Dressing rooms shall be separated from the stage
and auditorium by walls and floors having a fire-resistive rating
of at least four hours. The walls and floors between dressing rooms
and the auditorium shall be unpierced. Openings in the dividing walls
shall be equipped on both sides with self-closing doors having a fire-resistive
rating of at least 3/4 hour. Dressing rooms located on or above the
stage level shall have an independent means of exit directly to the
street or emergency courts or passageways. The maximum distance from
a dressing room door to a stairway or passageway to the street shall
be 35 feet. Dressing rooms shall not be located under the stage. When
located below the stage level, at least two exits shall be provided,
one of which shall lead directly to the street, and every dressing
room door shall be within 35 feet of a stairway. Dressing rooms shall
be ventilated by windows or skylights opening directly to the outer
air or shall be independently ventilated with at least six changes
of air per hour. Dressing room furniture and fixtures, except chairs,
shall be incombustible.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to
abrogate any provision of any state law, but whenever this section
imposes greater restrictions or requirements than those prescribed
in such laws, the provisions of this section shall control.
A. Street exit and entrance.
(1) Every structure intended to be used for the purpose described in §
86-95A unless otherwise specifically provided in this article, shall have means of entrance and exit as hereinafter required on one or more street frontages.
(2) Where there is a grade in excess of 5% in a street
frontage of a theater, the location of the exits on such street front
age shall be left to the discretion of the Superintendent of Buildings.
(3) The minimum aggregate width of entrance and exit doorways, in addition to the emergency exit required by Subsection
C, for the total number of persons to be accommodated on all tiers shall be at least 10 feet and shall be determined from the number of persons to be accommodated as follows: street entrance and exit doorways shall be provided at the rate of 20 inches for each 100 of the first 1,500 persons, 15 inches for each 100 of the first 1,000 persons in excess of 1,500 and 10 inches for each 100 persons in excess of 2,500.
(4) The highest level of the main entrance at the street front shall be one foot or less above the sidewalk. The highest level in the space in rear of the last row of seats shall be at most 10 feet above the sidewalk level, except in the case of stadium houses in which these levels shall apply to the crossover immediately in front of the first riser. The difference in level between this space and the street level shall be taken up by steps and ramps. Not more than 1/2 of such distance shall be taken up by steps, and not more than 2/3 of the height in steps shall be in any one unit. Steps for this purpose shall be immediately adjacent to the crossover aisle or the main entrance, and the location of such steps in the middle of any ramp is forbidden. Steps in front of doorways opening in the direction of egress shall have a platform equal to the swing of the door and at least five feet in length. Where the cross aisle is more than three feet above street level, there shall be at least two passageways with a minimum width of five feet leading to such cross aisles, when they serve 500 people or less, between the cross aisle and the stage. Such passageways shall be located in accordance with the requirements of Subsection
J, Vomitories, and each passageway shall be increased in width at the rate of one foot for each 100 persons more than 500. In addition to these passageways, there shall also be stairways proportioned on the same basis as required for balcony stairs in Subsection
G, Balcony exits and stairs, for the number of people seated in the space between the cross aisle and the rear of the auditorium. The maximum level below the sidewalk shall be two feet for the space behind the last row of seats in the auditorium.
(5) Each exit shall have a minimum clear width of five
feet measured between doorstops. Entrance and exit doors shall swing
outwardly and shall be held in the closed position by panic bolts
or other releasing devices arranged to operate by the application
of pressure to the inner side of the device.
(6) Doors used as a means of ingress or egress shall not
be locked during any presentation or when the structure is open to
the public.
B. Emergency courts or passageways.
(1) Every theater accommodating 300 or more persons shall
have an open court or a passageway for emergency use on each side
of each tier of the auditorium not bordering on a street. Such courts
and passageways shall lead directly to a street.
(2) The minimum clear width of the emergency courts or
passageways shall be six feet, and the clear height of passageways
shall be not more than 10 feet nor less than seven feet.
(3) When the occupancy of any tier exceeds 600, the width
of the court or passageway for that tier shall be increased at the
rate of one foot for each 500 persons or fraction thereof.
(4) The court from the orchestra shall be calculated independent,
and where the emergency stairs from above combine with such court,
the court shall be increased in width by the width of the lowest run
of stairs.
(5) Passageways shall be of materials or assemblies having
a fire-resistive rating of at least four hours and with solid floors
and roof. Where such passageways go through the stage or through other
structures, the roof shall be capable of sustaining a uniformly distributed
floor load of 500 pounds per square foot.
