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Prior Chicago Building Code
BUILDING CODE AND RELATED EXCERPTS OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO
DIVISION 1 - ADMINISTRATION
DIVISION 2 - DEFINITIONS
DIVISION 3 - USE AND OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATIONS
DIVISION 4 - SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON USE AND OCCUPANCY
DIVISION 5 - GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
DIVISION 6 - TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 7 - FIRE-RESISTANCE-RATED CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 8 - INTERIOR FINISHES (NA)
DIVISION 9 - FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
DIVISION 10 - MEANS OF EGRESS
CHAPTER 13-160 EXIT REQUIREMENTS
13-160-010 General provisions.
13-160-020 Definitions.
13-160-030 Exit types - Requirements.
13-160-040 Exit types - Above or below grade.
13-160-050 Minimum number of exits.
13-160-060 Arrangement and location of exits.
13-160-070 Obstructions prohibited.
13-160-080 Exits - Distance requirements.
13-160-090 Exits in certain units to discharge in line of travel.
13-160-100 Continuous means of exit required.
13-160-110 Travel distance to exits.
13-160-120 Travel distance - Defined.
13-160-130 Travel distance - Measurement.
13-160-140 Maximum travel distances.
13-160-150 Maximum travel distances - Permitted increases.
13-160-160 Maximum distance from end of corridor.
13-160-170 Width of exits.
13-160-180 Occupancy content.
13-160-190 Unit of exit width.
13-160-200 Measurement of width.
13-160-210 Capacity of exits.
13-160-220 Minimum width of exits.
13-160-230 Outside exits.
13-160-240 Doors.
13-160-250 Swing of doors - Exceptions.
13-160-260 Hardware.
13-160-261 External exit doors - Electronic locking system.
13-160-269 Electromagnetic locking devices.
13-160-270 Revolving doors.
13-160-280 Entrance and vestibule doors for handicapped.
13-160-290 Stairways.
13-160-300 Stairways - Treads and risers.
13-160-310 Stairways - Landings.
13-160-320 Stairways - Handrails.
13-160-330 Stairways - Construction.
13-160-340 Stairways - Enclosures.
13-160-350 Stairways - Headroom.
13-160-360 Smokeproof towers.
13-160-370 Smokeproof towers - Stairway enclosures.
13-160-380 Smokeproof towers - Vestibules and balconies.
13-160-390 Smokeproof towers - Fire shields.
13-160-400 Smokeproof towers - Opening protectives.
13-160-410 Smokeproof towers - Exterior exits.
13-160-420 Smokeproof towers - Interior smoke shafts.
13-160-430 Ramps.
13-160-440 Ramps - Grades.
13-160-450 Ramps - Handrails.
13-160-460 Ramps - Nonslip surfaces.
13-160-470 Exterior and interior ramps for handicapped.
13-160-480 Horizontal exits.
13-160-490 Horizontal exits - Floor area.
13-160-500 Horizontal exits - Doors.
13-160-510 Horizontal exits - Bridges and balconies.
13-160-520 Escalators.
13-160-530 Escalators - Compliance with interior stairway requirements.
13-160-540 Escalators - Type.
13-160-550 Escalators - Rise.
13-160-560 Escalators - Angle of inclination.
13-160-570 Escalators - Protection.
13-160-580 Exterior stairs.
13-160-590 Exterior stairs - Treads and risers.
13-160-600 Exterior stairs - Opening protectives.
13-160-610 Exterior stairs - Permanent.
13-160-620 Exterior stairs - Construction.
13-160-630 Fire escapes.
13-160-640 Fire escapes - Stairways.
13-160-650 Fire escapes - Other exits.
13-160-660 Exit lighting.
13-160-670 Exit lighting - Intensity.
13-160-680 Lighting during performances.
13-160-690 Emergency lighting.
13-160-700 Exit, stairway, fire escape and directional signs.
13-160-710 Directional signs - Where required.
13-160-720 Directional signs - Fixture requirements.
13-160-730 Directional signs - Illumination.
13-160-740 Directional signs - Location.
13-160-750 Directional signs - Lettering.
13-160-760 Reserved.
13-160-770 Directional signs - Normal illumination defined.
13-160-780 Enforcement of Sections 13-160-710 through 13-160-770.
13-160-790 Reserved.
DIVISION 11 - ACCESSIBILITY
DIVISION 12 - INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
DIVISION 13 - ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
DIVISION 14 - EXTERIOR WALLS (NA)
DIVISION 15 - ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES (NA)
DIVISION 16 - STRUCTURAL DESIGN
DIVISION 17 - STRUCTURAL TESTS AND SPECIAL INSPECTIONS
DIVISION 18 - SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
DIVISION 19 - CONCRETE
DIVISION 20 - ALUMINUM (NA)
DIVISION 21 - MASONRY
DIVISION 22 - STEEL
DIVISION 23 - WOOD
DIVISION 24 - GLASS AND GLAZING (NA)
DIVISION 25 - GYPSUM BOARD AND PLASTER (NA)
DIVISION 26 - PLASTIC (NA)
DIVISION 27 - ELECTRICAL
DIVISION 28 - MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
DIVISION 29 - PLUMBING SYSTEMS
DIVISION 30 - ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
DIVISION 31 - SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION (NA)
DIVISION 32 - ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
DIVISION 33 - SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 34 - EXISTING STRUCTURES
DIVISION 35 - REFERENCED STANDARDS

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13-160-360  Smokeproof towers.
