When are sprinklers required and does the NYC Building Code spell out ways to avoid putting them in?
The quick answer is yes.
Although not stated directly fire protection for structures is achieved by passive and active means. When one talks about passive, these are elements of a building which are used to prevent fire and smoke from spreading. These include fire barriers as well as smoke barriers.
Active fire protection consists of systems that require an external force or signature in order to work. These systems look to either lessen the severity of a fire until help arrives or completely extinguish it.
The use group or occupancy, along with size, number of floors etc. generally will tell you when an active system is required.
There are ways around this. Let us help you to figure this out and guide you through the nuances of the Building Code.