(6) Such passageways and courts shall connect to the street
at sidewalk level. Differences in elevations of floors of such courts
and passageways shall be overcome only by ramps having a maximum grade
of one in 10.
(7) Where enclosed passageways are used, they shall be
vented to the street or outer air by means of wire mesh grilles with
clear ventilating area at least 50% of the area of the door opening
on the street or public space. Walls of passageways shall be whitewashed
or finished in materials of a light color or painted a light color.
(8) The doors in the required emergency exits on each
side of the orchestra floor shall have a minimum clear width of five
feet, measured between doorstops, and the emergency exits on each
side shall be separated by a distance equal to 50% of the distance,
except that where such distance of separation would exceed 50 feet,
said exits shall be separated by a maximum distance of 50 feet. One
such exit on each side shall be located distant from the front row
of seats not more than 25 feet. Such additional exits shall be provided
as are necessary to have an emergency exit on each side distant not
more than 50 feet from the last row of seats.
(9) Emergency passageways and courts shall be used exclusively
for exit from the auditorium and stage and shall be kept free and
clear at all times.
C. Required number of emergency exits.
(1) In addition to the entrances and exits required under Subsection
A, Street exit and entrance, and Subsection
G Balcony exits and stairs, there shall be on each side of each tier at least two emergency exits opening from the auditorium to the emergency passageways or courts.
(2) The doors on such emergency exits shall have a minimum
clear width of five feet measured between doorstops, except that on
tiers above the orchestra floor requiring only one crossover and no
promenade, both required exit doors shall be located at the end of
the crossover and shall be not less in combined width than the width
of the required passageway for that tier. The swing of such doors
shall be in the direction of egress and shall not obstruct the clear
width of the passageway when fully opened, except for the thickness
of the door.
D. Required emergency stairways.
(1) From the emergency exits in each tier above the first,
emergency stairs or emergency platforms shall be provided extending
to the sidewalk level. The minimum width of each stair or platform
shall be four feet. When the capacity of any tier above the first
exceeds 800 persons, the width of the stairs serving such tiers shall
be increased in the proportion of one foot for each 500 persons or
fraction thereof in excess of 800. When the stairs or platforms are
not extended independently to the street level but are combined, the
width of each run of stairs shall be increased by 50% of the width
of the stairway serving the next tier above. From the landing of the
stairs at the street level, and independent passageway at least as
wide as the last run of stairs leading into it and a minimum of six
feet wide shall be provided leading to the street. Handrails may project
into the required width of stairs a maximum of 3 1/2 inches on
each side. The ends of handrails shall be turned back against walls
or newels and finished without projections which would act as obstructions.
(2) Where the emergency exits open on exterior platforms,
such platforms shall have an area of at least 30 square feet for each
required emergency exit and shall be at least as wide as the required
width of the stairway serving that exit, and no stairway shall start
less than two feet from the jamb of the door opening on to it. Enclosed
stairways extending to the ground level shall be provided from these
platforms. The maximum height of risers in stairs shall be eight inches,
and the minimum depth of tread, exclusive of the nosing, shall be
nine inches. Platforms and stairs shall be made of incombustible material
and shall have solid risers, treads and platforms. Platforms and connecting
stairs shall be covered with a metal hood or awning. Stairways extending
to the ground level shall be provided from these platforms.
(3) Stairways and platform exits shall be provided, on
the open side, with a guardrailing at least four feet high, measured
vertically from the riser face, and with a handrail upon both sides.
E. Emergency exits from stage. Emergency exits to the
passageways, courts or streets shall be provided on opposite sides
of the stage at the stage level.
F. Required exits from stage gridiron. Two means of exit
shall be provided from the stage gridiron. Such exits shall be provided
on one side by means of a ladder or stairs extending from the stage
floor through the roof from the inside of the structure and on the
other side through a doorway to the outer air and then by a ladder
or other means to some point having access to the ground.
G. Balcony exits and stairs.
(1) At least two separate and independent stairways, in addition to the emergency stairways required by Subsection
D, Required emergency stairways, shall be provided to each tier above the auditorium floor. They shall be located on opposite sides of the auditorium and may connect with the tiers which they serve by means of mezzanines or other intermediate floors. Where balcony stairs open directly into the auditorium, the exit facilities from the auditorium shall provide for the number of persons using such balcony stairs. The width of balcony stairs which open directly upon the street may be deducted from the required width of the main entrance. