F-1a places of assembly shall comply with all of the requirements of article two of subchapter eight of this chapter, and with the following:
(a) Construction in seating areas.
(1) Scenery or scenic elements may be placed in seating sections of F1a assembly spaces if such elements:
a. Are noncombustible, or of materials that have been rendered flameproof in accordance with the provisions of chapter four of this title, or have a flame spread rating of twenty-five or less.
b. Are adequately braced or secured.
c. Do not obstruct the required visibility of, or paths of travel to, exit openings.
(2) Platforms or runways for performances, to accommodate the operation of cameras, electronic equipment, or motion picture projection machines not using carbon-arc or other light source that emits a gaseous discharge may be constructed in seating sections, provided such platforms or runways comply with the requirements of paragraph one of subdivision (a) of this section.
(b) Stage requirements.
(1) DEFINITION. For the purposes of this section the stage in an F-1a place of assembly shall include the performing area and all other nonaudience areas that are used in the presentation of a performance and that are open to the performing area. The performing area shall be that area between the outer edge of the stage apron and the furthermost up-stage acting boundary, the width being the maximum stage opening to the audience.
(2) STAGE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION. The floor construction of stages shall provide fire-resistance ratings complying with the requirements of section 27-240 of article two of subchapter three of this chapter and table 3-4 except as follows:
a. Any portion of the stage floor used for passing scenery and scenic elements to a lower level may consist of heavy timber construction supporting tight fitting traps of at least three inch nominal solid wood or of equivalent materials in terms of fire-resistance, strength, and stiffness properties.
b. Stage lifts shall comply with the provisions of subchapter eighteen of this chapter. Any portion of the stage floor that is equipped with stage lifts shall be of noncombustible construction. Joints between lift platforms and adjacent floors shall be tightly fitted.
c. Finish flooring shall comply with the provisions of section 27-351 of article five of subchapter five of this chapter.
(3) AREAS BELOW THE STAGE. When the stage floor is equipped with traps or stage lifts, the room or space below the stage into which the traps or lifts open shall be completely enclosed by construction having at least the fire-resistance rating required for the stage floor, and such room or space shall not be used as a workshop or storage area. Storage shall not be deemed to include the location in this area of scenery or scenic elements used during a performance. However, no combustible material that has a flamespread rating greater than twenty-five or that has not been rendered flameproof in accordance with chapter four of this title may be stored in this location at any time. Under-stage areas shall comply with the requirements of paragraph eleven of this subdivision.
(4) EXITS FROM THE STAGE. At least two exits, remote from each other, shall be available from every point on a stage, each within a travel distance limitation of one hundred twenty-five feet. The occupant load of the stage shall be based upon one person per fifteen square feet for the performing area and on one person per fifty square feet for the remaining area. When any portion of a stage is used for audience seating at any time, exits of adequate capacity shall be provided for that portion, within the travel distance limitations for assembly space seating. Exit openings serving a stage directly shall have a capacity of seventy-five persons per unit of exit width.
(5) SCENERY AND SCENIC ELEMENTS. All scenery or scenic elements shall be of noncombustible materials, or of materials having a flame-spread rating not exceeding twenty-five, or of materials that have been rendered flameproof in compliance with the provisions of chapter four of this title. Scenery and scenic elements not complying with the above requirements may be used only when expressly permitted by the fire department.
(6) RIGGING LOFTS, FLY GALLERIES, AND GRIDIRONS. Girders, beams, or slats of galleries or gridirons over the stage floor or in the rigging loft need not be fire protected but shall be of noncombustible materials designed in accordance with the provisions of subchapters nine and ten of this chapter.
(7) AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION. Stages in F-1a places of assembly shall be provided with automatic sprinkler protection complying with the construction provisions of subchapter seventeen of this chapter, as follows:
a. Automatic sprinklers shall be placed above all rigging lofts; and above all stage areas, other than those portions of stage areas specifically designated on approved plans as performing areas which do not have rigging lofts above and that are not at any time used for storage purposes. Sprinklers above rigging lofts shall be located so that no gridiron or other obstruction intervenes between the sprinkler heads and the scenery or scenic elements.
b. When any part of a stage is sprinklered in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph a of this paragraph, or when rigging lofts are provided, such stage areas and rigging lofts shall be completely separated from audience areas by a deluge sprinkler system designed to form a vertical water curtain, with heads spaced to provide a water density of at least three gpm per linear foot. The water curtain system shall be controlled by a deluge valve actuated by a "rate of rise system" and " fixed temperature system." The heat actuating devices shall be located on not more than ten foot centers around the perimeter of the sprinklered area or as otherwise required for the type of device used to assure operation of the system. In addition to the automatic controls, manual operating devices shall be located at the emergency control station as required by paragraph ten of this subdivision, and adjacent to at least one exit from the stage. Such exit shall be remote from the emergency control panel.
c. When openings are provided in the stage floor for stage lifts, trap doors or stairs, sprinklers spaced five feet on centers shall be provided around the opening at the ceiling below the stage, and baffles at least twelve inches in depth shall be installed around the perimeter of the opening.
d. All valves controlling sprinkler supplies shall be provided with tamper switches wired to an annunciator panel located at the emergency control panel.
e. The operation of any section of the sprinkler system and the deluge system shall activate the emergency ventilating equipment required in paragraph eight of this subdivision.
f. The water flow alarm, tamper switches and deluge system equipment shall be provided with central station supervision in addition to the required local alarm.
g. Existing premises shall be required to conform with this requirement on or before January twelfth, nineteen hundred eighty. However, existing sprinkler systems which have been previously accepted by the department or by the fire department shall be deemed in compliance with this requirement.
