Self-closing doors
Self-closing doors are required in all buildings with three or more apartments.
NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) inspects doors every time they visit a building for an inspection. Checking for self-closing doors is included in their ‘line of sight inspection protocol.’
The following doors are required to be self closing:
Apartment unit front doors
Doors that provided access to interior corridors (i.e. hallways)
Stairwells in multiple dwelling apartments
Doors to the building exterior
Any door leading to the apartment unit
To ensure that doors are self-closing, property owners may opt to equip doors with devices such as overhead door closers, heavy duty door closers, or floor-spring door closers.
If you have a door that is not self-closing, you can learn how to make a complaint with HPD by clicking this link.
Space heaters
In addition to the responsibilities of landlords and property owners, it is important we all exercise safe practices. Please make sure that space heaters are placed at least three feet away from combustibles.
Combustibles include:
- Blankets
- Curtains
- Newspaper
Turn space heaters off when you leave the room, house, or go to bed, and especially don’t leave them unattended.
DO NOT plug them into an extension cord. Plug them directly into the socket.
When using them, make sure they are placed on the floor and never on a counter top or on furniture.
Here are some Dos and Don’ts from the FDNY.
Dos | Don’ts
If you live in a NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) development, you can read the full fire safety plan here.
Here are more ways to keep your neighbors, your family, and yourself safe.
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