(a) Every multiple dwelling shall be provided with fire protection features approved as being adequate for the protection of the occupants thereof. The minimum requirements for such protection are as follows:
(1) Every public hallway, corridor, stairway, exit or other means of egress shall be protected against fire with construction, other than doors, having a fire resistance rating of not less than three-quarters of an hour and shall be kept clear and unobstructed at all times, so as to afford safe passage from each dwelling unit to open space at ground level.
(2) All doors into interior stairways shall be windowless, solid core, or approved equivalent, self-closing doors. All doors used for egress into public hallways or corridors, other than into interior stairways, shall be windowless, solid core, or approved equivalent, doors.
(3) The underside of any stairway located above a basement stairway or cellar stairway shall be protected by material having a fire resistance rating of not less than three-quarters of an hour.
(4) Basement or cellar stairways shall be separated from the first floor level by openings protected by self-closing doors having fire resistance ratings of not less than three-quarters of an hour.
(5) Every multiple dwelling containing more than two dwelling units on any floor, which dwelling units are served by an interior public stairway and hallway as a means of ingress and egress, shall have such stairway completely separated from such hallway by a fire resistant partition having a fire resistance rating of not less than three-quarters of an hour with the opening in such partition protected by a self-closing windowless, solid core, or approved equivalent, door having a fire resistance rating of not less than three-quarters of an hour.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of subsection (a) hereof, in existing buildings originally designed for multiple dwellings, the following construction shall be considered as meeting the requirements of subsection (a):
(1) Well constructed lath and plaster construction shall be considered as meeting the requirements of subsections (a)(1) and (a)(3) hereof.
(2) Existing doors shall be considered as meeting the requirements of subsection (a)(2) hereof, if any plain glass in such doors is replaced with one-fourth inch wired glass or approved equivalent, if any doors having a fire resistance rating less than that of a solid core door are painted on both sides with an approved fire retarding paint and if, in the case of existing doors to interior stairways, such doors are also provided with self-closing devices.
(3) Existing windows or transoms shall be considered as meeting the requirements of subsection (a)(1) hereof, if fixed and nonopenable and if any plain glass in such windows or transoms is replaced with one-fourth inch wired glass or approved equivalent.
(c) Whenever the use or occupancy of a building or structure, or part thereof, has been changed from the use or occupancy for which the building or structure was originally designed or intended to be used, the Housing Inspector shall determine and establish the required protective features. Except as he may otherwise determine, such fire protection features shall conform with the provisions of subsection (a) hereof.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provision of subsections (a), (b) and (c) hereof, the Housing Inspector shall have the power and authority to require more rigid fire protection features or special fire protection features where, in his opinion, special situations of construction, design, occupancy, fire hazard or other factors require such safeguards in the interest of public safety.
(Ord. 4067-1971. Passed 3-7-72.)