot have an air conditioner occupying the _**one**_ window of a fire escape. But what about if you have two windows facing the fire escape? Are all new Yorkers with fire escapes outside their bedrooms sweating all summer long? I have lived in my current building for almost a year and a half, and they just sent me a certified letter saying such. Please share your wisdom. BZ

BrooklynZoo

in Fencing 11 years and 11 months ago

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pratt123 | 8 years and 10 months ago

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If you have one exit to the fire escape, you can use one of two windows that may be on it. The unit may not obstruct or block a path ON the fire escape.

pratt123 | 8 years and 10 months ago

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If you have one exit to the fire escape, you can use one of two windows that may be on it. The unit may not obstruct or block a path ON the fire escape.

steam_man | 11 years and 11 months ago

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I understand. I was speaking from a more metaphysical point of view. Good neighbor was in regards to your landlord. They would be the one’s receiving the DOB fine. So you are being a good neighbor (or tenant, if you will) to them. I still do believe that it will work out to your benefit. Take the long view.

BrooklynZoo | 11 years and 11 months ago

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Steam_man – Well, not everything! This is going to cost us $400-$500 of money we don’t really have (sell one year old AC at a loss, buy portable AC), and it doesnt seem to have much to do with being a good neighbor (we are on top floor, so this affects nobody but us!) Sigh.

steam_man | 11 years and 11 months ago

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Agreed Brooklynzoo. Better to be a good neighbor, good things will come your way and everything will work out to your benefit.

steam_man | 11 years and 11 months ago

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goatcrapp, It’s not about being “on the books”. It’s about endangering someone’s life. The code isn’t written to make life difficult, even though it sometimes unintentionally does. It is written to protect life and property. The only way, I would agree to allowing a window unit is if the apartment is at the uppermost floor and the window blocked is not the primary exit.

BrooklynZoo | 11 years and 11 months ago

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I agree, but we recieved a certified letter from building management this week.

Goatcrapp | 11 years and 11 months ago

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Is anyone actually getting tickets for this though?   It’s done all the time.  You’ll likely regret if there ever is a fire, but back when, when i was still an apartment dweller (lucky enough to have one window free of fire escape) it was done all_the_time.   and yes, people often kept a bike in the hallway, thus blocking it. 😉   This isn’t the right answer, obviously, nor is it a good solution, but on the books vs. in practice – if you’ve been operating one without a summons thus far, and you’re confident that having access to the other window (lets say its 5 feet away or so) is adequate for your safety – then i wouldn’t go out and buy another a/c just to stay “on the books”

BrooklynZoo | 11 years and 11 months ago

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I’m just freaking out about the cost. The AC we have, we bought after moving in for like $300\. The prospect of losing that money and then buying another A/C is scary. Argh.

mozeeatupu | 11 years and 11 months ago

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NYC says “Do not block fire escape windows or other exits with the AC unit.”  So that would probably cover all windows with access to a fire escape. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/html/homeowners_and_tenants/window_ac_installation.shtml

BrooklynZoo | 11 years and 11 months ago

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Man. I wish we knew that before buying, then operating, an expensive air conditioner for a year and a half!!! Seems so insane to me – so this means that if you are unlucky enough to have your bedroom facing a fire escape, you must either suffer through unbearable summers, or spend a crapton of money on an ineffecient window-less unit. If this is the case, FML.

steam_man | 11 years and 11 months ago

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Negative, Ghost Rider. It obstructs the path of a fire exit. Think about it like the restriction on placing items in a hallway. Perhaps the right solution would be a portable A/C unit. It could be vented through a window without protruding past the face of the exterior wall. Tink about it, mon. Irie.