N.Y.C. Admin. Code § BC 407: Section BC 407: Group I-2

407.1 General.

Occupancies in Group I-2 shall comply with the provisions of Sections 407.1 through 407.10 and other applicable provisions of this code.

407.2 Corridors continuity and separation.

Corridors in occupancies in Group I-2 shall be continuous to the exits and shall be separated from other areas in accordance with Section 407.3 except spaces conforming to Sections 407.2.1 through 407.2.6.

407.2.1 Waiting and similar areas.

Waiting areas and similar spaces constructed as required for corridors shall be permitted to be open to a corridor, only where all of the following criteria are met:

1. The spaces are not occupied as care recipient's sleeping rooms, treatment rooms, incidental uses in accordance with Section 509, or hazardous uses.

2. The open space is protected by an automatic fire detection system installed in accordance with Section 907.

3. The corridors onto which the spaces open, in the same smoke compartment, are protected by an automatic fire detection system installed in accordance with Section 907, or the smoke compartment in which the spaces are located is equipped throughout with quick-response sprinklers in accordance with Section 903.3.2.

4. The space is arranged so as not to obstruct access to the required exits.

407.2.2 Care providers' stations.

Spaces for care providers', supervisory staff, doctors' and nurses' charting, communications and related clerical areas shall be permitted to be open to the corridor, where such spaces are constructed as required for corridors.

407.2.3 Psychiatric treatment areas.

Areas wherein psychiatric care recipients who are not capable of self-preservation are housed, or group meeting or multipurpose therapeutic spaces other than incidental uses in accordance with Section 509, under continuous supervision by facility staff, shall be permitted to be open to the corridor, where the following criteria are met:

1. Each area does not exceed 1,500 square feet (140 m

2

).

2. The area is located to permit supervision by the facility staff.

3. The area is arranged so as not to obstruct any access to the required exits.

4. The area is equipped with an automatic fire detection system installed in accordance with Section 907.2.

5. Not more than one such space is permitted in any one smoke compartment.

6. The walls and ceilings of the space are constructed as required for corridors.

407.2.4 Gift shops.

Gift shops and associated storage that are less than 500 square feet (46 m

2

) in area shall be permitted to be open to the corridor where such spaces are constructed as required for corridors.

407.2.5 Nursing home housing units.

In Group I-2 occupancies, in areas where nursing home residents are housed, shared living spaces, group meeting or multipurpose therapeutic spaces shall be permitted to be open to the corridor, where all of the following criteria are met:

1. The walls and ceilings of the space are constructed as required for corridors.

2. The spaces are not occupied as resident sleeping rooms, treatment rooms, incidental uses in accordance with Section 509, or hazardous uses.

3. The open space is protected by an automatic fire detection system installed in accordance with Section 907.

4. The corridors onto which the spaces open, in the same smoke compartment, are protected by an automatic fire detection system installed in accordance with Section 907, or the smoke compartment in which the spaces are located is equipped throughout with quick-response sprinklers in accordance with Section 903.3.2.

5. The space is arranged so as not to obstruct access to the required exits.

407.2.6 Nursing home cooking facilities.

In Group I-2 occupancies, rooms or spaces that contain a cooking facility with domestic cooking appliances shall be permitted to be open to the corridor where all of the following criteria are met:

1. The number of care recipients housed in the smoke compartment is not greater than 30.

2. The number of care recipients served by the cooking facility is not greater than 30.

3. Only one cooking facility area is permitted in a smoke compartment.

4. The types of domestic cooking appliances permitted are limited to ovens, cooktops, ranges, warmers and microwaves.

5. The corridor is a clearly identified space delineated by construction or floor pattern, material or color.

6. The space containing the domestic cooking facility shall be arranged so as not to obstruct access to the required exit.

7. A domestic cooking hood installed and constructed in accordance with Section 505 of the New York City Mechanical Code is provided over the cooktop or range.

8. The domestic cooking hood provided over the cooktop or range shall be equipped with an automatic fire-extinguishing system of a type recognized for protection of domestic cooking equipment. Preengineered automatic extinguishing systems shall be tested in accordance with UL 300A and listed and labeled for the intended application. The system shall be installed in accordance with this code, its listing and the manufacturer's instructions.

9. A manual actuation device for the hood suppression system shall be installed in accordance with Sections 904.12.1 and 904.12.2.

10. An interlock device shall be provided such that upon activation of the hood suppression system, the power or fuel supply to the cooktop or range will be turned off.

11. A shut-off for the fuel and electrical power supply to the cooking equipment shall be provided in a location that is accessible only to staff.

12. A timer shall be provided that automatically deactivates the cooking appliances within a period of not more than 120 minutes.

