{"data":{"id":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-ebc-903","jurisdiction":"us-nyc","citation":"N.Y.C. Admin. Code § EBC 903","heading":"Section EBC 903: Building Elements and Materials","body":"903.1 Existing shafts and vertical openings.\n\nExisting shafts and vertical openings, including stairways, shall be enclosed and protected in accordance with the \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNew York City Building Code\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t from the highest level within the work area, including the level of exit discharge and all floors below the level of exit discharge. Where the proposed alteration results in a reduction in the \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\texisting fire-resistive rating, the registered design professional of record shall demonstrate compliance with Section 303.2 of this code.\n\n903.1.1 Prior code buildings.\n\nIn prior code buildings,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\texisting shafts and vertical openings, including stairways, shall be enclosed and protected in accordance with Section 803.2.1 from the highest level within the work area including the level of exit discharge and all floors below.\n\n903.2 Fire separations in Group R-3.\n\nFire separation in Group R-3 occupancies shall be in accordance with Section 903.2.1.\n\n903.2.1 Separation required in R-3 occupancy.\n\nWhere the work area in any attached one- or two-family dwellings results in the removal of wall or ceiling finishes exposing the existing fire separation that was constructed in accordance with Appendix M of the New York City Building Code or department issued memorandum on the same subject matter, special inspection shall be performed in accordance with Section 1705.17 of the New York City Building Code on the side of the dwelling unit wall that is part of the work area to determine whether the assembly is in compliance with Chapter 7 of the New York City Building Code. Any wall or portions thereof separating the dwelling units that are identified as not continuous from the foundation to the underside of the roof sheathing shall be constructed to provide a continuous fire separation using construction materials consistent with the existing wall or complying with the requirements for new structures. Such work shall be limited to the side of the dwelling unit wall that is part of the work area.\n\n903.3 Interior finish.\n\nThe interior finish of walls and ceilings in exits and corridors in any work area or exit serving the work area, between the highest floor on which there is a work area and the floor of exit discharge, shall comply with the requirements of Section 803.4.\n\nException: Interior finish of walls and ceilings in corridors and exits within tenant spaces that are entirely outside the work area.\n\n903.4 Protection of window openings on lot line air shafts in Group R-2 buildings.\n\nWhere a prior code building is undergoing a Level 2 alteration and the building contains windows that open onto a lot line air shaft as defined in Chapter 2, and any part of such window is less than 3 feet (914 mm) from the lot line or less than 6 feet (1829 mm) from another window on the adjacent building, all such windows shall be protected in accordance with Section 803.8. For the purpose of this section, separation distance to adjacent buildings shall be measured in any direction to the nearest edges of window openings.\n\nException. Windows located in occupied tenant spaces outside the work area.\n\n903.4.1 Work areas exceeding 75 percent of the building area.\n\nWhere the work area exceeds 75 percent of building area, all windows opening on lot line air shafts shall be protected in accordance with Section 803.8 throughout the building.\n\n903.5 Existing buildings in fire districts.\n\nAlterations made to existing buildings shall comply with Sections 302.6 and 803.9.","path":["New York City Administrative Code","Title 28","Chapter 12: The New York City Existing Building Code (effective July 17, 2027)"],"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":"473509b3ca07deee933cf4295fb5b655835f9c8a93562bdbbde499ad07bea231","source_id":"us-nyc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-ebc-902","next":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-ebc-904"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}