Section 27-525
§ 27-525 General. The provisions of this article shall apply to all
places of assembly, in addition to the specific requirements of articles
three through five of this subchapter for the several categories of
places of assembly.
Section 27-525.1
§ 27-525.1 Place of assembly permit. a. It shall be unlawful to use or
occupy any building or premises or part thereof as a place of assembly
unless and until a permit therefor shall have been issued by the
department. The permit shall be for a term of one year.
b. The application for such permit and such permit shall be in a form
prescribed by the commissioner.
c. The annual fee for a permit issued pursuant to this section shall
be the amount provided for in paragraph seven of subdivision a of
section 26-214 of the code. An application for such permit or renewal
thereof shall be accompanied by the annual fee, except as otherwise
provided in section 26-210 of the code.
d. The permit issued pursuant to this section shall be posted in a
conspicuous place in the place of assembly which is covered by such
permit.
e. In the case of a permittee that is an establishment that offers for
sale food and/or beverages for on-premises consumption, but not
including establishments operated by a not-for-profit corporation, and
employs or uses the services of a security guard, as that term is
defined in subdivision six of section eighty-nine-f of the general
business law, such permittee shall comply with the provisions of article
7-A of the general business law, shall obtain proof that such security
guard is registered pursuant to article 7-A of the general business law,
shall maintain such proof in a readily available location, in accordance
with rules promulgated by the commissioner during all hours in which
such place of assembly is open to the public, shall maintain a roster of
all security guards working at any given time when such place of
assembly is open to the public, and shall require each security guard to
maintain on his or her person proof of registration at all times when on
the premises.
f. For purposes of this section, there shall be a rebuttable
presumption that a person employed or whose services are retained at a
place of assembly whose job functions include (1) the monitoring or
guarding of the entrance or exit of such place of assembly to manage
ingress and egress to such place of assembly for security purposes
during the hours of operation of such establishment and/or (2)
protection of such place of assembly from disorderly or other unlawful
conduct by such patrons is a security guard provided, however, that such
rebuttable presumption shall not apply to the owner of such
establishment as described in subdivision e of this section that has
received a place of assembly permit.
g. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, only the permittee
shall be liable for violations of this section that relate to a
permittee's obligations regarding security guards.
h. In addition to employees of the department, employees of the police
department and the department of consumer affairs shall have the
authority to enforce the provisions of this section regarding security
guards.
i. The enforcement agency shall report any violation of the provisions
of this section relating to security guards to the state liquor
authority if the permittee holds a license pursuant to the alcoholic
beverage control law.
Section 27-526
§ 27-526 Location. No place of assembly shall be located within two
hundred fifty feet of any occupancy containing explosive contents.
Section 27-527
§ 27-527 Posted capacity. Signs shall be posted in all assembly
spaces, indicating the number of persons who may legally occupy the
space. Signs shall not be required where seating is fixed in place in
accordance with an approved seating plan and no provision is made for
standee spaces. Such signs, where required, shall read as follows:
OCCUPANCY
BY MORE THAN
........PERSONS IS
DANGEROUS
AND UNLAWFUL
Public Assembly License No........ Commissioner,
(where applicable) Dept. of Buildings, City of New York
When a space is occupied for multiple purposes involving different
occupant loads, the sign shall read as follows:
OCCUPANCY
BY MORE THAN
....(number)....PERSONS AS....(type of occupancy)....
OR BY
....(number)....PERSONS AS....(type of occupancy)....
OR BY
....(number)....PERSONS AS....(type of occupancy)....
IS DANGEROUS
AND UNLAWFUL
Public Assembly License No......... Commissioner,
(where applicable) Dept. of Buildings, City of New York
Signs shall be at least twelve inches wide and sixteen inches high.
The lettering shall be red on a white background. The letters shall be
at least one inch high and the numerals at least one and one-quarter
inches high. Signs shall be framed under a transparent protective cover,
and permanently mounted in a location that is conspicuously visible to a
person entering the space. Signs shall be lighted by artificial
illumination at all times during occupancy to maintain at least five
foot candles on the surface of the sign.
Section 27-528
§ 27-528 Approved seating plans. In every place of assembly providing
seating, copies of approved seating plans and approved alternate seating
plans shall be kept on the premises. The plans shall be readily
available for inspection, and shall provide the following information:
(a) For assembly spaces:
(1) The location of each seat of each tier of seating, along with the
number of occupants of each seating section.
