No person shall occupy as an owner-occupant or shall let or hold out to another for occupancy any dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit which does not comply with the following provisions.
(A) Every dwelling, dwelling unit, and rooming unit shall have safe, unobstructed means of egress leading to safe and open space at ground level at all times. No passage through any part of another dwelling unit or rooming unit shall constitute a legal means of egress.
(B) Where four or more dwelling units or rooming units per floor contribute to a common stairway, each of the dwelling units and rooming units so contributing shall have two separate means of egress from that floor.
(C) In any building four or more stories in height, every dwelling unit and rooming unit in the building shall have two separate means of egress from the floor on which the dwelling unit or rooming unit is located.
(D) In any building three or less stories in height and where three or less dwelling units or rooming units on any floor contribute to a common stairway, then that stairway must have a one-hour fire rating.
(E) With the exception of division (H) below, nothing in this section is intended to require more than one means of egress from any first floor dwelling unit or rooming unit.
(F) With the exception of division (H) below, nothing in this section is intended to require more than two means of egress from any single-family structure.
(G) In order to qualify as an adequately fire retarded exit or means of egress, the construction of the exit or means of egress must comply with the following:
(1) If the property is located in Fire Zones I or II and the stairway is not enclosed, the soffits, railings, stringers, underside of platforms, and porches must be protected with or constructed of, at least one- hour fire resistant materials;
(2) If the property is located in Fire Zones I or II and the stairway is enclosed, the walls, ceilings, soffit of stairs, stringers, railings, underside of platforms, and porches must be protected with or constructed of at least one-hour fire resistant material;
(3) If the property is located in Fire Zone III and the stairway is not enclosed, closed risers are required; and
(4) If the property is located in Fire Zone III and stairway is enclosed, the soffits and underside of platforms and porches must be protected with or constructed of at least one-hour fire resistant material.
(H) Where hazardous conditions exist because of the number, width, construction, or location exists, the Building Commissioner may order additional exits or rearrangement of existing exits or greater fire retardation construction of exits so as to assure adequate safety of the occupants of the structures.
(Prior Code, § 152.07)