Section 27-368
§ 27-368 General. (a) Means of egress shall be provided for all
buildings by one or more of the facilities listed below. Access and exit
facilities not specifically covered in this section shall not be used to
satisfy the exit requirements of this code. Fire escapes shall not be
permitted on new construction, with the exception of group homes. Fire
escapes may be used as exits on buildings existing on December sixth,
nineteen hundred sixty-eight when such buildings are altered, subject to
the approval of the commissioner, or as provided in subdivision (b)
hereof. Elevators or escalators shall be provided in all new buildings
exceeding four stories in height except that buildings or building
sections classified in occupancy group H-2 exceeding one story in height
and buildings or building sections classified in occupancy group G or
J-1 exceeding two stories in height shall be provided with elevators.
(b) In group homes all floors used by children shall have alternate
exits remotely located from each other and readily accessible to the
occupants. Fire escapes shall be permitted as the second means of
egress.
Section 27-369
§ 27-369 Corridors. Corridors shall be kept readily accessible and
unobstructed at all times. Corridors shall be kept free of combustible
contents except that in buildings classified in occupancy groups G, H-1
and H-2, combustible contents may be stored in noncombustible lockers
and combustible bulletin boards meeting the requirements of table 5-4
shall be permitted.
(a) Capacity. The capacity and minimum width of corridors shall be as
listed in table 6-1. Width shall be measured in the clear between the
narrowest points produced by any projections such as radiators, lockers,
drinking fountains, or room or locker door swings, except that such
width may be reduced by projections up to eighteen inches wide to the
extent of two inches per unit of exit width if the total area of such
projections does not exceed five per cent of the area of the wall on
which they occur.
(b) Height. Corridors shall have a clear height of seven feet six
inches for at least seventy-five per cent of the floor area, with no
point less than seven feet in height. No projection below the ceiling
shall be located so as to obstruct full view of exit signs.
(c) Length. Corridors shall be subdivided by smoke barriers, as
defined in subchapter two, into the following lengths:
Educational occupancy group G....................300 ft.
Institutional occupancy groups H-1 and H-2.......150 ft.
Residential occupancy groups J-1 and J-2.........150 ft.
Where smoke barriers are penetrated by doors, such doors shall be
smoke stop doors in conformance with subdivision (c) of section 27-371
of this article.
(d) Dead ends. Dead ends in corridors shall not exceed the length
listed in table 6-1, except that in all occupancy groups except
occupancy group H, when a corridor is completely enclosed in
construction having a two hour fire-resistance rating, with all corridor
doors being self-closing and having a fire protection rating of one and
one-half hours, the permissible length of dead ends may be increased one
hundred per cent above the length listed in table 6-1. Dead end distance
shall be measured from the centerline of the door opening nearest to the
closed end of the corridor to the center of an exit door opening, or the
center of that point in the corridor where travel to two or more exits
becomes available in two directions.
(e) Changes in level. Changes in level requiring less than two risers
in a corridor shall be by a ramp complying with section 27-377 of this
article. Risers and treads shall comply with the requirements of
subdivision (e) of section 27-375 of this article.
(f) Exterior corridors. Exterior corridors shall be roofed, and shall
have solid floors drained to prevent accumulations of standing water.
Such floors may serve as fire canopies when so constructed. Exterior
corridors shall be protected along their outer side by guards or
parapets at least three feet six inches high. Openings in guards or
parapets shall be of such dimensions as to prevent the passage of a five
inch dia. ball. Where the outer side of an exterior corridor is more
than fifty per cent enclosed with solid material, it shall be treated as
an interior corridor.
(g) Balconies. Balconies may serve as a means of egress from dwelling
units in buildings classified in occupancy group J-2 under the following
conditions:
(1) They shall serve at least two dwelling units.
(2) They shall be constructed as required for exterior corridors,
except that parapets or guards shall not be higher than four feet on the
outer side of the balcony.
(3) The dwelling units served by balconies shall be separated from
each other by construction having at least a two hour fire resistance
rating. Such separation shall extend at least three feet beyond the
outside face of the exterior wall of the building, although such
projection may be reduced to two feet six inches provided that any
window opening on each such balcony served by the fire separation shall
be at least two inches from such fire separation for every one inch that
such separation is less than thirty-six inches. An opening at least
twenty inches wide shall be provided between the end of this separation
and the balcony parapet or guard, and the opening shall be maintained
free and unobstructed for the full height of the balcony, except that
privacy screens openable from either side may be permitted in the
opening.
(4) Access from dwelling units to the balconies shall be through doors
having glass panels at least two feet wide and four feet high, without
muntins, screens, or other obstructions to hinder entry by breaking the
glass panels. The doors shall be lockable only from the inside by
devices that can be easily released from the outside after breaking the
glass. A combination lock or lock required to be opened by a key or
removable device or tool shall not be used.
(h) Construction.
(1) Interior corridors. Interior corridors shall be completely
enclosed within fire separations to provide a minimum fire-resistance
rating of one hour except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs a
through c of this paragraph:
a. For buildings or spaces classified in occupancy group J-1 or J-2 of
combustible construction group II exceeding two stories in height,
except for buildings not exceeding three stories in height and occupied
exclusively by not more than one family on each story without boarders,
roomers or lodgers, corridors shall be enclosed within fire separations
providing a minimum fire-resistance rating of two hours.
b. Corridor partitions may be omitted or may be constructed of unrated
noncombustible material in buildings in occupancy group H-2 in the
following instances: nurses' stations not exceeding three hundred fifty
square feet in area, waiting spaces, lounges and recreational spaces for
patients and visitors which do not exceed five hundred square feet in
area, spaces used solely for public telephones, and all other spaces
which are completely protected by an automatic wet sprinkler system
complying with the construction requirements of subchapter seventeen of
this code.
c. Corridor partitions may be omitted in spaces of occupancy group H-1
used for detention of persons under legal restraint.
(2) Exterior corridors and balconies. Exterior corridors and balconies
shall be constructed of noncombustible materials.
(i) Borrowed lights. No operable transoms shall be permitted in walls
of corridors. In corridors required to have a one hour fire-resistance
rating, fixed one-quarter inch wire glass panels may be installed in not
more than twenty percent of the common wall between the corridor and any
room or space, provided that no panel exceeds seven hundred twenty
square inches in area; however, openings permitted in paragraph three of
subdivision (h) of section 27-370 of this article may be permitted
provided all of the limitations and requirements specified in that
section are complied with, except that openings in corridor walls
serving as fire divisions required to have a fire-resistance rating
shall be limited to those specified in section 27-342 of article five of
subchapter five of this chapter.
(j) Ventilation. Corridors shall be ventilated in accordance with the
requirements of subchapter twelve of this chapter. Corridors shall not
be used as open plenums or as ducts to exhaust air from rooms or spaces
opening upon them, except as permitted in reference standard RS 13-1.
