N.Y. Multiple Residence Law § 55: Egress

§ 55. Egress. 1. In every transient dwelling to which this article is

applicable there shall be from each story at least two independent means

of egress accessible to each room, apartment or suite, except as

otherwise provided in section sixty-three with respect to two story

transient dwellings.

2. The first means of egress shall be an enclosed stair extending

directly to a street, or to a yard, court or passageway affording

continuous, safe and unobstructed access to a street, or by an enclosed

stair leading to the entrance story, which story shall have direct

access to a street. That area of the dwelling immediately above the

street level and commonly known as the main floor, where the occupants

are registered and the usual business of the dwelling is conducted,

shall be considered a part of the entrance story; and a required stair

terminating at such main floor or its mezzanine shall be deemed to

terminate at the entrance story. An elevator or an unenclosed escalator

shall not be acceptable as a required means of egress.

3. The second means of egress shall be by an additional enclosed

stair, conforming to the provisions of subdivision two of this section,

a fire-stair or an outside fire-escape. In a non-fireproof dwelling when

it is necessary to pass through a stair enclosure which may or may not

be a required means of egress to reach a required means of egress, such

stair enclosure and that part of the public hall or corridor leading

thereto from a room, apartment or suite, shall be fire-retarded as

provided in section fifty-two or protected by a sprinkler system; in a

fireproof dwelling only that part of the hall or corridor leading to

such stair enclosure need be so protected.

4. Where it is impractical in such existing transient dwellings to

provide a second means of egress, the department may order, in lieu of

the second means of egress, additional alteration to the first means of

egress and to shafts, stairs and other vertical openings as the

department may deem necessary to safeguard the occupants of the

dwelling, may require the public halls providing access to the first

means of egress to be equipped on each story with an automatic sprinkler

system, and, in non-fireproof dwellings, may also require automatic

sprinkler heads in the stair which serves as the only means of egress.

5. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to require the enclosure of

a stair which is ornamental provided such stair does not connect more

than two stories.

6. A stair, fire-stair or fire-escape supplementary to the egress

requirements of subdivisions two, three and four of this section need

not lead to the entrance story or to a street, or to a yard or a court

which leads to a street, provided the means of egress therefrom is

approved by the department.

7. A fire-detecting system shall not be acceptable for any of the

requirements of this section.

8. In lieu of enclosing stairways as required by subdivisions two and

three of this section, an automatic sprinkler system may be provided on

such stairs.

9. All fire-escapes erected on or after July first, nineteen hundred

fifty-three, in compliance with this section, shall be arranged,

constructed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of section

one hundred thirty-three. Such system shall be installed, arranged and

maintained in a manner satisfactory to the department and in accordance

with rules adopted by the commission. It shall be unlawful to remove any

fire-escape without permission from the department.