{"data":{"id":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-bc-1009","jurisdiction":"us-nyc","citation":"N.Y.C. Admin. Code § BC 1009","heading":"Section BC 1009: Accessible Means of Egress","body":"1009.1 Accessible means of egress required.\n\nAccessible means of egress shall comply with this section. Accessible spaces shall be provided with not less than one accessible means of egress. Where more than one means of egress are required by Section 1006.2 or 1006.3 from any accessible space, each accessible portion of the space shall be served by not less than two accessible means of egress.\n\nExceptions:\n\n1. Accessible means of egress are not required in alterations to prior code buildings where the level of alterations does not trigger full compliance of accessibility pursuant to Section 28-101.4 of the Administrative Code.\n\n2. One accessible means of egress is required from an accessible mezzanine level in accordance with Section 1009.3, 1009.4 or 1009.5.\n\n3. In assembly areas with ramped aisles or stepped aisles, one accessible means of egress is permitted where the common path of egress travel is accessible and meets the requirements in Section 1029.8.\n\n1009.2 Continuity and components.\n\nEach required accessible means of egress shall be continuous to a public way and shall consist of one or more of the following components:\n\n1. Interior accessible routes complying with Section 1104.\n\n2. Area of rescue assistance complying with Section 1009.6.\n\n3. Interior exit stairways complying with Sections 1009.3 and 1023.\n\n4. Exit access stairways complying with Sections 1009.3 and 1019.3 or 1019.4.\n\n5. Exterior exit stairways complying with Sections 1009.3 and 1027 and serving levels other than the level of exit discharge.\n\n6. Elevators complying with Section 1009.4.\n\n7. Platform lifts complying with Section 1009.5.\n\n8. Horizontal exits complying with Section 1026.\n\n9. Ramps complying with Section 1012.\n\n10. Exit discharges complying with Section 1028.\n\n11. Exterior accessible routes complying with Section 1104.\n\n12. Exterior areas for assisted rescue complying with Section 1009.7 serving exits at the level of exit discharge.\n\n13. Unenclosed vertical exits serving safe areas in assembly occupancies permitted by Section 1029.19.3.1.\n\n1009.2.1 High-rise buildings.\n\nIn high-rise buildings subject to Section 403, at least one required accessible means of egress shall be an elevator complying with Section 1009.4.\n\nExceptions:\n\n1. In buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, the elevator shall not be required on floors provided with a horizontal exit and located at or above the level of exit discharge.\n\n2. In buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, the elevator shall not be required on floors provided with a ramp conforming to the provisions of Section 1012.\n\n3. In buildings of Occupancy Group R-2 not subject to the requirements of emergency power in Section 403.\n\n1009.2.2 Exit discharge.\n\nWhere an exit discharge is not accessible, an exterior area for assisted rescue shall be provided in accordance with Section 1009.7. An exterior area for assisted rescue shall not be required where an exit discharge is on an assisted rescue path from a stairway or an elevator.\n\n1009.2.3 Exterior exit stairway.\n\nWhere an exit stairway is open to the exterior, the accessible means of egress shall include either an area of rescue assistance in accordance with Section 1009.6 or an exterior area for assisted rescue in accordance with Section 1009.7.\n\n1009.3 Exit stairways.\n\nTo be considered part of an accessible means of egress, a stairway between stories shall have a clear width of 48 inches (1220 mm) minimum between handrails and shall either incorporate an area of rescue assistance within an enlarged floor-level landing or shall be accessed from an area of rescue assistance complying with Section 1009.6. Exit access stairways that connect levels in the same story are not permitted as part of an accessible means of egress.\n\nExceptions: The following exceptions apply to the requirements of clear width and area of rescue assistance, and do not supersede the other requirements of the accessible means of egress:\n\n1. Exit access stairways providing means of egress from mezzanines are permitted as part of an accessible means of egress.\n\n2. The clear width of 48 inches (1220 mm) between handrails and the area of rescue assistance is not required at exit access stairways as permitted by Section 1017 or exit stairways in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.\n\n3. The clear width of 48 inches (1220 mm) between handrails is not required for interior exit stairways accessed from a refuge area in conjunction with a horizontal exit.\n\n4. Areas of rescue assistance are not required at exit access stairways where two-way communication is provided at the elevator landing in accordance with Section 1009.8.\n\n5. Areas of rescue assistance are not required at stairways in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.\n\n6. Areas of rescue assistance are not required at stairways serving open parking garages.\n\n7. Areas of rescue assistance are not required for smoke-protected assembly seating areas complying with Section 1029.6.2.\n\n8. Areas of rescue assistance are not required in Group R-2 occupancies.\n\n9. Areas of rescue assistance are not required for stairways accessed from a refuge area in conjunction with a horizontal exit.\n\n1009.4 Elevators.\n\nTo be considered part of an accessible means of egress, an elevator shall comply with the emergency operation and signaling device requirements of Section 2.27 of ASME A17.1 as modified by Appendix K, and Section 1109.7 of this code. Standby power shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 27 and Section 3003. The elevator shall be accessed from an area of rescue assistance complying with Section 1009.6.\n\nExceptions:\n\n1. Areas of rescue assistance are not required at the elevator in open parking garages.\n\n2. Areas of rescue assistance are not required in buildings and facilities equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.\n\n3. Areas of rescue assistance are not required at elevators not required to be located in a shaft in accordance with Section 712.\n\n4. Areas of rescue assistance are not required at elevators serving smoke-protected assembly seating areas complying with Section 1029.6.2.\n\n5. Areas of rescue assistance are not required for elevators accessed from a refuge area in conjunction with a horizontal exit.\n\n1009.5 Platform lifts.\n\nPlatform (wheelchair) lifts shall be permitted to serve as part of an accessible means of egress where allowed as part of a required accessible route in Section 1109.8, except for Item 10. Platform lifts shall be installed in accordance with ASME A18.1. Standby power for the platform lift shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 27 for platform lifts permitted to serve as part of an accessible means of egress.\n\n1009.5.1 Openness.\n\nPlatform lifts on an accessible means of egress shall not be installed in a fully enclosed hoistway.\n\n1009.6 Areas of rescue assistance.\n\nEvery required area of rescue assistance shall be accessible from the space it serves by one or more accessible means of egress components as listed in Section 1009.2.\n\n1009.6.1 Travel distance.\n\nThe maximum travel distance from any accessible space to an area of rescue assistance shall not exceed the exit access travel distance permitted for the occupancy in accordance with Section 1017.1.\n\n1009.6.2 Stairway or elevator access.\n\nEvery required area of rescue assistance shall have direct access to a stairway complying with Sections 1009.3 and 1023, or an elevator complying with Section 1009.4.\n\n1009.6.2.1 Elevator lobby.\n\nWhere an elevator lobby serves as an area of rescue assistance, the shaft and lobby shall comply with Section 713.14 and Chapter 30.\n\n1009.6.3 Size.\n\nEach area of rescue assistance shall be sized to accommodate one wheelchair space of 30 inches by 48 inches (762 mm by 1220 mm) for each 200 occupants or portion thereof, based on the occupant load of the area of rescue assistance and areas served by the area of rescue assistance. Such wheelchair spaces shall not reduce the means of egress minimum width or required capacity. Access to any of the required wheelchair spaces in an area of rescue assistance shall not be obstructed by more than one adjoining wheelchair space.\n\n1009.6.4 Separation.\n\nEach area of rescue assistance shall be separated from the remainder of the story by a smoke barrier complying with Section 709 or a horizontal exit complying with Section 1026. Each area of rescue assistance shall be designed to minimize the intrusion of smoke.\n\nExceptions:\n\n1. Areas of rescue assistance located within an enclosure for interior exit stairways complying with Section 1023.\n\n2. Areas of rescue assistance in outdoor facilities where exit access is essentially open to the outside.\n\n1009.6.5 Two-way communication.\n\nAreas of rescue assistance shall be provided with a two-way communication system complying with Sections 1009.8.1 and 1009.8.2.\n\n1009.7 Exterior areas for assisted rescue.\n\nExterior areas for assisted rescue shall be accessed by an accessible route from the area served.\n\nWhere the exit discharge does not include an accessible route from an exit located on the level of exit discharge to a public way, an exterior area of assisted rescue shall be provided on the exterior landing in accordance with Sections 1009.7.1 through 1009.7.4.\n\n1009.7.1 Size.\n\nEach exterior area for assisted rescue shall be sized to accommodate wheelchair spaces in accordance with Section 1009.6.3.\n\n1009.7.2 Separation.\n\nExterior walls separating the exterior area of assisted rescue from the interior of the building shall have a minimum fire-resistance rating of 1 hour, rated for exposure to fire from the inside. The fire-resistance-rated exterior wall construction shall extend horizontally 10 feet (3048 mm) beyond the landing on either side of the landing or equivalent fire-resistance-rated construction is permitted to extend out perpendicular to the exterior wall 4 feet (1220 mm) minimum on the side of the landing. The fire-resistance-rated construction shall extend vertically from the ground to a point 10 feet (3048 mm) above the floor level of the area for assisted rescue or to the roof line, whichever is lower. Openings within such fire-resistance-rated exterior walls shall be protected in accordance with Section 716.