(k) Interior finish. The interior finish of corridors shall be in
accordance with the requirements of table 5-4.
Section 27-370
§ 27-370 Exit passageways. Exit passageways shall be maintained free
of obstructions at all times. Not more than fifty percent of the total
number of vertical exits provided for a building may be served by a
single exit passageway, except as provided in subdivision (h) of section
27-370 of this article.
(a) Capacity. The capacity of exit passageways shall be as listed in
table 6-1.
(b) Width. The width of an exit passageway serving one vertical exit
shall be equal to the width of the vertical exit. The width of an exit
passageway serving two or more vertical exits shall be equal to
seventy-five percent of the width of all of the vertical exits that it
serves. Width shall be measured in the clear between the narrowest
points at any projections such as radiators, door swings, or pilasters.
(c) Height. Exit passageways shall have a clear height of seven feet
six inches for at least seventy-five per cent of the floor area, with no
point less than seven feet in height. No projection below the ceiling
shall be located so as to obstruct full view of exit signs.
(d) Changes in level. Changes in level requiring less than two risers
in an exit passageway shall be by a ramp complying with section 27-377
of this article. Risers and treads shall comply with the requirements of
subdivision (e) of section 27-375 of this article.
(e) Construction. The construction of exit passageways shall be as
required by table 3-4 for the applicable construction class of the
building.
(f) Openings. No openings other than exit doors shall be permitted in
exit passageways, except as provided in subdivision (h) of this section.
(g) Interior finish. The interior finish of exit passageways shall be
in accordance with the requirements of table 5-4.
(h) Street floor lobbies. Street floor lobbies may be used as exit
passageways when they comply with the requirements of subdivisions (a)
through (g) of this section subject to the following modifications:
(1) VERTICAL EXITS SERVED. One hundred per cent of the total number of
vertical exits provided for a building may be served by a street floor
lobby, if egress is provided in two different directions from the
discharge points of all vertical exits to open exterior spaces that are
remote from each other.
(2) WIDTH. Street floor lobbies serving as exit passageways shall be
increased in width to accommodate the occupant load of all communicating
spaces on the lobby floor that exit through them. The capacity per unit
of width shall be as listed in table 6-1.
(3) OPENINGS. Openings between street floor lobbies serving as exit
passageways and elevators or communicating spaces shall comply with the
following:
a. Doors. 1. Doors to stairways and elevators, and unsprinklered
communicating spaces classified in occupancy group B-2, D-2, F-1 or F-2
shall be self-closing fire doors having a one and one-half hour fire
protection rating.
2. Doors to unsprinklered communicating spaces classified in occupancy
group G, H or J, or sprinklered communicating spaces classified in
occupancy group B-2, D-2, F-1 or F-2 may be either:
(a) self-closing fire doors having a three-quarter hour fire
protection rating, or
(b) glass or other noncombustible doors installed in conjunction with
automatic fire doors having a one and one-half hour fire protection
rating, with sprinkler heads installed over the doors on the room side.
3. No other door openings shall be authorized except as otherwise
provided in this section.
b. Other openings. Other openings to spaces classified in occupancy
group C, E, F, G, H or J shall be permitted, provided they have a
maximum length of eight feet and a maximum height of eight feet, are
glazed by one-quarter inch polished plate glass or equivalent and are
protected by automatic fire doors having a one and one-half hour fire
protection rating and by automatic sprinklers complying with the
construction requirements of subchapter seventeen of this chapter over
the openings on the room side.
c. Separations and limitations. Openings permitted by subparagraphs a
and b of this paragraph shall not exceed in total length fifty per cent
of the length of such enclosure wall except where the length of such
wall is less than sixteen feet. Adjoining openings shall be separated
from each other a minimum of three feet by construction having a two
hour fire-resistance rating.
d. Notwithstanding the restrictions in subparagraphs a, b, and c of
this paragraph, the following openings may be authorized:
1. A space classified in occupancy group C, E, F-3 or, F-4 within fire
separations having a minimum fire-resistance rating of one hour, with an
area not exceeding twenty-five hundred square feet, may have an
unlimited length of show window under the following conditions:
(a) The maximum depth of show window shall be three feet.
(b) Automatic sprinklers complying with the construction requirements
of subchapter seventeen of this chapter, shall be provided in the show
window display area.
(c) The show window display area shall be protected on all sides,
except for the glazed window, by construction having a two hour
fire-resistance rating with access provided by means of a fireproof
self-closing door having a three-quarter hour fire protection rating.
(d) The show window shall be glazed by one-quarter inch polished plate
glass or equivalent.
(e) Glass or other noncombustible doors may be used for entrance to or
egress from the space within fire separations when installed in
combination with automatic fire doors having a one and one-half hour
fire protection rating. Such automatic fire doors shall be located on
the room side and shall be held open by approved door-holding devices
actuated to release automatically upon the activation of smoke detecting
devices, whether of the photoelectric cell or other approved type. In
addition, automatic sprinkler heads, complying with the construction
requirements of subchapter seventeen of this chapter, shall be provided
over the door openings on the room side.
2. A space classified in occupancy group C, E, F-3, or F-4 within fire
separations having a minimum fire-resistance rating of one hour, with an
area not exceeding three thousand square feet, may have a maximum total
length of unprotected openings upon a corridor or exit passageway not
exceeding fifty percent of the space frontage along such corridor or
exit passageway under the following conditions:
(a) The entire space shall be provided with automatic sprinklers
complying with the construction requirements of subchapter seventeen of
this chapter.
(b) The show window shall be glazed by one-quarter inch polished plate
glass or equivalent.
(c) All corridor or exit passageway doors shall be self-closing,
noncombustible, and smokeproof.
3. Show windows or other openings of unlimited lengths and heights
shall be permitted on any corridor or exit passageway without
requirements for fire-resistance doors under the following conditions:
(a) The entire floor area, including the corridors or exit
passageways, shall be provided with automatic sprinklers complying with
the construction requirements of subchapter seventeen of this chapter.
(b) The occupancy of all spaces on the floor shall be limited to
occupancy groups C, E, F-3 and F-4.
(c) The widths of the corridors or passageways shall exceed the
requirements of table 6-1 or subdivision (b) of this section, whichever
is applicable, by at least fifty percent.
(d) All doors opening on the corridors or exit passageways shall be
smokeproof, noncombustible self-closing doors.
(e) Show windows or other openings shall be glazed by one-quarter inch
polished plate glass or equivalent.
(f) Each corridor or exit passageway shall be provided with a fresh
air intake, a positive smoke exhaust system and smoke detectors which,
when activated, shall permit circulation only of fresh air.
(4) OCCUPANCY. Street floor lobbies serving as exit passageways may be
occupied by newsstands, candy and tobacco stands, information booths or
similar occupancies, if such stands or booths are constructed of
noncombustible materials, or of materials which comply with the
requirements of section 27-348 of article five of subchapter five of
this chapter for interior finish for exit passageways, provided that
such stands or booths:
a. do not occupy more than one hundred square feet or five percent of
the net floor area of the lobby, whichever is greater; and
b. do not reduce the required clear width of the lobby at any point;
and
c. if constructed of combustible materials are protected by no less
than two automatic sprinkler heads. Water for such sprinkler heads may
be supplied from the domestic water supply system.