(8) EMERGENCY VENTILATION. Emergency ventilation shall be provided for all stages in F-1a places of assembly to provide a means of removing smoke and combustion gases to the outdoors in the event of a fire, as follows:
a. A mechanical exhaust system shall be provided of sufficient capacity to exhaust an amount of air at least equal to the sum of the following:
(1) two cfm per square foot of the performing area.
(2) four cfm per square foot of that portion of stage area that is not designated as performing area.
(3) four cfm per square foot of rigging loft area.
b. The exhaust system shall be designated to be activated both manually and automatically, manual operation shall be by means of a manually operated switch located at the emergency control panel as required by paragraph ten of this subdivision and adjacent to at least one exit from the stage. Such exit shall be remote from the emergency control panel. Automatic activation shall be by means of the sensing devices that start the operation of the sprinklers. Exhaust air openings of ducts shall be located so as to provide the most effective removal of smoke and combustion gases.
c. The exhaust system shall be provided with an automatic emergency by-pass damper in the exhaust duct on the suction side of the fan. Such damper shall close to the fan in the event of a power failure to the fan motor and shall open directly to the outdoors if the fan is located outside the building, or shall open to a duct leading directly to the outdoors if the fan is located inside the building. When located inside the building, the fan shall be insulated with a minimum of one inch magnesia block or the equivalent in insulating and fire-resistive qualities. Exhaust fans shall have drive and bearings located outside of the fan impeller housing. The exhaust system shall not be connected to exhaust openings in any space other than the stage and rigging loft, and shall be constructed to comply with the provisions of subchapter thirteen of this chapter switches shall be clearly labelled "emergency stage ventilation" and shall be painted red.
d. The emergency ventilation system shall be connected to both the normal and emergency light and power circuits.
(9) CURTAINS. No curtain shall be located between the audience area and the stage unless it is designated to permit the air movement required for emergency ventilation in paragraph eight of this subdivision to bypass or pass through the curtain without excessive billowing, and be made of noncombustible fabrics, as specified in the appendix of reference standard RS 7-3.
(10) EMERGENCY CONTROL PANEL. An emergency control panel shall be provided, as follows:
a. It shall be located on or adjoining the stage, except that where the stage is surrounded by seating, it shall be located so as to permit a view of the audience and stage areas. It shall be manned in accordance with the requirements of the fire department at all times during the presentation of a performance to an audience.
b. It shall be equipped with tell-tale lights to indicate when feeders and sub-feeders of emergency light and power circuits are in operation in assembly spaces and all exits, including safe areas.
c. It shall, when a deluge type sprinkler system is provided, be equipped with manual operating devices to activate the sprinkler system. It shall also be provided with a signal system to show when any portion of the sprinkler system has been deactivated.
d. It shall be provided with switches to provide for operation of the emergency ventilating system. Controls for the ventilating system shall be electrically supervised. The supervisory circuit shall be provided with a trouble bell and light, both of which shall be activated in the event of a failure in the ventilation system. A silencing switch may be provided, and where provided, shall have either an automatic reset or shall ring again when the trouble is corrected.
e. It shall be equipped with a public address system serving loudspeakers in the assembly space. The public address system shall be connected to both the normal and emergency light and power circuits.
f. It shall be equipped with an alarm system and intercom connected to the manager's office, the dressing rooms, and to a supervisory central fire station.
(11) AUXILIARY STAGE SPACES. Auxiliary stage spaces such as understage areas, dressing rooms, green rooms, storage rooms, work shops, and similar spaces associated with the use of the stage shall comply with the following:
a. No point within any auxiliary stage space shall be more than fifty feet from a door providing access to an exit.
b. There shall be at least two exits available from every auxiliary space, one of which shall be available within a travel distance of seventy-five feet. A common path of travel of twenty feet to the two exits shall be permitted.
c. The occupant load of dressing rooms shall be based on one person per fifty square feet of area.
d. Auxiliary stage spaces shall be equipped with automatic sprinklers when required by the provisions of subchapter seventeen of this chapter.
e. No workshop involving the use of combustible or inflammable paint, liquids, or gases or their storage shall open directly upon a stage.
f. The interior finish of auxiliary stage spaces shall comply with the requirements of table 5-4.
(12) STAGE LIGHTING. No stage lights shall be placed so that they will develop temperatures on the surface of any material that will cause that material to ignite, or smoke, or cause its flameproofing to deteriorate.