City Fire Department

The City Fire Department has a plan to keep you safe. This plan is called the Comprehensive Fire Safety and Emergency Action Plan. It tells you what to do if there is a fire or another emergency. It also helps firefighters understand the building's fire protection systems, layout, exits, fire hazards and who to contact during an emergency. They will know where things are and how to get out quickly.

Fire Code requirements

As per the current Fire Code certain office buildings must have a Comprehensive Fire Safety and Emergency Action Plan.
Chapter 4 states this plan is required for office buildings which include:

• A High-rise or Large-area office buildings with more than 500 people.
• Have more than 100 people on floors above or below the street level.
• Have more than 100 people on one or more high-rise floors.

The building owner must prepare and maintain the plan. The plan must follow Chapter 4 of the current Fire Code and applicable Fire Department rules and must be submitted to the Fire Department when required for review.

Forms and filing

You can find the PDF Intake forms and instructions for this plan on the Fire Department website. Notice: Old forms will not work on FDNY Business. You must use the new forms.

You can also find the instructions for filing the plan online on the Fire Department website.

• Complete PDF Intake forms (for new applications or first filing on FDNY Business Portal).

• Include the Owner's Certification page.

• Provide a copy of the letter(s) used to consult with nearby buildings (if needed).

• Submit a dated, signed and sealed letter from a Professional Engineer or Registered Architect. This letter should confirm the accuracy of the floor drawings.

• Attach Floor Plans (including sprinkler and standpipe riser diagrams, site plot).

• Include Building Information Card (BIC) schematics.

• Additional information:

  • Follow the requirements in Chapter 4 of the current Fire Code and the applicable Fire Department rules.

• Application fees:

  • New Application Fee: $630
  • Amended Application Fee: $210 per hour, not more than $630
  • Resubmission Fee: $210 per hour, not more than $630

• Access previous FDNY records: If you are filing an amendment, you can access previous FDNY records by providing your reference account number (FPIMS #) and premises zip code.

  • It is recommended that you link your previous record at the start of the application.

• Review process: After you send your application, you will get one of these:

  • Letter of Deficiency: If your plan has problems, you will get a Letter of Deficiency. You must fix the problems and send the corrected plan within 30 days. If you do not send the corrections in time, you will have to pay extra fees.
  • Letter of Acceptance: If your plan is approved, you will get a Letter of Acceptance. You must also submit all required paper copies of the plan, including all appendices and compact disks with the Department.
  • Special conditional acceptance notice: If your plan meets the minimum requirements but does not include the Fire Safety Plan (FSP) staffing, you will get a Special Conditional Acceptance Notice. This notice helps you get a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) or schedule an on-site appointment.

• Abandoned application: If you do not follow up on your application within 180 days of filling, it will be considered abandoned. This means you must keep working on your application or get a Letter of Acceptance within this time.

1. Train Fire Safety Personnel (FSP): The building owner must have trained Fire Safety Personnel (FSP) within 30 days in place and ready to carry out the plan after the FDNY accepts the plans.
2. Distribute educational materials: Give out educational materials about the plans to everyone in the building.
3. Document storage: Keep copies of the plans and the Building Information Card at a fire command center or another safe place in the building.
4. Annual review and updates: Review and update the plans every year. Update them if there are changes in the building's use, occupancy (people) or design or layout.
5. Reporting staff changes: Report any changes in FSP staffing (except for fire safety/EAP wardens and deputy fire safety/EAP wardens) to FDNY by filing a staff amendment at least twice a year.
6. Log book maintenance: Keep a log book that shows when you reviewed the plans and what changes you made.