Senate Bill S6069A

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S6069

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing
installation and maintenance standards for gas station fire
suppression systems

 PURPOSE :

To create and establish installation and maintenance standards for gas
fire suppression systems

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 amends section 378 of the executive law by adding a new
subdivision to read as follows:

17. Standards for gas station fire suppression systems shall require:

a) an automatic fire-extinguishing system using an extinguishing agent
suitable for petroleum fires, installed in accordance with section 17
of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 17) and listed for
all new flammable motor fuel-dispensing systems to subject to section
2206 of the New York City Fire Code. Fire protection systems at the
unattended self-service stations shall be monitored by an approved
              

supervising station.

b) Where a building fire alarm system is installed, automatic fire
extinguishing systems shall be interfaced to the building fire alarm
system in accordance with section 72 of the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA 72). Automatic fire extinguishing systems at
unattended self-service motor fuel-dispensing facilities shall be
monitored by an approved supervising station.

c) Where flammable liquid motor fuel is dispensed at an automotive
liquid motor fuel-dispensing facility, the dispensing area shall be
provided with a dry chemical fire-extinguishing system designed and
installed in accordance with NFPA 17, and the following requirements:

(i) the fire-extinguishing system shall be designed to provide over
head protection of the dispenser area encompassed by a circle formed
by the fully extended hose and nozzle on each fuel dispenser and
scribing an arc on the ground;

(ii) the extinguishing agent containers shall be equipped with
indicators to show whether the system is fully charged;

(iii) the installation, alteration, testing and repair of the fire
extinguishing system, shall be performed by a technician who complies
with the manual of that system; the technician must be trained in
accordance with the manufacturer's installation manual and be
knowledgeable in the installation, operation and maintenance of the
specific fire extinguishing system; and

(iv) dispensers shall not be operated when the fire extinguishing
system has discharged or is inoperative, except as authorized in
writing by the department; the motor fuel dispensing facility
certified attendant shall immediately notify the department of system
discharge or inoperability.

d) Automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be serviced at least
every six months and after activation of the system. Inspection and
maintenance shall be by qualified individuals, in accordance with the
manufacturer's listed manual, and a certificate of inspection shall be
forwarded to the code enforcement official upon completion.
Inspection records shall also be kept on premises where the automatic
fire-extinguishing systems are located for a minimum of five years.

e) Systems shall be inspected and tested for proper operation at
initial installation and six month intervals. Tests shall be in
accordance with the manufacturer's requirements and include a check of
the detection system, alarms and releasing devices, including manual
stations and other associated equipment. Extinguishing system units
shall be weighed, and the required amount of agent verified.  Stored
pressure-type units shall be checked for the required pressure. The
cartridge of cartridge-operated units shall be weighed and replaced at
intervals indicated by the manufacturer. Actuation devices and lines
shall be thoroughly inspected. Shut down interlock shall be inspected
for proper operation. Cylinder maintenance shall be in compliance with
NFPA 17.

f) Failure to comply with the installation or maintenance requirements
of this section shall result in the revocation of building's
certificate of occupancy and/or the permit to operate fueling
dispensers.

g) The provisions of this subdivision shall be enforced in accordance
with the provisions of section three hundred eighty-one of this
article.

Section 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred-eightieth day
after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that the state
fire prevention and building code council shall take any and all
actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on or before
its effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

New York has long led the nation when it comes to enacting commonsense
safety regulations for drivers. This notion has also been extended to
motorists filling up at their local gas station. This regulation has
been on the books in New York for decades, and has protected many New
Yorkers from serious harm, We need to ensure that this vital safety
measure continues to be the law in New York. Gas station shut offs
fail all the time, and once more, there is always residual fuel in the
gas lines of the pump that when sparked can cause a vehicle to catch
fire. Without these mandated fire suppression systems,  New York
motorists are at risk of hazardous injuries.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the one hundred-eightieth day after it
shall have become a law; provided, however, that the state fire
prevention and building code council shall take any and all actions
necessary to implement the provisions of this act on or before its
effective date.