A.
Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall govern the minimum conditions
and standards for firesafety relating to structures and exterior premises,
including firesafety facilities and equipment to be provided.
B.
Responsibility. The owner of the premises shall provide and maintain
such firesafety facilities and equipment in compliance with these
requirements. A person shall not occupy as owner-occupant or permit
another person to occupy any premises that do not comply with the
requirements of this chapter.
A.
General. A safe, continuous and unobstructed means of egress shall
be provided from the interior of a structure to a public way.
B.
Exit capacity. The capacity of the exits serving a floor shall be sufficient for the occupant load thereof as determined by the building code listed in Chapter 88, Construction Codes, Uniform.
C.
Number of exits. In nonresidential buildings, every occupied story
more than six stories above grade shall be provided with not less
than two independent exits. In residential buildings, every story
exceeding two stories above grade shall be provided with not fewer
than two independent exits. In stories where more than one exit is
required, all occupants shall have access to at least two exits. Every
occupied story which is both totally below grade and greater than
2,000 square feet (186 m2) shall be provided
with not less than two independent exits.
(1)
Exception. A single exit is acceptable under any one of the following
conditions:
(a)
Where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic
sprinkler system and an automatic fire detection system with smoke
detectors located in all corridors, lobbies, and common areas.
(b)
Where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic
fire detection system and the exit is an approved smokeproof enclosure
or pressurized stairway.
D.
Arrangement. Exits from dwelling units, rooming units, guest rooms
and dormitory units shall not lead through other such units, or through
toilet rooms or bathrooms.
E.
Exit signs. All means of egress shall be indicated with approved "Exit" signs where required by the building code listed in Chapter 88, Construction Codes, Uniform. All "Exit" signs shall be maintained visible and all illuminated "Exit" signs shall be illuminated at all times that the building is occupied.
F.
Corridor enclosure. All corridors serving an occupant load greater
than 30 and the openings therein shall provide an effective barrier
to resist the movement of smoke. All transoms, louvers, doors and
other openings shall be closed or shall be self-closing.
(1)
Exceptions.
(a)
Corridors in occupancies in other than Use Group H which are
equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.
(b)
Patient room doors in corridors in occupancies in Use Group I-2 where smoke barriers are provided in accordance with the fire prevention code listed in Chapter 88, Construction Codes, Uniform, are not required to be self-closing.
(c)
Corridors in occupancies in Use Group E where each room that
is occupied for instruction or assembly purposes has at least one-half
of the required means of egress doors opening directly to the exterior
of the building at ground level.
G.
Dead-end travel distance. All corridors that serve more than one
exit shall provide direct connection to such exits. The length of
a dead-end corridor shall not exceed 35 feet (10,668 mm) where the
building is not equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.
The dead-end travel distance limitation shall be increased to 70 feet
(21,336 mm) where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic
sprinkler system.
H.
Aisles. Arrangements of chairs or tables and chairs shall provide for ready access by aisle accessways and aisles to each egress door. The minimum clear width of each aisle in occupancies in Use Groups A, E and I-2 shall be maintained in accordance with the requirements of the building code listed in Chapter 88, Construction Codes, Uniform. In all other occupancies, aisles shall have a minimum required clear width of 44 inches (1,118 mm) where serving an occupant load greater than 50, and 36 inches (914 mm) where serving an occupant load of 50 or less. The clear width of aisles shall not be obstructed by chairs, tables or other objects.
I.
Stairways, handrails and guards. Every exterior and interior flight
of stairs having more than four risers, and every open portion of
a stair, landing, balcony, porch, deck, ramp or other walking surface
which is more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor or grade below
shall have guards. Handrails shall not be less than 30 inches (762
mm) nor more than 42 inches (1,067 mm) high, measured vertically above
the nosing of the tread or above the finished floor of the landing
or walking surfaces. Guards shall not be less than 30 inches (762
mm) high above the floor of the landing, balcony, porch, deck, ramp
or other walking surface.
J.
Information signs. A sign shall be provided at each floor landing in all interior stairways more than three stories above grade, designating the floor level above the floor of discharge. All elevator lobby call stations on all floor levels shall be identified by approved signs in accordance with the requirements for new buildings in the building code listed in Chapter 88, Construction Codes, Uniform.
K.
Locked doors. All means of egress doors shall be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort, except as provided for in § 133-41K.
(1)
Locks permitted. Locks or fasteners shall not be installed on egress
doors except in accordance with the following conditions:
(a)
In mental, penal or other institutions where the security of
inmates is necessary, in which case properly trained supervisory personnel
shall be continuously on duty and approved provisions are made to
remove occupants safely in case of fire or other emergency.
