Residential Sprinklers: New York City History Originated in 1940’s Response to frequent rooming house fires –Fire traveled through open stair cases Installed off of small diameter water mains Fire alarms NOT required Minimal sprinkler testing ONLY was required

Residential Sprinklers: New York City History 1987: Local Law 16 –Required sprinkler installation in all substantially renovated hotel buildings Prior to this—commercial buildings only

Residential Sprinklers: New York City History December 1988  turning point in NYC –Brooklyn: 3 FDNY firefighters engulfed in fireball on 10 th floor of apartment building –Fire sprinklers had not been inspected / tested and were shut off –Manhattan: 4 residents overcome by smoke from Christmas tree fire on 19 th floor of residential building in celebrity’s apartment

Residential Sprinklers: New York City History 1999 Local Law 10 passed in response Automatic sprinklers required for all new and substantially renovated dwellings housing four / more families Periodic inspections of the sprinkler systems reported to and filed with FDNY

Residential Sprinklers: New York City Costs New construction buildings: –Low rise buildings (< 6 stories): $2 - $3/ ft 2 –High rise buildings ($ $3) / ft 2 Old construction/retrofit –Low rise buildings (< 6 stories): $4.50 to $5 / ft 2 –High rise buildings (>6 stories): $4 to $4.50 / ft 2 Less than the cost / ft 2 of wall paper