(2) The location and number of standees for each standee area.
(3) The total number of occupants of each tier and of the assembly
space.
(4) The location and classification of all exits.
(b) For safe areas:
(1) The furniture and equipment arrangement and location.
(2) The number of occupants to be accommodated.
(c) For stage areas:
(1) The maximum number of occupants, including audience seating on the
stage.
(2) Any conditions limiting the use of the stage area.
(3) The location of all exits.
These plans shall not be smaller in size than required for one-eighth
inch scale plans.
Section 27-529
§ 27-529 Enclosure and interior finish. Places of assembly shall be
separated from adjoining occupancies by construction meeting the
requirements of table 5-1 or table 5-2, whichever may apply. The
interior finish of places of assembly shall meet the requirements of
table 5-4.
Section 27-530
§ 27-530 Means of egress. Places of assembly shall be provided with
exit facilities meeting all of the requirements of this subchapter and
all of the requirements of subchapter six of this chapter. A place of
assembly located in a building classified in another occupancy group
shall comply with the exit requirements of this subchapter, but may use
the exit facilities of the building of which it is a part as a means of
egress from the building.
Section 27-531
§ 27-531 Seating in assembly spaces. All seating in assembly spaces
shall conform to the following:
(a) Seating arrangements. Except as otherwise provided in this
subchapter, all seating shall be arranged in rows to provide for orderly
egress.
(1) CHAIR SEATING. Seating patterns employing individual chairs
shall comply with the following:
a. Assembly spaces in which the net floor area, exclusive of stage
area, is less than eight square feet per person shall be provided with
chairs that are rigidly anchored to the construction or fixed in place
by devices that prevent movement in any direction, except that not more
than twelve movable chairs may be provided in a box or loge if such box
or loge is separated from the main seating pattern by railings or other
permanent construction and has an area of at least five square feet per
chair.
b. In assembly spaces where the net floor area, exclusive of stage
area, is between eight and twelve square feet per person, movable chairs
may be used provided all chairs in a row between aisles are fastened or
ganged together to preserve the integrity of the row. Not more than
twelve chairs shall be used in any row between aisles.
c. In assembly spaces where net floor area, exclusive of stage area,
is more than twelve square feet per person, individual movable chairs
may be used. Not more than twelve chairs shall be used in any row
between aisles.
d. All chairs placed on stepped platforms less than four feet wide
shall be anchored or fixed in place.
e. The minimum distance between centerlines of chairs in the same row
shall be nineteen inches.
f. The spacing between the back of one chair in any row and any part
of the chair in the row behind it, including arm blocks, when the seat
is in the lift-up position for automatic operation or in the horizontal
position for nonlift-up or nonautomatic operation, when measured
horizontally between plumb lines, shall be at least twelve inches, and
this spacing shall be increased for any of the following reasons:
1. Where a difference in floor level occurs between any two rows, the
spacing shall be increased as follows:
========================================================================
Increase in
Difference in Level (in.) Space (in.)
________________________________________________________________________
6-10, plus any fraction of an inch.............. 1
11-16, plus any fraction of an inch.............. 2
17-22, plus any fraction of an inch.............. 3
23 and over...................................... 4
========================================================================
2. Where it is necessary from any location to pass more than seven
chairs to reach the nearest aisle, spacing shall be increased
one-quarter of an inch for each chair in excess of seven.
g. Not more than eight chairs shall be provided in any row of seating
having access to only one aisle except as provided below for bleacher
and platform seating.
h. Performance viewing positions shall be provided for persons who
use wheel chairs in accordance with the following schedule.
========================================================================
Capacity of Number of
Assembly Space Viewing Positions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
75 to 100................ minimum 4
101 to 150................ minimum 5
151 to 200................ minimum 6
201 to 300................ 7
301 to 400................ 8
401 to 500................ 9
501 to 1000................ 2 percent of total
Over 1000..... 20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1000
These positions shall be located so as not to interfere with egress
from any row of seats and shall be reachable by means of ramps and/or
elevators. Steps shall not be allowed in the line of travel from the
main approach entry to the designated locations. Size and placement of
wheelchair locations, surfaces, access to performing area and listening
systems where required, shall comply with the provisions of reference
standard RS 4-6. These positions may by utilized by persons who do not
use wheelchairs provided that the positions are delineated on the
approved seating plans, the seating is readily removable and the
positions are unsold one full working day before the performance.
