Did you
call the FDNY explosives
unit to ask them? I think getting direct information would be great, and please let everyone here know.
In asking around a
bit, this is what I learned:
Yes, you need a permit in NYC. This is a new thing as of a year or two or more ago.
The issue is that if the
haze/
fog/
smoke activates a fire alarm, then a fire truck is dispatched to respond, and if the
effect is unpermitted (without a permit) then the company is liable for ANYTHING that happens while the firetruck is responding. The rental
house has no part in getting the permit, but they are obligated to notify you that you need a permit. A year ago or so a firetruck was dispatched to reply to an alarm that was caused by a
smoke machine that had set off the fire alarm in the
venue. The firetruck accidentally hit someone, who later died. The company who had the
smoke machine, who did not get a permit, were found to be guilty of manslaughter. Additionally, responding to a false alarm diverts resources away from responding to actual fires.
If there's a permit, and the alarm goes off, the fire department already knows that it might be/probably is a false alarm, there might even be a contact number for them to
call you. And again, the special effects
house is obligated to inform you. If they don't, they can be liable for damages too.
So, this is what it is in NYC. Yes, get the permit. If you haven't called them by now, you should do it right away. As a reminder, FDNY Bureau of Fire Prevention, Explosives
Unit, 718-999-1595. Jim Lauer is the main contact to talk to. But you can talk to any of the people in the
unit and they'll help you figure this out. I'd think they'd rather know about this at the last minute than not at all.
Good luck.