N.Y.C. Admin. Code § BC 1016: Section BC 1016: Exit Access

1016.1 General.

The exit access shall comply with the applicable provisions of Sections 1003 through 1015. Exit access arrangement shall comply with Sections 1016 through 1021.

1016.2 Egress through intervening spaces.

Egress through intervening spaces shall comply with this section.

1. Exit access through an enclosed elevator lobby is permitted. Access to not less than one of the required exits shall be provided without travel through the enclosed elevator lobbies required by Section 3006. Where the path of exit access travel passes through an enclosed elevator lobby, the level of protection required for the enclosed elevator lobby is not required to be extended to the exit unless direct access to an exit is required by other sections of this code.

2. Egress from a room or space shall not pass through adjoining or intervening rooms or areas, except where such adjoining rooms or areas and the area served are accessory to one or the other, are not a Group H occupancy and provide a discernible path of egress travel to an exit.

Exception: Means of egress are not prohibited through adjoining or intervening rooms or spaces in a Group H, S or F occupancy where the adjoining or intervening rooms or spaces are the same or a lesser hazard occupancy group.

3. An exit access shall not pass through a room that can be locked to prevent egress.

4. Means of egress from dwelling units or sleeping areas shall not lead through other sleeping areas, toilet rooms or bathrooms.

5. Egress shall not pass through kitchens, storage rooms, closets or spaces used for similar purposes.

Exceptions:

1. Means of egress are not prohibited through a kitchen area serving adjoining rooms constituting part of the same dwelling unit or sleeping unit.

2. Means of egress are not prohibited through stockrooms in Group M occupancies where all of the following are met:

2.1. The stock is of the same hazard classification as that found in the main retail area.

2.2. Not more than 50 percent of the exit access is through the stockroom.

2.3. The stockroom is not subject to locking from the egress side.

2.4. There is a demarcated, minimum 44-inch (1117.6 mm) wide aisle defined by full- or partial-height fixed walls or similar construction that will maintain the required width and lead directly from the retail area to the exit without obstructions.

1016.2.1 Multiple tenants.

Where more than one tenant occupies any one floor of a building or structure, each tenant space, dwelling unit and sleeping unit shall be provided with access to the required exits without passing through adjacent tenant spaces, dwelling units and sleeping units.

Exception: The means of egress from a smaller tenant space shall not be prohibited from passing through a larger adjoining tenant space where the following conditions are met:

1. Such rooms or spaces of the smaller tenant occupy less than 10 percent of the area of the larger tenant space through which they pass;

2. The larger tenant is a Group M occupancy and the smaller tenant space is of the same or similar occupancy group;

3. A discernible path of egress travel is provided from the smaller tenant space to an exit;

4. The means of egress into the adjoining space is not subject to locking from the egress side of the smaller tenant space; and

5. The smaller tenant space serves the same occupants, customers, or patrons as the larger tenant space.

1016.3 Intervening public hall in Group R-2 occupancies.

Buildings in Occupancy Group R-2 shall comply with the intervening public hall requirements in accordance with Sections 1016.3.1 and 1016.3.2.

1016.3.1 Group R-2 nonhigh-rise occupancies.

In buildings in occupancy Group R-2 not subject to Section 403, a door from a dwelling unit shall open into an intervening public hall. Such public hall shall be constructed as a public corridor in accordance with Section 1020. Opening protectives in accordance with Exception 3 of Section 707.6 shall not be permitted.

Exceptions:

1. No intervening public hall shall be required for any of the following:

1.1. A building that is both three stories or less in height, and contains two or fewer dwelling units per story; or

1.2. A building that complies with Item 6 of Section 1006.3.2.

2. No intervening public hall shall be required where the doors opening to the apartments are smoke and draft controlled doors complying with UL 1784 without artificial bottom seals, in accordance with Sections 716.5 and 716.5.7.3 of this code, and the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1 of this code. This exception shall not apply to any building that complies with Item 7 of Section 1006.3.2 of this code where there is more than one apartment per story.

1016.3.2 Group R-2 high-rise occupancies.

In high-rise buildings in occupancy Group R-2, all doors from a dwelling unit shall open into an intervening public hall. Such public hall shall be constructed as a public corridor in accordance with Section 1020. Opening protectives in accordance with Exception 3 of Section 707.6 shall not be permitted. Such public hall shall provide access to at least two exits.

Exception: Where the only dwelling units on a story of a building are the upper stories of multistory (duplex) dwelling units;

1. Any public halls shall be permitted to provide access to only one exit; or

2. No such public hall shall be required where smoke and draft controlled doors complying with UL 1784 without artificial bottom seals, in accordance with Sections 716.5 and 716.5.7.3 of this code, are provided. This exception shall not be construed to effect, alter, or change any requirement of this code to provide two means of egress from each apartment on each story.