Deadline for Installation of Monitored Battery Primary Power Source for Natural Gas Alarm in Existing Buildings
Rule status: Adopted
Agency: DOB
Effective date: January 23, 2025
Proposed Rule Full Text
Proposed-Rule-Amendment-of-Deadline-for-Installation-of-Monitored-Battery-Primary-Power-Source-for-Natural-Gas-Alarm-in-Existing-Buildings.pdf
Adopted Rule Full Text
Final-Rule-Amendment-of-Deadline-for-Installation-of-Monitored-Battery-Primary-Power-Source-for-Natural-Gas-Alarm-in-Existing-Buildings.pdf
Adopted rule summary:
The Department of Buildings amends section 9.5.1.2 of National Fire Protection Association (“NFPA”) standard 715, as amended by section 3616-06 of chapter 3600 of Title 1 of the Rules of the City of New York, to extend the deadline for allowing installation of a monitored battery primary power source for natural gas alarms in existing buildings.
The rule amendment allows any building completed by January 1, 2025 to install a monitored battery primary power source for their natural gas alarm. When the rule was originally promulgated, it allowed battery units to be installed in existing buildings constructed by January 1, 2024 in accordance with the provisions of Local Law 157 of 2016. However, there were many buildings that were not completed by January 1, 2024 but had not been designed for wired units and were too far into the construction process to accommodate them at that point. Extending the cutoff date to January 1, 2025 allows those buildings currently under construction to be deemed “existing” and therefore be able to choose to install the battery-powered units. Other buildings still in the early stages of construction should be able to accommodate the hardwired units and are required to do so.
In addition, the hard-wired units that meet the required listing criteria may currently be difficult to obtain. Therefore, the allowance for battery powered systems is extended from January 1, 2024 to January 1, 2025.
The language of paragraphs (1) and (2) of NFPA section 9.5.1.2 in section 3616-06 is amended to match the changes to the language made in paragraph (3) of that section.
Comments are now closed.
Online comments: 1
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John Rusk
Comment added December 4, 2024 11:18amI would like to thank the Department of Buildings for allowing me to speak in favor of the Department of Building’s proposed amendment to Local Law 157 to extend the deadline to allow monitored battery natural gas detectors for buildings completed to January 1st, 2025, rather than requiring these buildings to install hard wired sensors.
My name is John Rusk, and I am co-founder of ProSentry, a Risk Mitigation as a Service company. We are one of New York’s experts on the implementation of Local Law 157 and I have had the pleasure of speaking to city council committees five times in the past. We sell both the Basic, non-monitored natural gas detectors and Smart natural gas detectors, which notify buildings of gas leaks by text and live operator calls within about a minute of natural gas leaks. This safeguards property and the lives of tenants, building personnel and first responders.
The current technology for natural gas detectors has improved significantly, with gas sensors and batteries designed to last for 10 years. Given this, there is little advantage to opting for hard-wired detectors. Currently, we are only aware of one hard wired UL listed gas detector and it must be replaced every 7 years. It has a battery back-up which must be replaced each year. We also do not believe it can comply with Local Law 157 as in the owner’s manual it notes it should not be installed in the kitchen and must be installed at least twenty feet from sources of combustion. Therefore, we support the use and extension for battery-powered gas detectors in buildings.
A common perception is that hard-wired gas detectors are more reliable because they are continuously powered, making them more likely to alert in the event of a gas leak. However, studies show that 6% of fire deaths nationwide are caused by hard-wired fire detectors that fail due to power issues or malfunctions. This highlights that hard-wired devices are fallible.
The safer and more efficient solution is to require connected, Smart gas detectors that operate on a low-power radio network. These devices are rigorously tested for battery life and functionality. Additionally, they check in at least twice a day to confirm they are operational and monitoring the property. If a device fails to check in, the client is notified, prompting them to repair or replace the unit. This proactive monitoring ensures the safety of the residence.
Battery-powered devices are also more cost-effective than hard-wired alternatives, last longer, and with the added benefit of regular operational checks, they not only reduce costs but also enhance safety.
Thank you for your consideration.
John Rusk