\n\n1009.7.3 Openness.\n\nThe exterior area for assisted rescue shall be open to the outside air. The sides other than the separation walls shall be not less than 50 percent open, and the open area shall be distributed so as to minimize the accumulation of smoke or toxic gases.\n\n1009.7.4 Stairways.\n\nStairways that are part of the accessible means of egress for the exterior area for assisted rescue shall provide a clear width of 48 inches (1220 mm) between handrails.\n\nException: The clear width of 48 inches (1220 mm) between handrails is not required at stairways serving buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.\n\n1009.8 Two-way communication.\n\nA two-way communication system complying with Sections 1009.8.1 and 1009.8.2 shall be provided at the landing serving each elevator or bank of elevators on each accessible floor that is one or more stories above or below the level of exit discharge.\n\nExceptions:\n\n1. Two-way communication systems are not required at the landing serving each elevator or bank of elevators where the two-way communication system is provided within areas of rescue assistance in accordance with Section 1009.6.5.\n\n2. Two-way communication systems are not required on floors provided with ramps conforming to the provisions of Section 1012.\n\n3. Two-way communication systems are not required at the landings serving only service elevators that are not designated as part of the accessible means of egress or serve as part of the required accessible route into a facility.\n\n4. Two-way communication systems are not required at the landings serving only freight elevators that are not designated as part of the accessible means of egress or serve as part of the required accessible route into a facility.\n\n5. Two-way communication systems are not required at the landing serving a private residence elevator.\n\n1009.8.1 System requirements.\n\nTwo-way communication systems shall provide communication between each required location and the fire command center or a central control point location approved by the Fire Department. Where the central control point is not a constantly attended location, a two-way communication system shall have a timed automatic telephone dial-out capability to a monitoring location or 911. The two-way communication system shall include both audible and visible signals.\n\n1009.8.2 Directions.\n\nDirections for the use of the two-way communication system, instructions for summoning assistance via the two-way communication system and written identification of the location shall be posted adjacent to the two-way communication system. Signage shall comply with the ICC A117.1 requirements for visual characters.\n\n1009.9 Signage.\n\nSignage indicating special accessibility pro-visions shall be provided as shown:\n\n1. Each door providing access to an area of rescue assistance from an adjacent floor area shall be identified by a sign stating: AREA OF RESCUE ASSISTANCE.\n\n2. Each door providing access to an exterior area for assisted rescue shall be identified by a sign stating: EXTERIOR AREA FOR ASSISTED RESCUE.\n\nSignage shall comply with the ICC A117.1 requirements for visual characters and include the International Symbol of Accessibility. Where exit sign illumination is required by Section 1013.3, the signs shall be illuminated. Additionally, visual character, raised character and braille signage complying with ICC A117.1 shall be located at each door to an area of rescue assistance and exterior area for assisted rescue in accordance with Section 1013.4 of this code.\n\n1009.10 Directional signage.\n\nDirectional signage indicating the location of all other means of egress and which of those are accessible means of egress shall be provided at the following:\n\n1. At exits serving a required accessible space but not providing an approved accessible means of egress.\n\n2. At elevator landings.\n\n3. Within areas of rescue assistance.\n\n1009.11 Instructions.\n\nIn areas of rescue assistance and exterior areas for assisted rescue, instructions on the use of the area under emergency conditions shall be posted. Signage shall comply with the ICC A117.1 requirements for visual characters. The instructions shall include all of the following:\n\n1. Persons able to use the exit stairway do so as soon as possible, unless they are assisting others.\n\n2. Information on planned availability of assistance in the use of stairs or supervised operation of elevators and how to summon such assistance.\n\n3. Directions for use of the two-way communications system where provided.","path":["New York City Administrative Code","Title 28","Chapter 7: New York City Building Code"],"source_url":"https://files.amlegal.com/pdffiles/NewYorkCity/Admin/XML.zip","current_through":"Local Law 2026/135 (enacted August 31, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T02:48:57Z","sha256":"2f1e202f61d5509f4e191cdf15d0b485c449aed0fd6c3a0987946630995d8524","source_id":"us-nyc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-bc-1008","next":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-bc-1010"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}