City of Harrisburg, PA Chapter 3-903 Fire Occupancy Classification and Occupancy Loads

[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Harrisburg by Ord. No. 32-1987.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

[1] Editor's Note: This chapter was renumbered from Ch. 3-953 to Ch. 3-903 by Ord. No. 25-2003.

§ 3-903.1 General provisions.

A. The objective of this chapter is to ensure that a reasonable level of safety exists for life in building design and arrangement. The main objectives are to:

(1) Provide for adequate exits without dependence on any single safeguard;

(2) Ensure that construction is sufficient to provide structural integrity during a fire while occupants are exiting;

(3) Provide exits that have been designed to the size, shape and nature of the occupancy;

(4) Ensure that the exits are clear, unobstructed and unlocked;

(5) Ensure that the exits and routes of escape are clearly marked so that there is no confusion in reaching the exit;

(6) Provide adequate lighting;

(7) Ensure early warning of fire;

(8) Provide for backup or redundant fire exit arrangements;

(9) Ensure the suitable closure of vertical openings; and

(10) Make allowances for those design criteria that go beyond the code provisions and are tailored to the normal use and needs of the occupancy in question.

B. The provisions of the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) and elimination of some of the sections in this chapter shall not be construed as eliminating the necessity for other provisions for the safety of persons using a structure under normal occupancy conditions. Also, no provisions of the Life Safety Code or the elimination of sections of that code in this chapter shall be construed as requiring or permitting any condition that may be hazardous under normal occupancy conditions.

C. The classification for occupancies is as follows:

(1) Assembly: theaters, motion-picture theaters, assembly halls, auditoriums, exhibition halls, museums, libraries, skating rinks, gymnasiums, bowling lanes, pool rooms, armories, restaurants, churches, dance halls, club rooms, public transportation facilities, courtrooms, conference rooms, drinking establishments, discotheques, mortuary chapels, and college and university classrooms holding over 50 persons.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1-303).

(2) Educational: schools, academies, nursery schools, kindergartens, and child day-care centers.

(3) Health care: hospitals, nursing homes, custodial care facilities, supervisory care facilities, and ambulatory care facilities.

(4) Residential: hotels, motels, dormitories, orphanages, apartments, lodging or rooming houses, and board and care facilities.

(5) Mercantile: supermarkets, department stores, drugstores and shopping centers, or stores, markets, and other rooms, buildings or structures for the display and sale of merchandise.

(6) Business: general offices, doctors' offices, dentists' offices, city halls, courthouses, outpatient clinics, college and university classrooms holding fewer than 50 persons and instructional laboratories, or those offices used for the transaction of business, for the keeping of accounts and records and similar purposes.[2]

[2] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1-303).

(7) Industrial: factories of all kinds, laboratories, dry-cleaning plants, power plants, pumping stations, smokehouses, laundries, creameries, gas plants, refineries, sawmills and mill works, and college and university noninstructional laboratories.

(8) Storage: warehouses, cold storage, freight terminals, truck terminals, bulk oil storage, parking garages, and stables.

D. The hazard contents of any building or structure shall be classified as low, ordinary, or high hazard. For purposes of this section the terms will be as follows:

(1) "Low hazard" means contents of such low combustibility that no self-propagating fire therein can occur and that, consequently, the only probable fire danger requiring the use of emergency exits will be from panic, fumes, smoke, or fire from external source.

(2) "Ordinary hazard" means contents which are liable to burn with moderate rapidity or to give off a considerable volume of smoke but from which neither poisonous fumes nor explosions are to be feared in case of fire.

(3) "High hazard" means contents which are liable to burn with extreme rapidity or from which poisonous fumes or explosions are to be feared in the event of a fire.

§ 3-903.2 New assembly occupancies.

A. Any new assembly occupancy and its access to exits in buildings of other occupancy, such as ballrooms in hotels, restaurants in stores, rooftop assembly occupancies or assembly rooms in schools, shall be located, separated, or protected as to avoid any undue danger to the occupants of the assembly from a fire originating in the other occupancy or smoke therefrom. All references for new assembly occupancies are to conform to Section 8-1 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

(1) Each new assembly shall be classified according to its occupant load as follows:

(a) Class A: occupant load greater than 1,000 persons.

(b) Class B: occupant load greater than 300 persons but fewer than 1,000 persons.

(c) Class C: occupant load greater than 50 persons but fewer than 300 persons.

B. An assembly area of concentrated use without fixed seats, such as an auditorium, church, chapel, dance floor, discotheque, or lodge room, shall be seven square feet per person.

C. An assembly area of less concentrated use, such as a conference room, dining room, drinking establishment, exhibit room, gymnasium, or lounge, shall be 15 square feet per person.

D. Waiting areas in places of assembly shall be restricted to areas other than the required means of egress. Exits shall be provided for such waiting spaces on the basis of one person for each three square feet.

E. All means of egress shall be in accordance with Chapter 5 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA and this chapter. No turnstiles or other devices to restrict the movement of persons shall be installed in any assembly occupancy in such a manner as to interfere in any way with the required means of egress.

F. Every assembly occupancy shall be provided with a main exit. The main exit shall be of sufficient width to accommodate 1/2 of the total occupancy load but shall not be less than the total required width of all aisles, exit passageways, and stairways leading thereto and shall be at the level of exit discharge or shall connect to a stairway or ramp leading to the street.

G. Every Class A assembly shall have at least four separate means of egress as remote from each other as possible.

H. With a capacity of under 500 persons, every Class B assembly occupancy shall have at least two separate means of egress as remote from each other as practicable, and with a capacity of over 500 persons every Class B assembly occupancy shall have at least three separate means of egress, each not less than 46 inches wide.

I. Every Class C assembly occupancy shall have at least two means of egress consisting of separate exit doors leading to a corridor or other spaces giving access to two separate and independent exits in different directions.

J. Exits shall be remote from each other and shall be arranged to minimize the possibility that they may both be blocked by any emergency. Means of egress shall not be permitted through kitchens, storerooms, rest rooms, closets, or hazardous areas.

K. All means of egress shall be illuminated in assembly occupancies. Illumination of means of egress shall be continuous, and the means of egress shall be available for use at all times. The floors of means of egress shall be illuminated at all points of corridors, passageways, stairways, landing of stairs, and any steps or stoops.

L. All assembly occupancies and their means of egress shall be provided with emergency lighting. Emergency lighting facilities and systems shall be so arranged as to provide the required illuminated automatically in the event of normal lighting interruption or power failure of outside electrical power supply, opening of a circuit breaker or fuse or any manual act(s).

M. Any door in a required means of egress from an area having an occupant load of 100 or more persons may be provided with a latch or lock only if it is panic hardware or fire exit hardware.

N. Every Class A and Class B assembly occupancy shall be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system. Exceptions:

(1) Auditoriums with fixed seating;

(2) Multipurpose assembly occupancies consisting of a single room less than 10,000 square feet and not used for exhibition or display purposes;

(3) Passenger terminals above or at grade;

(4) Gymnasiums used for no other purpose; and

(5) Class B assembly occupancies used exclusively as restaurants.

O. In all assembly occupancies all means of egress shall be marked.

P. All new assembly occupancies shall conform to Section 8-1 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

§ 3-903.3 Existing assembly occupancies.

A. An existing building or structure housing an assembly occupancy established prior to the effective date of this code may have its use continued if it conforms to or is made to conform to the provisions of this code to the extent that, in the opinion of the Fire Chief, reasonable life safety against the hazards of fire, explosions and panic is provided and maintained.

B. Additions to existing buildings shall conform to the requirements for new construction. Existing portions of the structure need not be modified, provided that the new construction has diminished the firesafety hazards of the facility. An assembly occupancy which has its occupant load increased, resulting in a change of assembly classification, shall meet the requirements for new assembly occupancies.

C. Each existing assembly occupancy shall be classified according to its occupant load, as follows:

(1) Class A: occupant load greater than 1,000 persons.

(2) Class B: occupant load greater than 300 persons but fewer than 1,000 persons.

(3) Class C: occupant load greater than 50 persons but fewer than 300 persons.

D. An assembly area of concentrated use without fixed seats, such as a church, chapel, dance floor, discotheque, or lodge room, shall have an occupant load of seven square feet per person.

E. An assembly area of less concentrated use, such as a conference room, dining room, drinking establishment, exhibit room, gymnasium, or lounge, shall have an occupant load of 15 square feet per person.

F. All means of egress shall be in accordance with Chapter 5 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA. No turnstiles or other devices to restrict the movement of persons shall be installed in any assembly occupancy in such a manner as to interfere in any way with required means of egress.

G. Waiting areas or spaces shall not encroach upon the required clear width of exits. Such waiting areas shall be restricted to areas other than the required means of egress. Exits shall be provided for such waiting spaces on the basis of one person for each three square feet of waiting space area.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1-303).

H. Every Class A existing assembly occupancy shall have at least four separate means of egress as remote from each other as possible.

I. Every Class B existing assembly occupancy shall have at least two separate means of egress as remote from each other as possible and, if of a capacity of over 500 persons, at least three separate means of egress, each not less than 46 inches wide.

