Professional Certification of Fire Alarm System Design and Installation.
3 RCNY § 104-02
in effect§ 104-02 Professional Certification of Fire Alarm System Design and Installation.
(a) Scope. This section sets forth the standards, requirements and procedures for the professional certification of the design and installation of fire alarm systems.
(b) Definitions. The following terms shall, for purposes of this section and as used elsewhere in the rules, have the meanings shown herein:
Building core fire alarm system. Fire alarm system devices and equipment in and around the central or main building stairwells, elevators and utility risers of any building, except buildings classified in Occupancy Group R-3. The term is not limited to office buildings or other high-rise buildings that are constructed in phases.
The following fire alarm system devices and equipment are considered to be part of the building core fire alarm system:
(1) Fire alarm control unit, including booster panels and data gathering panels.
(2) Central station communications devices and equipment.
(3) Elevator recall initiating devices and equipment.
(4) Automatic smoke control and pressurization devices and equipment.
(5) Sprinkler water flow and tamper switch devices and equipment.
(6) Fire detection devices in electrical, elevator, mechanical and telephone equipment rooms serving building core spaces and systems, excluding equipment rooms serving tenant business operations.
(7) Manual fire alarm boxes at or near stairwells.
(8) Warden phones and firefighter phones.
(9) Duct detectors and fan shutdown relays for any HVAC unit greater than 2,000 cubic feet/minute (cfm) serving building core spaces and systems.
(10) Notification appliances in building core areas and means of egress stairwells.
Letter of approval. The written determination of the Department that a fire alarm system installation has been installed and is operating in compliance with the Building Code, Electrical Code and Fire Code and other applicable requirements for such installation enforced by the Department.
Professional certification / professionally certified. The submission to the Department of a signed, personal verification by a person holding a certificate of fitness for professional certification of fire alarm and emergency alarm system installations and testing who is a registered design professional, master electrician, special electrician, or fire alarm system installer with NICET-Level III certification licensed by or registered with the State of New York, that accompanies an application and/or design and installation documents filed with the Department and attests that such application or design and installation documents do not contain any false information and that such application or design and installation documents are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
(c) General Provisions.
(1) Professional certification of fire alarm system installations. Fire alarm system installations may be professionally certified, as set forth in FC 104.2.1, in accordance with the provisions thereof and this section, in buildings for which a letter of approval has been issued for the building core fire alarm system. A building core fire alarm system may not be professionally certified.
(2) Qualifications. Only persons possessing the qualifications set forth in FC 104.2.1 and holding the requisite certificate of fitness may professionally certify that fire alarm system installations are in compliance with the Fire Code, Building Code, applicable provisions of Department and Department of Buildings rules, and other applicable laws, rules and regulations. Such persons may professionally certify fire alarm system design and installation only within the scope of the lawful authority they possess under their license or certification, and in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(3) Format of design and installation documents. Design and installation documents and related submissions shall be in the format set forth in 3 RCNY § 105-01 or as otherwise designated by the Department.
(4) Letter of approval. Letters of approval for fire alarm system installations that have been professionally certified will indicate that the fire alarm system installation, or part thereof, was approved by the Department based upon professional certification pursuant to FC 104.2.1.
(5) Audit. All fire alarm system installations that have been professionally certified are subject to audit.
(6) Disqualification for false certification. Pursuant to FC 104.2.1.1, in addition to the penalties for violating provisions of the applicable laws, rules and regulations, any person who submits false or fraudulent documents certifying compliance with the requirements of the Fire Code and rules may be disqualified from submission of professionally certified applications under the Fire Code, including revocation of their certificate(s) of fitness.
(d) Submission and Approval Procedure. A completed Fire Department fire alarm professional certification form for any fire alarm system installation, or part thereof, that is being professionally certified in lieu of a Department plan examination and/or inspection in accordance with the provisions of FC 104.2.1 and 3 RCNY § 104-02, shall be submitted to the Department as follows:
(1) Professional certification of proposed fire alarm system design in lieu of plan examination. Prior to installation, design and installation documents for the fire alarm system work professionally certified by a registered design professional, must be electronically filed with the Department in the form and manner prescribed on the Department's electronic portal, including completion of the applicable application form and payment of applicable fees, and with such supporting documentation (including any documentation required by FC 105.4.4.1) as may be required by the Department. If the application is satisfactorily completed and submitted, the Department will issue a letter of acceptance indicating acceptance of the professionally certified plans.
(2) Project authorization. Application must be made for a project authorization authorizing commencement of work at time of filing of the professionally certified design and installation documents, or at any time thereafter. Issuance of project authorization shall be equivalent to a Department of Buildings work permit for purposes of consideration as a project in progress within the meaning of 3 RCNY § 102-01(g).
(3) Professional certification of fire alarm system installation in lieu of department inspection. Upon completion and satisfactory testing of the fire alarm system installation, professional certification of the installation by a licensed or certified professional holding the requisite certificate of fitness, must be electronically filed with the Department in the form and manner prescribed on the Department's electronic portal, including completion of the applicable application form and payment of applicable fees. Such professional certifications shall be within the scope of their lawful authority under their license or certificate. Professional certification may be submitted for the scope of work set forth in the project authorization, unless the scope of such professional certification is restricted by the letter of acceptance approving the design of the installation. Professional certification of the installation can also be provided by a professional other than the party who professionally certified the design of the installation. Such submissions must be promptly filed upon the completion of such installation, but in all cases prior to occupancy of any building, or part thereof, that is to be newly occupied or reoccupied. If the application and professional certification are satisfactory in form and content, the Department will issue a letter of approval indicating approval of the professionally certified installation.
(Amended City Record 3/27/2023, eff. 4/26/2023)
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/0-0-0-8700Fetched: 10/24/2026