(2) BLEACHER SEATING. Fixed or folding bleachers shall comply with
the following:
a. For the purpose of determining occupant load, individual seat
space width shall be assumed to be eighteen inches. There shall be a
space of at least fourteen and one-half inches between the back edge of
each seat and the front edge of the seat immediately behind it when
measured between plumb lines.
b. The width of footboards and seat boards shall be at least nine and
one-half inches. Where wider seat boards are provided, the space between
seats may be reduced by an amount equivalent to the increase in width.
c. Sections having not more than ten consecutive rows of seating
shall not require aisles. Where there are more than ten consecutive
rows, aisles shall be provided at the ends of seat rows, the minimum
spacing between seat rows shall be increased to sixteen inches and the
required space between seat rows shall be increased by one-quarter of an
inch for each seat in excess of seven that it is necessary to pass to
reach an aisle. Cross aisles shall be provided at the bottom of each
section of seating.
d. Bleacher seating shall be constructed to comply with the
requirements of subchapters nine and ten of this chapter.
(3) PLATFORM SEATING. Stepped platforms used for seating without
chairs shall comply with the following:
a. For the purpose of determining occupant load, individual seat
space width shall be assumed to be eighteen inches.
b. Platforms shall be at least twenty-eight inches deep from front to
back.
c. Platform depth shall be increased one-quarter of an inch for each
seat in excess of seven that it is necessary to pass to reach an aisle.
d. Aisles complying with section 27-532 of this article shall be
provided when the height between levels of platform seating exceeds
eight inches.
(4) BENCH SEATING. Bench or pew seating, with or without backs, may
be used when complying with the applicable requirements for chair
seating in of paragraph one of this subdivision. For the purpose of
determining occupant load, individual seat space width shall be assumed
to be eighteen inches.
(5) TABLE AND CHAIR SEATING. Tables and chairs shall be so arranged
that the distance from any chair at any table by way of a path between
tables and chairs is not greater than eighteen feet to an aisle leading
to an exit. The width of the path shall be at least eighteen inches,
except that it may be reduced by one inch for each one foot that the
distance to the aisle is less than eighteen feet but may not be reduced
to less than twelve inches. Chairs, when placed with the front edge of
the seat on a line with the edge of the table, shall not protrude into
the path. Booths containing up to eight seats may be used, provided
they open directly on an aisle.
(6) COUNTER SEATING. Counters at which food or beverages are
consumed shall be attached to the floor. Fixed or movable chairs or
stools may be provided. The number of occupants shall be determined on
the basis of one occupant for each eighteen inches of counter length.
The width of aisles bordering counters shall be measured excluding a
depth of eighteen inches for chair or stool spaces.
(7) STANDEE AREAS. Standee areas may be permitted within assembly
spaces provided each standee space has a minimum width of twenty-two
inches and a minimum depth of twenty-one inches. Standee areas shall
not encroach on the required exit facilities and shall be separated from
the space to be left clear for passage by tape, ribbon or other easily
broken material, supported by lightweight posts fixed in stationary
sockets, so constructed and placed as to not constitute an obstruction
in case of panic or emergency.
(8) PROTECTIVE GUARDS. Protective guards shall be provided for
seating and standee areas as follows:
a. A protective guard at least thirty inches high above the floor
shall be provided along the fascia of all balconies, loges, and boxes,
except that the guard shall be at least thirty-six inches high at the
bottom of stepped aisles. When rails or other parts of such guards are
designed with ledges more than two and one-half inches wide, the top
surface of the ledges shall slope down toward the seating area at an
angle of at least thirty degrees from the horizontal. The guards shall
provide an unperforated curb or toeguard at least twelve inches high
above the level of the floor of the balcony, loge, or box.
b. A protective guard at least thirty inches high above the floor
shall be provided at cross aisles where fixed seat backs of any adjacent
lower level do not project at least twenty- four inches above the cross
aisle level.
c. A protective guard at least eighteen inches high above the floor
shall be provided along the front edge of any stepped platform where
fixed seat backs of the adjacent lower level do not project at least
eighteen inches above the stepped platform level.
d. A protective guard at least twenty-six inches high above seat
level shall be provided at the open ends of bleacher seating, extending
from the front of the third row of seats to the back of the highest row
of seats, and continuously along the rear of the seating, except where
the seating is adjacent to a wall.
e. Guards shall be designed to meet the load requirements for
railings in subchapter nine of this chapter.