(b)
In problem security areas, special-purpose door alarms or locking
devices shall be approved prior to installation. Manually operated
edge or surface-molded flush bolts are prohibited.
L.
Emergency escape. Every sleeping room located in a basement in an
occupancy in Use Group I-1 or R shall have at least one openable window
or exterior door approved for emergency egress or rescue; or shall
have access to not fewer than two approved independent exits.
(1)
Exception. Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic fire suppression
system.
(2)
Security. Bars, grilles or screens placed over emergency escape windows
shall be releasable or removable from the inside without the use of
a key, tool or force greater than that which is required for normal
operation of the window.
A.
Accumulations. Rubbish, garbage or other materials shall not be stored
or allowed to accumulate in stairways, passageways, doors, windows,
fire escapes or other means of egress.
B.
Hazardous material. Combustible, flammable, explosive or other hazardous materials, such as paints, volatile oils and cleaning fluids, or combustible rubbish, such as wastepaper, boxes and rags, shall not be accumulated or stored unless such storage complies with the applicable requirements of the building code and the fire prevention code listed in Chapter 88, Construction Codes, Uniform.
A.
General. The fire resistance rating of floors, walls, ceilings, and
other elements and components shall be maintained.
B.
Maintenance. All required fire doors and smoke barriers shall be
maintained in good working order, including all hardware necessary
for the proper operation thereof. Fire doors shall not be held open
by door stops, wedges and other unapproved hold-open devices.
A.
General. All systems, devices and equipment to detect a fire, actuate
an alarm, or suppress or control a fire or any combination thereof
shall be properly maintained.
B.
Fire suppression system. Fire suppression systems shall be in proper
operating condition at all times.
(1)
Valves. Control valves shall be in the fully open position.
(2)
Sprinklers. Sprinklers shall be clean and free from corrosion, paint
and damage. Stock shall be at least 18 inches (457 mm) below sprinkler
deflectors.
(3)
Piping. Piping shall be properly supported and shall not support
any other loads.
C.
Standpipe systems. Standpipe systems shall be in proper operating
condition at all times.
D.
Fire extinguishers. All portable fire extinguishers shall be visible,
provided with ready access thereto, and maintained in an efficient
and safe operating condition. Extinguishers shall be of an approved
type.
E.
Smoke detectors. A minimum of one approved single-station or multiple-station
smoke detector shall be installed in each guest room, suite or sleeping
area in occupancies in Use Groups R-1 and I-1, and in dwelling units
in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms in occupancies in Use Groups
R-2 and R-3. In all residential occupancies, smoke detectors shall
be required on every story of the dwelling unit, including basements.
In dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door
between the adjacent levels, a smoke detector installed on the upper
level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level, provided that the
lower level is less than one full story below the upper level.
(1)
Installation. All detectors shall be installed in accordance with the building code listed in Chapter 88, Construction Codes, Uniform. When actuated, the smoke detectors shall provide an alarm suitable to warn the occupants within the individual room or dwelling unit.
(2)
Power source. The power source for smoke detectors shall be either
an AC primary power source or a monitorized battery primary power
source.
(3)
Tampering. Anyone tampering or interfering with the effectiveness
of a smoke detector shall be in violation of this chapter.
F.
Fire alarm system. Fire alarm systems shall be in proper operating
condition at all times.
(1)
Control panel. The "power on" indicator shall be lit. Alarm or trouble
indicators shall not be illuminated.
(2)
Manual fire alarm boxes. All manual fire alarm boxes shall be operational
and unobstructed.
(3)
Automatic fire detectors. All automatic fire detectors shall be operational
and free from any obstructions that prevent proper operation, including
smoke entry.
G.
Records. A complete written record of all tests and inspections of
fire protection systems shall be maintained on the premises by the
owner or occupant in charge of said premises.
Required. All elevators having a travel distance of 25 feet (7,620 mm) or more above or below the primary level of elevator access for emergency firefighting or rescue personnel shall conform to the requirements of Rule 211.3 of ASME A17.1 listed in Chapter 88, Construction Codes, Uniform.
Smoke and heat detectors. Approved smoke or heat detectors shall
be installed in return air ducts or plenums in each recirculating
air system with a capacity of more than 2,000 cfm (0.94 m3/sec) and serving more than one floor in buildings that exceed six stories in height in accordance with the mechanical code listed in Chapter 88, Construction Codes, Uniform. Actuation of the detector shall stop the fan(s) automatically and shall be of the manual-reset type. Automatic fan shutdown is not required where the system is part of an approved smoke control system.