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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
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
Subdivision 3401 - General
CHAPTER 13-196 EXISTING BUILDINGS - MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
13-196-010 Application.
13-196-020 Occupancy.
13-196-030 Structural stability.
13-196-031 Maintenance of exterior walls and enclosures - Definitions.
13-196-032 Maintenance of exterior walls and enclosures - Application.
13-196-033 Maintenance of exterior walls and enclosures - Critical examinations.
13-196-034 Maintenance of exterior walls and enclosures - Ongoing inspection and repair program.
13-196-035 Maintenance of exterior walls and enclosures - Reporting.
13-196-036 Maintenance of exterior walls - Retention of records at the building.
13-196-036.5 Reserved.
13-196-037 Maintenance of exterior walls and enclosures - Unsafe exterior walls and enclosures.
13-196-038 Rules and regulations.
13-196-038.5 Reserved.
13-196-039 Fines and penalties.
13-196-040 Floor loading.
13-196-050 Exit requirements.
13-196-060 Exits - Generally.
13-196-070 Exits - Types.
13-196-080 Passageways and exits to be unobstructed.
13-196-084 Stairwell re-entry in existing buildings.
13-196-085 Stairwell identification.
13-196-086 Area of rescue assistance identification.
13-196-090 Exit, stairway, fire escape and directional signs.
13-196-100 Smoke alarms - Where required.
13-196-110 Smoke alarms - Installation near sleeping rooms and in living levels.
13-196-120 Smoke alarms - Interior stairwell installation.
13-196-130 Smoke alarms - Standards.
13-196-140 Smoke alarms - Owner/tenant responsibilities.
13-196-150 Smoke alarms - Unlawful acts.
13-196-160 Reserved.
13-196-165 Carbon monoxide detectors.
13-196-170 Self-closing devices required for corridor doors.
13-196-180 Sprinkler systems - Where required.
13-196-190 Standpipe systems - Where required.
13-196-200 Standard fire alarm system requirements.
13-196-203 Life safety data sheet - Required.
13-196-204 Voice communication systems in existing buildings.
13-196-205 Automatic sprinkler system installation in existing high-rise buildings.
13-196-206 Life safety evaluation of existing high- rise buildings.
13-196-207 Materials and installation standards for retrofit fire protection systems.
13-196-208 Smokeproof towers in existing high- rise buildings - Fire shields.
13-196-209 High-rise buildings - Stairways - Doors - Frames.
13-196-210 High rise fire systems - Hotels.
13-196-220 Class II standard fire alarm systems.
13-196-230 Floor area and height.
13-196-240 Automatic fire detectors - Where required.
13-196-250 Permitted omission of sprinklers, heat and smoke detectors.
13-196-260 Fire extinguishers.
13-196-270 Elevator recall.
13-196-271 Continued operation.
13-196-280 Reserved.
13-196-290 Pre-ordinance hotels.
13-196-300 Institutional units.
13-196-310 Roominghouses.
13-196-320 Roominghouses - Sanitary facilities.
13-196-330 Roominghouses - Responsibility of operator.
13-196-340 Minimum requirements for residential buildings - General.
13-196-350 Residential buildings - Water closet.
13-196-360 Residential buildings - Lavatory.
13-196-370 Residential buildings - Bathtub or shower.
13-196-380 Residential buildings - Limitations on sharing sanitary facilities.
13-196-390 Residential buildings - Kitchen sink.
13-196-400 Residential buildings - Heating facilities.
13-196-410 Residential buildings - Heat to be furnished.
13-196-420 Residential buildings - Cold and hot water lines.
13-196-430 Residential buildings - Hot water to be furnished.
13-196-440 Gas-fired appliances.
13-196-450 Residential buildings - Hall and stairway lighting.
13-196-460 Residential buildings - Storage beneath stairways.
13-196-470 Residential buildings - Space, use and location - Applicability of provisions.
13-196-480 Residential buildings - Space requirements.
13-196-490 Residential buildings - Space requirements - Sleeping rooms.
13-196-500 Residential buildings - Access to water closets.
13-196-510 Residential buildings - Ceiling heights.
