§ 32-3.2 Standards.

(a)   Building heights and areas. The building height permitted by Table 32-A will be increased in accordance with Section 504 of the building code. The building area of a one-story building must not exceed the limitations set forth in Table 32-A, except as provided in Section 506 of the building code.

TABLE 32-A
TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION	ALLOWABLE HEIGHT AND BUILDING AREAS FOR MID-RISE MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS. Height Limitations shown as stories and feet above grade plane. Area limitations as determined by the definition of Area, building, per story
	IB	IIA	IIIA	HT	VA
	MAXIMUM HEIGHT (feet)
	60	60	60	60	50
Height/Area	Maximum Height (stories) and Maximum Area (sq. ft.)
H	7	7	7	7	5
A	80% of land area	80% of land area	80% of land area	80% of land area	80% of land area

 

(b)   Type of construction. The minimum type of construction must comply with Chapter 6 of the building code and Table 32-A.

(c)   Fire-resistance rated construction and requirements. The following requirements apply to affordable rental housing projects:

(1)   Where an exterior wall is less than 10 feet from the property line, one-hour fire-rated exterior walls with no greater than 25 percent openings per wall surface; provided that windows in the openings may be unrated;

(2)   One-hour fire-rated corridor walls for double loaded corridors and demising walls between units;

(3)   Twenty-minute fire-rated entry doors to units with automatic closure mechanisms;

(4)   Unrated interior walls within each unit;

(5)   One-hour fire-rated floors and roof, or heavy timber floors and roof;

(6)   Two-hour fire-rated walls between units and building stairs or passenger elevators;

(7)   Two-hour fire-rated walls and 90-minute fire-rated door in the booster pump room described in subsection (d)(5); and

(8)   All domestic water and fire sprinkler piping must be made of noncombustible material.

(d)   Fire protection system. The installation of automatic sprinkler systems for protection against fire hazards must be designed and installed in compliance with section 903 of the building code; or, for residential occupancies of seven or fewer stories in buildings not exceeding 60 feet in height above grade, an automatic sprinkler system must be provided as follows:

(1)   A common sprinkler/domestic main must be installed throughout the building;

(2)   Vertical risers must be provided with a secured shutoff valve locked in the open position. All required outages must be provided with a fire watch;

(3)   All sprinkler heads must be installed prior to the last plumbing fixture served within the unit. All sprinkler piping serving a sprinkler head must be kept to a minimum and no greater than 16 inches in length;

(4)   The discharge density must be 0.05 gallons per minute per square-foot with a maximum of four sprinkler heads within each compartment;

(5)   A booster pump must be provided to accommodate the domestic water and greatest hydraulic demanding sprinklers within a unit. The booster pump must provide a minimum of 40 pounds per square inch at the top of the riser;

(6)   A manual wet stand pipe must be precharged from a domestic water supply tap. The stand pipe must be located in an exterior open stairwell with two-hour rated walls;

(7)   For exterior walls that are between 5 and 10 feet from the property line with a wall opening greater than a 10 percent, there must be a sprinkler head at all wall openings to provide a water curtain when the sprinkler head is activated;

(8)   For buildings over 40 feet in height with type VA construction, a National Fire Protection Association 13 sprinkler system is required; and

(9)   A mechanical engineer licensed in the State of Hawaii shall prepare the plans for the automatic sprinkler system required by this section.

(e)   Means of egress. Exterior corridors and balconies that are open with guards of a minimum one-hour fire-rated construction, or composed of other noncombustible fascia surfaces may be constructed up to 5 feet from the property line.

(f)   Fire escape stairs.

(1)   All fire stair exits may be open; provided that the walls adjoining any unit are two-hour fire-rated walls.

(2)   Except as provided in subdivision (3), at least one fire exit stairwell must be a minimum width of 36 inches, and if no elevator is provided, a second fire exit stairwell with a minimum width of 36 inches must be provided.

(3)   Buildings with 35 or fewer units may have a single fire exit stairwell that is a minimum width of 48 inches and constructed of non-combustible material or heavy timber construction; provided that the total length of the building must not exceed 100 feet. The stairwell must exit to the ground floor.

(4)   The fire chief may, at the fire chief's discretion, approve of alternative fire exits in lieu of a second fire exit stairwell, including a drop ladder system or a narrower second fire exit stairwell.

(g)   Exterior glass. Exterior glass in an affordable rental housing project will be exempt from the requirements of Chapter 16B (the Building Energy Conservation Code).

(h)   Accessibility. Design of building and facilities must comply with the federal Fair Housing Act, 42 USC §§ 3601 et seq. Elevators are not required unless mandated by Section 1007.2.1 of the building code, or required by applicable federal accessibility laws. Elevators may be provided in affordable rental housing projects, even though not required.

(i)   Fire and smoke alarm systems. Smoke detectors with audio alarms that are electronically powered must be installed in all bedrooms. An alarm pull box that is electronically connected to set off an audio alarm must be installed on each floor.

(1990 Code, Ch. 42, Art. 3, § 42-3.2) (Added by Ord. 19-8)