N.Y. Labor Law § 273: Fire-escapes erected after October first, nineteen hundred and thirteen, on buildings theretofore erected

§ 273. Fire-escapes erected after October first, nineteen hundred and

thirteen, on buildings theretofore erected. All outside fire-escapes

erected after October first, nineteen hundred and thirteen, on buildings

theretofore erected and serving as required exits shall conform to the

following requirements:

1. They shall be built of wrought iron or steel and shall be so

designed, constructed and erected as to safely sustain on all platforms,

balconies and stairways a live load of not less than ninety pounds per

square foot with a factor of safety of four.

2. Whenever practicable a continuous run or straight run stairway

shall be built.

3. All openings leading thereto shall have an unobstructed width of at

least two feet and an unobstructed height of at least six feet. Such

openings shall extend to the floor level or within six inches thereof,

shall be not more than seven inches above the floor of the fire-escape

balcony and shall be provided with fire doors, except in buildings five

stories or under in height complying with the provisions of subdivisions

five and six of section two hundred and seventy-four.

4. All windows opening upon the course of the fire-escape shall be

fireproof windows.

5. On every floor above the first there shall be a balcony firmly

fastened to the building and embracing one or more easily accessible and

unobstructed openings. The balconies shall have a width of at least four

feet throughout their length and shall have a landing not less than

twenty-four inches square at the head of every stairway. There shall be

a passageway between the stairway opening and the side of the building

at least eighteen inches wide throughout except where the stairways

reach and leave the balconies at the ends or where double run stairways

are used. The stairway openings of the balconies shall be of a size

sufficient to provide clear headway and shall be guarded on the long

side by an iron railing not less than three feet in height. Each balcony

shall be surrounded by an iron railing not less than three feet in

height properly braced.

6. The balconies shall be connected by stairways not less than

twenty-two inches wide placed at an incline of not more than forty-five

degrees, with steps of not less than eight-inch tread and not over

eight-inch rise and provided with a handrail not less than three feet

above the treads. The treads of such stairways shall be so constructed

as to sustain a live load of four hundred pounds per step with a factor

of safety of four.

7. There shall be a similar stairway from the top floor balcony to the

roof, except where the fire-escape is erected on the front of the

building.

8. A similar stairway shall also be provided from the lowest balcony

to a safe landing place beneath, which stairway shall remain down

permanently or be arranged to swing up and down automatically by

counter-balancing weights.

9. When not erected on the front of the building, safe and

unobstructed egress shall be provided from the foot of the fire-escape

by means of an open court or courts or a fireproof passageway having an

unobstructed width of at least three feet throughout, leading to the

street, or by means of an open area having communication with the

street. Such fireproof passageway shall be adequately lighted at all

times and the lights shall be so arranged as to insure their reliable

operation when through accident or other cause the regular factory

lighting is extinguished.