SEC. 807. SMOKE BARRIERS.

   In buildings in which an existing Group R, Division 1 or 2 Occupancy is located on three or more stories and which does not have exit directly accessible from within each apartment or guest room without entering an exit corridor, every interior public stairway shall be enclosed as set forth in Section 806 of this Code or shall be provided with a smoke barrier and smoke stop door, as hereinafter described, to prevent fire and smoke from spreading, thereby cutting off the exit.

   When a hotel room or apartment opens directly upon the stairway so that the smoke barrier does not afford said room or apartment protection, said hotel room or apartment shall have a one- and-three-eighths-inch solid core wood door, an incombustible surfaced door or other similar approved door construction. Doors shall be equipped with an approved self-closing device.

   The smoke barrier and smoke stop door shall be located where directed by the Director and shall be constructed as follows:

      (1)   In Type IV and V (V-A and V-B) buildings, the smoke barrier may consist of partitions containing wire glass with solid core wood smoke stop doors. The doors shall be not less than one and three-eighths-inch thick, three feet wide, and six feet eight inches high equipped with an approved self-closing device. The smoke barrier may be of any approved similar construction except that wood panels and similar combustible materials shall not be permitted.

      (2)   In other than Type IV and V (V-A and V-B) buildings, the smoke barrier partitions shall be entirely of incombustible construction except for the smoke stop door and the trim and except that wire glass lights in the partition shall be permitted. The smoke stop door may be an unrated, solid-core wood door not less than one and three-eighths inch thick, three feet in width and six feet eight inches in height equipped with an approved self-closing device and may have wire glass lights therein.

   Smoke barrier doors may be held in an open position to allow for the necessary corridor ventilation, provided the means of holding the doors open include a smoke detection device and a heat activated device or a product of combustion detector connected to the restraining mechanism so that the doors are released upon the detection of smoke in the area or upon failure of the mechanism. There shall be no other means of preventing the doors from closing. The system shall be approved by the Director of the Department of Building Inspection.

(Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007)