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Because I really don't believe my super because he's lied plenty of times and just straight up talked out of his *** even more times... I'm hoping I can get a conclusive answer from you fellow CD'ers who would have more experience in this area than me.
I have an air conditioner in my bedroom window that sits over the fire escape. Right next to that is another window that sits over the fire escape, so even though I have an A/C in one window, I still have the other window right next to it to escape out to the fire escape should anything happen.
My super just told me that I need to remove it or I could get a fine. It's fine to have it in the summer, but now that summer is over it's not ok to have in the window anymore. That's the part that doesn't make any sense to me. I still use the A/C because even with windows open it doesn't cool down the room at all because of where our apartment is in the building.
I also have two bedroom windows that open on to a fire escape. I was not allowed to put the a/c in either of the windows. I do have a third bedroom window so I ended up putting in the 3rd one. At the time I did look up the rules and found the super was correct (don't have a link but if you search around on the nyc.gov site you could probably find it). I live in a coop and we do follow the rules -- even down to not being allowed to have doormats outside our doors in the hallway. This is because the fire department says nothing can "obstruct" hallways, and I guess a mat is seen as an obstruction.
After the a/c incident I paid close attention to a/c's in windows as I was riding the 7 train and saw TONS of a/c's in windows over fire escapes. So I'm not sure how often the fire department hands out fines, but I do believe it's possible.
That's so funny about the hallway mats. I have one of those too, as well as probably 60% of the residents in our building!
I wish we had a 3rd window in our apartment as I would be happy to put it there, the only windows in our apartment just provide us with lots of noise from the outside (restaurants right below) and no ventilation.
Even in our building I went out on to the fire escape to make sure that I had mounted the A/C properly and there were some more up and down in it.
It's illegal, but the fire department don't go around handing out fines to random people as long as no one
complaint to DOB, but you and your landlord will be in trouble if there happen to be a fire in the building.
My old neighbor from Ridgewood was ordered by DOB to remove some flower pots from the fire escape,
but the next building with people putting their mountain bikes on the fire escape for years no problem.
The rule is not there just for the occupants to escape out safely, but it's also for your neighbors from
upstairs and firemen during emergency. They don't want any obstructions on the fire escape that may
trip over someone on a panic escape during a fire with bad visibility because of smoke.
Thanks for the info. I'm going to keep my A/C in my window as I enjoy sleeping and it's small so it doesn't stick out enough to block any egress up or down the fire escape.
we were just given notices that our window AC's must have a bracket installed and if we don't have one we can have the super install one at our expense
i know mine has a bracket because last year PC Richard told me that installing a bracket in Bronx County was mandatory for them and that i was free to install the AC without a bracket but then PC Richards would not install it. so they did it. actually the fit is better than the jobs my former super did when he installed it
but ive never heard of any rule that we cannot leave the AC in the window
Can you get a portable a/c for the bedroom? They're not as efficient as the window ac but since the unit is entirely inside it shouldn't violate the fire code
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