The following language is adopted as a new Section 1513:
"1513. OCCUPIABLE ROOFTOPS
1513.1 General.
The provisions of this section shall govern the construction of occupiable rooftops and associated rooftop structures.
1513.1.1 Area limitation.
The combined area of rooftop structures associated with an occupiable rooftop and exceeding 48 inches (1219 mm) in height above the lowest walking surface of the occupiable rooftop shall comply with Section 1510.1.1.
1513.2 Rooftop access penthouses.
Where the occupied rooftop is located above the highest story, penthouses providing access to or egress from an occupiable rooftop in compliance with Sections 1513.2.1 through 1513.2.5 shall be considered as a portion of the story directly below the roof deck on which such penthouses are located. Other fully-enclosed occupiable space at the roof level shall be considered as an additional story of the building.
1513.2.1 Height above roof deck.
Rooftop access penthouses shall not exceed 12 feet (3658 mm) in height above the roof deck as measured to the average height of the roof of the penthouse.
Exception: Where used to enclose elevators that travel to the roof level, rooftop access penthouses shall be permitted to have a maximum height of 20 feet (6096 mm) above the roof deck.
1513.2.2 Use limitations.
Rooftop access penthouses shall not contain habitable space or any occupiable space other than circulation paths necessary to access means of egress and elevators serving an occupiable rooftop. Rooftop access penthouses shall not contain toilet rooms or bathrooms.
1513.2.3 Type of construction.
Rooftop access penthouses shall be constructed with walls, floors and roofs as required for the type of construction of the building on which such penthouses are built.
1513.3 Outdoor elements.
The walking surface and other outdoor elements of an occupiable rooftop shall comply with the requirements of Sections 1513.3.1 through 1513.3.2.
1513.3.1 Buildings not exceeding 55 feet in building height.
The outdoor elements of occupiable rooftops on buildings not exceeding 55 feet (16.8 m) in building height shall be of noncombustible materials or combustible materials as allowed by Table 1513.3.1 or Table 705.2.1 or 705.2.2 for decks. Outdoor elements not listed in the tables shall conform to the type of construction and fire-resistance rating required for the building to which they are attached.
TABLE 1513.3.1
REQUIRED FIRE SEPARATION DISTANCE FOR OUTDOOR ELEMENTS OF OCCUPIABLE ROOFTOPS ON BUILDINGS UP TO 55 FEET IN BUILDING HEIGHT a
REQUIRED FIRE SEPARATION DISTANCE FOR OUTDOOR ELEMENTS OF OCCUPIABLE ROOFTOPS ON BUILDINGS UP TO 55 FEET IN BUILDING HEIGHT a
Type of Element
|
Material Type
|
Fire Separation Distance (feet)
| |||
0 to less than 3
|
3 to less than 5
|
5 to less than 10
|
10 or greater
| ||
Type of Element
|
Material Type
|
Fire Separation Distance (feet)
| |||
0 to less than 3
|
3 to less than 5
|
5 to less than 10
|
10 or greater
| ||
Walking surfaces covering no more than one third of the roof area or 500 square feet, whichever is greater, on side protected by a noncombustible parapet wall providing a 2-hour fire-resistance rating, at least 36 inches above the walking surface | U | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Walking surfaces on buildings of Group R-5 occupancy covering more than one third of the roof area, with or without parapet wall | FRTW | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Walking surfaces covering more than one third of the roof area or on side without a parapet wall | U | No | No | Yes | Yes |
UNC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Pickets, handrails and similar vertical elements not more than 48 inches in height above the adjacent walking surface | U | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
UNC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Vertical elements of pergolas, trellises, arbors, privacy screens and similar structures greater than 42 inches in height above the adjacent walking surface, with 50 percent or more of surface area consisting of regularly distributed openings | U b | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
UNC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Vertical elements of pergolas, trellises, arbors, privacy screens and similar structures greater than 42 inches in height above the adjacent walking surface, solid or with less than 50 percent of surface area consisting of regularly distributed openings | U b | No | No | Yes | Yes |
UNC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Horizontal elements of pergolas, trellises, arbors and similar structures greater than 42 inches in height above the adjacent walking surface | U b | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
UNC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm; 1 inch = 25.4 mm; 1 square foot = 0.0929 m
2.
U = any material not less fire resistive than untreated wood or plastic composites that comply with ASTM D7032 and Section 2612, unprotected
FRTW = Fire-retardant treated wood
P = any material, protected with construction providing fire-resistance rating as required for exterior wall
HT = heavy timber construction, complying with Section 2304.11
UNC = noncombustible, unprotected
PNC = noncombustible, protected with construction providing fire-resistance rating as required for exterior wall
a. Where material type U is allowed, material types P, HT, UNC and PNC shall also be allowed; where material type UNC is allowed, material type PNC shall also be allowed.
b. Combustible pergolas, arbors, trellises, privacy screens and similar structures shall not exceed 12 feet in height above the highest adjacent walking surface.
1513.3.2 Buildings greater than 55 feet in height.
The outdoor elements of occupiable rooftops on buildings greater than 55 feet (16.8 m) in height shall be of noncombustible materials.
Exceptions:
1. Pickets, handrails and similar vertical elements not more than 4 feet (1219 mm) in height above the adjacent walking surface of material not less fire resistive than untreated wood or plastic composites that comply with ASTM D7032 and Section 2612 if the fire separation distance is greater than or equal to 20 feet (6096 mm).
2. Walking surfaces listed as a Class A roof assembly or a Class A roof covering installed over a noncombustible roof assembly.
3. Limited non-structural elements of material not less fire resistive than untreated wood or plastic composites that comply with ASTM D7032 where approved by the building official.
1513.4 Structures providing weather protection.
Structures above an occupiable rooftop that provide weather protection equivalent to a roof and project more than 24 inches (610 mm) horizontally from a wall or other support shall be treated as part of the building to which they are attached for purposes of determining building height and number of stories above grade plane.
1513.5 Means of egress.
Occupiable rooftops shall be provided with means of egress as required in Chapter 10.
1513.6 Construction type.
Occupiable rooftops shall not be installed on buildings of Type VB construction. The roof assembly below an occupiable rooftop shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour."
(Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. II, § 71)