Occupancy classifications indicate the approved usage of built spaces. The features of indoor environments and the activities performed have a big impact on the characteristics of a fire that might occur, and thus they also determine which fire alarm system design is appropriate.
Buildings, or portions thereof, should be classified under the occupancy group they resemble the most, considering the fire safety and relative hazard involved. In addition, approval by the FDNY commissioner is required.
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Occupancy Groups Where Fire Alarms Are Required
Since fire alarms play a key role in alerting occupants when a fire occurs, they are required in a wide range of built environments. The following table summarizes the requirements for each occupancy group:
|
OCCUPANCY GROUP |
CONDITIONS FOR MANDATORY FIRE ALARMS |
|
Assembly Group A |
Occupant load of at least 300 |
|
Business Group B |
Locations protected by an automatic sprinkler system, plus at least one of the following conditions: |
|
Educational |
All Group E occupancies. |
|
Factory and Industrial Group F |
Occupancies at least two stories high, plus at least one of the following conditions: |
|
High Hazard |
Subgroup H-5, and all occupancies used for the manufacture of organic coatings. |
|
Institutional |
All Group I occupancies. |
|
Mercantile |
Occupancies that meet at least one of the following conditions: |
|
All subgroup R-1 occupancies, unless they meet a series of fire protection measures and exit accessibility requirements detailed in Article 907.2.8 Subgroup R-2 occupancies that meet either of the following conditions: |
The NYC Building Code also establishes special fire alarm requirements for buildings that meet either of the following descriptions, regardless of occupancy classification:
- High-rise buildings
- Atriums that connect more than two stories
- Aerosol storage rooms and warehouses
- Lumber mills and other wood processing applications
- Underground buildings
- Covered mall buildings above 50,000 sq. ft.
This list is a general guide, and should not be considered a replacement for the NYC Building Code. Detailed requirements and exceptions apply in many cases, and they should be taken into account before designing and installing a fire alarm system. Consider that fire alarms systems must also meet the NFPA 72 standard, in addition to the NYC Building Code.
Fire Alarm System: Device Requirements by Occupancy
Just like the general requirement to install fire alarms changes by occupancy, the device requirements also vary. They are summarized in the following table:
|
Occupancy |
Areas Covered |
Devices Required |
|
Assembly |
Any number of occupants: civic or social functions, worship, recreation, food or beverage consumption, transportation waiting areas, or similar group activities. 75 persons or more: educational or instructional purposes. |
- Manual pull station |
|
Business |
Office spaces, professional and service-type transactions, public or civic services, limited record and account storage, and limited stocked goods for office usage. |
- Manual pull station |
|
Educational |
Buildings intended for usage by at least five persons simultaneously, for educational purposes up to 12th grade, and where no more than two children are under age 2. |
- Manual pull station |
|
Factory and Industrial |
Industrial activity with non-combustible materials, including cleaning, laundering, fabrication, manufacturing, finishing, packing or processing, among others. |
- Manual pull station |
|
High Hazard |
Manufacturing, processing, generation or storage activities, with dangerous materials that represent a physical or health hazard in the quantities present. |
- Manual pull station |
|
Institutional |
Supervised environments for people with physical limitations due to health or advanced age, for care-taking or treatment. Also includes facilities where people are detained for penal or correctional purposes. |
- Manual pull station |
|
Mercantile |
Spaces uses to display and sell merchandise, which may include storage areas. |
- Notification devices |
|
Residential |
Buildings, or building portions, used for living or sleeping, but not including occupancies classified as Group I. |
- Smoke detectors |
|
Storage |
Warehouses, storage rooms, freight depots and distribution centers that are not classified under Group H. |
- Manual pull station |
|
Utility and Miscellaneous |
Accessory areas such as private garages, retaining walls, sheds and carports. |
- Manual pull station |
*The NYC Building Code does not make fire alarms mandatory in these occupancy groups, except in special cases, but there are still requirements to meet if the decision to install a fire alarm is made.
Final Recommendations
This article deals exclusively with requirements for fire alarm systems, but consider there are only among many fire protection systems for buildings. In addition, these other systems may or may not be mandatory depending the occupancy classification, and there are also requirements that vary by occupancy.
NYC has very stringent fire protection standards, so the best recommendation is to seek professional engineering services from the start of the project. In the specific case of high-rise office buildings, it is very important to ensure the property is fully sprinklered according to Local Law 26 of 2004, where the deadline is July 1, 2019.
Code References
- NFPA 72.
- NYC building code chapter 3.
- NYC building code chapter 9 section BC 907
Fire protection systems are critical for building safety, and subject to stringent codes. NY Engineers offers 80% first-time approval, and you can write at info@ny-engineers.com or call .