13-196-520 Residential buildings - Basement units.
13-196-530 Residential buildings - Foundations, exterior walls and roofs - Maintenance.
13-196-540 Residential buildings - Floors, interior walls and ceilings - Maintenance.
13-196-550 Residential buildings - Windows, doors and hatchways - Maintenance.
13-196-560 Residential buildings - Screens.
13-196-570 Residential buildings - Stairways and porches - Maintenance.
13-196-580 Residential buildings - Basements and cellars - Maintenance.
13-196-590 Residential buildings - Facilities, equipment, chimneys - Maintenance.
13-196-600 Residential buildings - Lot grading and drainage.
13-196-610 Residential buildings - Responsibilities of owners and occupants - General.
13-196-620 Residential buildings - Responsibilities of occupants.
13-196-630 Residential buildings - Responsibilities of owner or operator.
13-196-640 Residential buildings - Liability to city.
13-196-641 Application of certain sections.
13-196-650 Pre-ordinance conversion to existing buildings - Applicability.
13-196-660 Conversion of pre-ordinance buildings - Height limits.
13-196-670 Stairwells.
13-196-680 Corridors.
13-196-690 Dwelling separations.
13-196-700 Partitions.
13-196-710 Basement ceiling construction.
13-196-720 Heating plants.
13-196-730 Light and ventilation.
13-196-740 One additional dwelling unit over original allowed - Conditions.
13-196-750 Heat required.
13-196-760 Endangering health of employees.
Subdivision 3403 - Additions, Alterations or Repairs
DIVISION 35 - REFERENCED STANDARDS

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13-196-203  Life safety data sheet – Required.
   (A)   No later than April 1, 2005, any owner of an existing building exceeding 80 feet in height above grade shall file with the fire department a life safety data sheet containing the following information about the building; (1) the name of the building owner of record, and, if applicable, the building manager; (2) the address of the building; (3) whether the building is residential or commercial or of mixed use; (4) if the building is residential or of mixed use, the number of dwelling units in the building; (5) the number of stories in the building; (6) whether the building is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system meeting any or all of the requirements of Chapter 15-16 of this Code, and identifying the areas so protected; and (7) whether the building is equipped with a standard inside standpipe system, a fire pump and a smokeproof tower.
   (B)   All information contained in the life safety data sheet shall be kept current. Any change in required information shall be reported by the building owner to the fire department within 14 days after the change. This subsection shall be enforceable against the building owner and against any subsequent owner.
   Any person who violates the requirements of this section shall be fined not less than $200.00 nor more than $500.00 for each offense. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
(Added Coun. J. 12-15-04, p. 39962, § 1)
13-196-204  Voice communication systems in existing buildings.
   (A)   Subject to the exceptions listed below, no later than January 1, 2015, every existing building exceeding 80 feet in height above grade shall be equipped with the following: (i) a one-way voice communication system meeting the requirements of Section 13-76-050(b); and (ii) a two-way voice communication system meeting the requirements of Section 13-76-050(a); provided, however, that a telephone or other two-way communication system connected to an approved station, and installed pursuant to and in accordance with Option 2 of Section 13-196-084(a), shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of item (ii) of this subsection.
   (B)   Neither a one-way nor a two-way voice communication system shall be required in the following buildings:
   Exception Number 1: Buildings that are classified as Class A-2, Multiple Dwellings, and are for non- transient residential use and are fully protected by automatic sprinklers.
   Exception Number 2: Institutional buildings and schools that have an approved standard fire alarm system as required by Section 15-16-110.