13. A portable fire extinguisher shall be installed in accordance with Section 906 of the New York City Fire Code.

407.3 Corridor wall construction.

Corridor walls shall be constructed as smoke partitions in accordance with Section 710.

407.3.1 Corridor doors.

Corridor doors, other than those in a wall required to be rated by Section 509.4 or for the enclosure of a vertical opening or an exit, shall not have a required fire protection rating and shall not be required to be equipped with self-closing or automatic-closing devices, but shall provide an effective barrier to limit the transfer of smoke and shall be equipped with positive latching. Roller latches are not permitted. Other doors shall conform to Section 716.5.

407.4 Means of egress.

Group I-2 occupancies shall be provided with means of egress complying with Chapter 10 and Sections 407.4.1 through 407.4.4. The fire and emergency preparedness plans provided in accordance with Section 1001.4 of this code shall identify the building components necessary to support a defend-in-place emergency response in accordance with the New York City Fire Code.

407.4.1 Direct access to a corridor.

Habitable rooms in Group I-2 occupancies shall have an exit access door leading directly to a corridor.

Exceptions:

1. Rooms with exit doors opening directly to the outside at ground level.

2. Rooms arranged as care suites complying with Section 407.4.4.

407.4.1.1 Locking devices.

Locking devices that restrict access to a care recipient's room from the corridor and that are operable only by staff from the corridor side shall not restrict the means of egress from the care recipient's room.

Exceptions:

1. This section shall not apply to rooms in psychiatric treatment and similar care areas.

2. Locking arrangements in accordance with Section 1010.1.9.6.

407.4.2 Distance of travel.

The distance of travel between any point in a Group I-2 occupancy sleeping room, not located in a care suite, and an exit access door in that room shall be not greater than 50 feet (15 240 mm).

407.4.3 Projections in nursing home corridors.

In nursing homes of Group I-2 occupancies, where the corridor width is a minimum of 96 inches (2440 mm), projections shall be permitted for furniture where all of the following criteria are met:

1. The furniture is attached to the floor or to the wall.

2. The furniture does not reduce the clear width of the corridor to less than 72 inches (1830 mm) except where other encroachments are permitted in accordance with Section 1005.7.

3. The furniture is positioned on only one side of the corridor.

4. Each arrangement of furniture is 50 square feet (4.6 m

2

) maximum in area.

5. Furniture arrangements are separated by 10 feet (3048 mm) minimum.

6. Placement of furniture is considered as part of the fire and emergency preparedness plans in accordance with Section 1001.4.

407.4.4 Group I-2 care suites.

Care suites in Group I-2 shall comply with Sections 407.4.4.1 through 407.4.4.4 and either Section 407.4.4.5 or 407.4.4.6.

407.4.4.1 Exit access through care suites.

Exit access from all other portions of a building not classified as a care suite shall not pass through a care suite. In a care suite required to have more than one exit, one exit access is permitted to pass through an adjacent care suite provided all of the other requirements of Sections 407.4 and 1016.2 are satisfied.

407.4.4.2 Separation.

Care suites shall be separated from other portions of the building, including other care suites, by a smoke partition complying with Section 710.

407.4.4.3 Access to corridor.

Movement from habitable rooms shall not require passage through more than three doors and 100 feet (30 480 mm) distance of travel within the suite.

Exception: The distance of travel shall be permitted to be increased to 125 feet (38 100 mm) where an automatic smoke detection system is provided throughout the care suite and installed in accordance with NFPA 72 as modified by Appendix Q of this code.

407.4.4.4 Doors within care suites.

Doors in care suites serving habitable rooms shall be permitted to comply with one of the following:

1. Manually operated horizontal sliding doors permitted in accordance with Exception 9 to Section 1010.1.2.1.

2. Power-operated doors permitted in accordance with Exception 7 to Section 1010.1.2.1.

3. Means of egress doors complying with Section 1010.

407.4.4.5 Care suites containing sleeping room areas.

Sleeping rooms shall be permitted to be grouped into care suites where one of the following criteria is met:

1. The care suite is not used as an exit access for more than eight care recipient beds.

2. The arrangement of the care suite allows for direct and constant visual supervision into the sleeping rooms by care providers.

3. An automatic smoke detection system is provided in the sleeping rooms and installed in accordance with NFPA 72 as modified by Appendix Q of this code.

407.4.4.5.1 Area.

Care suites containing sleeping rooms shall be not greater than 7,500 square feet (696 m

2

) in area.

Exception: Care suites containing sleeping rooms shall be permitted to be not greater than 10,000 square feet (929 m

2

) in area where an automatic smoke detection system is provided throughout the care suite and installed in accordance with NFPA 72 as modified by Appendix Q of this code.