J. Every Class C existing assembly occupancy shall have at least two means of egress consisting of separate exits or doors leading to a corridor or other spaces giving access to two separate and independent exits in different directions. All exits shall be remote from each other and shall be arranged to minimize the possibility that both may be blocked by any emergency.

K. Means of egress shall not be permitted through kitchens, storerooms, rest rooms, closets, or hazardous areas.

L. All existing assembly occupancies shall be provided with illumination at the means of egress. Illumination of means of egress shall be continuous during the time that the conditions of the occupancy require that the means of egress be available for use. The floor of means of egress shall be illuminated at all points of corridors and passageways, stairways, landing of stairs, stoops and exit doors.

M. All existing assembly occupancies and their means of egress shall be provided with emergency lighting. An emergency lighting system shall be so arranged as to provide the required illumination automatically in the event of any interruption of normal lighting, such as a failure of a public utility or other outside electrical power supply, opening of a circuit breaker or fuse, or any manual act(s).

N. All existing assembly occupancies shall have signs marking the means of egress.

O. Any door in a required means of egress from an area having an occupant load of more than 100 persons may be provided with a latch or lock only if it is panic hardware or fire exit hardware.

P. Any assembly occupancy used or capable of being used for exhibition or display purposes shall be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system when the exhibition or display area exceeds 15,000 square feet.

Q. All existing assembly occupancies shall conform to Section 9-1 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

§ 3-903.4 New educational occupancies.

A. Educational occupancies shall include all buildings used for the gathering of groups of six or more people for the purpose of instruction for four or more hours per day or more than 12 hours per week.

B. Rooms normally occupied by preschool, kindergarten, or first-grade pupils shall not be located above or below the level of exit discharge. Rooms normally occupied by second-grade pupils shall not be located more than one story above the level of exit discharge.

C. Educational occupancies housing classes over the 12th grade shall comply with the following classification requirements:

(1) Instructional building: business occupancy.

(2) Classrooms under 50 persons: business occupancy.

(3) Classrooms 50 persons and over: assembly occupancy.

(4) Laboratories, instructional: business occupancy.

(5) Laboratories, noninstructional: industrial.

D. The occupant load of new educational buildings or any individual story thereof, or any portion thereof, for the purpose of determining exits, shall be as follows:

(1) One person for each 20 square feet of net classroom area.

(2) One person per 50 square feet of net area of shops, laboratories, and similar vocational rooms.

(3) One person per 35 square feet of net area of day-care institutions and child-care facilities.

E. All means of egress shall be in accordance with Chapter 5 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

F. Exit access corridors shall not be less than six feet wide.

G. In all new educational occupancies there shall be at least two exits available from every floor area.

H. Exits shall be arranged so that at least two separate exits will be available from every floor area. Exits shall be as remote from each other as possible, so arranged that there will not be pockets or dead ends in which occupants could become trapped, and in no case shall any dead-end corridor extend more than 20 feet beyond the stairway of other means of exit therefrom.

I. All new educational buildings or structures shall have adequate illumination of exits. Illumination of means of egress shall be continuous for the time that conditions of occupancy require availability of the means of egress.

J. The floors of means of egress shall be illuminated at all points of corridors and passageways, stairways, landings of stairs, stoops, and exit doors.

K. All new educational occupancies shall have emergency lighting. Emergency lighting systems shall be so arranged as to provide the required illumination automatically in the event of any interruption of normal lighting, such as a power failure of a public utility, other outside power source, opening of a circuit breaker or fuse, or any manual act(s). The emergency lighting shall be provided in the following areas:

(1) In all interior stairs and corridors;

(2) In all normally occupied spaces;

(3) In flexible or open buildings (open plan type); and

(4) In all portions of buildings that are interior or windowless.

L. In all new educational occupancies all means of egress shall be marked.

M. Any door in a required means of egress from an area having an occupant load of 100 or more persons may be provided with a latch or lock only if it is panic hardware or fire exit hardware.

N. Every room or space used for classroom or other educational purposes or normally subject to student activity or occupancy shall have at least one window to the outdoors used for emergency rescue or ventilation. Such window shall be openable from the inside without the use of tools and provide a clear opening of not less than 20 inches in width and 24 inches in height.

O. Janitor closets shall be protected by an automatic sprinkler system, which may be supplied by the domestic water supply, serving no more than six sprinklers and having a water supply sufficient to provide 0.15 gpm of the floor area.

P. All new educational occupancies shall be provided with a fire alarm system in accordance with Section 7-6 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

Q. In new educational occupancies provided with automatic sprinkler protection, the operation of the sprinkler system shall automatically activate the fire alarm system.

R. Every portion of new educational buildings or structures below the floor of exit discharge shall be provided and protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system.

S. All new educational occupancies shall conform to Section 10-1 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

§ 3-903.5 Existing educational occupancies.

A. Existing educational occupancies shall include all buildings and structures used for the gathering of groups of six or more persons for the purposes of instruction for four or more hours per day or more than 12 hours per week.

B. Rooms normally occupied by preschool, kindergarten, or first-grade pupils shall not be located above or below the level of exit discharge. Rooms normally occupied by second-grade pupils shall not be located more than one story above the level of exit discharge.

C. Existing educational occupancies housing classes over the 12th grade shall comply with the following classification requirements:

(1) Instructional building: business occupancy.

(2) Classrooms under 50 persons: business occupancy.

(3) Classrooms 50 persons and over: assembly occupancy.

(4) Laboratories, instructional: business occupancy.

(5) Laboratories, noninstructional: industrial.

D. Educational occupancies shall include all buildings used for educational purposes. Educational occupancies for students of high school age and below are distinguished from assembly occupancies since the same occupants are regularly present and they are subject to discipline and control. Sunday schools or church schools which are not used for daily classes throughout the week are considered to fall within the scope of assembly occupancies.

E. Existing educational occupancies include day-care facilities, nursery schools, kindergartens and other schools whose purpose is primarily educational even though the children are of preschool age.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1-303).

F. The occupant load of existing educational occupancies, buildings and structures or any individual story or section thereof for the purpose of determining exits shall be as follows:

(1) One person for each 20 square feet of net classroom area.

(2) One person for each 50 square feet of net area of shops, laboratories, and similar vocational rooms.

(3) One person for each 35 square feet in day-care centers.

G. All means of egress in existing educational facilities shall be in accordance with Chapter 5 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

H. All exit corridors of existing educational facilities shall not be less than six feet wide.

I. In all existing educational facilities there shall be at least two exits available from every floor.

J. All exits shall be arranged so that at least two separate exits will be available from every floor area. Exits shall be as remote as practicable from each other, so arranged that there will not be pockets or dead ends in which occupants may be trapped, and in no case shall any dead-end corridor extend more than 20 feet beyond the stairway of other means of exit therefrom.

K. Every room or space with a capacity of more than 50 persons or more than 1,000 square feet in area shall have at least two doorways as remote from each other as practicable. Such doorways shall provide access to separate exits and may open upon a common corridor.

L. All existing educational buildings and structures shall have adequate illumination of exits. Illumination of means of egress shall be continuous during the time that the conditions of occupancy require availability of the means of egress.

M. The floors of means of egress shall be illuminated at all points of corridors and passageways, stairways, landings of stairs, stoops, and exit doors.

N. All existing educational facilities shall have emergency lighting. Emergency lighting systems shall be so arranged as to provide the required illumination automatically in the event of any interruption of normal lighting, such as power failure of a public utility or other outside power source, opening of a circuit breaker or fuse, or any manual act(s). The emergency lighting shall be provided in the following areas:

(1) In all interior stairs and corridors;

(2) In normally occupied spaces;

(3) In flexible or open buildings (open plan type); and

(4) In all portions of buildings that are interior or windowless.

O. In all existing educational occupancies, all means of egress shall be marked.

P. Any door in a required means of egress from an area having an occupant load of 100 or more persons may be provided with a latch or lock only if it is panic hardware or fire exit hardware.

Q. Every room or space used for classroom or other educational purposes or normally subject to student activity or occupancy shall have at least one window to the outdoors used for emergency rescue or ventilation. Such window shall be opened from the inside without the use of tools and provide a clear opening of not less than 20 inches in width and 24 inches in height.

R. Janitor closets shall be protected by an automatic sprinkler system which may be supplied by the domestic water supply serving no more than six sprinklers and having a water supply sufficient to provide 0.15 gpm of floor area.

S. In existing educational occupancies with automatic sprinkler protection, the operation of the sprinkler system shall automatically activate the fire alarm system.

T. All existing educational occupancies shall be provided with a fire alarm system in accordance with Section 7-6 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

U. Every portion of existing educational buildings or structures below the floor of exit discharge shall be provided throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system.

V. All existing educational occupancies shall conform to Section 11-1 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

§ 3-903.6 New health care occupancies.

A. Health care occupancies are those used for medical or other treatments or care of four or more persons suffering from physical or mental illness, disease or infirmity and for the care of infants, convalescents or infirm aged persons. Health care facilities provide sleeping accommodations for the occupants and are occupied by persons who are mostly incapable of self-preservation because of age, physical or mental disability or because of security measures not under the occupants' control.

