{"data":{"id":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-bc-3104","jurisdiction":"us-nyc","citation":"N.Y.C. Admin. Code § BC 3104","heading":"Section BC 3104: Pedestrian Walkways and Tunnels","body":"3104.1 General.\n\nThis section shall apply to connections between buildings such as pedestrian walkways or tunnels, located at, above or below grade level, that are used as a means of travel by persons. The pedestrian walkway shall not contribute to the building area or the number of stories or height of connected buildings.\n\n3104.1.1 Application.\n\nPedestrian walkways shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Sections 3104.2 through 3104.9. Tunnels shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Sections 3104.2 and 3104.10.\n\n3104.2 Separate structures.\n\nBuildings connected by pedestrian walkways or tunnels shall be considered to be separate structures.\n\nExceptions:\n\n1. Buildings that are on the same tax lot and considered as portions of a single building in accordance with Section 503.1.2.\n\n2. For purposes of calculating the number of Type B units required by Chapter 11, structurally connected buildings and buildings with multiple wings shall be considered one structure.\n\n3104.3 Construction.\n\nThe pedestrian walkway shall be of a Construction Type that is at least equal to the higher type of the two buildings connected.\n\nException: Exterior pedestrian walkways serving as a required exit shall be constructed of noncombustible materials and comply with the fire-resistance rating requirements as set forth in Chapter 7.\n\n3104.4 Contents.\n\nOnly materials approved by the department shall be located in the pedestrian walkway. Decorations may be permitted in accordance with the New York City Fire Code.\n\n3104.5 Connections of pedestrian walkways to buildings.\n\nThe connection of a pedestrian walkway to a building shall comply with Section 3104.5.1, 3104.5.2, 3104.5.3 or 3104.5.4.\n\nException: Buildings that are on the same tax lot and considered as portions of a single building in accordance with Section 503.1.2.\n\n3104.5.1 Fire barriers.\n\nPedestrian walkways shall be separated from the interior of the building by not less than 2-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 and Sections 3104.5.1.1 through 3104.5.1.3.\n\n3104.5.1.1 Exterior walls.\n\nExterior walls of buildings connected to pedestrian walkways shall be 2-hour fire-resistance-rated. This protection shall extend not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) in every direction surrounding the perimeter of the pedestrian walkway.\n\n3104.5.1.2 Openings in exterior walls of connected buildings.\n\nOpenings in exterior walls required to be fire-resistance-rated in accordance with Section 3104.5.1.1 shall be equipped with opening protectives providing a not less than 3/4-hour fire protection rating in accordance with Section 716.\n\n3104.5.1.3 Supporting construction.\n\nThe fire barrier shall be supported by construction as required by Section 707.5.1.\n\n3104.5.2 Alternative separation.\n\nThe wall separating the pedestrian walkway and the building shall comply with Section 3104.5.2.1 or 3104.5.2.2 where:\n\n1. The distance between the connected buildings is more than 30 feet (9144 mm).\n\n2. The pedestrian walkway and connected buildings are equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, and the roof of the walkway is not more than 55 feet (16 764 mm) above grade connecting to the fifth, or lower, story above grade plane, of each building.\n\nException: Pedestrian walkways accessory to open parking garages need not be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system.\n\n3104.5.2.1 Passage of smoke.\n\nThe wall shall be capable of resisting the passage of smoke.\n\n3104.5.2.2 Glass.\n\nThe wall shall be constructed of a tempered, wired or laminated glass wall and doors or glass separating the interior of the building from the pedestrian walkway. The glass shall be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 that, when actuated, shall completely wet the entire surface of interior sides of the wall or glass. Obstructions shall not be installed between the sprinkler heads and the wall or glass. The glass shall be in a gasketed frame and installed in such a manner that the framing system will deflect without breaking (loading) the glass before the sprinkler operates.\n\n3104.5.3 Open sides on walkway.\n\nWhere the distance between the connected buildings is more than 30 feet (9144 mm), the walls at the intersection of the pedestrian walkway and each building need not be fire-resistance-rated provided both sidewalls of the pedestrian walkway are not less than 50 percent open with the open area uniformly distributed to prevent the accumulation of smoke and toxic gases. The roof of the walkway shall be located not more than 40 feet (12 160 mm) above grade plane, and the walkway shall only be permitted to connect to the third or lower story of each building.\n\nException: Where the pedestrian walkway is protected with a sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, the roof of the walkway shall be located not more than 55 feet (16 764 mm) above grade plane and the walkway shall only be permitted to connect to the fifth or lower story of each building.\n\n3104.5.4 Exterior walls greater than 2 hours.\n\nWhere exterior walls of connected buildings are required by Section 705 to have a fire-resistance rating greater than 2 hours, the walls at the intersection of the pedestrian walkway and each building need not be fire-resistance-rated provided:\n\n1. The pedestrian walkway is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.\n\n2. The roof of the walkway is not located more than 55 feet (16 764 mm) above grade plane and the walkway connects to the fifth, or lower, story above grade plane of each building.\n\n3104.6 Public way.\n\nPedestrian walkways over a public way shall comply with Chapter 32.\n\n3104.7 Width.\n\nThe unobstructed width of pedestrian walkways shall be not less than 36 inches (914 mm). The total width shall be not greater than 30 feet (9144 mm).\n\n3104.8 Egress.\n\nAccess shall be provided at all times to a pedestrian walkway that serves as a required exit. Doors satisfying the requirements of Chapter 10 shall enclose each end of such pedestrian walkway. The width of such pedestrian walkway shall be at least equal to the width of the doors opening onto such pedestrian walkway, but in no case less than 44 inches (1118 mm). The floor level at doors shall be the same as that of the connected building.\n\nException: The floor level at doors of open pedestrian walkways shall be not less than 7 1/2 inches (191 mm) below the level of the door. Where the requirements of Chapter 11 are applicable, these differences in level shall be accommodated by means of ramps in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 11.\n\n3104.9 Exit access travel.\n\nThe length of exit access travel shall be 200 feet (60 960 mm) or less.\n\nExceptions:\n\n1. Exit access travel distance on a pedestrian walkway equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 shall be 250 feet (76 200 mm) or less.\n\n2. Exit access travel distance on a pedestrian walkway constructed with both sides not less than 50 percent open shall be 300 feet (91 440 mm) or less.\n\n3. Exit access travel distance on a pedestrian walkway constructed with both sides not less than 50 percent open, and equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, shall be 400 feet (122 m) or less.\n\n3104.10 Tunneled walkway.\n\nSeparation between the tunneled walkway and the building to which it is connected shall be not less than 2-hour fire-resistant construction and openings therein shall be protected in accordance with Table 716.5.","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":"8471c63146da249276d9f975f317692b4e7e2848d16981e6c3b12f97d9d05d95","source_id":"us-nyc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-bc-3103","next":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-bc-3105"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}