Section 27-532
§ 27-532 Aisles and cross aisles. Assembly spaces shall be served by
aisles, cross aisles, or other unobstructed floor areas providing access
to exits, except as permitted for bleacher seating in paragraph two of
subdivision (a) of section 27-531 of this article.
(a) The capacity of aisles and cross aisles shall be adequate to serve
all persons for whom they provide a primary path of travel to an exit.
(See section 27-533 of this article.)
(1) CAPACITY. The capacity of aisles and cross aisles shall be as
listed in table 8-1. The unit of exit width shall be twenty-two inches
Seats or other facilities shall not project into an aisle or cross aisle
so as to reduce the width of the aisle or cross aisle more than one inch
per unit of exit width.
(2) MINIMUM WIDTH. Aisles and cross aisles shall have a minimum width
of forty-four inches except that the width may be at least thirty-six
inches under any one or more of the following conditions:
a. In any assembly space having a total of not more than three hundred
occupants.
b. When not more than the number of persons permitted for one unit of
exit width is served.
c. At the narrowest point when a tapered aisle is permitted under
paragraph three of this subdivision.
d. When an aisle parallels and is alongside an enclosure wall or
partition that is provided with exit doors spaced not more than sixteen
feet on centers, provided such aisle serves only the rows of seats
adjacent to it.
(3) TAPERED AISLES. Tapered aisles shall be used where egress is
provided only at one end of the aisle, except that uniform aisles may be
used when their width for the entire length will accommodate eighty per
cent of the total occupant load served by the aisle. Tapered aisles
shall be widened gradually so that their width at the point of discharge
provides for the entire occupant load of the aisle.
(4) UNIFORM AISLES. Aisles of uniform width shall be used where egress
is provided at both ends of an aisle by either cross aisles or exit
doors. The width of uniform aisles shall not be less than required for
sixty per cent of the total occupant load served by the aisles.
(5) AISLE WIDTH AT OPENINGS. When an aisle or cross aisle discharges
directly into exit openings, a space shall be provided in front of such
openings that is at least as wide as such openings and at least as deep
as the width of the aisle or cross aisle.
(6) CROSS AISLES. Cross aisles, at any point shall not be closer than
twelve feet to a stage area using scenery or scenic elements. Steppings
shall not be permitted in cross aisles.
(7) AISLE GRADIENTS AND STEPPINGS. The floors of aisles shall have a
gradient of not more than one in eight. Where differences in levels
require a greater gradient, steps shall be used, complying with the
following:
a. When one riser only is used between levels of platforms, its height
shall not exceed eight inches, and where more than one riser is used,
none shall exceed seven and three-quarter inches.
b. No riser shall be less than four inches high.
c. No riser shall vary from the height of the riser immediately above
or below except that risers that are separated by a tread of seventeen
inches or more may vary up to one-quarter inch.
d. The width of treads of intermediate steps between platform levels
shall be at least nine and one-half inches, but not more than ten and
one-half inches, exclusive of nosings.
e. Treads at the level of platforms and seventeen inches or more in
width may slope not more than one-quarter inch in twelve inches.
f. No steps shall be used to enter a row of seats from an aisle unless
an unobstructed floor space of at least seven square feet is provided at
the level of the aisle, between the aisle and the steps.
g. Each step in an aisle shall be marked along its nosing with a
permanent contrasting color stripe, and shall be provided with a step
light.
h. The line of risers of aisle steppings shall deviate no more than
twenty degrees from a line perpendicular to the centerline of the aisle.
(8) STEPPED AISLE LANDINGS. Stepped aisles shall be provided with
landings at exit openings, and shall have a length equal to at least the
width of the aisle and a slope of not more than one in twelve.
(9) LIGHTING. Aisles and cross aisles shall be provided at all times
with at least one-half foot candle of artificial illumination by
electrical means.