Section 27-371
§ 27-371 Doors. Exit doors and doors providing access to exits shall
comply with the following:
(a) Exit doors. Doors for required exits shall be self-closing
swinging doors with a one and one-half hour fire protection rating,
except in occupancy group J-3 buildings and except that:
(1) Exterior street floor exit doors having an exterior separation of
more than fifteen feet need not have a fire-protection rating.
(2) Doors into stairs and exit passageways shall have at least a
three-quarter hour fire protection rating.
(b) Corridor doors. Doors that provide access to interior corridors
required to have a one hour fire-resistance rating shall be self-closing
swinging fire doors with a three-quarter hour fire-protection rating,
except that in buildings classified in occupancy group G, in which an
acceptable interior fire alarm system is installed and in which regular
supervised fire drills are held, the doors to rooms or spaces devoted
exclusively to nonhazardous uses in occupancy group G need not be
fire-rated, provided they are swinging, self-closing one and
three-quarter inch solid core wood, and have a maximum area of seven
hundred twenty square inches of one-quarter inch thick wired glass
vision panels. Other corridor doors except those provided for in
subdivision (d) of section 27-369 of this article, shall be
self-closing, swinging, noncombustible or one and three-quarter inch
solid core wood doors, except that in buildings classified in occupancy
group H-2 the doors need not be self-closing. Noncombustible mail slots
having an area not exceeding forty square inches may be provided in
corridor doors when the opening is protected by a closure activated by
gravity or a spring device so as to keep it closed when not in use.
Noncombustible louvers may be installed in corridor doors opening into
toilets, service sink closets, and electric closets. Notwithstanding the
foregoing restrictions in this subdivision, doors not prohibited by
subdivision (d) of this section may open from spaces into corridors when
in compliance with all of the provisions of paragraph three of
subdivision (h) of section 27-370 of this article.
(c) Smoke stop doors. Smoke stop doors shall be self-closing, swinging
doors of metal, metal covered, or one and three-quarter inch solid core
wood with clear wire glass panels having a minimum area of six hundred
square inches per door and a maximum area of twelve hundred ninety-six
square inches per door, except that in buildings not over two stories
high, smoke stop doors may be of one and three-eighths inch solid core
wood with clear wire glass panels, unless the doors are also used as
horizontal exits in which case they shall comply with the provisions of
subdivision (b) of section 27-373 of this article. In addition, smoke
stop doors may be constructed of tempered glazing or the equivalent and
be protected by sprinkler heads constructed in accordance with
subchapter seventeen of this chapter and installed a maximum of six feet
(6'-0") on centers on each side of the opening. Smoke stop doors may be
double-acting but shall close the opening completely with only such
clearance as is reasonably necessary for proper operation. Smoke stop
doors shall normally be in the closed position, except that they may be
left open if they are arranged to close automatically by an approved
device which is actuated by an interior fire alarm system meeting the
requirements of subchapter seventeen of this chapter or upon smoke
detection. Tempered glass smoke stop doors shall be marked where
required in accordance with the rules of the board of standards and
appeals.
(d) Prohibited doors. Vertically sliding doors, rolling shutters, and
folding doors shall not be used as exit doors or as corridor doors,
except that overhead garage doors may serve as exits from buildings
classified in occupancy group J-3, and except that sliding or rolling
doors or gates may be used in F-2 places of assembly provided they are
kept open when the place of assembly is occupied. Revolving doors may be
used only to the extent permitted by subdivision (m) of section 27-371
of this article. Automatic horizontally sliding fire doors shall be
permitted only in horizontal exits in fire divisions required to have a
four hour fire-resistance rating as specified in table 5-3.
(e) Door opening widths. The capacity of exit and corridor door
openings shall be as listed in table 6-1. Door jambs or stops and the
door thickness when open shall not reduce the required width by more
than three inches for each twenty-two inches of width. The maximum width
of any swinging door leaf shall be forty-eight inches. The minimum
nominal width of corridor and exit door openings shall be thirty-six
inches, except that where a door opening is divided by mullions into two
or more door openings, the minimum nominal width of each such opening
shall be thirty-two inches. The minimum nominal width of other door
openings shall be as follows:
(1) Door openings to all habitable and occupiable rooms--thirty-two
inches.
(2) Door swinging in pairs (no mullion), opening--forty-eight inches.
(3) Door openings to rooms used by bedridden patients and all single
door openings used by patients in buildings classified occupancy group
H-2--forty-four inches.
(4) Door openings to toilet rooms in buildings to which the public has
free access shall be thirty-two inches.
(5) Door openings giving access to at least one toilet, lavatory and
bathtub or shower in each dwelling unit, in buildings or spaces
classified in occupancy group J-1 or J-2, when such dwelling unit is
accessible to individuals in wheel chairs--thirty-two inches.
(6) Door openings giving access to all toilets, lavatories and
bathtubs or showers serving single room occupancies which are accessible
to individuals in wheelchairs--thirty-two inches.
(7) Door openings for people having physical disabilities shall
additionally comply with the requirements of reference standard RS 4-6.
(f) Door heights. The minimum nominal door opening height for exit and
corridor doors shall be six feet eight inches. Door jambs, stops, sills,
and closers shall not reduce the clear opening to less than six feet six
inches.
(g) Door swing. Exit doors, corridor doors from rooms or spaces
classified in high hazard occupancy group A, or from factories as
defined in the labor law, and corridor doors from rooms required to have
more than one door under the provisions of section 27-365 of article
four of this subchapter, shall swing in the direction of exit travel,
except:
(1) Doors from rooms of instruction in buildings classified in
occupancy group G, having an occupant load of less than seventy-five
persons.
(2) Exterior street floor exit doors from lobbies in buildings
classified in occupancy groups J-2 and J-3.
(3) Exterior street floor exit doors from spaces in occupancy group C
or E not exceeding two thousand square feet in area, and occupied by
less than fifty persons, where the maximum travel distance to a door
does not exceed fifty feet.
(h) Floor level. The floor on both sides of all exit and corridor
doors shall be essentially level and at the same elevation for a
distance, perpendicular to the door opening, at least equal to the width
of the door leaf, except that where doors lead out of a building the
floor level inside may be seven and one-half inches higher than the
level outside.
(i) Closed doors. Exit doors and corridor doors shall normally be kept
in the closed position, except that corridor doors in buildings
classified in occupancy group H-2 shall be exempt from this requirement.
(j) Door and window hardware. Doors and windows shall be equipped with
hardware as follows:
(1) Fire protection requirements.
a. Exit doors and corridors shall be readily openable at all times
from the side from which egress is to be made and shall not require a
key to operate from that side, except that:
1. Locks may be used in penal and mental institutions and areas, where
required for security.
