FDNY Response Policy Memo, August 1997

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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July 25, 1997

Edmund P. Cunningham, Chief of Fire Prevention Bureau of Fire Prevention Fire Department - City of New York 250 Livingston Street Brooklyn, NY 11201

Dear Ed;

In order to minimize imnecessaiy FDNY response to the World Trade Center Complex (WTC) for unwarranted alarms, we propose a change to the WTC’s Standard Operating Procedures, regarding FDNY, for single smoke detector alarm activation.

During the first six months of 1997, the WTC transmitted 327 alarms of fire to FDNY. According to our records, the vast majority of these alarms were unwarranted, in fact, 319 out of 327 alarms were classified as false alarms. Of the 327 total alarms of fire, 61% were directly attributed to single head smoke detector activation. Since the NYC Building Code/Rules of The City of New York do not require smoke detectors in class E sprinklered areas and references the cross zoning of elevator recall smoke detectors, we propose the following;

0 The WTC Fire Brigade will immediately respond to the activation of a single smoke detector in a WTC sprinklered area. FDNY will not be summoned on a single smoke detector activation.

0 The activation of a single smoke detector in an elevator lobby, which is cross zoned or equipped with alarm verification detectors, will be immediately responded to by the WTC Fire Brigade. Again, FDNY will not be summoned.

0 The current policy of immediate FDNY response to pull box stations, water flow alarms, multiple smoke detector activation and the activation of a single smoke detector in non-sprinklered areas will continue.

0 The receipt of a telephone call indicating smoke or fire in any area will continue to cause immediate FDNY response.

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