Office of Technology Management Bulletin # 12-01/2013
December 1, 2013
Subject: Bureau of Fire Prevention-Technology Management Secondary Fire Command Center Variance Guidelines.
This bulletin describes the guidelines for the design and installation of a Secondary Fire Command Center.
1. The Fire Command Center (FCC) on the first floor lobby must be designated the Primary Fire Command Center. Upon damage to, or flooding of fire alarm system circuits, protective measures shall be designed and installed to isolate the remaining portions of the network system(s) and Secondary FCC.
2. Only one Fire Command Center within the building shall have control of the output functions at any one time. The Secondary FCC shall be capable of operating as a stand-alone system.
3. The Secondary FCC shall only be enabled manually through a keyed switch (2642) located in the Secondary FCC upon: 1) major disruption of Primary FCC; 2) testing; and 3) training of emergency procedure personnel. The Secondary FCC central station transmitter shall be independent of the Primary FCC and shall transmit a zoned supervisory signal upon transfer of control.
4. The location and accessibility of the Secondary Fire Command Center shall be determined by the risk evaluation and approved by the FDNY.
5. Signage shall be provided at the location of the Secondary Fire Command Center and read "Secondary FCC".
6. Compliance with the most current NYC Building Code BC Section-911 is mandatory for all equipment of the Secondary Fire Command Center regardless of the existing fire alarm system approval date.
7. The Secondary Fire Command Center shall comply with the most current NYC Electrical Code for primary, secondary and battery power requirements and wiring mandates.
Office of Technology Management Bulletin # 12-01/2013
BUREAU OF FIRE PREVENTION - TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT
SECONDARY FIRE COMMAND CENTER VARIANCE GUIDELINES
8. The power feed to the Secondary Fire Command Center shall be routed and separately
enclosed in raceways for emergency circuits and separately connected to power source overcurrent/disconnecting means and/or automatic transfer switches as applicable and shall be designated as "Secondary FCC Disconnect".
9. The Secondary Fire Command Center design and installation use of NYC Certified
CI Cable/UL Classified Circuit Integrity (CI) and/or wiring in UL listed and approved NFPA 72- 2002 fire-rated survivability raceway or assembly is a mandatory requirement for all wiring.
10. The Secondary Fire Command Center classification of initiating circuits shall be Class A Style Eα, signaling line circuits shall be Class A Style 7α and notification circuits shall be Class A Style Z in accordance with NYC Building Code Appendix Q (NFPA 72-2002) section 6.4 & Tables 6.5, 6.6.1, 6.7 and the 2011 NYC Electrical Code
11. At a remote street access, if existing, such as a loading dock, a locked equipment
assembly for FDNY or emergency personnel use, accessible by 2642 keyed lock, shall contain a warden/fire-fighter phone with separate circuitry for direct communications to the Secondary FCC.
12. The filing of a TM-4 Variance Application and a letter from the owner and/or design
professional describing the proposed installation shall contain an affirmation of compliance with this bulletin and the requirements herein. Any proposed modifications and/or deficiencies, due to only technical or construction hardships, to this bulletin shall be expounded upon and justified as to alternate measures proposed to be employed and how the bulletin's mandatory provisions' objectives are met by the proposal.
In the interest of Public Safety, the Fire Commissioner may modify or require additional safeguards not expressed in this Bulletin.
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BC Thomas Pigott
Chief of Technology Management
Bureau of Fire Prevention