N.Y.C. Admin. Code § BC 1023: Section BC 1023: Interior Exit Stairways and Ramps

1023.1 General.

Interior exit stairways and ramps serving as an exit component in a means of egress system shall comply with the requirements of this section. Interior exit stairways and ramps shall be enclosed and lead directly to the exterior of the building or shall be extended to the exterior of the building with an exit passageway conforming to the requirements of Section 1024, except as permitted in Section 1028.1. An interior exit stairway or ramp shall not be used for any purpose other than as a means of egress and a circulation path.

1023.2 Construction.

Enclosures for interior exit stairways and ramps shall be constructed as fire barriers in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both. Interior exit stairway and ramp enclosures shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours where connecting four stories or more and not less than 1 hour where connecting less than four stories. The number of stories connected by the interior exit stairways or ramps shall include any basements, but not any mezzanines. Interior exit stairways and ramps shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than the floor assembly penetrated, but need not exceed 2 hours. In Group R-1 and R-2 occupancies, where interior exit stairways and ramps are required to have a fire-resistance rating of 2 hours, such enclosures shall be constructed of masonry or masonry equivalent. Wall assemblies constituting masonry equivalent shall be constructed in accordance with department rules.

Exceptions:

1. Interior exit stairways and ramps in Group I-3 occupancies in accordance with the provisions of Section 408.3.8.

2. Interior exit stairways within an atrium enclosed in accordance with Section 404.6.

1023.3 Termination.

Interior exit stairways and ramps shall terminate at an exit discharge or a public way.

Exception: A combination of interior exit stairways, interior exit ramps and exit passageways, constructed in accordance with Sections 1023.2, 1023.3.1 and 1024, respectively, and forming a continuous protected enclosure, shall be permitted to extend an interior exit stairway or ramp to the exit discharge or a public way.

1023.3.1 Extension.

Where interior exit stairways and ramps are extended to an exit discharge or a public way by an exit passageway, the interior exit stairway and ramp shall be separated from the exit passageway by a fire barrier constructed in accordance with Section 707 or a horizontal assembly constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both. The fire-resistance rating shall be not less than that required for the interior exit stairway and ramp. A fire door assembly complying with Section 716.5 shall be installed in the fire barrier to provide a means of egress from the interior exit stairway and ramp to the exit passageway. Openings in the fire barrier other than the fire door assembly are prohibited. Penetrations of the fire barrier are prohibited.

Exceptions:

1. Penetrations of the fire barrier in accordance with Section 1023.5 shall be permitted.

2. Separation between an interior exit stairway or ramp and the exit passageway extension shall not be required where there are no openings into the exit passageway extension.

1023.4 Openings.

Interior exit stairway and ramp opening protectives shall be in accordance with the requirements of Section 716.

Openings in interior exit stairways and ramps other than unprotected exterior openings shall be limited to those necessary for exit access to the enclosure from normally occupied spaces and for egress from the enclosure.

Elevators shall not open into interior exit stairways and ramps.

1023.5 Penetrations.

Penetrations into or through interior exit stairways and ramps are prohibited except for equipment and ductwork necessary for independent ventilation or pressurization, hydronic piping and related heating equipment limited to serving the interior exit stairway or ramp in which such piping and equipment is located, sprinkler piping, standpipes, electrical raceway for Fire Department communication systems and electrical raceway serving the interior exit stairway and ramp and terminating at a steel box not exceeding 16 square inches (0.010 m

2

). Such penetrations shall be protected in accordance with Section 714. There shall not be penetrations or communication openings, whether protected or not, between adjacent interior exit stairways and ramps.

Exception: Membrane penetrations shall be permitted on the outside of the interior exit stairway and ramp. Such penetrations shall be protected in accordance with Section 714.3.2.

1023.6 Ventilation.

Equipment and ductwork for interior exit stairway and ramp ventilation as permitted by Section 1023.5 shall comply with one of the following items:

1. Such equipment and ductwork shall be located exterior to the building and shall be directly connected to the interior exit stairway and ramp by ductwork enclosed in construction as required for shafts.

2. Where such equipment and ductwork is located within the interior exit stairway and ramp, the intake air shall be taken directly from the outdoors and the exhaust air shall be discharged directly to the outdoors, or such air shall be conveyed through ducts enclosed in construction as required for shafts.

3. Where located within the building, such equipment and ductwork shall be separated from the remainder of the building, including other mechanical equipment, with construction as required for shafts.

In each case, openings into the fire-resistance-rated construction shall be limited to those needed for maintenance and operation and shall be protected by opening protectives in accordance with Section 716 for shaft enclosures.

The interior exit stairway and ramp ventilation systems shall be independent of other building ventilation systems.

1023.7 Interior exit stairway and ramp exterior walls.

Exterior walls of the interior exit stairway or ramp shall comply with the requirements of Section 705 for exterior walls. Where nonrated walls or unprotected openings enclose the exterior of the stairway or ramps and the walls or openings are exposed by other parts of the building at an angle of less than 180 degrees (3.14 rad), the building exterior walls within 10 feet (3048 mm) horizontally of a nonrated wall or unprotected opening shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour. Openings within such exterior walls shall be protected by opening protectives having a fire protection rating of not less than 3/4 hour. This construction shall extend vertically from the ground to a point 10 feet (3048 mm) above the topmost landing of the stairway or ramp, or to the roof line, whichever is lower.

