N.Y. Labor Law § 272: Additional requirements for all buildings

§ 272. Additional requirements for all buildings. No factory shall be

conducted in any building unless such building shall be so constructed,

equipped and maintained in all respects as to afford adequate protection

against fire to all persons employed therein, nor unless in addition to

the provisions of sections two hundred and seventy and two hundred and

seventy-one such buildings shall conform to the following requirements:

1. Access to exits. Every exit shall be maintained in an unobstructed

condition. Safe and continuous passageways with an unobstructed width of

at least three feet throughout their length and leading directly to

every exit including fire escapes and passenger elevators shall be

maintained at all times on every floor of the building.

2. Stairways. Stairways shall be provided with proper hand rails.

Where the stairway is enclosed by fireproof partitions the bottom of the

enclosure shall be of fireproof material at least four inches thick,

unless such partitions extend to the cellar bottom. If safe egress may

be had from the roof to an adjacent structure all stairways serving as

required exits and extending to the top story shall be continued to the

roof.

3. Doors and windows. No door leading into or out of any factory or

any floor thereof shall be locked, bolted or fastened during working

hours. No door on any floor shall be obstructed by metal bars, grating

or wire mesh. Metal bars, grating or wire mesh provided for any window

or other opening shall be so constructed as to be readily movable or

removable from the inside so as to afford free and unobstructed use

thereof as a means of egress and they shall be left unlocked during

working hours. Every door opening on a stairway or other exit shall open

from both sides so as not to obstruct passage. Doors opening directly to

the street or to yard or open area, may be provided with panic bolts of

an approved type.

4. Exit signs. An exit sign shall be placed over all openings leading

to stairways and other exits. Such sign shall be legible and visible in

accordance with rules, regulations or requirements established by the

State of New York Board of Standards and Appeals.

5. Vertical openings. All vertical openings leading from one floor to

another, except one created by a mezzanine floor, shall be enclosed by

fire-proof or fire-resistive materials and ventilated in a manner

conforming to rules adopted by the board.

6. Floors. Floors in buildings more than one and less than five

stories in height erected after October first, nineteen hundred thirteen

and in all buildings erected prior thereto shall be so constructed or

provided with a protective ceiling as to have a fire-resistive rating of

at least one hour. This subdivision shall not apply where factory

buildings are provided throughout with an automatic fire extinguishing

system approved in the city of New York by the fire commissioner in such

city and elsewhere by the commissioner.

7. Regulations by board. The board may adopt rules and establish

requirements and standards for construction, equipment and maintenance

of factory buildings or of particular classes thereof and the means and

adequacy of exit therefrom in order to carry out the purposes of this

chapter, alternative or in addition to the requirements of this article,

and not inconsistent with the spirit thereof.