1027.7.3 Balconies and vestibules.

Such balconies or vestibules of fire towers shall be level with the floors of the structure and the platforms of the stairs connected by such balconies. Such balconies or vestibules shall be separated from the structure and the stairs by self-closing swinging doors with a 1 1/2-hour fire protection rating, capable of being opened from both sides without the use of a key or other unlocking device.

Balconies or vestibules of fire towers shall open on a street or yard, or on a court open vertically to the sky for its full height, having a minimum net area of 105 square feet (9.7 m 2 ) and a minimum dimension of 7 feet (2133.6 mm). The opening from the vestibule to the street, yard or court shall have a minimum area of 18 square feet (1.7 m 2 ) and a minimum dimension of 30 inches (762 mm). It shall be unlawful to leave openings in the court walls surrounding an interior fire tower, other than the openings from the vestibules, within 15 feet (4572 mm) of the balcony, except that self-closing windows with a 3/4-hour fire protection rating may be used if such windows are at least 10 feet (3048 mm) from the balcony, provided that the area of the court is at least 12 feet by 24 feet (3657.6 mm by 7315.2 mm).

(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.

1027.7.4 Termination.

Fire towers shall terminate at grade level and shall exit directly to the street independently of corridors serving other stairways, except when the fire tower terminates in the ground floor corridor outside of the inner vestibule and within 10 feet (3048 mm) of the building line.

Section BC 1028: Exit Discharge

1028.1 General.

Exits shall discharge directly to the exterior of the building. The exit discharge shall be at grade or shall provide a direct path of egress travel to grade. The exit discharge shall not reenter a building. The combined use of Exceptions 1 and 2 below shall not exceed 50 percent of the number and minimum width or required capacity of the required exits.

   Exceptions:

      1.   Not more than 50 percent of the number and minimum width or required capacity of interior exit stairways and ramps is permitted to egress through protected areas on the level of discharge provided all of the following conditions are met:

         1.1.   Such protected area shall be provided with a free and unobstructed path of travel to an exterior exit door and such exit is readily visible and identifiable within 40 feet from the point of termination of the enclosure.

         1.2.   The protected area of the level of exit discharge is separated from areas below by construction conforming to the fire-resistance rating for the enclosure.

         1.3.   The protected area shall be provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system. Portions of the level of exit discharge with access to the egress path shall be either equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, or separated from the egress path in accordance with the requirements for the enclosure of interior exit stairways or ramps.

         1.4.   Where a required interior exit stairway or ramp and an exit access stairway or ramp serve the same floor level and terminate at the same level of exit discharge, the termination of the exit access stairway or ramp and the exit discharge door of the interior exit stairway or ramp shall be separated by a distance of not less than 30 feet (9144 mm) or not less than one-fourth the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the building, whichever is less. The distance shall be measured in a straight line between the exit discharge door from the interior exit stairway or ramp and the last tread of the exit access stairway or termination of slope of the exit access ramp.

         1.5.   The capacity of the protected area shall not be less than required by Section 1028.2 in addition to the occupant load of all exits serving communication spaces.

      2.   Not more than 50 percent of the number and minimum width or required capacity of the interior exit stairways and ramps is permitted to egress through a vestibule provided all of the following conditions are met:

         2.1.   The entire area of the vestibule is separated from areas below by construction conforming to the fire-resistance rating of the interior exit stairway or ramp enclosure.

         2.2.   The depth from the exterior of the building is not greater than 10 feet (3048 mm) and the length is not greater than 30 feet (9144 mm).

         2.3.   The area is separated from the remainder of the level of exit discharge by a fire partition constructed in accordance with Section 708.

            Exception: The maximum transmitted temperature rise is not required.

         2.4   The area is used only for means of egress and exits directly to the outside.

      3.   In buildings in occupancy Group R-2, up to 100 percent of the number and minimum width and required capacity of the interior exit stairways and ramps are permitted to egress through a protected area on the level of discharge, if all of the following conditions are met:

         3.1.   Egress is provided in two different directions from the discharge points of all interior exit stairways and ramps to the exterior of the building that are remote from each other.

         3.2.   The exit discharges are arranged and constructed so as to minimize the possibility that all exit discharges would be compromised by smoke, fire or other emergency condition.

         3.3.   Such protected areas shall comply with all requirements of Exception 1 above.

      4.   Horizontal exits complying with Section 1026 shall not be required to discharge directly to the exterior of the building.

1028.1.1 Fire Department access.

Where Exception 1 or 2 to Section 1028.1 is not applied, not less than one exit that discharges directly to the exterior shall be accessible to the Fire Department:

   1.   Through an exit access door directly from the building entrance. Such exit access door shall only be used by the Fire Department and shall not be used as an exit. Signage indicating "No Exit. FDNY Access Only" shall be posted on both sides of the exit access door; or

   2.   Within a maximum of 100 feet (30 480 mm) from the building entrance. Such distance shall be measured along a natural and unobstructed path between the nearest points of the exit doors.

(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.