B. The objective of this section is to provide a reasonable level of safety by reducing the probability of injury and loss of life from the effects of fire. This objective is accomplished in the context of the physical facilities, the provisions for the capabilities of the staff, and the needs of all occupants through the requirements directed at the following:

(1) Prevention of ignition;

(2) Detection of the fire;

(3) Control of fire development;

(4) Confinement of the effects of fire;

(5) Extinguishment of the fire;

(6) Provision of refuge and/or evacuation facilities; and

(7) Staff reaction.

C. New health care occupancies in buildings housing other occupancies shall be completely separated from them by construction having a fire-resistance rating of at least two hours.

D. The occupant load for which means of egress shall be provided for any floor shall be the maximum number of persons intended to occupy that floor:

(1) One person for each 120 square feet of gross floor area in health care sleeping departments; and

(2) One person for each 240 square feet of the gross floor area of inpatient health care treatment departments.

E. Every aisle, passageway, corridor, exit discharge, exit location and access shall be in accordance with Chapter 5 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA. Aisles, corridors and ramps required for exit access in a hospital or nursing home shall be at least eight feet in clear and unobstructed width.

F. The capacity of means of egress providing travel by means of stairs shall be 22 persons per exit unit, and the capacity of means of egress providing horizontal travel without stairs, such as ramps, doors, or horizontal exits, shall be 30 persons per unit.

G. Health care occupancies are the only occupancies in the code that allow an increase in exit capacity due to automatic sprinkler protection. If a health care facility is totally equipped with a sprinkler system, the stair exit may be increased to 35 persons per unit and the horizontal level may be increased to 45 persons per unit.

H. At least one exit from each floor or fire section shall be either:

(1) A door leading directly to the outside of the building;

(2) A stair;

(3) A smoke-proof enclosure;

(4) A ramp; or

(5) An exit passageway.

I. All required exit ramps or stairs shall discharge directly to the outside at grade or be arranged to travel through an exit passageway discharging to the outside at grade.

J. For all new health care occupancies, the means of egress shall be marked (signed).

K. All new health care facilities shall have adequate illumination of exits. Illumination of means of egress shall be continuous during the time that the conditions of occupancy require that the means of egress be available for use.

L. The floors of means of egress shall be illuminated at all angles and points of corridors and passageways, ramps, stairways, landing of stairs, stoops and exit doors.

M. All new health care facilities shall be provided with emergency lighting. Emergency lighting systems shall be so arranged as to provide the required illumination automatically in the event of any interruption of normal lighting, such as a power failure of a public utility or other outside power source, opening of a circuit breaker or fuse, or manual act(s). The emergency lighting shall be provided in the following areas:

(1) In all interior stairs, ramps and corridors.

(2) In normally occupied areas.

(3) In all portions of buildings that are interior or windowless.

N. Locks shall not be permitted on patient sleeping room doors.

O. In buildings in which doors are locked, provisions shall be made for the rapid removal of occupants by such reliable means as the remote control of locks or by keying all locks to keys readily available to staff who are in constant attendance.

P. In new health care occupancies, any hazardous area shall be either safeguarded by a fire barrier of one-hour fire-resistance rating or provided with an automatic fire extinguishing system. Those areas accompanied by an asterisk (*) in the list below shall have both fire-resistant separation and a complete extinguishment system, but the list is not intended to be all-inclusive:

(1) Boiler and heater rooms;

(2) Laundries;

(3) Repair shops;

(4) Handicraft shops;

(5) Employee locker rooms;

(6) Soiled linen rooms;*

(7) Paint shops;*

(8) Trash collection rooms;*

(9) Rooms or spaces, including repair shops, used for the storage of combustible supplies and equipment in quantities deemed hazardous by the authority having jurisdiction; and*

(10) Laboratories employing quantities of flammable or combustible materials less than that which would be considered severe.

Q. Laboratories employing quantities of flammable, combustible, or hazardous materials which are considered as severe hazards shall be protected in accordance with NFPA 99.

R. All new health care occupancies shall be provided with an approved fire alarm system.

S. All new health care occupancies shall have an approved automatic smoke detection system installed in all corridors, nursing homes, custodial care, and supervisory care facilities. In no case shall smoke detectors be spaced further apart than 30 feet on center or more than 15 feet from any wall.

T. All new health care occupancies shall be protected with automatic sprinklers. Automatic sprinklers shall be provided in each habitable patient room. The sprinkler head(s) in each patient room shall be the quick-response type head. Automatic sprinkler protection is required in any area where combustible elements are used in the construction of a health care facility. Additionally, because of the inherent risks associated with tall buildings and because of the difficulties encountered in manually firefighting in such structures, all health care facilities having floor levels more than 75 feet above the level of Fire Bureau access must be protected with automatic sprinklers.

U. Every patient sleeping room shall have a window or door to the outdoors arranged and located so that it can be opened from the inside to permit venting of products of combustion and to permit any occupant to have direct fresh air in case of emergency. Exceptions:

(1) Areas housing ICU, CCU, hemodialysis, and neonatal patients;

(2) Rooms intended for occupancy of less than 24 hours, labor rooms, recovery rooms, and observation areas in emergency departments and newborn nurseries; and

(3) Buildings designed with approved engineered smoke control systems.

V. No portable space heating devices shall be permitted in any new health care occupancy.

W. No smoking shall be permitted in any patient areas of any new health care facility. Only in those areas approved by the Fire Chief will smoking be permitted.

X. All new health care occupancies shall conform to Section 12-1 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

§ 3-903.7 Existing health care occupancies.

A. Existing health care occupancies are those used for medical or other treatments or care of four or more persons suffering from physical or mental illness, disease or infirmity and for the care of infants, convalescents or infirm aged persons. Existing health care occupancies provide sleeping accommodations for the occupants and are occupied by persons who are mostly incapable of self-preservation because of age, physical or mental disability, or because of security measures not under the occupants' control.

B. This section relating to existing health care occupancies is to be applied retroactively. The specified provisions, viewed as a whole, establish minimum acceptable criteria for life safety which reasonably minimize the likelihood of a life-threatening fire.

C. Existing health care occupancies shall be so designed, constructed, maintained, and operated as to minimize the possibility of a fire emergency requiring the evacuation of occupants.

D. A conversion from a hospital to a nursing home or from a nursing home to a hospital is not considered a change in occupancy classification.

E. During any construction or alterations of an existing health care facility, care should be taken to prevent any blocking of means of egress for the existing building by the construction of such barriers. It is necessary to ensure that all extinguishing equipment for fire protection and all portions of the required means of egress are maintained in full working order.

F. The requirements of this section may be modified if their application clearly would be impractical in the judgment of the authority having jurisdiction if the resulting arrangement could be considered as presenting a minimum hazard to the life safety of the occupants.

G. The Fire Chief and the owner of the facility shall jointly develop a schedule for the correction of various deficiencies.

H. The occupant load for existing health care facilities for which means of egress shall be provided for any floor shall be the maximum number of persons intended to occupy that floor as follows:

(1) One person for each 120 square feet gross floor area in health care sleeping departments.

(2) One person for each 240 square feet gross floor area of inpatient health care treatment departments.

I. Every aisle, passageway, corridor, exit discharge, exit location, and access shall be in accordance with Chapter 5 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA. Aisles, corridors and ramps required for exit access in a hospital or nursing home shall be at least eight feet in clear and unobstructed width.

J. The capacity of means of egress providing travel by means of stairs shall be 22 persons per unit, and the capacity of means of egress providing horizontal travel (without stairs), such as ramps, doors or horizontal exits, shall be 30 persons per unit. If the existing health care facility is automatically sprinkled, the stair exit may be increased to 35 persons per unit and the horizontal travel may be increased to 45 persons per unit.

K. At least one exit from each floor or fire section shall be either:

(1) A door leading directly to the outside of the building;

(2) A stairway;

(3) A smoke-proof enclosure;

(4) A ramp; or

(5) An exit passageway.

L. All required exit ramps or stairs shall discharge directly to the outside at grade or be arranged to travel through an exit stairway discharging to the outside at grade.

M. For all existing health care facilities means of egress shall be marked.

N. All existing health care facilities shall have adequate illumination of exits. Illumination of means of egress shall be continuous during the time that the conditions of occupancy require availability of the means of egress.

O. The floors of means of egress shall be illuminated at all angles and points of corridors and passageways, ramps, stairways, landing of stairs, stoops, and exit doors.

P. All existing health care facilities shall be provided with emergency lighting. Lighting systems shall be so arranged as to provide the required illumination automatically in the event of any interruption of normal lighting, such as a power failure of a public utility or other outside power source, opening of a circuit breaker or fuse, or any manual act(s). The emergency lighting shall be provided in the following areas:

(1) In all interior stairs, ramps and corridors;

(2) In normally occupied areas; and

(3) In all portions of buildings that are interior or windowless.

