Sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, fire alarm systems and
other fire protective or extinguishing systems or appliances which
have been installed in compliance with any permit or order or because
of any law or ordinance shall be maintained in operative condition
at all times, and it shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant to
reduce the effectiveness of the protection required; except that this
shall not prohibit the owner or occupant from temporarily reducing
or discontinuing the protection where necessary to make tests, repairs,
alterations or additions. The Fire Department shall be notified before
such tests, repairs, alterations or additions are started and when
they have been completed.
When any required fire alarm, fire communication, fire-extinguishing,
fire-detecting, first-aid or fire-fighting system, device or unit
or part thereof becomes inoperative and affects the firesafety of
a building or structure or the occupants therein, the Fire Department
may order the building or structure or portion thereof vacated until
the inoperative system, device or unit is repaired and returned to
full service.
In vacant or unoccupied buildings or portions thereof, all required
sprinkler, standpipe and fire alarm systems and all component parts
shall be maintained in operating condition at all times.
When a building is being demolished and a standpipe or sprinkler
system exists within the building, the standpipe and sprinkler system
shall be maintained in an operable condition so as to be available
for use by the Fire Department. The standpipe and sprinkler system
shall be demolished with the building, but in no case shall the system
or systems be demolished more than one floor below the floor being
demolished.