CO detector and sounder base.
The deadline to comply with New York City's Local Law 191 of 2018 has been extended from January 1, 2021 to July 1, 2021. Per the law, which expands the requirements of the previously passed Local Law 10 of 2014, owners of buildings that contain Group A-1, A-2, A-3, and assembly spaces classified as Group B and Group M occupancies and are equipped with fire alarm systems must install carbon monoxide detectors to code or face violations and fines. The two laws were passed after a tragic death due to carbon monoxide poisoning at a Legal Seafoods restaurant in Long Island in 2014.
Business occupancy Group B includes office, professional, or service-type transactions such as banks, animal hospitals, barber and beauty shops, car washes, outpatient clinics, dry cleaners and laundries, commercial kitchens, post offices, and radio and television stations. Mercantile occupancy Group M includes department stores, drug stores, markets, retail or wholesale stores, and sales rooms. To determine your building’s occupancy group, check your building’s certificate of occupancy. A more complete list of occupancy group classifications may be found in Chapter 3 of the New York City Building Code.
To help owners and managers comply, RAND offers Local Law 191/18 survey services. RAND’s first step would be to review documentation provided by your office pertaining to any fire alarm plans for the building. We would then visit the building and perform a survey to identify all carbon monoxide producing equipment; equipment requiring auto-shutdown; and detection zones at every floor where CO detectors are mandated. If our findings indicate non-compliance, our report would include recommendations and preliminary budget projections for the installation of any additional carbon monoxide detectors required to bring the system into compliance. RAND also offers design services pertaining to an installation plan for carbon monoxide detectors, contractor bid solicitation and review, filing for relevant permits, and observation of the installation while in progress.
For more information, read our Local Law 191 of 2018 Fact Sheet. Or to request a proposal for a Local Law 191/18 survey, contact RAND at 212-675-8844 or info@nullrandpc.com.
Peter E. Varsalona, PE is one of RAND's Principals and MEP Team Leader.