Q. Locks shall not be permitted on patient sleeping room doors. In buildings in which other doors are locked, provision shall be made for the rapid removal of occupants by such reliable means as the remote control of locks or by keying all locks to keys readily available to staff who are in constant attendance.

R. Any hazardous area shall be safeguarded by a fire barrier of a one-hour fire-resistance rating and/or provided with an automatic fire extinguishing system. Hazardous areas in existing health care facilities include but are not restricted to the following:

(1) Boiler and heater rooms;

(2) Laundries;

(3) Repair or paint shops;

(4) Handicraft shops;

(5) Employee locker rooms;

(6) Soiled linen rooms;

(7) Trash collection rooms;

(8) Rooms or spaces, including repair shops, used for storage of combustible supplies and equipment in the quantities deemed hazardous by the authority having jurisdiction; and

(9) Laboratories employing quantities of flammable or combustible materials less than that which would be considered severe.

S. The hazard level of a laboratory is considered severe if quantities of flammable, combustible or hazardous materials are present which are capable of sustaining a fire condition of sufficient magnitude to breach a one-hour fire separation partition.

T. All existing health care occupancies shall be provided with an approved fire alarm system.

U. All existing health care facilities shall have an approved automatic smoke detection system installed in all corridors of nursing homes, custodial care and supervisory care facilities.

V. All existing health care occupancies shall be protected with automatic sprinklers. All existing health care facilities shall provide automatic sprinkler protection in all habitable patient care rooms. The sprinkler heads in the patient rooms shall be of the fast-response type head. Automatic sprinkler protection is required in any case where combustible elements are used in the construction or alteration of a health care facility. All health care facilities having floor level more than 75 feet above the level of the Fire Bureau access must be protected with automatic sprinklers. All existing health care facilities shall have five years from the effective date of this chapter to comply with the requirements in this subsection.

W. Every patient sleeping room shall have a window or door to the outdoors arranged and located so that it can be opened from the inside to permit venting of products of combustion and to permit any occupant to have direct access to fresh air in case of emergency. Exceptions are:

(1) Areas housing ICU, CCU, hemodialysis, and neonatal patients;

(2) Rooms intended for occupancy of less than 24 hours, labor rooms, recovery rooms, and observation areas in emergency departments and newborn nurseries; and

(3) Buildings designed with approved engineered smoke control systems.

X. No portable space heating devices shall be permitted in any existing health care facility.

Y. No smoking shall be permitted in any patient areas of any health care facility. Only in those areas approved by the Fire Chief will smoking be permitted.

Z. All existing health care occupancies shall conform to Section 13-1 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

§ 3-903.8 New hotels and dormitories.

A. This section establishes life safety requirements for all new hotels and dormitories and alteration thereof. All new dormitories shall comply with the requirements for new hotels. Any rooming house or lodging house which contains more than 16 persons is considered a hotel and must comply with this section and Section 16-1 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

B. The occupant load shall be determined on the basis of one person per 200 square feet gross floor area or the maximum probable population of any room or section under consideration, whichever is greater.

C. Dormitory-type occupancy, particularly where two- or three-tier bunks are used with close spacing, may produce an occupant load substantially greater than one person per 200 square feet gross floor area. However, even though sleeping areas are densely populated, the building as a whole may not exceed one person per 200 square feet gross area.

D. Not fewer than two exits shall be accessible from every floor, including floors below the level of exit discharge and occupied for public purposes. Exits shall be so arranged that, from any door opening to a corridor, exits will be accessible in at least two different directions.

E. At least half of the required number of units of exit width from upper floors, exclusive of horizontal exits, shall lead directly to the street or through a yard, court, or passageway with protected openings and separated from all parts of the interior of the building.

F. All means of egress and exits shall be illuminated. Illumination of means of egress shall be continuous during the time that the conditions of occupancy require the availability of the means of egress.

G. The floors of means of egress shall be illuminated at all angles and points of corridors and passageways, stairways, landing of stairs and exit doors.

H. All means of egress shall be marked. No door in any means of egress shall be locked against the egress when the building is occupied. Locks, if provided, shall not require the use of a key, tool, or special knowledge or effort for operation from the inside of the building. Ordinary double-cylinder locks or chain locks do not meet the provisions of this section.

I. A fire alarm system in accordance with Section 7-6 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA is required.

J. Each sleeping area and room shall be provided with an approved single station smoke detector powered from the building electrical source.

K. All new hotels and dormitories shall be provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 13, except that sprinklers may be deleted from closets within guests rooms of less than 24 square feet and from bathrooms within guest rooms less than 60 square feet in size. All guest rooms with sprinkler installation shall be fitted with a quick-response sprinkler head(s).

L. Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided in all areas that are considered hazardous and on each floor as per the square footage of the corridors and the occupancies of each floor.

M. Each guest room shall be provided with at least one window to the outdoors. Such windows shall be operable from the inside, without the use of tools, and provide a clear opening of not less than 20 inches in width and 24 inches in height. Windows may serve as a means of emergency escape.

N. In buildings greater than six stories, at least one elevator shall be provided with a protected power supply and be available for use by the Fire Bureau in case of an emergency.

O. All new hotels and dormitories shall conform to Section 16-1 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

§ 3-903.9 Existing hotels and dormitories.

A. This section establishes life safety requirements for existing hotels and dormitories. Any rooming house or lodging house which contains more than 16 persons is considered a hotel and must comply with Section 17-1 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA and this section.

B. The occupant load shall be determined on the basis of one person per 200 square feet gross floor area or the maximum probable population of any room or section under consideration, whichever is greater.

C. Existing dormitory-type occupancy, particularly where two- or three-tier bunks are used with close spacing, may produce an occupant load substantially greater than one person per 200 square feet gross floor area. However, even though sleeping areas are densely populated, the building as a whole may not exceed one person per 200 square feet gross area.

D. Not fewer than two exits shall be accessible from every floor, including floors below the level of exit discharge and occupied for public purposes. Exits shall be so arranged that, from any door opening to a corridor, exits will be accessible in at least two different directions.

E. At least half of the required number of units of exit width from upper floors, exclusive of horizontal exits, shall lead directly to the street or through a yard, court, or passageway with protected openings and separated from all parts of the interior of the building.

F. All means of egress and exits shall be illuminated. Illumination of means of egress shall be continuous during the time that the conditions of occupancy require the availability of means of egress.

G. The floors of means of egress shall be illuminated at all angles and points of corridors and passageways, stairways, landings of stairs and exit doors.

H. All means of egress shall be marked. No door in any means of egress shall be locked against egress when the building is occupied. Locks, if provided, shall not require the use of a key, tool, or special knowledge or effort for operation from the inside of the building. Ordinary double-cylinder locks and chain locks do not meet the provisions of this section.

I. A fire alarm system in accordance with Section 7-6 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA shall be installed in each existing hotel and dormitory.

J. Each sleeping area and room shall be provided with an approved single station smoke detector powered from the building electrical source.

K. All existing hotels and dormitories shall be provided with emergency lighting. Emergency lighting systems shall be so arranged as to provide the required illumination automatically in the event of any interruption of normal lighting, such as a power failure of a public utility or other outside power source, opening of a circuit breaker or fuse, or any manual act(s).

L. All existing hotels and dormitories shall be provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 13. All habitable guest rooms shall be provided with automatic sprinklers. The sprinkler head(s) in guest rooms shall be of the quick-response type. Sprinklers are not required in closets within guest rooms of less than 24 square feet and in bathrooms in guest rooms less than 60 square feet in size. All existing hotels and dormitories shall have five years from the effective date of this code to meet the requirements of this particular subsection.

M. Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided in all areas that are considered hazardous.

N. Any transoms in any existing hotel or dormitory shall be fixed in the closed position and shall be covered or otherwise protected to provide a fire-resistance rating.

O. All guest room doors shall be provided with a self-closing device. All doors in corridors shall be provided with a self-closing device. All existing hotels and dormitories shall have one year from the effective date of this code to meet the requirements of this particular subsection.

P. All existing hotels and dormitories shall conform to Section 17-1 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

§ 3-903.10 New apartment buildings.

A. This section establishes life safety requirements for all new apartment buildings and structures housing apartments. This includes buildings or structures containing three or more dwelling units with independent cooking and bathroom facilities, whether designated as apartment house, tenement, garden apartment, townhouse, condominium or by any other name.

B. The occupant load in numbers of persons for whom exits are to be provided shall be one person per 200 square feet gross floor area or the maximum probable population of any room or section under consideration, whichever is greater.

C. Every dwelling unit shall have access to at least two separate exits remote from each other. An exception to this is any dwelling unit which has an exit directly to the street or yard at ground level or by way of an outside stairway or an enclosed stairway with a fire-resistance rating of one hour or more serving that apartment only and not communicating with any floor below the level of exit discharge.

D. All means of egress and exits shall be illuminated. Illumination of means of egress shall be continuous.

E. The floors of means of egress shall be illuminated at all angles and points of corridors and passageways, stairways, landings of stairs, and stairway and exit doors.

F. Any apartment building with more than three dwelling units or greater than three stories in height shall have emergency lighting. The emergency lighting systems shall be so arranged as to provide the required illumination automatically in the event of any interruption of normal lighting, such as a power failure of a public utility or other power source, opening of a circuit breaker or fuse, or any manual act(s).