2. Locks may be used in banks, museums, jewelry stores and other
places where extra safeguards are required, subject to the approval of
the commissioner, and provided the locks are equipped with electrical
release devices for remote control in case of emergency.
3. Stairways leading from the top floor to a roof may be provided with
locked wire mesh gates openable by key in buildings classified in
occupancy group G. The use of a hook and eye closing device on the
inside of all doors to roofs shall be permitted.
b. Doors opening into interior stair enclosures shall not be locked
from either side with the following exceptions:
1. Doors may be located to prevent access to the stair at the street
floor.
2. In buildings classified in occupancy group E, less than one hundred
feet in height, the doors may be locked on the stair side on each floor
above the street floor.
3. In buildings classified in occupancy group E, one hundred feet or
more in height, and existing office buildings one hundred feet or more
in height, the doors may be locked on the stair side above the street
floor except that at intervals of four stories or less, doors shall be
openable from the stair side without the use of a key to permit reentry
at such floors. In addition, the door on every floor where a keyed
switch is required by the provisions of subchapter eighteen of this
chapter shall be openable from the stair side without the use of a key
to permit reentry at such floors.
4. When a locked door is provided with an automatic fail safe system
for opening such door in the event of the activation of any automatic
fire detecting device or when any elevator in readiness as provided in
section 27-989 of subchapter eighteen of this chapter is activated, such
door shall be deemed as openable from the stair side. The installation
of such automatic fail safe system shall comply with the requirements of
reference standards RS17-3A and RS17-3B, whichever is applicable. Stair
reentry signs required under section 27-394 of article nine of this
subchapter shall specify that reentry is provided only during fire
emergencies.
c. Latch bolts shall be provided on all exit doors and corridor doors
to hold them in a closed position against the pressure of expanding
gases except that this requirement shall not apply to doors in stair
enclosures in buildings classified in occupancy group G.
(2) Security requirements. The following provisions shall apply to all
buildings erected or altered after December sixth, nineteen hundred
sixty-eight that may be classified in residential occupancy group J-2.
Existing buildings in such group shall comply with the requirements of
article eleven of subchapter two.
a. Building entrance doors and other exterior exit doors shall be
equipped with heavy duty lock sets with auxiliary latch bolts to prevent
the latch from being manipulated by means other than a key. Latch sets
shall have stopwork in the inside cylinder controlled by a master key
only. Outside cylinders of main entrance door locks shall be operated by
the tenants' key, which shall not be keyed to also open the tenant's
apartment door. A light or lights shall be provided at or near the
outside of the front entranceway of the building providing not less than
five foot candles intensity measured at the floor level for the full
width of the entranceway.
b. Doors to dwelling units shall be equipped with a heavy duty latch
set and a heavy duty dead bolt operable by a key from the outside and a
thumb-turn from the inside. Those doors shall also be equipped with a
chain guard so as to permit partial opening of the door. Dwelling unit
entrance doors shall also be equipped with a viewing device located so
as to enable a person on the inside of the entrance door to view a
person immediately outside.
c. All openable windows shall be equipped with sash locks designed to
be openable from the inside only. Grilles lockable from the inside only
may be placed on the inside or outside of windows that are accessible
from grade but that do not serve to provide access to exits.
d. Buildings classified in occupancy group J-2 containing eight or
more dwelling units shall be provided with an intercommunication system
located at the door giving access to the main entrance hall or lobby,
consisting of a device or devices for voice communication between the
occupant of each dwelling unit and a person outside said door to the
main entrance hall or lobby and permitting such dwelling unit occupant
to release the locking mechanism of said door from the dwelling unit.
(k) Panic hardware.
(1) Exit doors shall be equipped with fire exit bolts when providing
an exit from:
a. Buildings classified in occupancy group G, except exit doors
opening directly outdoors at grade from rooms having an occupant load of
less than seventy-five persons,
b. F-1 places of assembly,
c. F-2, F-3 and F-4 places of assembly having an occupant load
exceeding three hundred persons, except places of assembly having doors
that are not equipped with locks and are openable at all times.
(2) Fire exit bolts shall be of an approved type, and shall release
when a pressure exceeding fifteen pounds is applied to the releasing
device in the direction of exit travel. The bars or panels shall extend
at least two-thirds of the width of the door and shall be placed at
least thirty inches, but not more than forty-four inches above the
floor.
(l) Power operated doors. Power operated doors or power assisted
manually operated doors, may be used as exit or corridor doors provided
they remain closed in case of power failure but shall be manually
operable. No power operated door shall be credited as a required exit
unless it swings in the direction of exit travel.
(m) Revolving doors. Revolving doors shall not be used as exits in
buildings classified in occupancy group F-1 or F-2, G, or H; nor shall
revolving doors be used in any occupancy as interior doors providing
access to exits, at the foot of stairs, or at the head of basement
stairs. Where revolving doors are used as exits, they shall comply with
the following:
(1) They may provide not more than one unit or exit width for each
revolving door and not more than fifty per cent of the required exit
capacity at any location, provided that the revolving doors are located
adjacent to, or within twenty feet, of swinging doors that provide the
remaining required exit capacity at that location.
(2) They shall be collapsible, and designed and constructed so that:
a. Each wing is independently supported by a hanger with a corrosion
resistant safety release which, when pressure of between sixty to eighty
pounds is exerted simultaneously on the wings on opposite sides of the
door pivot, the door wings will fold back on themselves in the direction
of egress.
b. Each wing is provided with at least one push bar and glazed with at
least 7/32 in. plate or tempered glass.
c. The inside diameter of the enclosure is at least six feet six
inches.
d. The freely operable maximum rate of revolving speed is controlled
so that it is not greater than fifteen rpm.
e. The upper surface of the floor finish within the door enclosure is
flush with the adjacent floor area, and permanently secured in place.
(3) The owner shall be responsible at all times for the operation and
maintenance of revolving doors, and shall have the doors inspected at
intervals not to exceed six months. All parts of the doors, including
the safety releases and speed control mechanism, shall be maintained in
good working order. Inspection reports shall be made in writing and kept
on file at the premises for at least two years.
(n) Turnstiles. No turnstile or other device designed to restrict
travel shall be placed so as to obstruct any required exit, except that
approved turnstiles that turn freely in the direction of exit travel may
be used in any occupancy where revolving doors are permitted. Turnstiles
shall be not more than thirty-six inches nor less than thirty inches
high and shall be of such design as to provide twenty-two inches clear
width as the turnstile rotates. Each turnstile may be credited with a
capacity of one unit of exit width. Not more than fifty per cent of the
required exit capacity may be provided by turnstiles at any location.
The balance of the required exit capacity shall be provided by swinging
doors located within twenty feet of the turnstiles. Turnstiles over
thirty-six inches high shall meet the applicable requirements of this
code for revolving doors.
