The purpose of this article is to provide regulations and standards applicable to the installation and maintenance of fire alarm systems, fire sprinkler systems, and other fire protective systems that require Fire Department response so as to ensure competent standards of workmanship and thereby lessen the possibility of false alarms resulting from malfunctions of unrecognized installations and lack of maintenance.
[Amended 5-14-2019 by L.L. No. 2-2019]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CENTRAL ALARM STATION
Any entity which receives signals from fire alarm systems and relays information pertaining to such fire alarm systems to the local Fire Department Headquarters or County Regional Dispatch Center.
CONTACT LIST
A list of names and telephone numbers for five representatives, one of who shall be capable of reporting to the premises within 60 minutes of being contacted. This list shall be provided by the applicant.
EMERGENCY
An unforeseen occurrence or condition that calls for immediate action.
FALSE FIRE ALARM
An alarm of fire, other than a malicious false alarm, which causes the response of the Fire Department when there is no discernible fire, abnormal heat, smoke or other occurrence that constitutes an emergency.
FIRE ALARM DEVICE
Any device, including manually operated ones, which, when activated by fire, smoke or other emergency requiring Fire Department response, transmits a signal to local Fire Department headquarters or to a central alarm station and/or produces any audible or visible signal to which the local Fire Department is expected to respond. Excluded from this definition and from the provisions of this article are devices designed to alert the occupants of a building of an emergency condition therein and which do not produce any audible or visible signal which is perceptible outside of such building.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
Any arrangement of fire alarm devices, connected together and to a control panel or panels, designed so that the activation of any one device will cause an appropriate signal to operate.
FIRE ALARM TECHNICIAN
Any person, licensed by the State of New York, who maintains, installs, repairs, tests, inspects or otherwise performs work on fire alarm systems.
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
Any fire alarm or any fire sprinkler system, fire mains, and fire hydrants. One or more single-station or interconnected smoke detectors, without central station monitoring or an exterior notification device, shall not be considered a fire protection system. In the case of one premises with more than one fire alarm control panel, each fire alarm control panel shall be considered a separate fire protection system. In the case of multiple sprinkler risers, each group of risers protecting the same tenancy shall be considered one fire protection system. The fire service main and fire hydrants connected thereto shall be considered one fire protection system.
FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM
Any arrangement of sprinkler heads, valves, piping and accessories connected together, installed within a building or structure and intended to discharge water in the event of a fire or abnormal heat condition within the building or structure.
FIRE WATCH
The patrol of a building or portion thereof at intervals determined by the Fire Marshal, by one or more individuals, for the purposes of identifying and controlling fire hazards, detecting early signs of unwanted fire, raising an alarm of fire and notifying the local Fire Department when deemed necessary and authorized by the Fire Marshal.
MALICIOUS FALSE ALARM
The willful and knowing initiation or transmission of a signal, message or other notification of an event of fire, smoke or other emergency when no such danger exists.
REPORT OF TESTING
A report indicating that a licensed contractor has inspected a fire protection system in accordance with the applicable standard(s) of the NFPA. The report shall contain at least the name and location of the premises, any deficiencies noted and/or corrected, the name and original signature of the inspector, his/her certification that the inspection has been properly conducted and all statements related thereto are true and correct and additional information as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Fire Marshal.
A. 
Every fire protection system shall first obtain a permit to install the system from the Division of Fire Prevention by the owner of the system. With each application the applicant must submit the fees required and all other paperwork deemed pertinent by the Chief Fire Marshal to process the application.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, business, firm, corporation or other commercial entity to maintain, install, repair, test, inspect or otherwise perform work on any fire alarm system without first obtaining a fire alarm installer's license from the State of New York.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, business, firm, corporation or other commercial entity to maintain, install, repair, test, inspect or otherwise perform work on any fire extinguisher or fixed pipe suppression system without first obtaining a license from the Suffolk County Fire Extinguisher Licensing Board.
[Amended 5-14-2019 by L.L. No. 2-2019]
C. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, business, firm, corporation or other commercial entity to maintain, install, test, inspect or otherwise perform work on any fire sprinkler system without first obtaining a license from the Town of Islip Plumbing Board.
[Added 5-14-2019 by L.L. No. 2-2019]
D. 
All fire protection systems and associated equipment shall be installed, repaired, tested, inspected and maintained in accordance with the appropriate standards of the Fire Code of the State of New York.
[Added 5-14-2019 by L.L. No. 2-2019]
[Amended 5-14-2019 by L.L. No. 2-2019]
A. 
Prior to repairing, modifying, testing or inspecting any fire protection system, equipment or device, or any auxiliary system, equipment or device connected thereto, the person conducting such work shall notify all entities that would receive automatic notification of the activation of the fire alarm system, equipment or device. Such entities include, but are not limited to, the Fire Prevention Bureau, the local Fire Department, the central station monitoring agency, and the occupants of the building.
B. 
