(a) Every multiple dwelling shall be provided with fire protection features approved as being adequate for the protection of the occupants thereof. The minimum requirements for such protection are as follows:
(1) Every public hallway, corridor, stairway, exit or other means of egress shall be protected against fire with construction, other than doors, having a fire-resistance rating of not less than three quarters of an hour, and shall be kept clear and unobstructed at all times so as to afford safe passage from each dwelling unit to open space at ground level.
(2) All doors into interior stairways shall be windowless, solid core (or approved equivalent), self-closing doors. All doors used for egress into public hallways or corridors, other than into interior stairways, shall be windowless, solid core (or approved equivalent) doors.
(3) The underside of any stairway located above a basement stairway or cellar stairway shall be protected by material having a fire resistance rating of not less than three-quarters of an hour.
(4) Basement or cellar stairways shall be separated from the first floor level by openings protected by self-closing doors having a fire- resistance rating of not less than three-quarters of an hour.
(5) Every multiple dwelling containing more than two dwelling units on any floor, which dwelling units are served by an interior public stairway and hallway as a means of ingress and egress, shall have such stairway completely separated from such hallway by a fire-resistant partition having a fire- resistance rating of not less than three-quarters of an hour, with the opening in such partition protected by a self-closing, windowless, solid core (or approved equivalent) door having a fire-resistance rating of not less than three-quarters of an hour.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of subsection (a) hereof, in existing buildings originally designed for multiple dwellings, the following construction shall be considered as meeting the requirements of subsection (a) hereof:
(1) Well constructed lath and plaster construction shall be considered as meeting the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) and (3) hereof.
(2) Existing doors shall be considered as meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) hereof if any plain glass in such doors is replaced with one-quarter inch wired glass or approved equivalent; if any doors having a fire-resistance rating of less than that of a solid core door are painted on both sides with an approved fire-retarding paint; and if, in the case of existing doors to interior stairways, such doors are also provided with self-closing devices.
(3) Existing windows or transoms shall be considered as meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) hereof if they are fixed and nonopenable and if any plain glass in such windows or transoms is replaced with one-quarter inch wired glass or approved equivalent.
(c) Whenever the use or occupancy of a building or structure, or part thereof, has been changed for the use or occupancy for which the building or structure was originally designed or intended to be used, the Code Official shall determine and establish the required protective features. Except as he or she may otherwise determine, such fire protection features shall conform to the provisions of subsection (a) hereof.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of subsections (a), (b) and (c) hereof, the Code Official shall have the power and authority to require more rigid fire protection features or special fire protection features where, in his or her opinion, special situations of construction, design, occupancy, fire hazard or other factors require such safeguards in the interest of public safety.
(Ord. 53-68. Passed 7-22-69; Ord. 389-94. Passed 5-6-96.)