(10) VOMITORIES. Vomitories within assembly spaces shall comply with
all of the requirements for aisles, and shall have a clear ceiling
height of at least seven feet.
Section 27-533
§ 27-533 Travel distance. At least one exit opening shall be available
from every attached seat or standee space in an assembly space, or from
the most remote point in the space when movable seats are provided or,
when no seats are provided, within the primary travel distance
limitation listed in table 8-1. In addition, an alternate exit opening
shall be available from every attached seat or standee space, or from
the most remote point when attached seats are not provided within the
secondary travel distance limitation listed in table 8-1. Such alternate
exit openings may serve to satisfy the requirements for primary travel
distance for other seats or locations. Exit openings satisfying the
primary and secondary travel distance requirements for any one seat or
location shall be separated from each other by a distance of at least
twenty-five feet.
(a) Travel distance shall be the measured distance along centerlines
of paths of travel to the centerline of the exit opening, as adjusted by
penalties for multi-directional or stepped travel as provided below.
(1) No path of travel shall be permitted through rows of seating other
than the first leg of travel from a seat to an aisle.
(2) The first thirty-five feet of a primary path of travel and a
secondary path of travel may be common to each other except that this
distance may be increased to fifty feet in F-2 places of assembly.
(3) Not more than three changes in direction of travel shall be
permitted in the path of travel to an exit opening. A change in
direction shall be deemed to occur when it is necessary to change
direction by a forty-five degrees or greater angle, measured from the
preceding line of travel, except that it shall not be considered as a
change in direction when it is necessary in an aisle or cross aisle to
travel in another direction not more than seven feet.
(4) Travel distance shall be the sum of the distances of all segments
of travel to the exit, computed as follows:
Segment Length
First leg of travel Measured distance
Second leg of travel after first Measured distance
change in direction
Third leg of travel after second 1.25 times measured distance
change in direction
Fourth leg of travel after third 1.40 times measured distance
change in direction
Any leg of travel with four or 1.25 times length of segment as
more steps computed above
Section 27-534
§ 27-534 Exit openings. Exit openings from assembly spaces shall
comply with the following:
(a) Capacity. The capacity of exit openings shall be listed as in
table 8-1, based on the number of occupants for whom the opening
satisfies the primary travel distance requirement.
(b) Width. Exit openings shall be at least thirty-six inches wide for
single doors and at least sixty-six inches but not more than
eighty-eight inches wide for doors swinging in pairs, except that in
assembly spaces having an occupant load of over three hundred persons,
single door openings shall be at least forty-four inches wide.
(c) Classification. Exit openings from assembly spaces shall be
classified as follows:
Class 1. Exit openings that are used for normal entry to the assembly
space, and that open directly to a safe area or to an open exterior
space.
Class 2. Exit openings that are not used for normal entry to the
assembly space, and that open directly to a safe area or to an open
exterior space.
Class 3. Exit openings that open from the assembly space into
corridors, exit passageways, or vertical exits.
(d) Distribution of classes. The required exit capacity from F-2
places of assembly, and from all other assembly spaces in which the net
floor area, exclusive of stage area, is twelve square feet or more per
person may be provided by exit openings of any class. The required exit
capacity from assembly spaces in which the net floor area, exclusive of
stage area, is less than twelve square feet per person shall be
distributed so that exit openings of each class are provided to comply
with the following requirements:
1. For assembly spaces in which the mean floor level is not more than
fifteen feet above or below the adjoining grade elevation, the exit
capacity shall be distributed as follows: Class 1--not less than forty
per cent
Class 2--not more than sixty per cent
Class 3--not more than forty per cent
2. For assembly spaces in which the mean floor level is more than
fifteen feet, but not more than thirty feet, above or below the
adjoining grade elevation, the exit capacity shall be distributed as
follows:
Class 1--not less than sixty per cent
Class 3--not more than forty per cent
3. For assembly spaces in which the mean floor level is more than
thirty feet above or below the adjoining grade elevation, the exit
capacity shall be distributed as follows:
Class 1--not less than one hundred per cent
(e) Location. No exit opening shall be closer than twelve feet to any
part of a stage using scenery or scenic elements. All exit openings
shall be clearly identifiable and shall not be disguised as part of a
wall or covered in any way to obscure them from view. Where, because of
the configuration of the assembly space enclosure an exit opening is not
visible from all seats using it as a means of egress, directional exit
signs shall be placed on the enclosure alongside the exit opening to
indicate its location. These signs shall be in addition to those
required over the exit opening.