G. All means of egress shall be marked. Exit signs shall be posted in all apartment buildings requiring more than one exit.

H. No door in any means of egress shall be locked against egress when the building is occupied. Locks, if provided, shall not require the use of a key, tool, or special knowledge or effort for operation from the inside of the building. No ordinary double-cylinder locks or chain locks meet the provisions of this section.

I. All new apartment buildings with more than three stories or with more than 10 living units shall be provided with an approved fire alarm system.

J. In all new apartment buildings the required fire alarm system shall be initiated upon the operation of the automatic sprinkler system, in addition to the manual initiation. Occupant notification shall be accomplished automatically without delay by an internal audible alarm signal. In buildings or structures more than six stories in height, occupant notification also shall be provided by an approved means of voice notification.

K. In all new apartment buildings and structures, a total automatic fire detection system is required. Approved single station or multiple station smoke detectors continuously powered by house electrical service shall be installed in every living unit within the apartment building, regardless of the number or stories or number of apartments. This individual detector unit shall be in addition to any sprinkler system or other detection system that may be installed in the building.

L. In all new apartment occupancies automatic sprinklers shall be provided. The approved automatic sprinklers shall be installed in corridors along the corridor ceiling, one sprinkler head opposite the center of any inside door of a living unit opening into the corridor. Automatic sprinklers shall be provided in each habitable apartment or living unit. The type of sprinkler head(s) used inside each habitable unit shall be of the quick-response type. Sprinklers in dwelling units may be omitted in small areas such as closets not over 24 square feet and bathrooms not over 60 square feet.

M. The fire protection rating of doors from living units to corridors shall not be less than 20 minutes. All doors between apartments and corridors shall be self-closing.

N. Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided in all corridors and hazardous areas.

O. All new apartment buildings and apartment occupancies shall conform to this code and the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

§ 3-903.11 Existing apartment buildings.

This section establishes life safety requirements for all existing apartment buildings and structures housing apartments. This includes buildings or structures containing three or more dwelling units with independent cooking and bathroom facilities, whether designated as apartment house, tenement, garden apartment, townhouse, condominium, or by any other name.

A. All existing buildings or structures classified as apartment occupancies shall conform to the provisions of the Life Safety Code of NFPA, Section 19-1, and shall meet the requirements of one of the following options:

(1) Buildings provided with a complete automatic fire detection and notification system.

(2) Buildings provided with automatic sprinkler protection in selected areas.

(3) Buildings protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system.

B. Each dwelling unit in an existing apartment house shall have at least one single station smoke detector.

C. No required path of travel to the outside from any room used as a means of escape shall be through another room or apartment not under the immediate control of the occupants of the first room, nor through a bathroom or other space subject to locking.

D. Every dwelling unit in existing apartment occupancies shall have access to at least two separate exits remote from each other.

E. Every public space, hallway, stairway, and other means of egress shall have illumination which shall be continuous.

F. The floors of means of egress shall be illuminated at all angles and points of corridors and passageways, stairways, landings of stairs, and exit doors.

G. Any apartment building with more than three living units or greater than three stories in height shall have emergency lighting. The emergency lighting systems shall be so arranged as to provide the required illumination automatically in the event of any interruption of normal lighting, such as a power failure of a public utility or other power source, opening of a circuit breaker or fuse, or any manual act(s).

H. All means of egress shall be marked. Exit signs shall be posted in all apartment buildings requiring more than one exit.

I. No door in any means of egress shall be locked against egress when the building is occupied. Locks, if provided, shall not require the use of a key, tool, or special knowledge or effort for operation from the inside of the building. Ordinary double-cylinder locks or chain locks do not meet the provisions of this section.

J. Approved interconnected smoke detectors continuously powered by the house electrical service shall be installed in all common areas such as basements, cellars, hallways, corridors, or landings within the apartment building regardless of the number of stories. The individual unit detectors shall be in addition to any sprinkler system or other detection system that may be installed in the building.

K. All existing apartment occupancies over 75 feet in height shall be provided with an automatic sprinkler system in all corridors and in all habitable rooms or living units. A quick-response sprinkler head(s) shall be installed as part of the automatic sprinkler system in all habitable areas or living units throughout. Sprinklers may be omitted in small areas, such as closets not over 24 square feet and bathrooms not over 60 square feet. For existing apartment occupancies to meet the requirements of this subsection, a five-year period from the effective date of this code shall be given to comply.

L. The fire protection rating of fire doors from dwelling units opening onto corridors shall be not less than 20 minutes. Doors between dwelling units and corridors shall be self-closing. Doors shall be equipped with latches for keeping doors closed.

M. Existing transoms installed in corridor partitions of sleeping rooms shall be fixed in the closed position and shall be covered or otherwise protected to provide a fire-resistance rating.

N. Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided in all corridors and hazardous areas.

O. Apartment buildings with more than three stories or with more than 11 dwelling units shall be provided with a fire alarm system in accordance with Section 7-6 of the Life Safety Code 101.

§ 3-903.12 Lodging and rooming houses.

A. This section applies only to lodging and rooming houses providing sleeping accommodations for 16 persons or fewer. Lodging or rooming houses include buildings in which separate sleeping rooms are rented providing sleeping accommodations to a total of 16 or fewer persons on either a transient or permanent basis, with or without meals, but without separate cooking facilities for individual occupants.

B. Every sleeping room shall have access to a primary means of escape so located that it will provide a safe path of travel to the outside of the building without traversing any corridor or space exposed to an unprotected vertical opening. Where the sleeping room is above or below the level of exit discharge, the primary means of exit shall be an enclosed interior stair, exterior stair, a horizontal exit, or an existing fire escape stair.

C. In addition to the primary route of escape, each sleeping room shall have a second means of escape. Windows will be acceptable based on size and location, in the discretion of the Fire Chief.

D. Interior stairways shall be enclosed with twenty-minute fire barriers with all openings protected with self-closing doors with a fire-resistance rating of at least 20 minutes.

E. Every closet door latch shall be such that it can be readily opened from the inside or outside in case of emergency.

F. Every bathroom door shall be designed to permit the opening of the locked door from the outside in case of an emergency.

G. No door in any means of egress shall be locked against egress when the building is occupied.

H. Locks, if provided, shall not require the use of a key for the operation from the inside of the building.

I. Lodging and rooming houses shall be provided with a fire alarm system. In any new lodging or rooming house, the fire alarm and fire detection system shall be wired into the house electric service.

J. All sleeping rooms shall be separated from escape route corridors by walls and doors that are smoke resistant. There shall be no louvers or operable transoms or other air passages penetrating the wall except properly installed heating and utility installations. Doors shall be provided with latches or other mechanisms suitable for keeping doors closed. Doors shall have self-closing devices installed.

K. All lodging and rooming houses with more than five units to be rented or leased on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis shall be provided throughout with an automatic sprinkler system similarly designed as defined in Chapter 3-905, Residential (Domestic) Sprinklers, of these Codified Ordinances. All sprinkler heads shall be the quick-response type. Existing lodging and rooming houses shall have five years to comply with the requirements of this subsection.

§ 3-903.13 Residential board and care occupancies.

A. This section addresses the life safety of those persons in residential board and care occupancies. The following are examples of facilities that may be classified as residential board and care services:

(1) A group housing arrangement for physically and mentally handicapped persons who normally may attend school in the community, attend church in the community, or otherwise use community services.

(2) A group housing arrangement for physically or mentally handicapped persons who are undergoing training in preparation for independent living, for paid employment or other normal community services.

(3) A group housing arrangement for the elderly that provides personal care services but that does not provide nursing care.

(4) Facilities for social rehabilitation, alcoholism, drug abuse, or mental health problems that contain a group housing arrangement and that provide personal care services but do not provide acute care.

(5) Other group housing arrangements that provide personal care services but not nursing care.

B. Residential board and care occupancies providing sleeping accommodations for not more than 16 residents shall be classified as a small facility. An occupancy having more than 16 persons shall be classified as a large board and care facility.

C. Each board and care occupancy shall have a type of evacuation capability permitting the occupants, residents and staff as a group to either evacuate the building or relocate from the point of occupancy to a point of safety.

D. Any hazardous area shall be protected in accordance with the following:

(1) If a hazardous area is on the same floor as, and is in or abuts, a primary means of escape or a sleeping room, the hazardous area shall be protected by either:

(a) An enclosure with a fire-resistance rating of at least one hour with a self-closing fire door having a fire protection rating of at least 3/4 of an hour; or

(b) Automatic sprinkler protection of the hazardous area and a separation that will resist the passage of smoke between the hazardous area and the exposed sleeping area.

(2) Other hazardous areas shall be protected by either:

(a) An enclosure with a fire-resistance rating of at least 20 minutes with a self-closing door at least the equivalent to a one-and-three-fourths-inch solid bonded wood core construction; or

(b) Automatic sprinkler protection of the hazardous area regardless of enclosure.

