According to New York State Building Code, functioning and up-to-date fire alarms are required in structures within City limits. Furthermore, to install a fire alarm in a structure, a person must apply for and receive a fire alarm permit to ensure proper placement and installation.
Because designers often decide where to place fire alarms after designing the majority of a building plan, fire alarm permits are frequently submitted after building plans are submitted for review. Similar to patterns we were witnessing when commercial building plans were dropped off in the Central Permit Office, we realized that mid-way through a project’s review process, the structure’s fire alarm permit applications would be received, sometimes with errors that we didn’t pick up on until the application had been opened and the plans were in review. This caused delays in the review and issuance process because of the continual back and forth communication between applicants and reviewers.
Starting in February, the Central Permit Office will be implementing a Fire Alarm Intake Process, where applicants will now be required to submit a Fire Alarm Registration Form prior to submitting an application to allow staff a preliminary look at plans and specifications, and to identify any major errors that might impede the review process.
We anticipate this process resulting in more efficient and timely reviews and better communication between the applicant and reviewer.
You can find the new process mapped out below:
