Side by side
F-80 or F-89: when a shelter needs a fire and life safety director
A shelter building needs an F-89 fire and life safety director (FLSD) when the building calls for one: two-way voice communication, a commercial high-rise, or a hotel with 50 or more sleeping rooms above the ground floor. Otherwise the F-80 coordinator supervises the alarm. Shelter certificates compared has the full list, and the coordinator role zone turns the F-80 side into practice.
Plan ref 7.3Updated October 25, 2026
F-80 and F-89 side by side
F-80 and F-89 from their own FDNY documents (as of October 2026)
| Point | F-80 | F-89 (FLSD) |
|---|---|---|
| Where required (differs) | All homeless shelters, and one-way voice buildings with more than 15 people for more than 30 days | High-rise office buildings, hotels, and buildings that chose to install two-way voice systems |
| On site (differs) | At all times; a deputy with an F-80 covers absences | During regular business hours |
| Experience first (differs) | No work-experience minimum in the Study Material | 3 years full-time in listed fields, or 18 months with 6 continuous at one location |
| Course (differs) | School course on the FDNY list; diploma valid 1 year | 31-hour FLSD course: 20 hours fire, 11 hours non-fire |
| Computer tests (differs) | One: 50 questions, 75 minutes | Two: N-85, 120 questions in 186 minutes; Z-89, 55 questions in 83 minutes |
| On-site exam (differs) | None | Yes, scheduled by personnel the building owner designates |
| Pass mark (differs) | 70% | 70% on each computer test |
| Valid where | One location, for that person | One location, for that person |
| Fees (differs) | $25 to apply; renewal $15 every 3 years | $25 for each of the two computer tests, $750 on-site exam billed to the building, $25 card fee; renewal $15 every 3 years |
Shaded rows marked ≠ are the points where F-80 and F-89 (FLSD) differ.
The F-89 route, for comparison
Meet the experience rule
Three years of full-time work in firefighting, fire safety or building systems, or 18 months that include six months at one work location.
Finish the 31-hour course
At a school on the FDNY list for FLSD courses: 20 hours of general topics and fire emergencies, 11 hours of non-fire emergencies.
Pass the N-85 and the Z-89
Two computer tests at FDNY Headquarters, 186 and 83 minutes, each needing 70%. Passing both earns a Certificate of Completion.
Pass the on-site exam
Only personnel the building owner designates may schedule it; candidates cannot book their own.
When a coordinator needs both
Some buildings must install a fire alarm system with two-way voice communication. Others choose to. Either way, the coordinator may need an additional F-89. The building will also need a fire and life safety director (Source: Study Material p. 16). Whether your shelter is that building is for its plan and the FDNY to say.
Key takeaways
- The F-80 row in the Study Material §1 table reads: homeless shelter not requiring an FLSD.
- Two-way voice, a commercial high-rise or a hotel with 50 or more sleeping rooms above ground points to an FLSD.
- The F-89 route is longer: experience, a 31-hour course, two computer tests and an on-site exam.
- Both are premise-related and renew for $15 every three years, but the F-89 costs more up front: two test fees, a $750 on-site exam and a card fee.
- FDNY F-80 Notice of Exam and Study Material, rev. January 2026Checked October 25, 2026
- FDNY F-89/T-89 Notice of Exam (Fire and Life Safety Director), rev. October 26, 2022Checked October 25, 2026
- FDNY F-89 certificate pageChecked October 25, 2026
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