E. A manual fire alarm shall be provided in all board and care occupancies. Existing board and care occupancies shall have one year from the effective date of this code to comply with this requirement.

F. In a large board and care occupancy, approved smoke detectors shall be installed. These shall be powered by the house electrical service and, when activated, shall initiate an alarm audible in the sleeping areas. Detectors shall be installed on all levels, including basements but excluding crawl spaces and attics. Additional detectors shall be installed for living rooms and day rooms. If the board and care occupancy is classified as small, a system of smoke detectors is required. Smoke detectors of a single station type must be installed on every level and in all habitable areas and halls or corridors and basement.

G. All new board and care occupancies shall be provided throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with NFPA 13D, and such sprinkler system shall activate the fire alarm system. Existing board and care occupancies shall be provided throughout with an automatic sprinkler system. This automatic sprinkler system shall activate the fire alarm system. The type of sprinkler head to be used shall be the quick-response type. A five-year period to comply with this subsection will be given for existing occupancies.

H. Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided near hazardous areas and on each floor of occupancy.

I. All means of egress or escape must be marked. Exit signs shall be posted in all board and care occupancies.

J. All board and care occupancies shall have separation from sleeping rooms to corridors with a fire-resistance rating of not less than 20 minutes. Other common spaces and walls shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 20 minutes. There shall be no louvers, transfer grilles, operable transoms or other passages penetrating such walls except properly installed utility installations.

K. All board and care occupancies shall conform to the Life Safety Code of NFPA, Section 21-1.

§ 3-903.14 Day-care home and center occupancies.

[Amended 3-23-2004 by Ord. No. 9-2004; 7-13-2010 by Ord. No. 7-2010[1]]

A. Child day-care facility occupancies, either new or existing, shall meet the requirements of this chapter and the educational occupancy codes of the Life Safety Code of NFPA. In a child day-care facility which houses more than one age group, the requirements for the younger age shall apply, unless the younger group life safety is maintained in a separate fire area.

B. The occupant load of child day-care facilities for which means of egress shall be provided for on any floor shall be the maximum number of persons intended to occupy that floor, but not less than one person for each 35 square feet of net floor area used.

C. The minimum staff-to-client ratio for child day-care facilities or occupancies shall be as follows:

	Staff Ratio	Age
	1:3	0 to 2
	1:5	2 to 3
	1:10	3 to 5
	1:12	5 to 7
	1:15	7 and over

No child day-care center, occupancy or home shall have children more than two stories above the level of exit discharge or one story below the level of exit discharge.

D. All child day-care facilities shall have two remote exits. One exit shall discharge directly outside, and the vertical travel to ground level shall not exceed eight feet.

E. In child day-care facilities all means of egress shall be illuminated and shall be provided during the time that the conditions of the occupancy require that the means of egress be available for use.

F. The floors of means of egress shall be illuminated at all points of corridors and passageways, stairways, landings of stairs, stoops, steps, and exit doors.

G. In child day-care facilities there shall be provided emergency lighting. An emergency lighting system shall be so arranged to maintain required lighting automatically in the event of interruption of normal lighting, such as a power failure of a public utility or other outside electrical power supply, opening of a circuit breaker or fuse, or any manual act(s).

H. In child day-care facilities every closet door latch shall be such that children can open the door from the inside.

I. In child day-care facilities every bathroom door lock shall be designed to permit opening of the locked door from the outside in an emergency; the opening device shall be readily available and accessible.

J. Rooms or spaces in child day-care facilities that are used for storage of combustible materials and supplies of fuel shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a construction having not less than one-hour fire rating.

K. All child day-care facilities shall be equipped with a smoke detection system. If in a private residence, § 3-903.12 shall be complied with. Detectors shall be installed in lounges, recreation areas, and sleeping rooms.

L. Every room of a child day-care facility used for sleeping, living or dining purposes shall have at least two means of escape, at least one of which shall be a doorway or stairway providing a means of unobstructed travel to the outside of the building at street or ground level. The second means of escape may be through a window. No room or space shall be occupied for living or sleeping purposes which is accessible only by a ladder, folding stairs, or through a trap door.

M. The operators of child day-care occupancies shall hold fire drills at least once a month, and a record of such fire drills shall be maintained for inspection of the Fire Chief upon his request.

N. "Adult day-care facility" shall include any building used for non-sleeping purposes for less than 24 hours per day to house one or more well, ambulatory or semi-ambulatory (non-bedridden) adults, none of whom require medical injections by staff personnel. For the purposes of this definition, adults shall include those who:

(1) May require limited attendance, supervision or observation;

(2) May require the administration of dry or liquid oral medication by staff personnel when prescribed by a medical practitioner;

(3) Exhibit acceptable behavior (not harmful to others);

(4) Are able to toilet self;

(5) Are able to feed self;

(6) Possess adequate mobility; and

(7) Are otherwise essentially homebound.

O. This section is to make clear that these occupancies contain persons who are capable of self-preservation but need limited attendance, supervision or observation.

[1] Editor's Note: Section 2 of this ordinance provided as follows: "To the extent that the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, as adopted by the City of Harrisburg by Ordinance 19 of 2004, regulates the use of sprinklers in child day-care facilities, such regulations shall continue to be enforced by the City of Harrisburg’s Bureau of Inspection and Codes Enforcement."

§ 3-903.15 New mercantile occupancies.

A. New mercantile occupancies shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 24 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

B. New mercantile occupancies shall include all stores, markets and other buildings or structures for the display and sale of merchandise. Included in this occupancy group are supermarkets, department stores, drugstores, auction rooms, and shopping centers. The classification of occupancy shall be as follows:

(1) Class A: all stores having an aggregate gross area of more than 30,000 square feet or utilizing more than three levels for sales purposes.

(2) Class B: all stores of not more than 30,000 square feet aggregate gross area, but more than 3,000 square feet, or utilizing balconies, mezzanines, or floors above or below the street floor level for sales purposes.

(3) Class C: all stores of not more than 3,000 square feet gross area used for sales purposes on one story only.

The aggregate gross floor area shall be the total area of all floors used for mercantile purposes, including all sections regardless of fire separation.

C. No dwelling unit shall have its sole means of egress through any mercantile occupancy in the same building.

D. No multiple-dwelling occupancy shall be located above a mercantile occupancy unless the mercantile occupancy is protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 7-7 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

E. The occupant loads for mercantile occupancies in buildings or parts of buildings used for mercantile purposes shall not be less than the following:

(1) Street floor: one person for each 30 square feet gross floor area of sales space;

(2) Sales floors below the street floor: one person for each 30 square feet of gross floor area of sales space;

(3) Upper floors, used for sales: one person for each 60 square feet gross floor area of sales space;

(4) Floors or portions of floors used only for offices: one person for each 100 square feet gross area of office space; and

(5) Floors or portions of floors used only for storage, receiving, and shipping and not open to the general public: one person per each 300 square feet gross area of storage.

F. The same stair or other exit required to serve any one upper floor may also serve other upper floors.

G. In Class A and Class B stores, at least two separate exits shall be accessible from every part of every floor, including the floors below the street floor. In Class C stores, at least two separate exits shall be provided.

H. Every mercantile occupancy shall have all means of egress illuminated and marked.

I. Every mercantile occupancy shall have exit signs and exits marked.

J. Every mercantile occupancy store shall have emergency lighting which shall be so arranged to maintain required lighting automatically in the event of a power failure from a public utility or other outside power source, opening of a circuit breaker or fuse, or any manual act(s).

K. All doors at the foot of stairs, at the head of stairs or below the street floor shall swing with the exit of travel.

L. A door shall be so arranged as to be readily opened from the side from which the egress is to be made at all times when the building is occupied. Locks, if provided, shall not require the use of a key, tool, or special knowledge or effort for operation from the inside of the building or structure. Panic or fire hardware shall be placed on all doors.

M. All Class A and Class B new mercantile occupancies shall have a fire alarm system. Initiation of the fire alarm system may be by means of an approved sprinkler system providing protection throughout the building or structure.

N. All Class A and Class B new mercantile occupancies must be protected throughout by an approved sprinkler system in accordance with Section 7-7 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

O. All new mercantile occupancies must be provided with portable fire extinguishers.

§ 3-903.16 Existing mercantile occupancies.

A. Existing mercantile occupancies shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 25 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

B. Existing mercantile occupancies shall include all stores, markets, and other buildings or structures for the display and sale of merchandise. Included in this occupancy group are supermarkets, department stores, drugstores, auction rooms, and shopping centers. The classification of occupancy shall be as follows:

(1) Class A: all stores having an aggregate gross area of more than 30,000 square feet or utilizing more than three floor levels for sales purposes.

(2) Class B: all stores of not more than 30,000 square feet aggregate gross area, but more than 3,000 square feet, or utilizing balconies, mezzanines, or floors above or below the street floor level for sales purposes.

(3) Class C: all stores of not more than 3,000 square feet gross area used for sales purposes on one story only.

For the purpose of the classification, the aggregate gross floor area shall be the total gross floor area of all floors used for mercantile purposes and, where a store is divided into sections, and regardless of fire separation, shall include all areas of all sections used for sales purposes.