(f) Locking. No exit door shall be locked so as to prevent egress from
an assembly space while it is occupied.
Section 27-535
§ 27-535 Safe areas. Safe areas shall comply with the following:
When provided to serve class one or class two exit openings safe areas
shall be separated from assembly spaces by noncombustible construction
having a two hour fire-resistance rating, and shall serve as transition
areas in the line and direction of exit travel. They shall serve for
normal entry to the assembly space and may be used as corridors,
lobbies, or lounges. No room or space classified in occupancy group A,
B-1, D-1, or D-2 shall open upon a safe area. Safe areas shall be at a
level not more than six feet above or below the level at which egress is
made from the assembly space, except that a separate safe area shall not
be required for any assembly space having an occupant load of less than
one hundred fifty persons and which is served by a safe area of another
assembly space, when such safe area is in the direction of egress.
Ventilating systems for safe areas shall not be connected to systems
serving any other spaces, unless separated from such systems by fire
dampers actuated by smoke detectors meeting the construction
requirements of subchapter thirteen of this chapter.
(1) COLLECTING SAFE AREAS. Places of assembly having more than one
assembly space may have a collecting safe area that receives the
occupant load discharged into it by other safe areas. Collecting safe
areas shall be located within six feet above or below the assembly space
nearest to grade.
(2) OCCUPANT LOAD. The occupant load of a safe area shall be the
aggregate occupant load of all exit openings discharging directly into
it. The occupant load of a collecting safe area shall be the aggregate
occupant load of all exit openings discharging directly into it, plus
fifty per cent of the occupant load of other safe areas discharging into
it.
(3) DIMENSIONS. Except as provided in subdivision four of this
section, the clear unobstructed floor area of each safe area shall be
sufficient to accommodate the total occupant load of the safe area on
the basis of two square feet per person, not including space occupied by
furniture or equipment. The minimum dimension of such unobstructed space
shall be eight feet. The width of the unobstructed space shall be
measured at right angles to the direction of travel to an exit and shall
not be less than required for the occupant load, on the basis of the
exit capacity listed in table 8-1. The height of safe areas shall be at
least eight feet at all points.
(4) SAFE AREAS NEAR GRADE. When a safe area provides egress to an open
exterior space, either directly or through a vestibule, the safe area
need not provide the floor area required by subdivision three of this
section when the level of discharge from the safe area to the open
exterior space is not more than four feet above or below the grade of
the open exterior space.
(5) RAMPS AND STEPS. Ramps in safe areas shall have a gradient of not
more than one in twelve, except that when not exceeding six feet in
length, the gradient may be not greater than one in ten. Steps in safe
areas shall comply with the following requirements:
a. No riser shall be less than six inches nor more than seven and
one-half inches high.
b. No riser shall vary in height from the riser immediately above or
below it.
c. Treads in flights of steps shall be at least ten and one-half
inches wide exclusive of nosing, and, except as provided in paragraph d
of this subdivision, the sum of two risers plus the width of one tread
shall be at least twenty-four inches but not more than twenty-five and
one-half inches.
d. No change in levels shall have less than three risers, except that
where the intervening tread is between twenty-eight inches and
thirty-six inches, two risers may be used when the edge of each tread is
marked by a contrasting color stripe.
e. Where exit openings from an assembly space are above or below the
level of the safe area, a platform shall be provided at the same level
as that of the exit opening. The platform shall be at least one foot
wider on each side than the exit opening, and shall extend a minimum of
six feet in the direction of exit travel. The sides of such platforms,
and of steps or ramps leading from them, shall be protected by guards at
least three feet high.
(6) EXITS FROM SAFE AREAS. The capacity of exits from safe areas shall
be as listed in table 8-1. Exit openings from safe areas shall discharge
into exit types as provided in subchapter six of this chapter.
(7) DOOR HARDWARE. Doors from safe areas or from exits from safe areas
opening directly to the outdoors and furnished with locks shall be
equipped with fire exit bolts complying with the requirements of
paragraph two of subdivision (k) of section 27-371 of subchapter six of
this chapter.
