Section 27-545
§ 27-545 General. The provisions of this section shall apply to all
places of assembly classified in occupancy group F-1 under the
provisions of subchapter three of this chapter.
Section 27-546
§ 27-546 F-1a places of assembly. F-1a places of assembly shall comply
with all of the requirements of article two of subchapter eight of this
chapter, and with the following:
(a) Construction in seating areas.
(1) Scenery or scenic elements may be placed in seating sections of
F-1a assembly spaces if such elements:
a. Are noncombustible, or of materials that have been rendered
flameproof in accordance with the provisions of chapter four of this
title, or have a flame spread rating of twenty-five or less.
b. Are adequately braced or secured.
c. Do not obstruct the required visibility of, or paths of travel to,
exit openings.
(2) Platforms or runways for performances, to accommodate the
operation of cameras, electronic equipment, or motion picture projection
machines not using carbon-arc or other light source that emits a gaseous
discharge may be constructed in seating sections, provided such
platforms or runways comply with the requirements of paragraph one of
subdivision (a) of this section.
(b) Stage requirements.
(1) DEFINITION. For the purposes of this section the stage in an F-1a
place of assembly shall include the performing area and all other
nonaudience areas that are used in the presentation of a performance and
that are open to the performing area. The performing area shall be that
area between the outer edge of the stage apron and the furthermost
up-stage acting boundary, the width being the maximum stage opening to
the audience.
(2) STAGE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION. The floor construction of stages shall
provide fire-resistance ratings complying with the requirements of
section 27-240 of article two of subchapter three of this chapter and
table 3-4 except as follows:
a. Any portion of the stage floor used for passing scenery and scenic
elements to a lower level may consist of heavy timber construction
supporting tight fitting traps of at least three inch nominal solid wood
or of equivalent materials in terms of fire-resistance, strength, and
stiffness properties.
b. Stage lifts shall comply with the provisions of subchapter eighteen
of this chapter. Any portion of the stage floor that is equipped with
stage lifts shall be of noncombustible construction. Joints between lift
platforms and adjacent floors shall be tightly fitted.
c. Finish flooring shall comply with the provisions of section 27-351
of article five of subchapter five of this chapter.
(3) AREAS BELOW THE STAGE. When the stage floor is equipped with traps
or stage lifts, the room or space below the stage into which the traps
or lifts open shall be completely enclosed by construction having at
least the fire-resistance rating required for the stage floor, and such
room or space shall not be used as a workshop or storage area. Storage
shall not be deemed to include the location in this area of scenery or
scenic elements used during a performance. However, no combustible
material that has a flamespread rating greater than twenty-five or that
has not been rendered flameproof in accordance with chapter four of this
title may be stored in this location at any time. Under-stage areas
shall comply with the requirements of paragraph eleven of this
subdivision.
(4) EXITS FROM THE STAGE. At least two exits, remote from each other,
shall be available from every point on a stage, each within a travel
distance limitation of one hundred twenty-five feet. The occupant load
of the stage shall be based upon one person per fifteen square feet for
the performing area and on one person per fifty square feet for the
remaining area. When any portion of a stage is used for audience seating
at any time, exits of adequate capacity shall be provided for that
portion, within the travel distance limitations for assembly space
seating. Exit openings serving a stage directly shall have a capacity of
seventy-five persons per unit of exit width.
(5) SCENERY AND SCENIC ELEMENTS. All scenery or scenic elements shall
be of noncombustible materials, or of materials having a flame-spread
rating not exceeding twenty-five, or of materials that have been
rendered flameproof in compliance with the provisions of chapter four of
this title. Scenery and scenic elements not complying with the above
requirements may be used ony when expressly permitted by the fire
department.
(6) RIGGING LOFTS, FLY GALLERIES, AND GRIDIRONS. Girders, beams, or
slats of galleries or gridirons over the stage floor or in the rigging
loft need not be fire protected but shall be of noncombustible materials
designed in accordance with the provisions of subchapters nine and ten
of this chapter.
