Don’t Let Your ARCS Approval Stand Between You and Your Building’s CO

On October 1, the NY Times front cover of the Sunday Real Estate Section featured an article entitled, “New Supertalls Test the Limits, as the City Consults an Aging Playbook.” The piece highlights real estate developers’ strategy of continually renewing their NYC Department of Buildings Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO). The article focuses on the city’s 25 tallest occupied buildings, but the truth is, there are hundreds of occupied buildings throughout NYC without a final CO. 

One of the requirements for receiving a final CO in a high-rise building is an FDNY Letter of Approval for the building’s Auxiliary Radio Communications System (ARCS). An ARC System provides vital communications for FDNY firefighters in an emergency, and the mandate for these systems came after 343 firefighters died on 9/11. At RF Solutions, our project managers join a project at its inception and play an integral role, providing consistent oversight throughout a project’s lifecycle. We do everything we can to ensure that our FDNY filing, testing, and certification are completed without delays. Building owners sometimes hire us mid-project when other companies have failed to get their systems approved. In the long term, it’s in everyone’s best interest to take the necessary steps to receive a final CO.

The last quote in the article seems like a harbinger for the future. “My view is, if the building doesn’t have a final C.O., there should be a public notice on the front door,” Mr. Young, the former DOB plan examiner, said. He fears that change will only come after something goes wrong. “One disaster will change all of this.”

Since our firm’s inception in 2016, we’ve received over 150 FDNY Letters of Approval for our ARC Systems. If your building requires an ARCS, reach out to find out why we are the right choice.