   A smokeproof tower shall consist of an enclosed stairway accessible only from a vestibule or balcony having openings to the outside or to an interior smoke shaft as hereinafter provided. Smokeproof towers shall conform to all applicable requirements for interior stairs and with the provisions of Sections 13-160-370 to 13-160-420, inclusive.
(Prior code § 67-11)
13-160-370  Smokeproof towers – Stairway enclosures.
   (a)   Stairways shall be constructed entirely of non- combustible materials and shall be enclosed by walls providing fire resistance of not less than three hours. If two smokeproof towers are provided the stairways shall be constructed entirely of noncombustible materials and shall be enclosed by walls providing fire resistance of not less than two hours.
   (b)   There shall be no openings in walls separating the enclosure from the interior of the building. Openings in an exterior wall of the enclosure shall be permitted only when such openings are located not less than 30 feet from any opening in the walls of the same building or an adjacent building. Such openings in an exterior wall shall be protected by fixed or automatic fire windows or shutters.
   (c)   The bottom of an enclosure and the top of an enclosure shall be of construction providing fire resistance of not less than three hours. If two smokeproof towers are provided the bottom of an enclosure and the top of an enclosure shall be of construction providing fire resistance of not less than two hours.
(Prior code § 67-11.1)
13-160-380  Smokeproof towers – Vestibules and balconies.
   Access to the stairway at each story shall be through a vestibule or balcony complying with the following requirements:
   (a)   Except when an interior smoke shaft is provided, the vestibule or balcony shall be located on an exterior wall not subject to a severe fire exposure hazard.
   (b)   Every vestibule or balcony shall have an opening to a public way, yard or court or to an interior smoke shaft complying with the requirements of Section 13-160-420.
   (c)   Such openings shall have an area not less than one-half the area of the exit doors leading from the buildings to the vestibule or balcony and shall be located not less than four feet above the floor and not more than six inches below the ceiling of the vestibule or balcony. Unless such opening faces a public way, yard or court not less than 40 feet wide, the opening shall be protected with a fire shield complying with the requirements of Section 13-160-390. In any case, the yard or court shall have a minimum width of 20 feet and a minimum area of 400 square feet.
   (d)   The floors, walls and ceilings of all vestibules or balconies shall be of construction providing fire protection of not less than three hours.
   (e)   When openings are protected by fire shields, the level of the vestibule or balcony floor shall be at the level of the floor of the building which it serves or shall be accessible therefrom by ramps having a grade of not more than one in 10. When openings are not protected by fire shields, the vestibule or balcony floor shall be so placed as to prevent the possibility of blocking the doors by snow or ice but shall be not more than seven and one-half inches below the level of any story. In no case shall there be any step from the vestibule or the balcony to the stair enclosure.
(Prior code § 67-11.2; Amend Coun. J. 6-14-95, p. 2841)
13-160-390  Smokeproof towers – Fire shields.
   When fire shields are provided to protect exterior openings of balconies or vestibules, such fire shields shall comply with the requirements of this section.
   (a)   Fire shields shall comply with all applicable requirements for fire windows as provided in Section 15-12-160.
   (b)   Fire shields shall have an opening sash having a clear area not less than as required in Section 13-160-380(c), arranged to open automatically in case of fire to the full limit and to be held securely in such open position. Provision shall be made for the manual opening or closing of the sash.
   (c)   The automatic opening of the sash shall be actuated by approved devices located inside the building within five feet of the door from the building to the vestibule or balcony and located also on the ceiling of the vestibule or balcony. Such devices shall be designed to operate as a result of rate of temperature rise or when the surrounding air reaches a temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
(Prior code § 67-11.3)
13-160-400  Smokeproof towers – Opening protectives.
   (a)   The openings from the building to the vestibule or balcony and from the vestibule or balcony to the stair way enclosure shall be protected with self- closing Class B fire doors.
   (b)   All windows of the building or structure facing on a yard or court within 30 feet of the vestibule or balcony shall be protected with Class E fire doors, fire windows, fire shutters or other approved opening protectives complying with the requirements of Section 15-8-110.
(Prior code § 67-11.4)
13-160-410  Smokeproof towers – Exterior exits.
   The smokeproof tower shall terminate at grade level and shall have access directly to a public way, to an open area leading to a public way, or to an exit corridor leading to a public way which is enclosed with construction providing fire resistance as required for the stairway enclosure.
(Prior code § 67-11.5)
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