C. Additions to existing buildings shall conform to the requirements for new construction. Existing portions of the structure need not be modified, provided that the new construction has not diminished the firesafety features of the facility.

D. No dwelling unit shall have its sole means of egress through any mercantile occupancy in the same building.

E. No multiple-dwelling occupancy shall be located above a mercantile occupancy unless the mercantile occupancy is protected throughout by an approved sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 7-7 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

F. The occupant loads for mercantile occupancies in buildings or parts of buildings used for mercantile purposes shall not be less than the following:

(1) Street floor: one person for each 30 square feet gross floor area of sales space.

(2) Sales floors below the street floor: one person for each 30 square feet of gross area of sales space.

(3) Upper floors used for sales: one person for each 100 square feet gross floor area of sales space.

(4) Floors or portions of floors used for offices: one person for each 100 square feet gross area of office space.

(5) Floors or portions of floors used only for storage, receiving, and shipping and not open to the general public: one person per each 300 square feet gross area of storage.

G. The same stair or other exit(s) required to serve any one upper floor may also serve the other upper floors.

H. In existing Class A and Class B stores, at least two separate exits shall be accessible from every part of every floor, including the floors below the street floor. In existing Class C stores, at least two separate exits shall be provided.

I. Every existing mercantile occupancy shall have all means of egress illuminated.

J. Every existing mercantile occupancy shall have all exit signs and all exits marked.

K. At least 1/2 of the required exits shall be so located as to be reached without going through checkout stands. In no case shall checkout stands or associated railings or barriers obstruct exits, required aisles or approaches thereto.

L. Every Class A and Class B store shall have emergency lighting. The emergency lighting system shall be so arranged to maintain required lighting automatically in the event of a power failure from a public utility or other outside power source, opening of a circuit or fuse or any manual act(s).

M. All doors at the foot of stairs or at the head of stairs, or leading to floors below the street floor, shall swing with the exit of travel.

N. A door shall be so arranged as to be readily opened from the side from which egress is to be made at all times when the building is occupied. Locks, if provided, shall not require the use of a key, tool or special knowledge or effort for operation from the inside of the building. Panic or fire hardware should be placed on all doors.

O. All existing mercantile occupancies shall be provided with a fire alarm system for Class A and Class B occupancies. Initiation of the fire alarm system may be by means of an approved sprinkler system or manual pull stations.

P. All existing mercantile occupancies shall be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 7-7 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA, as follows:

(1) In all buildings with a story over 15,000 square feet in area.

(2) In all buildings exceeding 30,000 square feet in gross area.

(3) Throughout stories below the level of exit of discharge when such stories have an area exceeding 2,500 square feet and are used for sale, storage, or handling of combustible goods and merchandise. Exception: Single-story buildings which meet the requirements of a street floor.

Q. To meet the requirements of this section, owners of existing mercantile occupancies will have five years from the effective date of this code to meet such requirements.

R. All mercantile occupancies shall be provided with portable fire extinguishers in accordance with this code.

§ 3-903.17 New business occupancies.

A. New business occupancies are those used for the transaction of business, for the keeping of accounts and records and similar purposes. Minor office occupancies incidental to operations in another occupancy are considered part of the predominating occupancy and are subject to the provisions of this code as they apply to the predominating occupancy.

B. All new business occupancies shall conform to Chapter 26 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

C. Additions to existing buildings shall conform to the requirements for new construction. Existing portions of the structure need not be modified, provided that the new construction has not diminished the firesafety features of the facility.

D. The following constitute business occupancies and are covered by Chapter 26 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA:

(1) Those occupancies used for the transaction of business (other than those classified as mercantile occupancies).

(2) Those occupancies used for the keeping of accounts and records and for similar purposes.

(3) Doctors' offices, dentists' offices, general offices, city halls, and courthouses, all of which have areas for keeping books and records and transacting public business.

(4) Service facilities usual to office buildings such as newsstands, lunch counters serving fewer than 50 people, barbershops, beauty parlors and gift shops.

E. The occupant load of business occupancies in all buildings or parts of buildings used for business purposes shall be no less than one person per 100 square feet of gross floor area.

F. Not fewer than two exits shall be accessible from every part of every floor, including floor levels below the street floor occupied for business purposes or uses incidental thereto.

G. Required exits must be suitably located to allow access without passage through areas subject to locking.

H. All means of egress shall be illuminated.

I. All means of egress shall be marked. All exits shall be marked and exit signs shall be posted.

J. Emergency lighting shall be required where:

(1) The building is two or more stories in height above the level of exit discharge.

(2) The occupancy is subject to 100 or more occupants above or below the level of exit discharge.

(3) The occupancy is subject to 1,000 or more total occupants.

(4) The structure or a portion thereof is windowless and/or underground.

K. Locks shall be permitted only on principal entrance/exit doors which will be unlocked in order for the facility to do business when occupied. Locks shall not require the use of a key, tool, or special knowledge or effort for operation from the inside of the building.

L. All doors shall be so arranged as to be readily opened from the side from which egress is to be made at all times.

M. Floors below the street floor used for storage or other than business occupancy shall have no unprotected openings to business occupancy floors.

N. All new business occupancies shall be provided with a fire alarm system where the occupancy is as follows:

(1) The building is two or more stories in height above the level of exit discharge.

(2) The occupancy is subject to 100 or more occupants above or below the level of exit discharge.

(3) The occupancy is subject to 1,000 or more total occupants.

O. Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided in every business occupancy on every floor of the building.

P. All new business occupancy buildings over 75 feet in height shall be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system, fully electrically supervised and designed in accordance with Section 7-7 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA. Building height shall be measured from the lowest level of Fire Bureau access to the floor of the highest occupiable story.

Q. All new business occupancies housing atriums shall be protected throughout with a fire alarm system and automatic sprinkler system.

R. All new business occupancies with electrical equipment essential for smoke control or automatic extinguishing equipment for any building more than six stories in height or 75 feet in height which contain an atrium shall be provided with an emergency source of power in accordance with NFPA 70.

S. In all new business occupancies, portable fire extinguishers shall be provided throughout. In areas where micro or mini computer drives are located, there shall be provided halon extinguishers.

§ 3-903.18 Existing business occupancies.

A. Existing business occupancies are those used for the transaction of business for the purpose of keeping records and accounts and similar purposes. Minor office occupancies incidental to operations in another occupancy are considered part of the predominating occupancy and are subject to the provisions of this code as they apply to the predominating occupancy.

B. All existing business occupancies shall conform to Chapter 27 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

C. Any additions or alterations to existing buildings of business occupancies shall conform to the requirements for new construction. Existing portions of the structure need not be modified, provided that the new construction has not diminished the firesafety features of the facility.

D. The following constitute business occupancies and are covered by Chapter 27 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA:

(1) Those occupancies used for the transaction of business, other than those classified as mercantile occupancies.

(2) Those occupancies used for the keeping of accounts and records and for similar purposes.

(3) Doctors' offices, dentists' offices, general offices, city halls, and courthouses, all of which have areas for keeping books and records and transacting public business.

(4) Service facilities usual to office buildings, such as newsstands, lunch counters (serving fewer than 50 persons), barbershops, beauty shops and gift shops.

E. The occupant load of business occupancies in all buildings or parts of buildings used for business purposes shall be no less than one person per 100 square feet of gross floor area.

F. No fewer than two exits shall be accessible from every part of every floor, including floor levels below the street floor occupied for business purposes or uses incidental thereto.

G. Required exits must be suitably located to allow access without passage through areas subject to locking.

H. All means of egress shall be illuminated.

I. All means of egress shall be marked and signs posted. All exits shall be marked and all exits shall be posted with signs.

J. Emergency lighting shall be required where:

(1) The building is two or more stories in height above the level of exit discharge;

(2) The occupancy is subject to 100 or more occupants above or below the level of exit discharge;

(3) The occupancy is subject to 1,000 or more total occupants; or

(4) A portion of the structure is windowless or underground.

K. Locks shall be permitted only on principal entrance/exit doors which must be unlocked in order for the facility to do business when occupied. Locks shall not require the use of a key, tool, or special knowledge or effort for operation from the inside of the building.

L. A door shall be so arranged as to be readily opened from the side from which egress is to be made at all times.

M. Floors below the street level floor used for storage or other business occupancy shall have no unprotected opening to business occupancy floors.

N. All existing business occupancies shall be provided with a fire alarm where:

(1) The building is two or more stories in height above the level of exit discharge;

(2) The occupancy is subject to 100 or more occupants above and/or below the level of exit discharge; or

(3) The occupancy is subject to 1,000 or more total occupants.

To conform to the requirements of this subsection of the Fire Code, a building owner(s) will have three years from the effective date of this code to comply with this requirement.

O. All business occupancy buildings over 75 feet in height shall be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system, fully electrically supervised. Building height shall be measured from the lowest level of Fire Bureau access to the floor of the highest occupiable story. To conform to the requirements of this subsection of the Fire Code, a building owner(s) will have five years from the effective date of this code to comply with this requirement.