Section 27-372
§ 27-372 Area of refuge. Areas of refuge shall comply with the
following:
(a) Separation. Areas of refuge shall be separated from the area which
they serve by construction having at least a two hour fire-resistance
rating.
(b) Floor area. Areas of refuge shall provide clear public space or
space occupied by the same tenant or owner, adequate in size to hold the
occupant load it receives from the floor area it serves as computed by
the provision of section 27-367 of article four of this subchapter, in
addition to its own occupant load, allowing at least three square feet
per person, except that in buildings classified in occupancy group H-2
for patient areas only, the allowance shall be at least thirty square
feet per person.
(c) Required exits. Areas of refuge shall be provided with at least
one vertical exit. When an area of refuge is located higher than the
eleventh floor of a building, the vertical exit shall be supplemented by
at least one elevator.
(d) Locking. Doors providing access to areas of refuge shall be kept
unlocked at all times when any floor area served by the area of refuge
is occupied.
Section 27-373
§ 27-373 Horizontal exits. A horizontal exit to an area of refuge may
consist of doors through walls or partitions having at least a two hour
fire-resistance rating; of a balcony or exterior vestibule leading
around the end of a fire division to another fire area or building; or
it may be a bridge or tunnel between two buildings. Horizontal exits
shall comply with the following:
(a) Capacity. The capacity of horizontal exits shall be as listed in
table 6-1. Only the widths of doors swinging in the direction of exit
travel to the area of refuge shall be counted.
(b) Door requirements. Doors shall be swinging, self-closing doors
having a fire protection rating of one and one-half hours, except that
door in fire divisions having a three hour or four hour fire-resistance
rating shall have opening protective as required by table 5-3. Each
swinging door shall swing in the direction of exit travel, and when
travel is in both directions, as when two areas of refuge serve as areas
of refuge for each other, at least two door openings shall be provided,
the doors of which shall swing in opposite directions. Signs shall be
placed over each door on the side from which egress is made, indicating
the exit door.
(c) Balconies, bridges and tunnels. When serving as horizontal exits,
balconies, bridges, and tunnels shall comply with the following:
(1) Their width shall be equal to at least the width of the doors
opening on them, but in no case less than three feet eight inches.
(2) They shall be enclosed at each end by doors complying with
subdivision (b) of this section.
(3) The floor level at doors shall be the same as that of the building
except that the floor level of open balconies or open bridges shall be
approximately seven and one-half inches lower.
(4) Where there is a difference in level between the areas connected,
the floors of the horizontal exit shall be ramped not more than one inch
in ten inches.
(5) Exterior wall openings within thirty feet horizontally of any open
bridge or balcony or below any open bridge or balcony shall be provided
with opening protectives having a three-quarter hour fire protection
rating.
(6) Balconies shall not face or open on yards or courts less than
twelve feet wide, and shall be constructed as required for exterior
corridors.
(7) Exterior bridges shall be constructed of noncombustible materials.
Interior bridges or tunnels shall be constructed of materials providing
a two hour fire-resistance rating.
Section 27-374
§ 27-374 Supplemental vertical exits. Enclosed interior stairs, ramps,
or escalators may provide access to an area of refuge located on a floor
nearer to the street floor, when complying with the following:
(a) Limitation. They shall be supplemental vertical exits serving no
other purpose than to connect a floor area with an area of refuge.
(b) Capacity. The capacity of supplemental vertical exits shall be as
listed for stairs in table 6-1.
(c) Construction. Supplemental vertical exits shall comply with all of
the construction requirements for interior stairs as provided in section
27-375 of this article.
(d) Openings. There shall be no openings in supplemental vertical exit
enclosures other than the exit doors and doors leading into the area of
refuge.
(e) Identification. Every supplemental vertical exit shall have a sign
at the entrance designating its destination reading, "EXIT TO AREA OF
REFUGE ON......FLOOR."
Section 27-375
§ 27-375 Interior stairs. Interior stairs shall comply with the
following requirements:
(a) Capacity. The capacity of interior stairs shall be as listed in
table 6-1.
(b) Width. The width of interior stairs shall be the clear width
between walls, grilles, guards, or newel posts. Stair stringers may
project into the required width not more than two inches on each side of
the stair. No interior stair shall be reduced in width in the direction
of exit travel. Interior stairs shall be at least forty-four inches wide
except as follows:
(1) Interior stairs may be not less than thirty-six inches wide when
serving not more than thirty occupants per stair on any floor in
buildings classified in occupancy groups J-1 and J-2 or when serving
buildings classified in occupancy group J-3 and exceeding four stories
in height, or when serving not more than sixty occupants per stair on
any floor in buildings classified in occupancy groups E, B, and D.
(2) Interior stairs may be not less than thirty inches wide when
serving mezzanines having an occupant load not exceeding twenty-five
persons or when located in buildings classified in occupancy group J-3
not more than three stories in height. Interior stairs in four story
buildings classified in occupancy group J-3 shall be a minimum of
thirty-three inches in width.
(c) Headroom. The clear headroom shall be at least seven feet, except
that in buildings classified in occupancy groups J-2 and J-3, the
minimum clear headroom may be six feet eight inches. Headroom in a
flight of stairs shall be measured vertically between two parallel
inclined planes, one of which contains the line of the nosing or upper
front edge of each tread and extends to its intersection with a landing
and the other of which is through any point directly above the first
plane that limits the headroom of the stair.
(d) Landings and platforms. Landings and platforms shall be provided
at the head and foot of each flight of stairs, except at the head of
basement stairs in one- and two-family dwellings, and shall comply with
the following:
(1) The minimum width of landings and platforms perpendicular to the
direction of travel shall be equal to at least the width of the stairs
except that on a straight-run stair, the distance between risers of
upper and lower flights at intermediate landings or platforms need not
be more than forty-four inches.
(2) The maximum vertical rise of a single flight of stairs between
floors, between landings or platforms, or between a floor and a landing
or platform shall not exceed eight feet in buildings classified in
occupancy groups F and H, and twelve feet in all other occupancy groups.
No flight of stairs shall have less than two risers.
(3) Landings and platforms shall be enclosed on sides by walls,
grilles or guards at least three feet high.
(e) Risers and treads. Risers and treads shall comply with table 6-4
and with the following:
(1) The sum of two risers plus one tread exclusive of nosing shall be
not less than twenty-four nor more than twenty-five and one-half inches.
(2) Riser height and tread width shall be constant in any flight of
stairs from story to story.
(3) Winders shall not be permitted in required exit stairs except in
one- and two-family dwellings and except as permitted in subdivision l
of this section. The width of winder treads when measured eighteen
inches from the narrower end shall be at least equal to the width of
treads above or below the winding section.
(4) Curving or skewed stairs may be used as exits when the tread and
riser relationship is in accordance with table 6-4 when measured at a
point eighteen inches in from the narrow end of the tread; and no tread
shall be more than three inches narrower or three inches wider at any
point than the width established eighteen inches in from the narrow end.
