3 RCNY 401-06

The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has mandated new signage requirements for residential apartment buildings that promote fire safety and are designed to save lives in a fire emergency. There is also a new mandate for an emergency evacuation checklist and distribution of a fire safety guide.

Since 2000, New York City has required apartment building owners to print and distribute residential fire safety guides to apartment building residents and building staff, and to post fire safety notices on the inside of dwelling unit entrance doors and in building lobbies. The purpose of these fire safety guides and notices is to:

  • Promote fire safety and fire prevention in apartment buildings.
  • Educate residents and building staff about the design and construction of their building, including construction type, fire protection systems and means of egress.
  • Outline emergency procedures to assist them in the event that they are confronted by a fire and need to determine what action to take to protect themselves and their families.
close the door notice red

Close The Door Notice Red

close the door notice white

Close The Door Notice White

The purpose for the Close the Door Notice is intended to provide a clear, visible reminder to building residents of the importance of closing each door as one exits one’s apartment and building during a fire. Closing these doors serves to contain the fire and smoke within the apartment, assist in firefighting operations and prevent smoke from entering the stairwells through which building residents may need to evacuate.

Close the door notices shall be posted and maintained in the following building locations:

On the public hallway corridor side of each stairwell door in the building.shop online

Fire and Emergency Preparedness Notice

The Purpose of the fire and emergency preparedness notice serves to inform building residents and building staff about evacuation procedures and to provide other guidance in the event of a fire or non-fire emergency in the building or occupancy.

There are 2 different notices for different building construction types:

  • Noncombustible construction. The content of this notice shall be used for dwelling unit doors and common areas when the building is of noncombustible construction within the meaning set forth in R401-06(c)(3)(E).
  • Combustible construction. The content of this notice shall be used for dwelling unit doors and common areas when the building is of combustible construction within the meaning set forth in R401-06(c)(3)(E).
Fire Safety Notice 408-02 Non Combustible

Fire Safety Notice 408-02 Non Combustible

Fire Safety Notice 408-02 Combustible

Fire Safety Notice 408-02 Combustible


Where to post the Notice:  Fire and emergency preparedness notices shall be posted in accordance with the following requirements:

Location. A fire and emergency preparedness notice shall be posted in each of the following locations:
(1)    Dwelling unit door. On the inside surface of the front or main entrance door of each dwelling unit in the building.
(2)    Common area. In a conspicuous location near any common mailbox area customarily used by building occupants, or if there is no common mailbox area, in a conspicuous location in or near the elevators or main stairwell.

shop onlineMethod of posting. Each fire and emergency preparedness notice shall be securely affixed, by mounting hardware or an adhesive, to the door or wall such that no part of the fire and emergency preparedness notice (excluding any frame) is lower than four (4) feet from the floor, nor higher than five and a half (51⁄2) feet from the floor.

FDNY New York City Apartment Building Emergency Preparedness Guide

New York Real Estate Journal Article