P. All existing business occupancies with electrical equipment for smoke control or automatic extinguishing equipment for any building more than six stories in height or 75 feet in height containing an atrium shall be provided with an emergency source of power in accordance with NFPA 70.

Q. All existing business occupancies housing atriums shall be protected with an automatic fire detection and fire alarm system.

R. All existing business occupancies must be equipped throughout with portable fire extinguishers. In areas where micro or mini computer drive systems are located, these areas should be provided with halon extinguishers.

§ 3-903.19 Industrial occupancies.

A. Industrial occupancies are those types of activities which are characterized by manufacture or trade and are indicated by the following examples: factories of all kinds, laboratories, dry-cleaning plants, power plants, steam plants, laundries, refineries, creameries, gas plants, woodworking plants, and smokehouses.

B. The requirements of this section apply to both new and existing industrial occupancies, including:

(1) Factories making products of all kinds and properties used for operations such as processing, assembling, mixing, packaging, finishing or decorating, repairing and similar operations.

(2) Ordinary and low-hazard manufacturing operations, conducted in buildings of conventional design suitable for types of manufacture, including multistory buildings where floors of buildings are rented to different tenants suitable for such occupancy and, therefore, subject to possible use for types of manufacturing with a high density of employee populations, i.e., as general industrial occupancy.

(3) Ordinary and low-hazard manufacturing operations in buildings designed for, and suitable for, particular types of operations characterized by a relatively low density of employee population, with much of the area occupied by machinery or equipment, i.e., special purpose industry occupancy.

(4) Buildings having high-hazard materials, processes or contents, i.e., high-hazard industrial occupancy, which include occupancies where gasoline and other flammable liquids are handled, used, or are stored under such conditions as to involve possible release of flammable vapor; where wood, flour or plastic dust, grain dust, aluminum dust, magnesium dust, or other explosive dusts may be produced; where hazardous chemicals or explosives are manufactured, stored, or handled; where cotton or other combustible fibers are processed or handled under conditions such to produce flammable flyings; and other situations of similar hazard.

C. The occupant load of industrial occupancies shall be one person per 100 square feet of gross floor area.

D. No fewer than two exits shall be provided for every story of a section, including stories below the floor of exit discharge used for general industrial purposes or for uses incidental thereto.

E. There shall be at least two separate means of egress from every high-hazard area, regardless of size.

F. Signs designating exits or ways of travel thereto shall be posted; all exits shall be posted.

G. All means of egress shall be illuminated. Illumination is required for all exit access, including designated aisles, corridors, and passageways leading to an exit.

H. Emergency lighting shall be provided in all industrial occupancies which shall be so arranged as to provide the required illumination automatically in the event of any interruption of normal lighting for any reason.

I. Every high-hazard industrial occupancy, operation, or process shall have automatic extinguishing systems or such other protection as may be appropriate to the particular hazard, such as explosion, venting or suppression, for any area subject to explosion hazard and designed to minimize danger to occupants in case of fire or other emergency before they have time to utilize exits to escape.

J. Industrial occupancies shall be provided with a fire alarm system; provided, however, that if the total capacity of the building is under 50 persons and fewer than 15 persons are above or below the level of exit discharge a fire alarm system shall not be required.

K. All industrial occupancies shall comply with requirements of Chapter 28 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

§ 3-903.20 Storage occupancies.

A. Storage occupancies are those which include all buildings or structures utilized primarily for the storage or sheltering of goods, merchandise, products, vehicles, or animals, including warehouses, cold storage, freight terminals, truck terminals, parking garages, bulk oil storage and stables.

B. Contents of storage occupancies shall be classified as high hazard, ordinary hazard, or low hazard, depending upon the character of the materials stored and their packaging and other factors.

C. The minimum width of any corridor or passageway serving as a required exit, means of egress or travel to or from a required exit shall be 44 inches in the clear.

D. Every building or structure used for storage and every section thereof considered separately shall have at least two separate means of egress, as remote from each other as practicable, except that only one means of egress may be provided from rooms or enclosures within storage buildings, structures or sections of a storage building not exceeding 10,000 square feet and not occupied normally by more than 10 persons.

E. Illumination of means of egress shall be provided.

F. All storage occupancies shall have signs designating exits and ways of travel thereto. All exits must be posted.

G. All storage occupancies shall have emergency lighting with one of the following exceptions permitted:

(1) When not normally occupied.

(2) In structures occupied in daylight hours only with skylights or windows arranged to provide the required illumination on all portions of the means of egress during these hours.

H. All storage occupancies shall be provided with a fire alarm system:

(1) Storage occupancy limited to low-hazard contents; or

(2) Storage occupancy with ordinary or high-hazard contents does not exceed an aggregate floor area of 100,000 square feet.

I. All storage occupancies shall be provided with an automatic sprinkler system. Any storage occupancy existing prior to the effective date of this code shall have five years to comply with this subsection of this code.

J. All storage occupancies shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 29 of the Life Safety Code of NFPA.

§ 3-903.21 Operating features.

A. Every required exit, exit access or exit discharge shall be continuously maintained free of all obstructions or impediments to fully, instantly be available for use in the case of fire or other emergency.

B. Hangings or draperies shall not be placed over exit doors or otherwise located so as to conceal or obscure any exit. No mirror shall be placed on an exit door or adjacent to any exit.

C. There shall be no obstruction by railings, barriers or gates that divides the open space in sections appurtenant to individual rooms, apartments, means of egress, exits, or other uses.

D. Every required automatic sprinkler system, fire detection and alarm system, smoke control system, exit lighting, fire door(s), and other items of equipment required by this code shall be continuously in proper operating condition.

E. A functional test shall be conducted on every required emergency lighting system at thirty-day intervals. An annual test shall be conducted of smoke control systems, standpipe systems, sprinkler systems, and other equipment as required by this code. If any system is down for maintenance or repair, a test must be made after work is completed.

F. Furnishings or decorations of an explosive or highly flammable character shall not be used.

G. Fire-retardant coatings shall be maintained so as to retain the effectiveness of the treatment under conditions encountered in use.

H. Fire exit drills shall be designed to familiarize the occupants with all available means of exit, particularly emergency exits that are not habitually used for normal egress of the building. Staff personnel should have instruction on fire exits and must participate in fire exit drills.

I. No person shall smoke in prohibited areas which are so posted.

J. Seats not secured to the floor may be permitted in restaurants, nightclubs and other occupancies where the fastening of seats to the floor may be impracticable, provided that, in the area used for seating (excluding dance floor stage, etc.), there shall be not more than one seat for each 15 square feet of net floor area, and adequate aisles to reach exits shall be maintained at all times.

K. Every room constituting an assembly occupancy and not having fixed seats shall have the occupant load of the room posted in a conspicuous place near the main exit from the room. Signs shall be durable and indicate the number of persons permitted for each room use.

L. There shall be at least two fire exit drills the first two weeks of a school term and eight additional fire exit drills during a school year. In climates where the winter weather is severe, at least six drills a year shall be held at the beginning of the school term and four drills after the winter months to complete the 10 required fire drills. The principal of each school shall maintain a record of the fire exit drills for inspection by the Fire Chief.

M. Fire prevention inspections shall be conducted monthly by a trained senior member of the staff of all day-care facilities. This is not intended to eliminate inspections by members of the Fire Bureau. A record of such inspections by the staff member shall be maintained and readily available for inspection by the Fire Chief.

N. The administration of every hospital, nursing home and custodial care facility shall have in effect and available to all supervisory personnel written copies of a plan for the protection of all persons in the event of fire for their evacuation to areas of refuge and from the building when necessary. All employees shall be periodically instructed and kept informed as to their duties under the plan. A copy of the plan shall be readily available at all times at the telephone operator's position and at the security center.

O. All employees of hotels shall be instructed and drilled in the duties they are to perform in the event of fire, panic, or other emergency. Emergency duties of employees of residential occupancies shall be the following: notify the Fire Bureau, notify the office, warn guests, assist occupants, search rooms, man all elevators (including automatic-type elevators), and have a messenger to meet the Fire Bureau to give specific information and location of the emergency.

P. Firesafety information shall be posted in every guest room of any type of residential occupancy such as hotels, motels, and dormitories.

Q. The administration of every residential board and care facility shall have in effect and available to all supervisory personnel written copies of a plan for the protection of all persons in the event of fire and for the evacuation from the building when necessary to areas of refuge. The plan shall include special staff actions, including fire protection procedures needed to ensure the safety of any resident. All employees shall be periodically instructed and kept informed in respect to their duties and responsibilities.

R. Fire exit drills in board and care homes and facilities shall be conducted at least six times per year, two times on each shift. A record shall be maintained of these drills and be available for inspection by the Fire Chief.

§ 3-903.100 NFPA references.

NFPA references: 10, 11, 11A, 12, 12A, 12B, 13, 13D, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 30, 31, 40, 45, 54, 58, 70, 71, 72A, 72B, 72C, 72D, 72E, 74, 80, 82, 90A, 90B, 91, 101, 102, 211, 220, 241, 251, 252, 253, 255, 256, 257, 701, 703 and 1221.