Electrician Chris <3 NYC

"The 1835 Great Fire of New York was one of the worst in its history. It destroyed 17 blocks and nearly stopped the upward trajectory of the, at the time, up and coming city. The lack of building standards, heavy use of wood in construction and a undermanned volunteer fire department were the perfect storm for this historical blaze." -Electrician Chris


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NYC Building Code NYC Fire Code NYC Administrative Code - Title 27 1835 Great Fire of New York Our Full Line of NYC Approved Products
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Things have changed since then and now the New York City Fire Department is the largest municipal fire department in the United States, and the second largest in the world after the Tokyo Fire Department. The FDNY employs approximately 11,000 uniformed firefighting employees, 4000+ uniformed EMS employees, and 2000+ civilian employees.

While most cities in the United States opt to follow the National Electrical Code (NEC) for their exit sign and emergency lighting requirements, New York City has taken a different approach. The NYC Building Authority has developed its own specifications for what egress lighting is required in public and commercial buildings. These requirements are above and beyond what the NEC mandates meaning that typical exit and emergency lighting are non-compliant. Here are some of the main features set out in NYC code.


FDNY Enforcement of Life Safety Code


New York City Exit Sign Requirements


NYC Exit Sign Requirements

There are several design features that set NYC exit signs apart from your typical NEC guided design. Here are some highlights and where to find them in NYC Building Code

  • Exit Signs shall be internally or externally illuminated. (BC 1013.3)
  • Exit Signs shall be of metal or other durable material. (BC 1031.2, 12)
  • Exit Signs shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 924 which includes; brightness and visibility standards, automatic transfer of power in the event of loss of primary power, and a backup power source that provides 90 minutes of power. (BC 1013.5)
  • Letters of exit signs shall be red. (BC 1013.5)
  • The height of letters shall be not less than 6 inches, except that in Group A and Group R-1 occupancies letters shall be not less than 8 inches high. Graphics shall have letter widths, strokes and spacing in proportion to their height. (BC 1013.5.1)
  • Self-luminescent tritium (radioactive) exit signs are not permissible. (C26-606.3(f)(2))






  • New York City Emergency Light Requirements


    Emergency lighting in NYC follow similar guidelines to the exit signage but a bit simpler. Here are some highlights and where to find them in NYC Building Code

  • Initial illumination shall not be less than an average of 1 foot candle and a minimum at any point of 0.1 footcandle measured along the path of egress at floor level. (BC 1008.3.5)
  • In Group 1-2 occupancies (hospitals, nursing homes, etc.), failure of any single lighting unit shall not reduce the illumination level to less than 0.2 footcandle. (BC 1008.3.5)
  • The emergency power system shall provide power for a duration of not less than 90 minutes and shall consist of storage batteries, unit equipment or an on-site generator. (BC 1008.3.4)

  • NYC Emergency Lighting Requirements





    New York City High-Rise Signage & Path Markings


    Since New York adopted the 2015 International Building Code, all new and existing high-rise commercial buildings in the state of New York are required to install ‘self luminous’ (photoluminescent) egress signage and path markings in stairwells and landings. Here are a few key requirements:

  • Required in most high-rise buildings taller than 75 feet. (BC 1025.1)
  • Required signage and markings to outline the exit path, including; steps, landings, handrails, directional signage, signage on exit and non-exit doors, etc. (BC 1025.2)
  • Permitted to be made of any material, including paint. (BC 1025.4)
  • Materials shall comply with either UL 1994 or ASTM E 2072 (with additional requirements when it comes to illumination charging). (BC 1025.4.1)
  • All approved materials less than 1 foot shall be labeled and identified with the manufacturers name, model number, and the name of the approved agency with a minimum of six point font. (BC 1025.4.1)