N.Y. Multiple Dwelling Law § 189: Stair and public hall construction

§ 189. Stair and public hall construction. Except as provided in

paragraph g of subdivision three of section one hundred seventy-one,

stairs and public halls shall conform to the following provisions:

1. In a dwelling more than a basement and three other stories in

height or occupied by four families or more, the soffit and stringers of

every stair between the lowest entrance story and the next higher story

and the walls and ceilings of every lowest entrance hall shall be

fire-retarded and in such dwellings converted on and after July first,

nineteen hundred fifty-eight, all doors opening to such entrance hall

and stairs, and the door assemblies, shall be fireproof with the doors

self-closing. In lieu of the requirements of this subdivision, a

sprinkler system may be installed in accordance with the provisions of

section one hundred eighty-seven.

2. Every door opening from any stair, entrance hall or other public

hall to any other part of the dwelling shall be self-closing. Every

glazed transom over any such door shall be glazed with wire glass.

Every transom shall be stationary. On and after July first, nineteen

hundred fifty-seven, every glazed panel or other glazed opening in any

such door shall be glazed with wire glass.

3. Every stair, except a basement or cellar stair, shall be two feet

six inches or more in clear width. Any wooden stair may be replaced by

an iron stair of like dimensions. Every entrance hall shall be two feet

eight inches or more in clear width.

4. If the number of rooms in a class B dwelling is increased and there

are sixteen sleeping rooms or more above a basement or, if there be no

basement, above the main entrance story, all partitions and ceilings

enclosing public halls and stairs shall be fire-retarded throughout. All

doors opening to such public halls and stairs, and their assemblies,

shall be fireproof with the doors self-closing. Stairs shall be

fireproof and shall extend from the main entrance story through a

bulkhead to the roof.

5. On and after July first, nineteen hundred fifty-seven, every

interior sash, or opening other than a door, in the walls or partitions

of any stair, entrance hall or other public hall, and every window

therein not opening to the outer air, shall be removed and the openings

closed up with material similar to the adjacent walls.