(7) AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION. Stages in F-1a places of assembly
shall be provided with automatic sprinkler protection complying with the
construction provisions of subchapter seventeen of this chapter, as
follows:
a. Automatic sprinklers shall be placed above all rigging lofts; and
above all stage areas, other than those portions of stage areas
specifically designated on approved plans as performing areas which do
not have rigging lofts above and that are not at any time used for
storage purposes. Sprinklers above rigging lofts shall be located so
that no gridiron or other obstruction intervenes between the sprinkler
heads and the scenery or scenic elements.
b. When any part of a stage is sprinklered in accordance with the
provisions of subparagraph a of this paragraph, or when rigging lofts
are provided, such stage areas and rigging lofts shall be completely
separated from audience areas by a deluge sprinkler system designed to
form a vertical water curtain, with heads spaced to provide a water
density of at least three gpm per linear foot. The water curtain system
shall be controlled by a deluge valve actuated by a "rate of rise
system" and " fixed temperature system." The heat actuating devices
shall be located on not more than ten foot centers around the perimeter
of the sprinklered area or as otherwise required for the type of device
used to assure operation of the system. In addition to the automatic
controls, manual operating devices shall be located at the emergency
control station as required by paragraph ten of this subdivision, and
adjacent to at least one exit from the stage. Such exit shall be remote
from the emergency control panel.
c. When openings are provided in the stage floor for stage lifts, trap
doors or stairs, sprinklers spaced five feet on centers shall be
provided around the opening at the ceiling below the stage, and baffles
at least twelve inches in depth shall be installed around the perimeter
of the opening.
d. All valves controlling sprinkler supplies shall be provided with
tamper switches wired to an annunciator panel located at the emergency
control panel.
e. The operation of any section of the sprinkler system and the deluge
system shall activate the emergency ventilating equipment required in
paragraph eight of this subdivision.
f. The water flow alarm, tamper switches and deluge system equipment
shall be provided with central station supervision in addition to the
required local alarm.
g. Existing premises shall be required to conform with this
requirement on or before January twelfth, nineteen hundred eighty.
However, existing sprinkler systems which have been previously accepted
by the department or by the fire department shall be deemed in
compliance with this requirement.
(8) EMERGENCY VENTILATION. Emergency ventilation shall be provided for
all stages in F-1a places of assembly to provide a means of removing
smoke and combustion gases to the outdoors in the event of a fire, as
follows:
a. A mechanical exhaust system shall be provided of sufficient
capacity to exhaust an amount of air at least equal to the sum of the
following:
(1) two cfm per square foot of the performing area.
(2) four cfm per square foot of that portion of stage area that is not
designated as performing area.
(3) four cfm per square foot of rigging loft area.
b. The exhaust system shall be designated to be activated both
manually and automatically, manual operation shall be by means of a
manually operated switch located at the emergency control panel as
required by paragraph ten of this subdivision and adjacent to at least
one exit from the stage. Such exit shall be remote from the emergency
control panel. Automatic activation shall be by means of the sensing
devices that start the operation of the sprinklers. Exhaust air openings
of ducts shall be located so as to provide the most effective removal of
smoke and combustion gases.
c. The exhaust system shall be provided with an automatic emergency
by-pass damper in the exhaust duct on the suction side of the fan. Such
damper shall close to the fan in the event of a power failure to the fan
motor and shall open directly to the outdoors if the fan is located
outside the building, or shall open to a duct leading directly to the
outdoors if the fan is located inside the building. When located inside
the building, the fan shall be insulated with a minimum of one inch
magnesia block or the equivalent in insulating and fire-resistive
qualities. Exhaust fans shall have drive and bearings located outside of
the fan impeller housing. The exhaust system shall not be connected to
exhaust openings in any space other than the stage and rigging loft, and
shall be constructed to comply with the provisions of subchapter
thirteen of this chapter switches shall be clearly labelled "emergency
stage ventilation" and shall be painted red.
d. The emergency ventilation system shall be connected to both the
normal and emergency light and power circuits.
(9) CURTAINS. No curtain shall be located between the audience area
and the stage unless it is designated to permit the air movement
required for emergency ventilation in paragraph eight of this
subdivision to bypass or pass through the curtain without excessive
billowing, and be made of noncombustible fabrics, as specified in the
appendix of reference standard RS 7-3.
(10) EMERGENCY CONTROL PANEL. An emergency control panel shall be
provided, as follows:
a. It shall be located on or adjoining the stage, except that where
the stage is surrounded by seating, it shall be located so as to permit
a view of the audience and stage areas. It shall be manned in accordance
with the requirements of the fire department at all times during the
presentation of a performance to an audience.
b. It shall be equipped with tell-tale lights to indicate when feeders
and sub-feeders of emergency light and power circuits are in operation
in assembly spaces and all exits, including safe areas.
c. It shall, when a deluge type sprinkler system is provided, be
equipped with manual operating devices to activate the sprinkler system.