(f) Guards and handrails. Stairs shall have walls, grilles, or guards
at the sides and shall have handrails on both sides, except that stairs
less than forty-four inches wide may have a handrail on one side only.
Handrails shall provide a finger clearance of one and one-half inches,
and shall project not more than three and one-half inches into the
required stair width.
(1) Stairs more than eighty-eight inches wide shall have intermediate
handrails dividing the stairway into widths that maintain the nominal
multiples of twenty-two inches, but the widths shall not be greater than
eighty-eight inches nor less than forty-four inches.
(2) The height of handrails above the nosing of treads shall be not
more than thirty-four inches nor less than thirty inches.
(3) Handrails shall be returned to walls and posts when terminated,
except in one- and two-family dwellings.
(4) Handrails shall be designed to support loads in compliance with
the requirements of subchapter nine of this chapter.
(5) Handrails in all stairs shall be of materials having a
flame-spread rating not exceeding one hundred fifty.
(g) Stair doors. Doors providing access to stairs shall comply with
the requirements of subdivision (a) of section 27-342 of article five of
subchapter five of this chapter and subdivision (e) of section 27-371 of
this article. The swing of stair doors shall not block stairs or stair
landings, nor shall any door at any point of its swing reduce the
effective width of the landing or stair to less than seventy-five
percent of the required width of the landing or stair, or to less than
the width of the door opening on them. The width of doors from a stair
shall not be less than the number of units of exit width required for
the capacity of the stair, but in no case shall the door width be less
than required by subdivision (e) of section 27-371 of this article.
(h) Stair construction. Risers, treads, stringers, landings,
platforms, and guards, exclusive of handrails, shall be built of
noncombustible materials except that interior stairs in buildings of
construction group II may be built of combustible materials in buildings
classified in occupancy group B-2, C, D or E when the buildings are two
stories in height or less, and in buildings classified in occupancy
group J-2 or J-3 when the buildings are not more than three stories in
height, and in the case of J-2 occupancy group, when occupied by not
more than three families. Interior stairs shall have solid treads. All
risers shall be closed except as otherwise provided in subdivision (i)
of this section. When of combustible construction, the soffit of
interior stairs shall be fire protected by material having a minimum
fire resistive rating of one hour or five-eighths inches gypsum wall
board or equivalent, or the space beneath shall be enclosed without
openings by material having a one hour fire resistance rating unless
permitted to have open risers by subdivision (i) of this section. Where
two separate interior stairs are contained within the same enclosure (so
called "scissor stairs"), each stair shall be separated from the other
by noncombustible construction having a fire resistance rating equal to
that required for the stair enclosure.
Stairs, platforms, and landings shall be designed to support all loads
in compliance with the requirements of subchapter nine of this chapter.
Treads and landings shall be built of or surfaced with nonskid
materials.
(i) Stair enclosures.
(1) Interior stairs shall be enclosed with construction complying with
the requirements of table 3-4 except that:
(a) In buildings three stories or less in height excluding those
classified in occupancy group J-1 or J-2 combustible construction group
II, the enclosing construction may have a one hour fire resistant
rating.
(b) Stairs in buildings or spaces classified in occupancy group J-3
and not more than three stories in height, need not be enclosed except
as otherwise required in subdivision (a) of section 27-341 of article
five of subchapter five of this chapter. Stairs may have open risers in
one family dwellings and group homes.
(c) Unenclosed stairs in buildings classified in assembly occupancy
group F may be permitted as provided in subchapter eight of this
chapter.
(d) Stairs from floors or mezzanines may be unenclosed, with open or
closed risers.
(e) In buildings classified in occupancy group J-2 occupied
exclusively by not more than one family on each story without boarders,
roomers or lodgers and not more than three stories in height, the
enclosing construction may have a one hour fire-resistance rating which
may be constructed of combustible material provided that the stair
enclosure is protected with an automatic sprinkler system complying with
the construction provisions of subchapter seventeen of this chapter.
(f) In buildings classified in occupancy group J-1 or J-2 not more
than two stories in height of combustible construction group II, the
enclosing construction may have a one hour fire-resistance rating which
may be constructed of combustible material; however, where only one
vertical exit is provided the stair enclosure shall be protected
throughout with an automatic sprinkler system constructed in accordance
with the provisions of subchapter seventeen of this chapter.
(g) Except as provided in subparagraphs (a), (e) and (f) of this
paragraph, in all buildings or spaces classified in occupancy group J-1
or J-2, the enclosing construction shall be of masonry or an approved
equivalent material having at least a two hour fire-resistant rating.
(2) Access stairs connecting not more than two stories which do not
serve as a required exit may be constructed without an enclosure in
buildings classified in other than occupancy group H-2. Such stairs
shall be additional to and shall not obstruct or interfere with required
exit facilities. When the first story below grade is served by an
interior, unenclosed access stair, it shall be sprinklered in accordance
with the construction provisions of subchapter seventeen of this
chapter.
(3) The interior finish of interior stair enclosures shall be in
accordance with the requirements of table 5-4.
(4) Stair enclosures shall be vented in accordance with the
requirements for shafts in subdivision (d) of section 27-344 of article
five of subchapter five of this chapter except that stair enclosures for
buildings or spaces classified in occupancy group J-1 or J-2 shall be
vented as follows:
a. In occupancy group J-2 buildings three stories in height and with
not more than one dwelling unit per story or two stories in height with
not more than two dwelling units per story, shall be provided with a
skylight at least nine square feet in area, glazed with plain glass with
a wire screen over and under and provided with fixed or movable
ventilators having a minimum open area of forty square inches.
b. In occupancy group J-1 or J-2 buildings two stories in height with
more than two dwelling units per story shall be provided with a skylight
of at least twenty square feet in area, glazed with plain glass, with a
wire screen over and under and provided with fixed or movable
ventilators having a minimum open area of forty square inches.
c. In occupancy group J-1 buildings exceeding two stories in height
and in occupancy group J-2 buildings three stories in height with more
than one dwelling unit per story or exceeding three stories in height
shall be provided with a skylight at least twenty square feet in area,
glazed with plain glass with a wire screen over and under and provided
with fixed or movable ventilators having a minimum open area of one
hundred forty-four square inches. In lieu of the skylight and
ventilators a window of equal area may be provided with fixed louvres
having a minimum open area of one hundred forty-four square inches
installed in or immediately adjacent to the window.
(5) When dwelling units are located over a space classified in
occupancy group C or E on the street floor, they shall be provided with
a separate enclosed interior stair, or with an exterior stair.
(6) Impact resistance. Stair enclosures serving occupancy group E
spaces (office spaces) in high rise buildings constructed pursuant to
applications filed on or after July 1, 2006 shall comply with rules to
be promulgated by the commissioner establishing minimum impact
resistance standards. Such rules shall permit compliance with assemblies
comprising approved reinforced construction boards affixed onto stud
framing. The commissioner shall promulgate such rules on or before
January 1, 2006.
