Sprinkler System Not Required in Pre-Existing Laundry Room

The Fire Department issued two violation notices to landlord, for failing to provide sprinkler protection near the dryers in the building’s laundry room and for failing to maintain or install a roof manifold for the standpipe system. Landlord argued that the laundry room never had a sprinkler system and the building never had a roof manifold. The ALJ ruled against landlord and fined it $1,700. Landlord appealed and won. The laundry room had been in existence for more than 20 years, possibly more than 50 years, without an automatic sprinkler system, and therefore one wasn’t required. And the roof manifold requirements didn’t apply to this building since the standpipe system was in place before Dec. 6, 1968. The fines were revoked.

825 West End Condo: ECB App No. 1500542 (8/27/15) [4-pg. doc.]