You are viewing an archived code
There shall be not less than two exits from every building, floor, space or room, except that one exit may be permitted from any room or space under the conditions outlined in subsection (a) through (b) of this section; and one exit may be permitted from a floor under the conditions outlined in subsections (c) through (o) of this section.
(a) In all occupancies except hazardous use units, one exit shall be permitted from any room or space designed or used for an occupancy of not more than 50 persons and: (1) having an area not exceeding 1,200 square feet; or (2) used for business, mercantile, industrial or storage use, not exceeding 4,000 square feet, provided the travel distance from the exit door to the most remote point in the room or space does not exceed 75 feet, or 115 feet if equipped throughout with a standard automatic sprinkler system as defined in Chapter 15-16 of this Code.
(b) In all occupancies one exit shall be permitted from any room or space having an area not exceeding 2,000 square feet and used exclusively for storage purposes with only incidental human occupancy.
(c) In single-family dwellings and townhouses, one exit shall be permitted from any floor not more than one story above or below grade; provided that the area of such floor shall not exceed 1,500 square feet.
(d) In multiple dwellings, one exit serving one family only shall be permitted from the first or second story, and one exit shall be permitted from a basement space provided that the area of such floor or basement shall not exceed 800 square feet.
(e) In multiple dwellings, one exit shall be permitted to a public corridor from a dwelling unit when the travel distance to the most remote door within the unit does not exceed 40 feet and 60 feet from the most remote point of the dwelling unit. Two corridor exit doors are required when these distances are exceeded.
(f) In multiple dwellings, two stories high, except in buildings of Type III-C or IV-A or IV-B construction, one inside stairway from the second floor shall be permitted under the following conditions:
(1) The second floor shall have an area not exceeding 4,000 square feet and shall contain not more than four dwelling units.
(2) The stairway and public corridors leading thereto shall be enclosed by walls providing fire resistance of not less than one hour, and all openings in such walls shall be protected with doors having fire resistance not less than a solid wood door one and three- fourths inches thick.
(3) The stairway shall lead directly to an outside exit at grade.
(4) The stairs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials.
(5) The distance to the stairway from the exit door of any dwelling unit shall not exceed 20 feet.
(g) In multiple dwellings of Types I-A, I-B and I- C construction not more than four stories high, one stairway shall be permitted under the following conditions:
(1) No floor served by such stairway shall have an area exceeding 4,000 square feet nor shall contain more than four dwelling units.
(2) The stairway shall be enclosed by walls providing fire resistance of not less than two hours, and all openings in such walls shall be protected with self- closing Class B fire door.
(3) The stairway shall lead directly to an outside exit at grade.
(4) The stairway shall extend to the roof from which there shall be access to an adjoining roof of another building of the same occupancy, height and construction type and having a similar stairway arrangement.
(5) The distance to the stairway from the exit door of any dwelling unit shall not exceed 20 feet.
(h) In multiple dwellings and business units of Types I-A, I-B or I-C construction not more than eight stories in height, one smokeproof tower shall be permitted under the following conditions:
(1) No floor above the first floor shall have an area exceeding 6,000 square feet nor shall contain more than eight dwelling units.
(2) Public corridors leading to the smokeproof tower shall be enclosed by walls providing fire resistance of not less than two hours, and all openings in such walls shall be protected with Class C fire doors.
(i) In fire stations one inside stairway shall be permitted from the second floor where there are not less than two slide poles in addition thereto.
(j) In all public buildings there shall be no less than one primary entrance or exit for the handicapped from the property line to the building, accessible to, and usable by, individuals in wheel chairs, or those with major mobility limitations.
(k) In all group homes there shall be two exits from each floor.
(l) In intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled – 15 or less, every floor containing areas or rooms used by residents shall have at least two exits remote from each other. At least one means of egress shall consist of an interior stairway, an enclosed outside stairway or a horizontal exit.
(m) In multiple and single-family dwellings of any construction type not over three stories in height, units having an area not over 1,500 square feet on the third floor and at least one interior stair serving exclusively that unit, leading from the third floor to an exterior exit, may substitute for the second exit from the third floor of one of the following means of escape:
(1) A continuous exterior deck linking three or more units at the third floor level, with at least one hinged glazed door from each unit to the deck, provided such door has a glass light immediately above the lock rail, made of one or more panes of glass not thicker than double-strength glass, and the edge of the glass light is not further than nine inches from any locking devices in the door.
(2) A stair from each unit leading to the building roof through a penthouse and hinged door, provided the building consists of at least three units and each hinged penthouse door contains a glass light constructed as in paragraph (1) above. In the event that roof decks are provided for more than one-third of the units, an exterior stair or protected interior stair shall be provided from the roof to grade.
(3) An approved automatic sprinkler system complying with one of the following National Fire Prevention Association Standards: NFPA 13-1994; NFPA 13R-1991; NFPA 13D-1991; or a more recent edition of the foregoing standards.
(n) In townhouse dwellings of IIIB construction or better up to four stories in height, units having an area not over 1,500 square feet on the highest story and having at least one interior stair serving exclusively that unit and leading from the highest story to an exterior exit, may substitute for the second exit required from the third or fourth stories a continuous exterior deck linking three or more units at the highest story, provided that:
(1) a clear unobstructed 3 foot wide path is reserved for egress to a stair leading directly to an outside exit at grade;
(2) each habitable room on the third and fourth floor is provided with at least one outside window having a sill height not higher than 44 inches above the finished floor and an operable sash with a clear opening of not less than 24 inches horizontally or 36 inches vertically and a minimum area of six square feet; and
(3) all bedrooms are provided with 1 3/4 inch thick solid core doors and with solid 1 3/4 inch rabbetted door jambs.
(o) In single-family dwellings and in two-unit multi-family dwellings not over three stories, the second exit from the third floor of a unit may be waived if:
(1) the third floor area of that unit is not over 800 square feet;
(2) in addition to the interior stair, a second exit is provided from the second floor to an exterior porch or deck leading to finish grade;
(3) said porch or deck is not higher than 12 feet above finish grade;
(4) each habitable room on the third floor is provided with at least one outside operable window having a sill height not higher than 44 inches above the finished floor and a minimum clear opening of either 24 inches horizontally or 36 inches vertically, and a minimum area of six square feet;
(5) all bedrooms are provided with 1 3/4 inch thick solid core doors and with 1 3/4 solid inch rabbetted door jambs; and
(6) either the interior stair termination at the third floor is enclosed with a solid core door set in solid wood jambs as described in subsection (o)(5) of this section, or a balcony is provided at the third level with a minimum depth of three feet perpendicular to the exterior building wall.
(Prior code § 67-4; Amend Coun. J. 12-21-84, p. 12140; Amend Coun. J. 10-2-95, p. 8040; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-97, p. 54731; Amend Coun. J. 6-5-13, p. 54694, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. VII, § 13)