Int. No. 1849-A

By Council Members Borelli, Cornegy, Powers, Maisel, Cabrera, Holden, Brannan, Kallos, Ayala and Rivera

A Local Law to amend the New York city fire code, in relation to establishing fire safety provisions for film production locations and requiring production location fire safety managers for certain rigging, filming and production activities

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Section 202 of the New York city fire code is amended by adding a new definition of “production location” in alphabetical order to read as follows:

PRODUCTION LOCATION.  Premises associated with any location approved for activities conducted in connection with motion picture, television or commercial production by the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, or an officer, employee or unit of the Department of Small Business Services as may be authorized to issue permits in accordance with paragraph r of subdivision 1 of section 1301 of the charter or pursuant to its rules.

§ 2. Chapter 3 of the New York city fire code is amended by adding a new section FC 325 to read as follows:

SECTION FC 325

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS

325.1 Scope. This section shall govern the protection of fire safety at production locations used for filming and rigging, except for soundstages, production studios and approved production facilities, as those terms are defined in NFPA 140.

325.2 Fire safety at production locations. The department shall promulgate rules addressing fire safety at production locations. Such rules shall establish fire safety standards, procedures and requirements in consideration of such location’s occupancy, construction and condition, including factors such as whether means of egress are impeded and a working sprinkler system exists, and the nature of the production activities to take place at such location, including set construction or other alterations, and whether pyrotechnic or other special effects will be conducted. Such rules may require the following fire safety measures:

1. The presence of one or more production location fire safety managers, to be designated by the permit holder, during production activities determined by the department to require such supervision. Production location fire safety managers shall have such qualifications and duties as set forth in FC325.3 and the rules.

2. The presence of department representatives or standby fire apparatus during production activities, as determined by the department.

3. Directing the cessation of filming activities when an unsafe condition arises that is detrimental to fire safety, until such time as such condition is corrected.

4. Such other fire safety measures as the department may require.

325.3 Production location fire safety manager. When required by the rules, production locations shall be under the personal supervision of one or more production location fire safety managers, each of whom shall hold the required certificate of fitness. The permit holder shall designate such production location fire safety managers before the commencement of the activity authorized by a permit for rigging and shooting pursuant to 43 RCNY § 9-01.

325.3.1 Fire safety manager duties. The production location fire safety manager shall have such duties and responsibilities as set forth in the rules, including but not limited to:

1. Ensuring compliance with the requirements of this code and other laws, rules and regulations enforced by the department.

2. Personally inspecting and monitoring the production location, confirming that permits or other required approvals have been obtained, and completing fire safety surveys or other recordkeeping.

3. Notifying the permit holder of any conditions detrimental to fire safety in accordance with the rules.

§ 3. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law, except that the fire commissioner may take such measures as are necessary for the implementation of this local law, including the promulgation of rules, before such date.

IS/JDK

LS #11,719

2/17/2021