See Chapter 1A of this Code and Chapter 6 of the Building Code, which defines current types of building construction.
Wood frame buildings three stories or more in height, constructed, altered or converted for use as an apartment house or hotel after September 1, 1947 shall be constructed of materials providing the entire building with a fire-resistive rating of one hour, as defined by the Building Code in effect at time of construction.
Wood frame buildings constructed, altered or converted for use as an apartment house or hotel prior to September 1, 1947 need not be constructed of fire-resistive materials except for the public exit corridors, the soffits of stair and landings, and any new construction added since September 1, 1947, except that in buildings not over two stories in height public exit corridors and stairways may be of unrated materials if each apartment or guest room has direct access to a way of departure from within the unit or room without entering a common corridor. An approved automatic sprinkler system may be substituted for required fire-resistive construction for exit corridors of buildings altered or converted prior to July 26, 1958.
Public exit corridor for this purpose is defined as those corridors which serve more than one apartment or guest room and which are not connected with any other exit corridor or stairway.
Interior wood construction of Type III (III-A and III-B) and IV buildings shall conform to the same fire-resistive requirements as for Type V (V-A and V-B) buildings. Type III (III-A and III-B) buildings five or more stories in height shall be of fire-resistive construction if constructed, altered or converted for use as an apartment house or hotel after August 17, 1923.
All wood shall be protected against termite damage and decay as provided in the Building Code.
(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)