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FDNY Fire and Emergency Preparedness Guide, Checklist and Notices (3 RCNY §401-06,pdf file)
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Description
3 RCNY §401-06 Summary
FDNY Fire and Emergency Preparedness Guide, Checklist and Notices
This FDNY rule establishes the fire safety information, emergency preparedness requirements, evacuation planning materials, and mandatory notices that owners of residential apartment buildings (Group R-2 occupancies) must provide and maintain.
Purpose of the Rule
The rule was amended in 2019 to implement:
- Local Law 114 of 2018 – Creation and distribution of an Individual Emergency Preparedness/Evacuation Planning Checklist.
- Local Law 115 of 2018 – Mandatory "Close the Door" signs on stairwell doors to reduce fire and smoke spread.
Who Must Comply?
Applies to most:
- Apartment buildings
- Multiple dwellings
- Residential buildings classified as Occupancy Group R-2
Exceptions include:
- Certain homeless shelters with voice communication systems
- College and university dormitories
- Student housing specifically exempted by law
Building Owner Requirements
Owners must:
1. Fire and Emergency Preparedness Guide
Provide a guide containing:
- Building construction type
- Number of floors
- Fire alarm information
- Sprinkler information
- Means of egress
- Emergency procedures
- Fire safety information
The guide must be distributed:
- To every apartment resident
- To all building staff
- Every three years
- To all new tenants upon occupancy
- Whenever major building changes occur
2. Annual Fire and Emergency Preparedness Bulletin
Owners must distribute an annual bulletin to:
- Residents
- Building employees
The bulletin contains updated fire safety and emergency preparedness information.
3. Fire Safety Notices
Owners must post Fire and Emergency Preparedness Notices:
Apartment Door
Posted on the inside of each apartment entrance door.
Common Area
Posted:
- Near mailboxes, or
- Near elevators, or
- Near main stairwells
The Building Information Sheet must also be posted with the common-area notice.
4. Emergency Preparedness & Evacuation Planning Checklist
Owners must distribute the FDNY checklist with the Emergency Preparedness Guide. The checklist helps residents:
- Develop evacuation plans
- Identify emergency contacts
- Prepare for shelter-in-place situations
- Plan assistance for people with disabilities
- Identify evacuation routes
- Prepare for coastal storms and emergencies
Individual Emergency Preparedness Checklist
The checklist instructs residents to:
Know Your Building
- Construction type
- Stair locations
- Exits
- Fire escapes
- Coastal storm evacuation zones
Prepare Your Household
- Test smoke alarms
- Test carbon monoxide alarms
- Create family meeting locations
- Establish emergency contacts
Shelter-In-Place Planning
Residents should know when it is safer to remain inside their apartment and call 911 rather than evacuate.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
The checklist helps residents plan for:
- Mobility impairments
- Hearing impairments
- Medical equipment needs
- Service animal considerations
It encourages:
- Identifying volunteer helpers
- Locating evacuation devices
- Developing individualized evacuation plans
This was a primary purpose of Local Law 114.
"Close the Door" Sign Requirement
Local Law 115
Owners must install and maintain a Close the Door sign on:
Required Location
- Public hallway side of every stairwell door
- On every floor
- No sign required for open stairs
Missing or damaged signs must be replaced promptly.
Required Message
In a Fire, Close All Doors Behind You!
Keep Fire and Smoke Out of Building Hallways and Stairs.
Keep Apartment and Stairwell Doors Closed at All Other Times.
Protect Your Neighbors and Your Home!
Why the Law Was Created
The FDNY found that open apartment and stairwell doors allow:
- Fire to spread rapidly
- Smoke to fill hallways
- Stairwells to become unusable
- Greater danger to firefighters and occupants
Closing doors helps:
- Contain fire
- Reduce smoke spread
- Protect escape routes
- Save lives
Recordkeeping Requirements
Building owners must maintain:
- Copies of the last two Emergency Preparedness Guides
- Copies of the last two Evacuation Checklists
- Proof of distribution
Records must be available for FDNY inspection.
Compliance Checklist for Building Owners
✓ Distribute FDNY Emergency Preparedness Guide every 3 years
✓ Provide guide to new tenants and staff
✓ Distribute Annual Fire & Emergency Preparedness Bulletin every year
✓ Post Fire Safety Notices on apartment doors
✓ Post Fire Safety Notice and Building Information Sheet in common areas
✓ Distribute Individual Emergency Preparedness/Evacuation Planning Checklist
✓ Install Close the Door signs on all stairwell doors
✓ Maintain distribution records and copies of documents
✓ Replace damaged or missing notices immediately
This rule forms the foundation of FDNY residential fire safety education and emergency preparedness requirements for apartment buildings throughout New York City.
FDNY FIRE & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST
3 RCNY §401-06
REQUIRED FOR NYC APARTMENT BUILDINGS
1. PREPARE THE FIRE & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GUIDE
☐ Complete Building Information Sheet (Part I)
☐ Include building address and owner information
☐ Include building construction type
☐ Include sprinkler and fire alarm information
☐ Include stairwells, exits, and fire escape information
☐ Complete Fire & Emergency Preparedness Guide (Part II)
2. DISTRIBUTE THE GUIDE
Provide to:
☐ All residents
☐ All apartments
☐ Building staff
☐ New residents at move-in
☐ New employees upon hiring
Distribution required:
☐ Every 3 years
☐ Within 60 days of material building changes
Approved methods:
☐ Hand delivery
☐ Electronic delivery system
3. DISTRIBUTE ANNUAL FDNY BULLETIN
Every year:
☐ Download current FDNY bulletin
☐ Reproduce entire bulletin
☐ Distribute to residents
☐ Distribute to building staff
☐ Complete during Fire Prevention Week
4. INSTALL REQUIRED NOTICES
Apartment Entrance Door
☐ Fire & Emergency Preparedness Notice installed
☐ Posted on inside of apartment entrance door
☐ Clearly visible and legible
Common Area
☐ Fire & Emergency Preparedness Notice installed
Location:
☐ Mailbox area
☐ Elevator area
☐ Main stairwell area
5. POST BUILDING INFORMATION SHEET
☐ Post completed Building Information Sheet
Location:
☐ Lobby
☐ Mailbox area
☐ Elevator area
☐ Main stairwell area
6. MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE
☐ Replace missing notices
☐ Replace damaged notices
☐ Update building information
☐ Update postings within 60 days of changes
☐ Maintain legibility
☐ Keep notices securely mounted
7. KEEP RECORDS
Maintain proof of:
☐ Guide distribution
☐ Annual bulletin distribution
Acceptable records:
☐ Certificate of Mailing
☐ Signed receipt
☐ Affidavit of delivery
☐ Electronic delivery log
☐ Other approved records
☐ Retain records for at least two distribution cycles
FDNY INSPECTION QUICK CHECK
☐ Building Information Sheet completed
☐ Emergency Preparedness Guide prepared
☐ Guide distributed
☐ Annual Bulletin distributed
☐ Apartment door notice installed
☐ Common area notice installed
☐ Building Information Sheet posted
☐ Records available
☐ Notices maintained
☐ Building compliant
FDNY Rule 3 RCNY §401-06
Fire and Emergency Preparedness Guide and Notices
Provided by HPDSigns.nyc
Provided by HPDSigns.nyc
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