(a) Every multiple dwelling unit shall be provided with fire protective features approved as being adequate for the protection of the occupants thereof. Fire resistance ratings shall be determined in accordance with American Society for Testing Material Standards, Prefix "E". 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 one 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 one hour.
(4) All stairways shall be separated from all floor levels by openings protected by self-closing doors having a fire resistance rating of not less than one 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 or egress, shall have the stairway completely separated from such hallway by a fire-resistive partition having a fire resistance rating of not less than one 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 one 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).
(1) Well constructed lath and plaster construction shall be considered as meeting the requirements of subsection (a)(l) and (3).
(2) Existing doors shall be considered as meeting the requirements of subsection (a)(2) 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 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, these doors are also provided with self-closing devices.
(3) Existing windows or transoms shall be considered as meeting the requirements of subsection (a)(1) if fixed and nonoperable, 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 from the use or occupancy for which the building or structure was originally designed or intended to be used, the Building Inspector shall determine and establish the required fire-protective features. Except as he may otherwise determine these fire-protective features shall conform with the provisions of subsection (a) hereof.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of subsections (a), (b) and (c) hereof, the Building Inspector shall have the power and authority to require more rigid fire-protective features or special fire-protective features where, in his opinion, special situations of construction, design, occupancy, fire hazard or other factors require such safeguards in the interest of public safety.
(Ord. 1974-28. Passed 5-15-74.)