   (C)   A one-way voice communication system shall not be required in the following buildings:
   Exception Number 1: Non-transient residential buildings with an existing occupant notification system if a detailed description of the existing occupant notification system is submitted to and approved by the commissioner of buildings and the fire commissioner or by their designated representatives. In order to be considered for approval under this exception, and if approved under this exception, the existing occupant notification system shall meet the following criteria:
      (a)   the system must be in continuous use and must be tested on a monthly basis, or the system must have electronic supervision to indicate operational deficiencies in the system including, but not limited to, shorts, grounds and breaks in the circuit wiring; and
      (b)   the system must be audible throughout all required areas of the building, or must produce within all dwelling units a minimum sound level of 45 dBA within ten feet of any existing occupant notification system device; and
      (c)   the system must be able to transmit voice instructions without delay; and
      (d)   the system must be able to transmit voice instructions to all required areas or to all dwelling units at the same time; and
      (e)   the system must be available for fire department use from a central command location; and
      (f)   the system is subject to field testing; and
      (g)   replacement or modification of system components to meet the above criteria is limited to 50 percent of the reproduction cost of the existing occupant notification system.
   (D)   A two-way voice communication system shall not be required in the following buildings:
   Exception 1: Buildings that are classified as Class A-2, Multiple Dwellings, and are for non-transient residential use if the building does not exceed 15 stories in height and contains 60 or fewer dwelling units as defined in Section 13-4-010.
   (E)   For purposes of this section, “non-transient residential” means a residential use other than a hotel, motel, bed-and-breakfast establishment, dormitory, transitional shelter, emergency shelter or other temporary residential use.
   (F)   This section shall be enforceable against the building owner and against any subsequent owner.
(Added Coun. J. 12-15-04, p. 39962, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-18-09, p. 76565, § 1)
13-196-205  Automatic sprinkler system installation in existing high-rise buildings.
   Subject to the exceptions listed below, every existing building exceeding 80 feet in height above grade shall be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system meeting the requirements of Chapter 15-16 of this Code unless otherwise provided by Section 13-196-207. The owner of each such building shall, no later than September 1, 2005, submit for approval to the fire commissioner a plan for compliance with the requirements of this section. The requirements of this section shall be enforceable against the building owner and against any subsequent owner.
   Every building subject to the provisions of this section shall comply with the following schedule for installation of an approved automatic sprinkler system: one-third of the gross square footage of the building shall be equipped with automatic sprinklers by January 1, 2009; two-thirds of the gross square footage of the building shall be equipped with automatic sprinklers by January 1, 2013; and the entire gross square footage of the building shall be equipped with automatic sprinklers by January 1, 2017. Buildings subject to any of the following exceptions 3 through 7, inclusive, shall comply with the requirements of Section 13-196-206.
   Exception Number 1: An open-air parking facility meeting the requirements of Section 13-96-920 of this Code.
   Exception Number 2: The open-air portions of a stadium.
   Exception Number 3: A building that is classified as a Class A-2, Multiple Dwelling, and that is a non- transient residential use. This exception includes (a) all approved auxiliary use areas of the building other than parking garages; and (b) any parking garage in the building that is used exclusively by the building's non- transient residential occupants and their guests or by persons who, pursuant to a written lease agreement, rent space in the building's parking garage for use by a designated motor vehicle in time increments of at least one month in duration.
   Exception Number 4: The following portions of a building classified as a mixed occupancy building:
   (A)   any portion of a mixed occupancy building that is classified as a Class A-2, non-transient residential use;
   (B)   any approved auxiliary use area wholly contained within a Class A-2, non-transient residential use portion of a mixed occupancy building;
   (C)   any parking garage in a mixed occupancy building that is used exclusively by the building's non- transient residential occupants and their guests or by persons who, pursuant to a written lease agreement, rent space in the building's parking garage for use by a designated motor vehicle in time increments of at least one month in duration;
   (D)   any portion of a mixed occupancy building, other than those portions of the building classified as a Class A-2, non-transient residential use, if all of the following criteria are met:
      (1)   the cumulative total of the building's floor areas not classified as a Class A-2, non-transient residential use does not exceed ten percent of the total floor area of the building. The floor areas of parking garages used exclusively by the building's non-transient residential occupants and their guests shall be excluded from the calculation of the building's total floor areas not classified as a Class A-2, non-transient residential use and from the calculation of the total floor area of the building; and
      (2)   occupancy separations are provided in accordance with Table 13-56-280 as set out in Section 13-56-280 of this Code; and
      (3)   the mixed occupancy building must be either of Type I, fire-resistive construction or of Type II, non-combustible construction; and
      (4)   all of the exempted areas within the mixed occupancy building, other than those portions of the building classified as a Class A-2, non-transient residential use, are located in the building at a floor level elevation that does not exceed 80 feet in height above average grade.