407.4.4.5.2 Exit access.

Any sleeping room, or any care suite that contains sleeping rooms, of more than 1,000 square feet (93 m

2

) shall have no fewer than two exit access doors from the care suite located in accordance with Section 1007.

407.4.4.6 Care suites not containing sleeping rooms.

Areas not containing sleeping rooms, but only treatment areas and the associated rooms, spaces or circulation space, shall be permitted to be grouped into care suites and shall conform to the limitations in Sections 407.4.4.6.1 and 407.4.4.6.2.

407.4.4.6.1 Area.

Care suites of rooms, other than sleeping rooms, shall have an area not greater than 12,500 square feet (1161 m

2

).

Exception: Care suites not containing sleeping rooms shall be permitted to be not greater than 15,000 square feet (1394 m

2

) in area where an automatic smoke detection system is provided throughout the care suite in accordance with Section 907.

407.4.4.6.2 Exit access.

Care suites, other than sleeping rooms, with an area of more than 2,500 square feet (232 m

2

) shall have no fewer than two exit access doors from the care suite located in accordance with Section 1007.1.

407.5 Smoke barriers.

Smoke barriers shall be provided to subdivide every story used by persons receiving care, treatment or sleeping and to divide other stories with an occupant load of 50 or more persons, into no fewer than two smoke compartments. Such stories shall be divided into smoke compartments with an area of not more than 22,500 square feet (2090 m

2

) in nursing homes in Group I-2, and not more than 40,000 square feet (3716 m

2

) in detoxification facilities, hospitals and psychiatric centers in Group I-2, and the distance of travel from any point in a smoke compartment to a smoke barrier door shall be not greater than 200 feet (60 960 mm). The smoke barrier shall be in accordance with Section 709.

407.5.1 Refuge area.

Refuge areas shall be provided within each smoke compartment. The size of the refuge area shall accommodate the occupants and care recipients from the adjoining smoke compartment. Where a smoke compartment is adjoined by two or more smoke compartments, the minimum area of the refuge area shall accommodate the largest occupant load of the adjoining compartments. The size of the refuge area shall provide the following:

1. Not less than 30 net square feet (2.8 m

2

) for each care recipient confined to bed or stretcher.

2. Not less than 6 square feet (0.56 m

2

) for each ambulatory care recipient not confined to bed or stretcher and for other occupants.

Areas or spaces permitted to be included in the calculation of refuge area are corridors, sleeping areas, treatment rooms, lounge or dining areas and other low-hazard areas.

407.5.2 Independent egress.

A means of egress shall be provided from each smoke compartment created by smoke barriers without having to return through the smoke compartment from which means of egress originated.

407.5.3 Horizontal assemblies.

Horizontal assemblies supporting smoke barriers required by this section shall be designed to resist the movement of smoke. Elevator lobbies shall be in accordance with Section 3006.1.

407.6 Automatic sprinkler system.

Smoke compartments containing sleeping rooms shall be equipped throughout with an automatic fire sprinkler system in accordance with Sections 903.3.1.1 and 903.3.2.

407.7 Fire alarm system.

A fire alarm system shall be provided in accordance with Section 907.2.6.

407.8 Automatic fire detection.

Corridors in nursing homes (both intermediate-care and skilled nursing facilities) and spaces permitted to be open to the corridors by Section 407.2 shall be equipped with an automatic fire detection system installed in accordance with Section 907. Detoxification facilities, hospitals and psychiatric centers shall be equipped with smoke detection as required in Section 407.2.

Exceptions:

1. Corridor smoke detection is not required where sleeping rooms are provided with smoke detectors that comply with UL 268. Such detectors shall provide a visual display on the corridor side of each sleeping room and an audible and visual alarm at the care provider's station attending each unit.

2. Corridor smoke detection is not required where sleeping room doors are equipped with automatic door-closing devices with integral smoke detectors on the unit sides installed in accordance with their listing, provided that the integral detectors perform the required alerting function.

407.9 Secured yards.

Grounds are permitted to be fenced and gates therein are permitted to be equipped with locks, provided that safe dispersal areas having 30 net square feet (2.8 m

2

) for bed and stretcher care recipients and 6 net square feet (0.56 m

2

) for ambulatory care recipients and other occupants are located between the building and the fence. Such provided safe dispersal areas shall be located not less than 50 feet (15 240 mm) from the building they serve.

407.10 Electrical systems.

In Group I-2 occupancies, the essential electrical system for electrical components, equipment and systems shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of NFPA 99 and Chapter 27 of this code.