1023.8 Discharge identification.

An interior exit stairway and ramp shall not continue below its level of exit discharge unless an approved barrier is provided at the level of exit discharge to prevent persons from unintentionally continuing into levels below. Directional exit signs shall be provided as specified in Section 1013. An approved barrier shall consist of partitions, doors, or gates separating the portion of the interior exit stairway above grade from the portion below grade. Where doors or gates are provided as approved barriers, such doors or gates shall be self-closing, opening in the direction of exit travel from the floors below grade, and provided with landings in accordance with Sections 1010.1.5 and 1010.1.6.

Exceptions:

1. Such barrier separating the above-grade portion of the interior exit stairways and ramps from the portion below grade shall not be required in Group E and R-3 occupancies.

2. Such barrier separating the above-grade portion of the interior exit stairways and ramps from the portion below grade shall not be required where the stairway or ramp design is intended to continue the path of egress through a below grade level.

1023.9 Stairway identification and floor level signs.

Signs identifying stairways shall comply with Section 1023.9.1. Signs identifying floor levels shall comply with Sections 1023.9.2 through 1023.9.5.

1023.9.1 Stairway identification signs.

A stairway identification sign indicating each stair by alphabetic letter shall be posted on both sides of each stair door. The alphabetic letters designating the identification of the interior exit stairway and ramp shall be not less than 3 inches (76.2 mm) in height. Such sign shall comply with Items 2, 5 and 6 of Section 1023.9.4.

1023.9.2 Floor identification signs.

A floor identification sign shall be provided at each floor landing in an interior exit stairway and ramp connecting more than three stories. Such sign shall designate:

1. The floor level;

2. The terminus of the top and bottom of the interior exit stairway and ramp;

3. The identification of the interior exit stairway and ramp;

4. The story of the exit discharge; and

5. The availability of roof access from the interior exit stairway and ramp for the Fire Department.

1023.9.3 Accessible floor level identification signs.

Floor level identification signs in visual characters, raised characters and braille complying with ICC A117.1 shall be located at each floor level landing adjacent to the door on the stair side.

1023.9.4 Signage requirements.

Floor identification signs required by Section 1023.9.2 shall comply with all of the following requirements:

1. The signs shall be a minimum size of 18 inches (457.2 mm) by 12 inches (304.8 mm).

2. The top of the signs shall be located 5 feet (1524 mm) above the floor landing in a position that is readily visible when the doors are in the open and closed positions.

3. The number designating the floor level shall be not less than 5 inches (127 mm) in height and located in the center of the sign.

4. Other lettering and numbers shall be not less than 1 inch (25.4 mm) in height.

5. Characters and their background shall have a nonglare finish. Characters shall contrast with their background, with either light characters on a dark background or dark characters on a light background.

6. Where signs required by Section 1023.9 are installed in the interior exit stairways and ramps of buildings subject to Section 1025, the signs shall be made of the same luminous materials as required by Section 1025.4.

1023.9.5 Directions to openable doors.

Where doors serving interior exit stairways are locked on the stair side, signage shall be posted in compliance with Sections 1031.4.1, 1031.4.2 and 1031.4.3.

1023.10 Elevator lobby identification signs.

At landings in interior exit stairways where two or more doors lead to the floor level, any door with direct access to an enclosed elevator lobby shall be identified by signage located on the door or directly adjacent to the door stating "Elevator Lobby." Signage shall be in accordance with Section 1023.9.4, Items 4, 5 and 6.

1023.11 Smokeproof enclosures and pressurization alternative.

In buildings required to comply with Section 403 or 405, each of the interior exit stairways and ramps serving a story with a floor surface located more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest level of Fire Department vehicle access or more than 30 feet (9144 mm) below the finished floor of a level of exit discharge serving such stories shall be protected by a smokeproof enclosure or pressurization alternative in accordance with Section 909.20.

1023.11.1 Termination and extension.

A smokeproof enclosure or pressurization alternative shall terminate at an exit discharge or a public way. The smokeproof enclosure or pressurization alternative shall be permitted to be extended by an exit passageway in accordance with Section 1023.3. The exit passageway shall be without openings other than the fire door assembly required by Section 1023.3.1 and those necessary for egress from the exit passageway. The exit passageway shall be separated from the remainder of the building by 2-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both.

Exceptions:

1. Openings in the exit passageway serving a smokeproof enclosure are permitted where the exit passageway is protected and pressurized in the same manner as the smokeproof enclosure, and openings are protected as required for access from other floors.

2. Openings in the exit passageway serving a pressurization alternative are permitted where the exit passageway is protected and pressurized in the same manner as the pressurization alternative.

3. The fire barrier separating the smokeproof enclosure or pressurization alternative from the exit passageway is not required, provided the exit passageway is protected and pressurized in the same manner as the smokeproof enclosure or pressurization alternative.

4. A smokeproof enclosure or pressurization alternative shall be permitted to egress through areas on the level of exit discharge or vestibules as permitted by Section 1028.

1023.11.2 Enclosure access.

Access to the stairway or ramp within a smokeproof enclosure shall be by way of a vestibule or an open exterior balcony.

Exception: Access is not required by way of a vestibule or exterior balcony for stairways and ramps using the pressurization alternative complying with Section 909.20.5.