   Exception Number 5: A building designated as a Chicago Landmark pursuant to Article XVII of Chapter 2-120 of this Code unless the landmarked building is required to be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system by other provisions of this Code.
   Exception Number 6: A building within a landmark district designated pursuant to Article XVII of Chapter 2-120 of this Code and determined to be a contributing building unless the contributing building is required to be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system by other provisions of this Code.
   Exception Number 7: A building color-coded red or orange in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey, published in 1996, unless the building is required to be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system by other provisions of this Code.
   For purposes of this section, “non-transient residential” means a residential use other than a hotel, motel, bed-and-breakfast establishment, dormitory, transitional shelter, emergency shelter or other temporary residential use.
(Added Coun. J. 12-15-04, p. 39962, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 49)
13-196-206  Life safety evaluation of existing high- rise buildings.
   (A)   No later than January 1, 2005, the Building Commissioner shall adopt by rule and publish criteria for life safety evaluations of all existing buildings exceeding 80 feet in height above grade that are not required by Section 13-196-205 to be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system. The criteria adopted pursuant to this subsection shall provide sufficient protection to life and safety of building occupants. The criteria shall be developed based on a review of available resources, including standardized building and safety codes and the practices of other municipalities.
   (B)   The owner of any building qualifying for any exception 3 through 7, inclusive, of Section 13-196-205 shall have the building evaluated for life safety by a licensed professional engineer or by a licensed architect; provided, however, that this requirement shall not apply to any building which is protected throughout by a previously approved automatic sprinkler system. The licensed engineer or architect shall prepare a life safety evaluation of the building in accordance with the requirements of this section and with any rules promulgated thereunder. The life safety evaluation shall be signed and sealed by the person who prepared it and shall contain an explicit statement acknowledging that the information contained therein is true and complete.
   (C)   If, based on the use of a scoring system described by rule to conduct the life safety evaluation, the licensed professional engineer or licensed architect determines that the building achieves the minimum score required on the life safety evaluation, the licensed engineer or architect shall certify the evaluation as a life safety compliance plan and shall give the life safety compliance plan to the building owner. No later than January 1, 2006, the building owner shall submit the life safety compliance plan to the Department of Buildings and Fire Department. The life safety compliance plan shall be enforceable against the building owner and against any subsequent owner.
   (D)   If, based on the use of a scoring system described by rule to conduct the life safety evaluation, the licensed professional engineer or licensed architect determines that the building does not achieve the minimum score required on the life safety evaluation, the building owner shall, no later than January 1, 2006, submit the life safety evaluation to the Department of Buildings and the Fire Department along with either: (1) a proposal to protect the building throughout with an automatic sprinkler system meeting the requirements of Chapter 15-16 of this Code unless otherwise provided by Section 13-196-207, notwithstanding any exceptions for which the building may have otherwise qualified pursuant to Section 13-196-205, and using the schedule for installation described in Section 13-196-205; or (2) a proposal for achieving the minimum score required on the life safety evaluation by making specified modifications to the building.
   Any proposal submitted pursuant to this subsection shall be signed and sealed by a licensed professional engineer or by a licensed architect. In addition, any proposal submitted pursuant to item (2) of this subsection shall contain (i) an explicit statement by the licensed engineer or architect certifying that if the modifications identified in the proposal are fully implemented, the building will receive the minimum score required on the life safety evaluation; and (ii) a timetable for completion of those modifications to be phased in over a stipulated period of years, but no later than January 1, 2015, at which time the modifications identified in the proposal shall be fully implemented. Any schedule for installation or timetable required by this subsection shall be enforceable against the building owner and against any subsequent owner.
   If, after reviewing the certified proposal, the Building Commissioner and Fire Commissioner determine that the certified proposal, when fully implemented, will enable the building to achieve the minimum score required on the life safety evaluation, the Building Commissioner and Fire Commissioner shall jointly accept the certified proposal as a life safety compliance plan. The life safety compliance plan shall be enforceable against the building owner and against any subsequent owner.
