 | What is a Fire Safety Director?
 |
New York City Fire Safety Directors are building employees
certified by the FDNY that are required in most hotels and office
buildings.
|
|
|
Where are Fire Safety Directors required?
|
In office buildings (class E) whenever
there are more than:
 | 100 persons above or below the
street level or
|
| 500 persons in the building.
(Note that in general this means that
coverage is required only during business hours, which might be 24/7
depending on occupancy. At least one deputy FSD is required in all
buildings for times when the FSD is absent [ill, vacation, etc.] A
second deputy is a good idea in case the FSD or deputy should
unexpectedly no longer be employed in the building.)
|
|
|
In hotels and motels (class J-1)
whenever there are:
| more than 30 sleeping rooms or
lodgers in the building or
|
| more than 15 sleeping rooms above
the first floor or
|
| any number of rooms in a building over
75 feet tall.
(Note that the building construction
mandates 24 hour coverage in almost all hotels, regardless of how
many rooms are occupied.)
|
|
|
|
What are the
duties of a Fire Safety Director?
|
Responsible for implementing the building's Fire Safety Plan
Sample
fire safety plans for office building and hotel/motel
(Adobe Acrobat reader required.) |
|
Reports to, supervises and staffs the
Fire Command Station
| Liaisons and advises the Fire
Department during operations
|
| Notifies building occupants of
fire, Fire Department operations, and updates as needed
|
| Directs evacuation during fire or emergency |
|
|
Provides information to the Fire Department:
| Location of fire or emergency
|
| Evacuation of occupants from and to
locations
|
| Problems with building systems or occupants |
|
| Responsible for implementing the
Fire Prevention Plan |
|
Supervises and trains:
|
Fire Brigade |
|
Floor Wardens |
|
Deputy Floor Wardens |
|
Building Evacuation Supervisors |
|
|
Maintains records as required by law |
|
Performs inspections as required by law |
|
Conducts, supervises and evaluates fire drills.
|
|
|
What are the
duties of a Deputy Fire
Safety Director?
|
Subordinate to Fire Safety Director |
|
Functions as the Fire Safety Director
during the absence of the Fire Safety Director |
|
Performs duties during fires and
emergencies as directed by the Fire Safety Director
|
|
| What are the requirements to become a Fire Safety
Director?
| Must obtain a Certificate of Fitness from the Fire
Department of New York (FDNY).
|
|
|
What are the requirements to obtain
this Certificate of Fitness?
|
Must be at least 18 years old |
|
Must have reasonable understanding of English |
|
Must present two pieces of identification |
|
Must have five years of applicable
experience in fire prevention, building service equipment or
satisfactory combination, or three years experience with FDNY variance. |
|
Must satisfactorily complete a course
for Fire Safety Director given by a school certified by the FDNY (70% passing grade). |
|
Must pass the FDNY Fire Safety Director
written test (70% passing grade). and pay the $25.00 test fee. |
|
Within one year of passing the written
exam, must pass on-site test at the building the applicant desires to
be Fire Safety Director of ($445.00 test fee). This Certificate of
Fitness is site-specific, which means that you must pass the on-site
test at each building you're to be a Fire Safety Director of. If the
applicant wishes to be a Fire Safety Director of three buildings,
he/she must pass three different on-site tests (one at each
building), and pay the fee three times.
|
|
| How can I find out if my experience
qualifies?
| Ask the FDNY at 718-999-1988 or -1986.
|
|
| Where can I take a Fire Safety
Director course?
| |
FDNY Certified Schools for Fire Safety Director
(in alphabetical order as of 3/1/07)
|
|
| What is the cost to take a Fire Safety
Director course?
| Expect to pay at least $200, but fees
vary; check with each school to find their current charge.
|
|
|
Why was
the Fire Safety Director position created?
FDNY fire personnel responding to
emergencies and fires in high-rise buildings often found that no one
at the building was knowledgeable about the building's construction,
location of sprinklers, stairways, elevator and mechanical systems
operation, etc. leading to confusion, panic, unneeded evacuations and
unnecessary injuries and fatalities. Creation of the position
centered knowledge and responsibility on one individual who could
order evacuations, liaison with the FDNY in emergency situations, and
protect life and property.
|
|
What is the legal liability of a
Fire Safety Director?
A plaintiff would have to prove that a
Fire Safety Director acted maliciously with intent to cause harm in
order to win a case.
|
| Is a Fire Safety Director required to
put his/her personal safety at risk?
No, but unanticipated events can occur in
buildings on fire. Six fire safety directors and deputies were killed
in the World Trade Center tower collapses on September 11, 2001.
|
| What is the pay for a Fire Safety Director?
It depends. In a small office building
the Fire Safety Director duties may be in addition to other jobs,
with little or no additional pay. In large office buildings and
hotels the Fire Safety Director will have no other duties and be
highly paid. According to Salary.com, a Fire Prevention Engineer
(which may not be the same as a Fire Safety Director, although the
descriptions appear similar) in Manhattan is paid mid
$40s - mid $50s.
|
|
Where can I find a job as Fire
Safety Director?
Look in the usual places - newspaper
ads, etc. You can search Monster.com,
craigslist new york,
Careerbuilder and look at
these sites.
|
|
How much does it cost to renew a FSD Certificate of Fitness?
The renewal fee depends on when you renew. If you renew within 90
days of the expiration date, the fee is $15. After 90 days but less
than one year incur a $25 penalty, making the total $40. After one year
no renewal is possible; you have to start from the beginning. Moral:
don't forget to renew!
|
FSD Home 
Frequently Asked Questions
FSD
Home Page
FDNY
Test Procedure
