13-196-040 Floor loading.

   Every existing building shall be so constructed and maintained as to support safely the loads prescribed in Chapter 13-52 of this Code, except that in building of mercantile, industrial or storage occupancies the department of buildings and fire commissioner may permit occupancy of buildings having lower load-bearing capacity, when satisfied that such capacity will not be exceeded by the specific occupant. Such approved floor loads shall be posted as required in Section 13-52-190.

   In buildings where the safe load-bearing capacity is in doubt, owing to deterioration of materials or other reasons, the building commissioner and fire commissioner shall require load tests to determine the safe bearing capacity. Such load tests shall comply with the requirements of Section 13-120-110.

(Prior code § 78-4; Amend Coun. J. 9-13-89, p. 4604; Amend Coun. J. 6-14-95, p. 2841; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 39; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1)

13-196-050 Exit requirements.

   Existing buildings shall comply with all applicable exit requirements of this Code and with the special provisions of Sections 13-196-060 to 13-196-090, inclusive.

(Prior code § 78-5)

13-196-060 Exits – Generally.

   In existing buildings where exits do not comply with the requirements of Chapter 13-160 and in which hazardous conditions exist because of the number, width, construction or location of exits, the building commissioner and fire commissioner may order additional exits to assure adequate safety of the occupants. Every existing building shall have not less than the minimum number of required exits, as prescribed in Section 13-160-050.

(Prior code § 78-6; Amend Coun. J. 9-13-89, p. 4604)

13-196-070 Exits – Types.

   In pre-ordinance buildings (built before July 7, 1957), the building commissioner and fire commissioner may approve the following types of exits in lieu of the required means of vertical exit prescribed in Section 13-160-030.

   (a)   Fire escape stairways complying with the requirements of Section 13-160-630 may be used in lieu of not more than 50 percent of required stairs.

   (b)   A balcony, having an area of not less than 18 square feet and provided with a ladder of noncombustible materials extending to the ground, may be used in lieu of one of two required stairways for a dwelling unit having a floor level not more than 15 feet above grade.

(Prior code § 78-7; Amend Coun. J. 9-13-89, p. 4604)

13-196-080 Passageways and exits to be unobstructed.

   Every hallway, corridor, stairway, exit, fire escape door, and other means of egress, shall be kept clear and unencumbered at all times; and every exit area shall be adequately lighted by electricity, in accordance with Sections 13-160-660 and 13-160-670 of this Code.

(Prior code § 78-8)

13-196-084 Stairwell re-entry in existing buildings.

   (a)   In buildings not required to comply with Chapter 13-76, every stairwell enclosure that serves more than four stories shall comply with one of the following requirements, as a minimum standard:

   Option 1. The stairwell enclosure doors shall not be locked from the stairwell side at any time, in order to provide re-entry from the stair enclosure to the interior of the building; or

   Option 2. The stairwell enclosure doors shall be equipped with a fail-safe electronic lock release system that is activated both manually, by a single switch accessible to building management and firefighting personnel, and automatically, either by approved smoke detectors or sprinkler waterflow devices, connected to an annunciator panel. If this option is selected, a telephone or other two-way communications system connected to an approved station shall be provided at not less than every fifth floor in each stairway where the doors to the stairway are locked, no later than January 1, 2005.

   During the time necessary to install a lock release system under this Option 2, but in no event beyond December 31, 2004, the transitional measures listed as (A) through (E) below may be used. Doors on stair enclosures may be equipped with hardware that prevents re-entry into the interior of the building, provided that all of the following criteria are met:

      (A)   there shall be not less than two levels where doors leading to the building interior are permanently unlocked, permitting access to another exit stair; and

      (B)   there shall be not more than four stories intervening between stairwell enclosure doors that provide access to another exit stair; and

      (C)   re-entry to the building interior shall be possible at all times on the highest story or the second highest story, whichever allows access to another exit stair; and

      (D)   doors allowing re-entry shall be identified as such on the stair side of the door; and

      (E)   doors not allowing re-entry shall be provided with a sign on the stair side indicating the location of the nearest door, in each direction of travel, that allows re-entry or exit.

   (b)   Regardless of which option is selected under subsection (a) of this section, stairwell enclosure doors at the main egress level of the building shall remain unlocked from the stairwell enclosure side at all times.

   (c)   Every building of more than four stories, and having a height in excess of 80 feet above grade, shall comply with subsection (a) of this section upon this section's taking effect. Every building of more than four stories, and having a height not exceeding 80 feet above grade, shall comply with subsection (a) of this section no later than January 1, 2005.

   (d)   No later than May 1, 2004, the building commissioner and fire commissioner shall issue guidelines for the approval of stations in buildings where Option 2 described in subsection (a) has been selected.

   (e)   Nothing in this section applies to any stairwell enclosure door which opens directly into a dwelling unit, provided the dwelling unit door has a self-closer, a latch, and no self-locking hardware. Where all doors in the stairwell meet these criteria, the stairwell shall be provided with either a two-way communication system as required by Option 2 above, or the stairwell shall be provided with readily operable windows that are operable according to ANSI A117.1-1998, Section 309 Operable Parts, on each landing or intermediate landing, no later than January 1, 2005.

(Added Coun. J. 11-19-03, p. 14365, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-17-03, p. 15806, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 47)

13-196-085 Stairwell identification.

   Within every building which exceeds three stories in height there shall be posted and maintained, within every interior stairwell enclosure at every floor, adjacent to the stairwell door, alphabetical or directional letter identification for the stairwell and the number of the floor to which the door opens. Lettering shall be permanent, a minimum of six inches in height and comply with A.D.A.A.G. (Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines) 4.30.1 General, 4.30.4 Raised and Braille Characters and Pictorial Symbol Signs, 4.30.5 Finish and Contrast, and 4.30.6 Mounting Location and Height.

   Adjacent to every stairwell door there shall be posted, on the occupancy side, information showing which floors have re-entry locations. Lettering shall be permanent and comply with A.D.A.A.G. 4.30.1 General, 4.30.4 Raised and Braille Characters and Pictorial Symbol Signs, 4.30.5 Finish and Contrast, and 4.30.6 Mounting Location and Height.

(Added Coun. J. 10-31-01, p. 71183, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 5-1-02, p. 84027, § 2)