1503.08 BASEMENTS OF STORE UNITS.

   (a)   Basements of individual store units shall be provided with one or both of the following plans of opening:

      (1)   At least one exterior window or other opening shall be provided at each end of the basement store unit, which window or opening shall be placed below the ceiling level and shall be accessible to the Division of Fire.

      (2)   In lieu of the opening required by subsection (a)(1) with respect to the end of a basement store unit adjacent to a street, there may be substituted, with the prior written approval of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, an opening from the basement store unit to the street level, which opening may be temporarily closed by concrete of such thickness that the concrete may serve as part of a sidewalk, but may be quickly and easily broken open by the Division of Fire. The dimensions of such opening, the thickness of such concrete and the method of installation shall be subject to the approval of the Bureau of Fire Prevention.

   (b)   In any retail or commercial establishment where people are employed regularly in the basement or to which the public is permitted to have ingress and egress, such basement, regardless of size, shall have not less than two direct means of egress which shall be as far apart as possible. At least one of such means of egress shall be in a fire-resistant enclosure with a one-hour fire door equipped with an approved fusible link closer. This requirement shall not be applicable, however, to a basement equipped with an approved sprinkler system, provided the public is not permitted in such basement and further provided that no more than three persons are regularly employed in such basement. For the purposes of this section, the word "egress" means a clear stairway leading to an outside exit, either directly or through a clear passageway.

   (c)   In all retail or commercial establishments where merchandise is stored in the basement, shelving or bins for such merchandise shall run lengthwise from the front to the rear of such basement and shall be constructed in such a manner that there are no cross-partitions, but only open shelving.

   Where automatic sprinkler protection is provided, clearance of at least eighteen inches shall be maintained under sprinklers. Clearance of up to thirty-six inches may be required where the nature of the material stored requires greater clearance.

   Where automatic sprinkler protection is not provided and reliance is placed upon hose streams for fire extinguishment, there shall be a clearance of at least three feet between the top of material stored and the underside of the lowest beams, girders or other ceiling obstruction which might restrict the play of hose streams over the material.

   (d)   No person shall be permitted to reside in any part of any retail or commercial establishment, except in apartments built, designed and intended to be used as dwelling units adjacent to or above such establishment, but in no case shall living be permitted in the basement thereof.
(Ord. 2004-206. Passed 12-21-04.)