Fire Protection Systems
RCNY tit. 1, ch. 900
in effect1 RCNY § 908-02 Standards for Installation and Location of Natural Gas Alarms.
§ 908-02 Standards for Installation and Location of Natural Gas Alarms.
(a) Adoption of National Standard. In accordance with Local Law 157 of 2016, the Department of Buildings adopts the 2023 edition of National Fire Protection Association (“NFPA”) 715 Standard for the Installation of Fuel Gases Detection and Warning Equipment as it pertains to the installation and location of natural gas alarms.
(b) Installation required. Natural gas alarms must be installed in private dwellings, class A multiple dwellings, and class B multiple dwellings as defined in the Housing Maintenance Code, in accordance with the requirements of this section and local law 157 of 2016.
Exception: The requirements of this section do not apply to buildings that do not have gas piping or gas service.
(c) Private dwellings. One or more natural gas alarms must be installed in each dwelling in accordance with this section on or before May 1, 2025.
(d) Class A multiple dwellings. One or more natural gas alarms must be installed in each dwelling in accordance with this section on or before May 1, 2025.
(e) Class B multiple dwellings. On or before May 1, 2025, class B multiple dwellings must be protected by either:
(1) One or more natural gas alarms installed in each dwelling in accordance with this section; or
(2) A line-operated zoned natural gas detecting system, designed in accordance with NFPA 715-2023 by a registered design professional, and installed in all public corridors and public spaces.
(f) Requirements. Each single- or multiple-station alarm, as defined in NFPA 715, must meet all of the following requirements:
(1) The alarm must be manufactured in accordance with NFPA 715-2023, Standard for the Installation of Fuel Gases Detection and Warning Equipment;
(2) Where a fuel-gas-burning appliance is installed within a dwelling, the gas alarm must be installed in the same room as the appliance. The alarm must be located at least 3 feet, but not more than 10 feet from the appliance, measured horizontally. The gas alarm must be installed on either the ceiling, or a wall. Where installed on a wall, the alarm must be located not more than 12 inches from the ceiling.
Exception: Where the existing space does not allow for installation at least 3 feet from a fuel-gas-burning appliance, or the manufacturer’s instructions or NFPA 715-2023 require installation in a different location, alarm installations must be placed in accordance with the manufacturer’s or the NFPA 715 location requirements.
(3) The alarm must be labeled with the name of the manufacturer;
(4) The alarm must be listed and labeled with either UL 1484 or UL 2075, as applicable; and
(5) The alarm must be kept in good working order.
(g) Installer qualifications. Natural gas alarms must be installed by a New York City Licensed electrical contractor, who obtains all required permits.
Exception: Natural gas alarms that are powered either by battery or by plug-in AC receptacle may be installed by other than a licensed electrical contractor, including but not limited to the building owner, building maintenance personnel, or the dwelling unit occupant.
(Added City Record 2/14/2024, eff. 3/15/2024)
1 RCNY § 915-01 Carbon Monoxide Detectors.
§ 915-01 Carbon Monoxide Detectors.
(a) Scope. Pursuant to section 915.1.2 of the Building Code (BC), listed carbon monoxide (CO) detectors must be installed in buildings equipped with a fire alarm system that contain Group A-1, A-2, A-3, B or M occupancies, as defined in BC Chapter 3. Such listed carbon monoxide detectors must be connected to the fire alarm system control panel and installed in accordance with the requirements of this section.
(b) Reference. See § 28-315.11 of the New York City Administrative Code (AC), and BC sections 915.1.2, 915.3, 915.4, and 915.6.
(c) Group A-1, A-2, A-3, B or M occupancies. CO detectors with built-in sounder bases meeting the requirements of BC section 915.6 and subdivision (g) of this section must be installed in the following locations:
(1) Any room containing CO-producing equipment.
(2) Any interior space or area immediately adjacent to a CO-producing source, including the vertical projection of the immediate area of the floor above the CO-producing source and the immediate area of the floor below the CO-producing source.
(3) Any interior space or area immediately adjacent to an enclosed parking garage or a loading dock, including the vertical projection of the immediate area of the floor above the enclosed parking garage or loading dock and the immediate area of the floor below the enclosed parking garage or loading dock.
(4) Any parking attendant’s office or booth located within an enclosed parking garage or loading dock.
(5) As an alternative to installation as provided in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this subdivision and subject to the Department’s approval, in locations determined by a performance-based design that is in accordance with section 5.8.5.3.2 of reference standard National Fire Protection Association (“NFPA”) 720 – 2015 edition.
(d) Equipment shutdown. Activation of a CO detector located at the source of CO-producing equipment must shut down that pursuant to BC section 915.3.1.
Exception: This provision does not apply where the source is a generator.
(e) Installation requirements. CO detectors must be installed in accordance with NFPA 720 – 2015 edition, as modified for New York City by 1 RCNY § 3616-08.
(f) Fire alarm control units. CO detectors must be connected and monitored at the fire alarm control panel or Fire Command Center. Pursuant to the provisions of section 23.8.2.2 of NFPA 72 – 2016, if there is insufficient space in the existing fire alarm control panel to monitor the carbon monoxide detectors, a new separate fire alarm control panel may be installed. However, the new fire alarm control panel must function as if it were part of the original building fire alarm system, and such dedicated function fire alarm control panel must be interconnected with the building’s master fire alarm control panel or Fire Command Station.
(g) Visual Notification Appliance Installation Requirements. In Group A-1, A-2, A-3, B or M occupancies where CO detection is required, visual notification appliances required by Section 6.4.1.1 of NFPA 720 – 2015, must be installed in accordance with this subdivision.
(1) Visual notification appliance devices must be installed within 10 feet of any CO detector.
(2) Where multiple detectors are within the same zone, circuit activation is acceptable.
(3) A permanently identified lamacoid label or a permanent marking on the device with the wording “ALERT’, “EMERGENCY” or “CARBON MONOXIDE” must be either affixed to the device or within the vicinity of the visual appliance device employed by the fire alarm system.
(4) A visual notification appliance device must not have the word “FIRE”, or any fire symbol, in any form (i.e., stamped, imprinted, etc.) in any location on the device that is visible to the public. A notification appliance device with multiple visible elements is permitted to have “FIRE” markings only on those visible elements used for fire signaling.
(5) The lens of the notification appliance device for the carbon monoxide system must be amber in color.
(Amended City Record 10/10/2019, eff. 11/9/2019; amended City Record 3/2/2021, eff. 4/1/2021; amended City Record 12/27/2024, eff. 1/26/2025)
Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCrules/0-0-0-4003Fetched: 10/24/2026
