Sprinkler System Required in Laundry Room

The Fire Department issued violation notices to landlord for failing to provide a sprinkler system in the building’s laundry room, failing to provide a roof manifold for the standpipe system, and inadequate emergency lighting. Landlord argued that the building was subject to the 1938 Building Code, that the laundry room with two dryers was a preexisting condition in 1994 when a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) was issued, and that the building never had a roof manifold for the standpipe system or emergency lighting. The ALJ ruled against landlord and fined it $1,700. Landlord appealed and won in part. The emergency lighting and roof manifold requirements don't apply to the building, which was in existence before 1968. But newer code requirements for a sprinkler system in a laundry room with two or more dryers applied. There was no proof that the laundry room existed when the C of O was issued.

825 West End Condo Assoc.: ECB App. No. 1501277 (12/17/15) [4-pg. doc.]