14X-5-505.9.9.1 Stairways connecting more than four stories.

In any building that is not a high-rise building, doors in exit stairways that connect more than four stories must comply with one of the following options:

1.   Stairway enclosure doors must not be locked from the stairway side at any time, allowing reentry from the stairway enclosure to the building at all levels.

2.   Stairway enclosure doors must be equipped with a fail-safe electronic lock release system that is activated both manually, by a single switch available to building management and firefighting personnel, and automatically, either by smoke detectors or sprinkler waterflow devices, connected to an annunciator panel. A telephone or other two-way communications system connected to a constantly attended location or 24/7 monitoring service must be provided at not less than every fifth floor in each stairway where the doors from the stairway are locked.

3.   Where all the doors in a stairway enclosure open directly into a dwelling unit, and each dwelling unit door has a self-closing device and a latch and does not have self-locking hardware, the stairway must be provided with a telephone or other two-way communications system connected to a constantly attended location or 24/7 monitoring service at not less than every fifth floor or an operable window on each landing or intermediate landing.

(Amend Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14473, Art. V, § 30; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. V, § 9)

14X-5-505.9.9.2 High-rise buildings.

In high-rise buildings, all exit stairway doors which are locked from the stairway side must have electrically-controlled locking devices which can be automatically unlocked upon a signal from the fire command center. A stairway door at the level of exit discharge may not be locked from the stairway side.

Exception: Stairways complying with Section 14X-5-505.9.9.1, option 3.

(Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. V, § 10)

14X-5-505.10 Ramps.

Ramps must comply with Sections 14X-5-505.10.1 through 14X-5-505.10.2.

14X-5-505.10.1 Slope of ramps.

Ramp runs utilized as part of a means of egress may not have a running slope steeper than one unit vertical in 10 units horizontal (10-percent slope). The slope of other ramps may not be steeper than one unit vertical in eight units horizontal (12.5-percent slope).

14X-5-505.10.2 Width of ramps.

Existing ramps must have a minimum width of 30 inches (762 mm) but not less than the width required for the number of occupants served as determined by Section 14X-5-505.3.

14X-5-505.11 Areas of rescue assistance.

Each area of rescue assistance must be identified by a permanent sign which states "area of rescue assistance" and displays the international symbol of accessibility.

14X-5-505.12 Fire escapes.

Fire escapes must comply with Sections 14X-5-505.12.1 through 14X-5-505.12.7.