Section 27-536
§ 27-536 Corridors. Corridors shall comply with all of the
requirements of subchapter six of this chapter, except as modified
below:
(a) Capacity. The capacity of corridors shall be as listed in table
8-1.
(b) Changes in level. Changes in level requiring less than three
risers in a corridor shall be by a ramp having a slope not greater than
one in ten.
Section 27-537
§ 27-537 Exit passageways. Exit passageways shall comply with all of
the requirements of subchapter six of this chapter, except as modified
below:
(a) Capacity. The capacity of exit passageways shall be as listed in
table 8-1.
(b) Changes in level. Changes in level requiring less than three
risers in an exit passageway shall be by a ramp having a slope not
greater than one in ten.
Section 27-538
§ 27-538 Vertical exits. Stairs, escalators and ramps shall comply
with all of the requirements of subchapter six of this chapter, except
as modified below:
(a) Capacity. The capacity of stairs, escalators or ramps shall be as
listed in table 8-1.
(b) Width. The minimum width of stairs shall be at least forty-four
inches, except that where the total occupant load is not more than
permitted for one unit of exit width, the minimum width may be
thirty-six inches.
(c) Unenclosed vertical exits. Vertical exits leading directly from
one safe area to another, or leading from a safe area directly to an
open exterior space, need not be enclosed.
(d) Ramp slope. Ramps serving as vertical exits shall not have a slope
greater than one in ten.
Section 27-539
§ 27-539 Open exterior spaces. (a) Capacity. Open exterior spaces
shall be adequate in width and area to accommodate the accumulated
occupant load of all exits discharging into them on the basis of two
square feet per person.
(b) Minimum dimensions. The minimum dimensions of open exterior spaces
shall be twenty feet, except that when the principal entrance to the
place of assembly is from an open exterior space, the minimum dimension
of this space shall be thirty feet. No open exterior space shall have
less than four hundred square feet of floor area, and floor area shall
be measured exclusive of the following:
1. The area immediately outside any exit door from the place of
assembly for a distance perpendicular to the exit doors of ten feet for
the full width of the exit opening.
2. The area of steps, platforms, stairs, or ramps within or leading to
or from the space.
3. The area of obstructions such as shrubs, trees, fixed furniture,
signs, sculptures, pools, and similar obstructions to occupancy or exit
travel.
(c) Above or below grade. When an open exterior space is more than
fifteen feet above or below the grade of the street or public space to
which it discharges, its required area shall be increased by one-third.
(d) Egress from open exterior spaces. Exterior exit passageways,
ramps, or steps leading from open exterior spaces shall be not less in
width than required for the occupant load of all exits discharging into
the open exterior space. The width of such exit passageways shall be
based on the capacities listed in table 8-1, but in no case less than
ten feet. Ramps and steps shall comply with the requirements of
paragraph e of subdivision five of section 27-535 of this article.
Section 27-540
§ 27-540 Exit lighting. In addition to the requirements of subchapter
six of this chapter, lighting shall be provided in the following areas:
(a) Safe areas. Safe areas shall be artificially lighted by electrical
means at all times during occupancy of a place of assembly so as to
provide illumination of at least five foot candles at the level of the
floor and on the surface of all stairs, steps, ramps, and escalators
within the safe area.
(b) Open exterior spaces. Yards or courts which serve as open exterior
spaces shall be artificially lighted by electrical means at all times
between sunset and sunrise during occupancy of a place of assembly so as
to provide illumination of at least five foot candles at the level of
the floor over at least the required area.
Section 27-541
§ 27-541 Exit signs. Signs meeting the requirements of subchapter six
of this chapter and subdivision (e) of section 27-534 of this article
shall be provided in all assembly spaces to indicate the location of
exits and, where necessary, the direction to the exits. All exit or
directional signs shall be placed so that they are clearly visible from
all parts of the assembly spaces, and the bottom of all signs shall be
at least seven feet above floor level. Signs shall be of the internally
lighted type in all assembly spaces where the general illumination is
reduced to less than five foot candles during a performance or during
occupancy. Signs shall be lighted at all times during occupancy.