   (E)   No permit shall be issued for work on any existing building that is the subject of a life safety compliance plan unless the licensed architect or licensed engineer of record identified in the permit application certifies in writing that the permitted work will not reduce or otherwise negatively impact the score of the life safety evaluation on which the life safety compliance plan is based; nor shall any permit be issued for work on a building whose owner is in violation of any of the requirements of this section unless the permit is necessary to cure the violation.
   (F)   (1)   Disclosure statement required when – Content of statement – Inspection of statement. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (F)(4) or (F)(5) of this section: The owner, condominium association or governing body, as applicable, of any building for which a life safety compliance plan is required under this section shall keep and maintain on file at such building a written disclosure statement containing the following information: (1) whether a life safety compliance plan for such building has been submitted to the Department of Buildings and Fire Department; (2) whether such life safety compliance plan has been approved in writing by the Department of Buildings and Fire Department; and (3) whether all of the modifications to the building required in the approved life safety compliance plan have been fully implemented at such building. Such disclosure statement shall: (i) be in writing; (ii) be true and accurate; (iii) be kept current; (iv) indicate the date on which the disclosure statement was prepared; (v) bear the printed name and signature of the building's current owner or authorized agent; and (vi) upon distribution of such disclosure statement or any copy thereof to any person, identify the date on which such distribution occurred, which date shall be signed or initialed by the building's current owner or authorized agent. Upon request by any authorized City official, the building's owner, condominium association or governing body, as applicable, shall immediately make the disclosure statement required under this subsection (F)(1) available for inspection by such authorized City official.
      (2)   Disclosure to new and renewing tenants – Required when. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (F)(4) or (F)(5) of this section: Before any person initially enters into or renews a rental or lease agreement of any type for a dwelling unit in any building for which a life safety compliance plan is required under this section, the owner of such dwelling unit or such owner's agent shall provide such prospective or existing tenant with a current copy of the written disclosure statement required under subsection (F)(1) of this section. Upon distributing the required disclosure statement to such tenant, the dwelling unit owner or such owner's agent shall write on the disclosure statement the date on which such distribution occurred. Such date shall be signed or initialed by the dwelling unit owner and tenant or by their respective agent(s).
      (3)   Distribution of disclosure statement to dwelling unit owners in condominium and cooperative buildings – Required upon request. If a dwelling unit is located within a condominium building or cooperative building for which a life safety compliance plan is required under this section and the owner of such dwelling unit or such owner's agent requests a copy of the disclosure statement required under subsection (F)(1) of this section, the condominium association or governing body, as applicable, or such association's or governing body's agent, shall, at no charge and within five business days of receipt of a written request from such dwelling unit owner or such dwelling unit owner's agent, provide such dwelling unit owner or agent with a copy of the written disclosure statement required under subsection (F)(1) of this section. Provided, however, that if the owner of a particular dwelling unit or such dwelling unit owner's agent requests more than three copies of such disclosure statement within any 12-month period, the condominium association or governing board, as applicable, or such association's or governing body's agent, may charge a reasonable fee, not to exceed $25.00, for any fourth or subsequent copy of such disclosure statement provided to such dwelling unit owner or agent within such 12-month period.
      (4)   Exemption for fully sprinklered buildings. If, as of the effective date of this amendatory ordinance of 2012, a building for which a life safety plan was required has been or is subsequently equipped throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system, as evidenced by a written statement to such effect jointly signed by the Building Commissioner and Fire Commissioner and issued, as applicable, to the building's owner, condominium association or governing body, the disclosure requirements set forth in subsections (F)(1), (F)(2) and (F)(3) of this section shall not apply.
      (5)   Exemption after January 1, 2015 for buildings in full compliance with an approved life safety compliance plan. If the Building Commissioner and Fire Commissioner determine that a building is in full compliance with any life safety compliance plan required under this section, as evidenced by the building being listed in full compliance status on the Department's public website, then the disclosure requirements set forth in subsections (F)(1), (F)(2) and (F)(3) of this section shall not apply so long as the building remains in full compliance with such plan.