(j) Openings and obstructions to stair enclosures. No piping of any
kind, with the exception of piping required or permitted in subchapter
seventeen of this code, shall be permitted within a stair enclosure. No
openings of any kind, other than windows, fire department access panels,
exit doors and openings specifically authorized in reference standard RS
5-18 shall be permitted within a stair enclosure. Pipes required or
permitted by such subchapter seventeen and protected in accordance
therewith which do not reduce the required clearances of the enclosure
may be permitted. Ducts protected in accordance with the requirements of
subchapter thirteen of this chapter, which do not reduce the required
clearances of the enclosure, may be permitted. In addition, in buildings
in occupancy group J-2, which are three stories or less in height and
occupied by not more than two families on each story, a door from an
apartment may open directly into a stair, and the door may swing into
the apartment.
(k) Roof access. (1) Except as otherwise provided for in paragraphs
two and three of this subdivision, in buildings or in building sections
more than three stories or forty feet high with roofs having a slope of
less than twenty degrees, access to the roof shall be provided by at
least one interior stair, except that access to setback roof areas may
be through a door or window opening to the roof. Interior stairs
extending to roofs shall be enclosed in bulkheads of fire-resistant
construction meeting the requirements of subchapter five of this
chapter.
(2) In buildings or in building sections classified in occupancy group
J-1 or J-2 more than two stories in height, except as otherwise provided
for in paragraph three of this subdivision, with roofs having a slope of
fifteen degrees or less all interior stairs, except those terminating at
a level of a setback roof, shall extend to the roof and shall be
enclosed in bulkheads of fire-resistive construction meeting the
requirements of subchapter five of this chapter. Stairs terminating at
the level of a setback shall provide access to the setback roof areas
through a door except where the setback is less than four feet in width,
measured from the inside of the parapet wall, and less than ten feet in
length.
(3) In buildings or in building sections classified in occupancy group
J-1 or J-2 two stories in height and in occupancy group J-2 three
stories in height with not more than one dwelling unit per story with
roofs having a slope of fifteen degrees or less, access to the roof
shall be provided through a scuttle at least twenty-one inches in width
and twenty-eight inches in length and shall comply with subdivision (c)
of section 27-338 of article four of subchapter five of this chapter.
Scuttles shall be located within each stair enclosure with a stationary
iron ladder leading thereto.
(l) Spiral stairs. Spiral stairs may serve as access stairs between
two floors or levels in accordance with the provisions of paragraph two
of subdivision (i) of this section. Such stairs may not serve as
required exits, except that unenclosed spiral stairs when built of
noncombustible materials and having a tread length of at least thirty
inches may serve as exits from mezzanines or balconies having an
occupant load not exceeding twenty-five persons.
Table 6-4 Maximum Riser Height and Minimum Tread Width
========================================================================
Occupancy Group Classification Maximum Riser Minimum Tread{1}
of Building Height (in.) Width (in.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Residential J-3 (with closed risers).. 8 1/4 9 plus 1 1/4 nosing
Residential J-3 (with open risers).... 8 1/4 9 plus 1/2 nosing
Residential J-2 (with only three......
dwelling units)....................... 8 1/4 9 plus 1 1/4 nosing
Assembly F............................ 7 1/2 9 1/2 plus nosing
Institutional H-2..................... 7 10 plus nosing
All others{2}......................... 7 3/4 9 1/2 plus nosing
========================================================================
Notes:
{1} Treads may be undercut a distance equal to the nosing. A nosing
shall not be required when tread width is eleven inches or wider.
{2} The proportions and dimensions of treads and risers may be
adjusted in buildings classified in occupancy group G to suit the age of
occupants, subject to the approval of the commissioner.
Section 27-376
§ 27-376 Exterior stairs. Exterior stairs may be used as exits in lieu
of interior stairs provided they comply with all of the requirements for
interior stairs, except enclosure, and except as modified below:
(a) Capacity. The capacity of exterior stairs shall be as listed in
table 6-1.
(b) Height limitation. No exterior stair shall exceed seventy-five
feet or six stories in height.
(c) Construction. Exterior stairs shall be constructed entirely of
noncombustible materials, except that in buildings classified in
occupancy groups other than G, F, or H, of construction group II,
located outside the fire districts, exterior stairs may be built of
combustible materials when the buildings are two stories or thirty feet
in height or less and have an occupant load not exceeding forty persons
per floor above the street below. Exterior stairs shall be roofed, and
shall be protected along their outer sides as required for exterior
corridors in subdivision (f) of section 27-369 of this article. Treads,
landings, and platforms shall be solid and unperforated. Risers may be
partially open to permit water and snow to drain.
(d) Opening protective. In buildings four stories or fifty feet in
height or more, there shall be no openings in the building walls
adjoining exterior stairs other than one-quarter hour self-closing
swinging fire doors, and no openings nearer than ten feet to the stair
(measured horizontally) that are not provided with three-quarter hour
opening protectives.
(e) Location. No exterior stair shall be located nearer than ten feet
to an interior lot line.
(f) Discharge. Exterior stairs shall extend continuously to grade.
Section 27-376.1
§ 27-376.1 Fire tower. Fire towers may be used as exits in lieu of
interior stairs provided they comply with all of the requirements for
interior stairs, except as modified below.
(a) The enclosing walls of fire towers shall be of incombustible
materials or assemblies having a fire-resistance rating of at least four
hours. Such walls shall be without openings, except for doors serving as
means of egress.
(b) At each story served by a fire tower, access to the stairways of
such fire tower shall be provided through outside balconies or fireproof
vestibules. Such balconies or vestibules shall be at least three feet
eight inches in width and shall have unpierced floors of incombustible
materials and shall be provided with substantial guard railings at least
four feet high, without any openings greater than five inches in width.
(c) Such balconies or vestibules of fire towers shall be level with
the floors of the structure and the platforms of the stairs connected by
such balconies. Such balconies or vestibules shall be separated from the
structure and the stairs by self-closing swinging doors with a one and
one-half hour fire protection rating, capable of being opened from both
sides without the use of a key or other unlocking device.
(d) Balconies or vestibules of fire towers shall open on a street or
yard, or on a court open vertically to the sky for its full height,
having a minimum net area of one hundred five square feet and a minimum
dimension of seven feet. The opening from the vestibule to the street,
yard or court shall have a minimum area of eighteen square feet and a
minimum dimension of two feet six inches. It shall be unlawful to leave
openings in the court walls surrounding an interior fire tower, other
than the openings from the vestibules, within fifteen feet of the
balcony, except that self-closing windows with a three-quarter hour fire
protection rating may be used if such windows are at least ten feet from
the balcony, provided that the area of the court is at least twelve feet
by twenty-four feet.