(For Table 8-1 see chapter 839 of the laws of 1986)
Notes:
a See section 27-533. When an exit opening from an assembly space
discharges into corridor that does not meet the requirements of this
code for a safe area, the travel distance shall include the distance
within the corridor to an exit.
b See paragraph four of subdivision (b) of section 27-546 for stages.
c See paragraph three of subdivision (b) of section 27-547 for stages.
d In places of assembly completely equipped with automatic sprinklers,
this distance may be increased fifty percent.
e See section 27-532.
Section 27-542
§ 27-542 Emergency lighting. All assembly spaces shall be provided
with emergency lighting facilities sufficient to provide at least five
foot candles of illumination at the floor level. Such lighting shall be
on circuits that are separate from the general lighting and power
circuits, either taken off ahead of the main switch or connected to a
separate emergency lighting power source, and be arranged to operate
automatically in the event of failure of the normal lighting system. The
provisions of this section shall apply retroactively to all existing
places of assembly that are or would be classified in occupancy groups
F-3 and F-4 or are changed to such classification under this code, in
accordance with the following schedule and specifications:
1. Cabarets, dance halls, night clubs, and taverns having an occupant
load exceeding one hundred fifty persons shall complete the installation
required by this section on or before April twelfth, nineteen hundred
seventy-nine.
2. Cabarets, dance halls, night clubs, and taverns having an occupant
load of one hundred fifty persons or less shall complete such
installation on or before July twelfth, nineteen hundred seventy-nine.
3. Spaces occupied exclusively as restaurants shall complete such
installation on or before October twelfth, nineteen hundred
seventy-nine.
4. All other spaces in occupancy groups F-3 and F-4 shall complete
such installation on or before January twelfth, nineteen hundred eighty.
5. The wiring shall conform with the electrical code of the city of
New York, and have the same protection as specified for wiring in
reference standard RS17-3, RS17-3A or 17-3B.
6. Storage battery equipment may be used as the sole source of energy
provided it conforms with the provisions of section four of reference
standard RS 17-3 or consists of two battery packs listed by an
acceptable testing laboratory or conforms with nationally accepted
standards for such source of emergency energy.
Section 27-543
§ 27-543 Light projection sources. Motion picture projection and other
light projection sources shall comply with the following:
(a) Film. The projection, use or storage of film having a
nitro-cellulose base (commonly known as nitrate film) shall not be
permitted except under conditions specified in special permits when
issued by the fire department. Safety film meeting the specifications
and test standards of reference standard RS 8-1 may be projected, used
or stored.
(b) Projection machines. Projection machines shall meet the
requirements of the electrical code of the city of New York. The lamp
housing of projection machines using carbon-arc or other light sources
that emit gaseous discharge shall be equipped with, or connected to a
mechanical ventilation system of adequate capacity to exhaust the
products of combustion through ducts directly to the outdoors. Such duct
systems shall comply with the requirements of subchapter thirteen of
this chapter. When more than one projection machine or other facility
employing a carbon-arc or similar light source is used, all may be
vented by the same duct system if the capacity is adequate for all
facilities so connected.
(c) Other light source facilities. All devices, such as spotlights,
that employ a carbon-arc or other light source that emits gaseous
discharge shall be vented directly as required in subdivision (b) of
this section, unless the space in which such devices are located is
mechanically ventilated and provides at least two thousand cubic feet of
room volume for each device.
(d) Light or projection rooms or booths. When enclosed, rooms or
booths used for the projection of motion picture film or the
manipulating of lights shall be built of noncombustible materials, and
shall provide a clear working space of at least two feet around the
projection apparatus. Such rooms or booths shall be provided with vents
opening to a mechanically ventilated area or the outdoors, adequate in
size to supply the make-up air required. The rooms or booths shall be
provided with at least one noncombustible or metal clad door at least
two feet by six feet opening in the direction of exit travel, and no
point within the room, booth, or gallery shall be more than fifty feet
from a door opening into a corridor or space that provides access to an
exit at a distance not greater than seventy-five feet.
Section 27-544
§ 27-544 Motion picture screens. Motion picture screens shall be
noncombustible, or have a flame spread rating not over twenty-five, or
be of materials that have been rendered flameproof in accordance with
the provisions of chapter four of this title. The construction
supporting screens shall be noncombustible, and shall comply with the
stage rigging requirements of subchapter nine and with the provisions of
subchapter ten of this chapter.
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.