Multiple dwellings which have public access
areas must have panic bars on those doors which would be used as exits
in case of fire or other similar emergency situations. There must
be one such exit door per floor so equipped. These exit doors must
be hinged in such a way that they swing open outwardly, i.e., away
from the interior of the building. Any multiple dwelling which has
a fire escape must have all doors leading to said fire escape hinged
so that they open outwardly, i.e., away from the interior of the building.
Fire escapes of construction approved by the
Housing Officer are required on non-owner-occupied dwellings from
the third floor (and higher) level above ground. Fire escapes are
to be constructed of steel or reinforced concrete. Steel chain ladders
approved by the Housing Officer may be used as an alternative to permanent,
fixed fire escapes.
All non-owner-occupied dwelling units shall
have one battery-operated fire and smoke detector with an operative
test device per dwelling unit. Multiple dwellings with public access
areas shall have one additional fire and smoke detector per floor,
located to the specifications of the Housing Officer so as to provide
maximum protection. The type of fire and smoke detector device installed
under this section shall be approved by Underwriters' Laboratories
approved and approved by the Housing Officer.
Fire extinguishers which are of the kind approved
by the Housing Officer shall be required as follows:
A.
Multiple dwellings with four or fewer dwelling units
per floor: one fire extinguisher (ten-pound, ABC rated) per floor,
located in a public access area in a central location.
B.
Multiple dwellings with five or more dwelling units
per floor: one fire extinguisher (ten-pound, ABC rated) per multiple
of four units, located in a public access area in a location as approved
by the Housing Officer.
C.
Multiple dwellings not having public access areas:
one fire extinguisher (ten-pound, ABC rated) per dwelling unit.
If any one-family dwelling, two-family dwelling
or multiple dwelling is attached in any fashion by a common wall or
in any manner shares a common wall, said common wall shall be a fire-separation
wall having a minimum two hours' fire-resistance rating that shall
serve to completely separate the dwelling units. Said fire-separation
wall shall extend from the foundation to the underside of the roof
sheathing and to the inside of the exterior wall sheathing. All terms
used in this section shall carry the meanings as defined and recognized
in the BOCA Basic Building Code as said code exists at the time of
the enactment of this section and as such code may, from time to time,
be amended.