   (G)   Construction of Section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to waive any provision of the Municipal Code of Chicago applicable to existing buildings or to relieve any person from full compliance with those provisions or to limit in any way any affirmative defense available to the City. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Chapter 5-12 of this Code, nothing in subsection (F) of this section shall be construed as material noncompliance by the landlord, within the meaning of Section 5-12-110, with a rental agreement or with Section 5-12-070.
   (H)   Penalty for violation. The penalty for violation of any requirement of this section shall be as set forth in Section 13-196-039.
(Added Coun. J. 12-15-04, p. 39962, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 12-14-11, p. 18112, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 3-14-12, p. 23148, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 50; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 31)
13-196-207  Materials and installation standards for retrofit fire protection systems.
   In every existing high-rise building subject to the requirements of Sections 13-196-204, 13-196-205 or 13-196-206 of this Code, the following materials and installation standards shall apply to newly installed fire protection systems:
   (A)   An existing water supply that serves an existing fire department wet standpipe system may also serve as the water supply for retrofit sprinkler systems, provided the water supply meets, non-simultaneously, the larger of either the standpipe demand at the time of the original installation, or the new sprinkler system demand including hose stream allowance.
   (B)   Notwithstanding the requirements of Sections 18-28-602.2.1 and 15-16-370, sprinkler piping and sprinklers shall meet or exceed the requirements of NFPA 13-2002 and their respective product listings issued by an approved independent laboratory or agency.
   (C)   Automatic sprinkler systems shall meet or exceed the requirements of NFPA 13-2002 except that at least one sprinkler shall be provided within the stairway enclosure at the landing serving the door(s) to each floor.
   (D)   If repairs or minor modifications are made to existing dry-pipe sprinkler systems, the zoning of the system may remain as originally installed.
   (E)   Low-voltage electrical wiring risers for fire detection and fire alarm notification systems may be installed in stairways, notwithstanding the requirements of Section 15-8-180, if the wiring is in conduit and does not obstruct the required egress width of a stairwell.
   (F)   Low-voltage electrical branch wiring in horizontal runs for voice communication systems may be installed without conduit, unless required by other sections of this Code, if the wiring (i) is limited combustible FHC 25/50 CMP; and (ii) has a maximum Class 1 flame spread rating as defined in Section 15-12-040; and (iii) has a smoke developed rating not to exceed 50 when tested in accordance with ASTM-E 84.
   (G)   Low-voltage electrical wiring for fire detection systems may be run in the same conduit as low-voltage electrical wiring for fire alarm notification systems, as permitted by NFPA 72-2002 and the product listings of the wire and the conduit issued by an approved independent laboratory or agency.
   (H)   Low-voltage fire detection equipment panels and low-voltage fire alarm notification equipment panels may be installed in the same panel box, as permitted by NFPA 72-2002 and the product's listing issued by an approved independent laboratory or agency.
   (I)   Central station monitoring of fire alarm systems may use digital alarm communicators with constant supervision, as permitted by NFPA 72-2002.
(Added Coun. J. 12-15-04, p. 39962, § 5)
13-196-208  Smokeproof towers in existing high- rise buildings – Fire shields.
   If fire shields in smokeproof towers are provided to protect openings of balconies or vestibules in existing buildings exceeding 80 feet in height above grade, 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.
   (D)   Each fire shield sash shall be tested annually to verify automatic operation as required in subsection (c) of this section. Testing shall be performed by an individual or organization approved by the fire commissioner. Reports of the testing shall be filed with the bureau by June 30 of each year.
(Added Coun. J. 12-15-04, p. 39962, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 51)
13-196-209  High-rise buildings – Stairways – Doors – Frames.
   No later than January 1, 2015, doors and frames in stairways in all existing residential buildings and buildings of mixed residential occupancy exceeding 80 feet in height above grade shall have a fire resistance rating of at least one hour.
(Added Coun. J. 12-15-04, p. 39962, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 12-14-11, p. 18115, § 1)
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