(e) Fire towers shall terminate at grade level and shall exit directly
to the street independently of corridors serving other stairways, except
when the fire tower terminates in the ground floor corridor outside of
the inner vestibule and within ten feet of the building line.
(f) Fire tower stairs shall comply in all other respects with the
applicable requirements of section 27-375 of this code.
Section 27-377
§ 27-377 Ramps. Interior or exterior ramps may be used as exits in
lieu of interior or exterior stairs provided they comply with the
applicable requirements for interior stairs in section 27-375 of this
article or exterior stairs in section, 27-376 of this article
respectively, and with the following:
(a) Capacity. The capacity of ramps shall be as listed in table 6-1.
(b) Maximum grade. Ramps shall not have a slope steeper than 1 in 8,
except that in buildings classified in occupancy group H the slope shall
not exceed 1 in 12, and except as provided in subchapter eight of this
chapter for places of assembly.
(c) Design.
(1) CHANGES IN DIRECTION. Ramps shall be straight, with changes in
direction being made at level platforms or landings, except that ramps
having a slope not greater than one in twelve at any place, may be
curved.
(2) LENGTH. The sloping portion of ramps shall be at least three feet
but not more than thirty feet long between level platforms or landings.
(3) PLATFORMS. Level platforms or landings, at least as wide as the
ramp, shall be provided at the bottom, at intermediate levels where
required, and at the top of all ramps. Level platforms shall be provided
on each side of door openings into or from ramps having a minimum length
in the direction of exit travel of three feet, and when a door swings on
the platform or landing a minimum length of five feet.
(4) DOORS. Door openings into or from ramps shall comply with the
requirements for stairs in subdivision (g) of section 27-375 of this
article. No door shall swing over the sloping portion of a ramp.
(5) GUARDS AND RAILINGS. Guards and railings of ramps shall comply
with the applicable requirements of subdivision (f) of section 27-375 of
this article except that only ramps having a slope steeper than one in
twelve need comply with the requirements for handrails and intermediate
handrails shall not be required.
(6) SURFACE. Interior ramps exceeding a slope of one in ten and all
exterior ramps shall be provided with nonslip surfaces.
(7) Ramps for people having physical disabilities shall additionally
comply with the requirements of reference standard RS 4-6.
Section 27-378
§ 27-378 Escalators. Escalators may be used as exits in lieu of
interior stairs provided they comply with all of the requirements of
subchapter eighteen of this chapter and with the applicable requirements
for enclosed interior stairs, except as modified below:
(a) Capacity. The capacity of escalators as listed in table 6-1 shall
be based on the following:
MINIMUM WIDTH (IN.) AT:
========================================================================
Units of
Step Balustrade{1} Enclosure{2} Exit Width
------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 32 52 1-1/2
40 48 68 2
========================================================================
Notes:
{1} Measured twenty-seven inches above front edge of tread.
{2} Clear width above handrails.
(b) Acceptable exits. Only escalators moving in the direction of exit
travel may be credited as exits, except that any escalator may be
credited when it is connected to an automatic fire detection system that
will cause it to stop simultaneously with the detection of fire. The
detection system shall comply with the construction provisions of
subchapter seventeen of this chapter. Where an escalator provides exit
facilities from only one floor of a building, the automatic detection
system shall be located on that floor. Where escalators provide exit
facilities from more than one floor, the detection system shall be
located on all floors so served, and shall cause escalators on all
floors of the section of the building that they serve to stop operating.
The stopping mechanism shall operate to bring the escalator to a
gradual, rather than an abrupt stop.
(c) Escalators not used as exits. Escalators that do not serve as
exits, and that connect more than two stories of a building, shall be
completely enclosed with noncombustible construction having a
three-quarter hour fire-resistance rating, except that in buildings
completely protected by an automatic sprinkler system complying with the
construction requirements of subchapter seventeen of this chapter, such
escalators may, alternatively, be protected by one of the methods
specified in subchapter eighteen of this chapter.
Section 27-379
§ 27-379 Moving walkways. Pedestrian walkways consisting of conveyor
belts shall be considered as exit passageways if level, or as ramps if
inclined, and shall be acceptable as exits if they comply with the
applicable requirements for exit passageways or ramps, and with the
following:
(a) Capacity. The capacity shall be as listed under exit passageways
or ramps, as the case may be, in table 6-1.
(b) Acceptable exits. Only walkways moving in the direction of exit
travel may be credited as exits, except that any moving walkway may be
credited when it is connected to an automatic fire detection system that
will cause it to stop simultaneously with the detection of fire on the
floor it serves. Such detection system shall comply with the
construction provisions of subchapter seventeen of this chapter.
(c) Design and construction. Walkways shall comply with the
requirements of subchapter eighteen of this chapter.
(d) Enclosure. Walkways that do not serve as exits, but are inclined
so as to require an opening in any floor, shall be enclosed as required
for escalators in subdivision (c) of section 27-378 of this article.
Section 27-380
§ 27-380 Fire escapes. Fire escapes constructed on existing buildings
when altered or as a second means of egress for group homes as permitted
by section 27-368 of this article shall comply with the following:
(a) Capacity. The capacity of fire escapes shall be as listed in table
6-1 for stairs.
(b) Stairs. The minimum width of fire escape stairs shall be
twenty-two inches. Treads shall have a minimum width of eight inches,
exclusive of a required one inch nosing. The maximum height of risers
shall be eight inches. No flight of stairs shall exceed twelve feet in
height between landings.
(c) Landings. Landings shall be provided at each story served by fire
escapes. The minimum width of landings shall be three feet, and the
minimum length shall be four feet six inches. Floor openings in landings
shall be at least twenty-two inches by twenty-eight inches.
(d) Handrails and guards. Handrails having a minimum height of
thirty-two inches above the tread nosing shall be provided on both sides
of stairs, and guards having a minimum height of thirty-six inches shall
be provided on all open sides of landings, openings in guards shall be
of such dimensions as to prevent the passage of a five inch dia. ball.
(e) Construction. Fire escapes shall be constructed of noncombustible
materials adequately protected against deterioration by corrosion or
other effects of exposure to the weather, and shall be designed to
comply with the requirements of subchapter nine of this chapter.
(f) Access. Access to fire escapes shall be by doors or windows having
a minimum clear opening of twenty-four inches in width and thirty inches
in height. Such doors or windows shall have a fire protection rating of
three-quarters of an hour except in buildings classified in occupancy
group J-2.
(g) Discharge. The top landing of fire escapes shall be provided with
a stair or gooseneck ladder leading to the roof, except that this
requirement shall not apply to buildings having a roof pitch of more
than twenty degrees. The lowest landing of fire escapes shall be not
more than sixteen feet above grade and shall be provided with a stair to
grade which may be counterbalanced.
To the extent possible under law, Friends of Devin Balkind for Public Advocate has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to New York City Administrative Code. This work is published from: United States.
Special thanks to Benjarmin Kallos and Thom Neale who made this content publicly available as a bulk download.