1023.3 Termination.

Interior exit stairways and ramps shall terminate at an exit discharge or a public way.

   Exception: A combination of interior exit stairways, interior exit ramps and exit passageways, constructed in accordance with Sections 1023.2, 1023.3.1 and 1024, respectively, and forming a continuous protected enclosure, shall be permitted to extend an interior exit stairway or ramp to the exit discharge or a public way.

1023.3.1 Extension.

Where interior exit stairways and ramps are extended to an exit discharge or a public way by an exit passageway, the interior exit stairway and ramp shall be separated from the exit passageway by a fire barrier constructed in accordance with Section 707 or a horizontal assembly constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both. The fire-resistance rating shall be not less than that required for the interior exit stairway and ramp. A fire door assembly complying with Section 716.5 shall be installed in the fire barrier to provide a means of egress from the interior exit stairway and ramp to the exit passageway. Openings in the fire barrier other than the fire door assembly are prohibited. Penetrations of the fire barrier are prohibited.

   Exceptions:

      1.   Penetrations of the fire barrier in accordance with Section 1023.5 shall be permitted.

      2.   Separation between an interior exit stairway or ramp and the exit passageway extension shall not be required where there are no openings into the exit passageway extension.

1023.4 Openings.

Interior exit stairway and ramp opening protectives shall be in accordance with the requirements of Section 716.

Openings in interior exit stairways and ramps other than unprotected exterior openings shall be limited to those necessary for exit access to the enclosure from normally occupied spaces and for egress from the enclosure.

Elevators shall not open into interior exit stairways and ramps.

1023.5 Penetrations.

Penetrations into or through interior exit stairways and ramps are prohibited except for equipment and ductwork necessary for independent ventilation or pressurization, hydronic piping and related heating equipment limited to serving the interior exit stairway or ramp in which such piping and equipment is located, sprinkler piping, standpipes, electrical raceway for Fire Department communication systems and electrical raceway serving the interior exit stairway and ramp and terminating at a steel box not exceeding 16 square inches (0.010 m 2 ). Such penetrations shall be protected in accordance with Section 714. There shall not be penetrations or communication openings, whether protected or not, between adjacent interior exit stairways and ramps.

   Exception: Membrane penetrations shall be permitted on the outside of the interior exit stairway and ramp. Such penetrations shall be protected in accordance with Section 714.3.2.

1023.6 Ventilation.

Equipment and ductwork for interior exit stairway and ramp ventilation as permitted by Section 1023.5 shall comply with one of the following items:

   1.   Such equipment and ductwork shall be located exterior to the building and shall be directly connected to the interior exit stairway and ramp by ductwork enclosed in construction as required for shafts.

   2.   Where such equipment and ductwork is located within the interior exit stairway and ramp, the intake air shall be taken directly from the outdoors and the exhaust air shall be discharged directly to the outdoors, or such air shall be conveyed through ducts enclosed in construction as required for shafts.

   3.   Where located within the building, such equipment and ductwork shall be separated from the remainder of the building, including other mechanical equipment, with construction as required for shafts.

In each case, openings into the fire-resistance-rated construction shall be limited to those needed for maintenance and operation and shall be protected by opening protectives in accordance with Section 716 for shaft enclosures.

The interior exit stairway and ramp ventilation systems shall be independent of other building ventilation systems.

(Am. L.L. 2023/077, 6/11/2023, eff. 6/11/2023)

Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 2023/077.

1023.7 Interior exit stairway and ramp exterior walls.

Exterior walls of the interior exit stairway or ramp shall comply with the requirements of Section 705 for exterior walls. Where nonrated walls or unprotected openings enclose the exterior of the stairway or ramps and the walls or openings are exposed by other parts of the building at an angle of less than 180 degrees (3.14 rad), the building exterior walls within 10 feet (3048 mm) horizontally of a nonrated wall or unprotected opening shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour. Openings within such exterior walls shall be protected by opening protectives having a fire protection rating of not less than 3/4 hour. This construction shall extend vertically from the ground to a point 10 feet (3048 mm) above the topmost landing of the stairway or ramp, or to the roof line, whichever is lower.

1023.8 Discharge identification.

An interior exit stairway and ramp shall not continue below its level of exit discharge unless an approved barrier is provided at the level of exit discharge to prevent persons from unintentionally continuing into levels below. Directional exit signs shall be provided as specified in Section 1013. An approved barrier shall consist of partitions, doors, or gates separating the portion of the interior exit stairway above grade from the portion below grade. Where doors or gates are provided as approved barriers, such doors or gates shall be self-closing, opening in the direction of exit travel from the floors below grade, and provided with landings in accordance with Sections 1010.1.5 and 1010.1.6.

   Exceptions:

      1.   Such barrier separating the above-grade portion of the interior exit stairways and ramps from the portion below grade shall not be required in Group E and R-3 occupancies.

      2.   Such barrier separating the above-grade portion of the interior exit stairways and ramps from the portion below grade shall not be required where the stairway or ramp design is intended to continue the path of egress through a below grade level.

1023.9 Stairway identification and floor level signs.

Signs identifying stairways shall comply with Section 1023.9.1. Signs identifying floor levels shall comply with Sections 1023.9.2 through 1023.9.5.