It shall also be provided with a signal system to show when any portion
of the sprinkler system has been deactivated.
d. It shall be provided with switches to provide for operation of the
emergency ventilating system. Controls for the ventilating system shall
be electrically supervised. The supervisory circuit shall be provided
with a trouble bell and light, both of which shall be activated in the
event of a failure in the ventilation system. A silencing switch may be
provided, and where provided, shall have either an automatic reset or
shall ring again when the trouble is corrected.
e. It shall be equipped with a public address system serving
loudspeakers in the assembly space. The public address system shall be
connected to both the normal and emergency light and power circuits.
f. It shall be equipped with an alarm system and intercom connected to
the manager's office, the dressing rooms, and to a supervisory central
fire station.
(11) AUXILIARY STAGE SPACES. Auxiliary stage spaces such as understage
areas, dressing rooms, green rooms, storage rooms, work shops, and
similar spaces associated with the use of the stage shall comply with
the following:
a. No point within any auxiliary stage space shall be more than fifty
feet from a door providing access to an exit.
b. There shall be at least two exits available from every auxiliary
space, one of which shall be available within a travel distance of
seventy-five feet. A common path of travel of twenty feet to the two
exits shall be permitted.
c. The occupant load of dressing rooms shall be based on one person
per fifty square feet of area.
d. Auxiliary stage spaces shall be equipped with automatic sprinklers
when required by the provisions of subchapter seventeen of this chapter.
e. No workshop involving the use of combustible or inflammable paint,
liquids, or gases or their storage shall open directly upon a stage.
f. The interior finish of auxiliary stage spaces shall comply with the
requirements of table 5-4.
(12) STAGE LIGHTING. No stage lights shall be placed so that they will
develop temperatures on the surface of any material that will cause that
material to ignite, or smoke, or cause its flameproofing to deteriorate.
Section 27-547
§ 27-547 F-1b places of assembly. F-1b places of assembly shall comply
with all of the requirements of article two of this subchapter, and with
the following:
(a) Certificate of occupancy. The certificate of occupancy for F-1b
places of assembly shall specifically note the prohibition against the
use or placement of scenery or scenic elements on or above the stage.
(b) Stage requirements.
(1) DEFINITION. For the purposes of this section, the stage in an F-1b
place of assembly shall be the area where the principal activity viewed
by the audience takes place.
(2) CONSTRUCTION. Raised platforms may be built as stages in F-1b
places of assembly when they are supported on floors having the
fire-resistance ratings required by table 3-4, in accordance with the
following:
a. The area below the platform shall be enclosed on all sides with
solid construction.
b. The horizontal area of stage construction shall not exceed the
following:
Wood frame: maximum area-- four hundred square feet.
Fire retardant treated wood: maximum area-- twelve hundred square
feet.
Noncombustible frame: maximum area--unlimited.
c. The floor of the stage, when wood is used, shall be at least one
inch nominal thickness, and shall be laid on a solid, noncombustible
backing, or all spaces between supporting members shall be fire-stopped
with noncombustible material.
d. In all F-lb places of assembly providing live entertainment, at
anytime, the stage, dressing rooms and property rooms shall be provided
with automatic sprinkler and fire alarm protection in conformance with
the provisions of subchapter seventeen of this chapter. Existing
premises shall be required to conform with this requirement on or before
January twelfth, nineteen hundred eighty. However, existing sprinkler
systems which have been previously accepted by the department or by the
fire department shall be deemed in compliance with this requirement.
(3) EXITS FROM THE STAGE. At least two exits, remote from each other,
shall be available from every point on a stage, each within a travel
distance limitation of one hundred fifty feet The occupant load of the
stage shall be based upon one person per twenty-five square feet of
area. When any portion of a stage is used for audience seating at any
time, exits of adequate capacity shall be provided for that portion,
within the travel distance limitations for assembly space seating. Exit
openings serving a stage directly shall have a capacity of one hundred
persons per unit of exit width.
(4) EMERGENCY CONTROL PANEL. In F-1b places of assembly having an
occupant load over six hundred persons, an emergency control panel shall
be provided, as follows:
a. It shall be located so as to have a view of the audience and stage
areas, and shall be manned during the presentation of a performance to
an audience, by a competent person instructed in its use.
b. It shall be equipped with tell-tale lights to indicate when feeders
and sub-feeders of emergency light and power circuits are in operation
in assembly spaces and all exits, including safe areas.
c. It shall be equipped with a public address system serving
loudspeakers in the assembly space. The public address system shall be
connected to both the normal and emergency light and power circuits.
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