Upon completion of the repairing, modifying, testing or inspection of any fire protection system, equipment or device, or any auxiliary system, equipment or device connected thereto, the person conducting the work shall notify all entities that would receive automatic notification of the activation of the fire alarm system, equipment or device that the work is complete, as well as the operational status of the system, equipment or device. Such entities include, but are not limited to, the Fire Prevention Bureau, the local Fire Department, the central station monitoring agency, and occupants of the building.
C. 
Fire watch.
(1) 
A fire watch shall be initiated by a property owner whenever a fire protection system is out of service and authorized by the Fire Marshal and shall meet the following requirements:
(a) 
At least one dedicated person shall be required to conduct patrols. The Fire Marshal will determine the frequency of the patrols based on the building and occupancy. Additional personnel shall be added as necessary to meet the interval requirements;
(b) 
All personnel conducting patrols shall be at least 18 years of age, competent to identify fire hazards, capable of effectively communicating the need for a fire department response, physically capable to perform patrols and self-preservation, and familiar with the structure and the emergency plan for the structure;
(c) 
No personnel assigned to conduct patrols are to be assigned any other duties during the fire watch;
(d) 
All personnel assigned to conduct patrols are to be provided with at least one means approved by the Chief Fire Marshal or their designee for notification of the local fire department; and
(e) 
An activity log shall be maintained in which all personnel conducting patrols shall document their name, the date and time of each activity performed related to the fire watch, and a description of each activity performed related to the fire watch.
(2) 
The Fire Marshal may waive the requirement of a fire watch where there is not a substantial risk to life safety or where alternatives to maintain an equivalent level of safety are prescribed.
A. 
Every fire alarm system shall be thoroughly inspected and tested not less than once each six months. Inspection shall be only by a fire alarm technician. A report of testing shall be made on a form specified by the Chief Fire Marshal and shall be submitted to the Division of Fire Prevention.
B. 
The owner shall be responsible for the maintenance and service of his or its fire alarm device equipment and shall be responsible for all malfunctions of his or its equipment.
C. 
Devices which automatically transmit fire alarm signals to a Fire Department or the dispatching facilities for a Fire Department shall be prohibited unless specific written permission is issued by the Fire Commissioners of said Fire Department or by the dispatching facility. This shall not apply to signals transmitted to commercial central alarm stations.
D. 
Taped message dialers. The use of taped message dialers to any Fire Department, Police Department, dispatching facility for any Fire Department or central station is hereby prohibited.
A. 
Immediately after it has been determined that a false fire alarm has occurred, the owner of the fire protection system shall be given written notice of the occurrence by the Division of Fire Prevention. The fire protection system owner shall have 10 business days from the date of the notice of the false alarm to have the problem corrected and send a report of repairs to the Division of Fire Prevention. Failure to do so within 10 business days shall be deemed a violation of this article and shall cause the revocation of the fire protection system registration. To register the fire protection system after a revocation, the system shall be thoroughly inspected and tested, regardless of any previous inspection and testing that may have been performed. A report of such testing shall be made on a form specified by the Chief Fire Marshal.
B. 
If the fire protection system is not properly registered with the Division of Fire Prevention within 30 business days after the initial notice of the false alarm, an appearance ticket returnable in a court of competent jurisdiction and subject to the penalty provisions of § 19-16B of this chapter shall be issued to the occupant and/or owner of the premises, and in addition no owner or occupant of the premises shall continue the use and occupancy of the premises until the fire protection system is registered as per Subsection A set forth above.
C. 
After it has been determined that a false fire alarm has occurred, a Town of Islip Fire Marshal shall affix a warning label to the fire alarm panel and the annunciator panel, warning that the fire alarm shall not be reset by anyone other than the local Fire Department or a Town of Islip Fire Marshal. The warning label shall serve as required notice per the Fire Code of the State of New York and shall read as follows:
[Added 5-14-2019 by L.L. No. 2-2019]
WARNING WARNING WARNING
THIS FIRE ALARM SYSTEM SHALL BE RESET BY OR
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE FIRE DEPT. ONLY
Before opening this panel or working on any fire system attached
thereto the contractor or location manager shall notify the local F.D. and the
Town of Islip Fire Marshal's office at (631) 224-5477
Failure to comply will result in the issuance of a criminal summons.
Should you cause an unnecessary fire dept. response additional charges may
be brought against you pursuant to NYSFC 901.7 & 901.8
Local F.D.-
By order of the Islip Town Fire Marshal
D. 
It shall be unlawful to reset any fire alarm system in any building or structure upon activation of said fire alarm systems unless under the direction of the local Fire Department or a Town of Islip Fire Marshal. This provision shall not prohibit the resetting of a fire alarm system by a fire alarm technician while performing inspections, maintenance or repairs.
[Added 5-14-2019 by L.L. No. 2-2019]
[Added 12-13-2022 by L.L. No. 8-2022]
Every building/business owner that has an installed fire protection system which automatically notifies the local Fire Department upon activation shall provide a contact list. At least one of the representatives listed shall respond to the location upon notification of a system activation within 60 minutes of said notification.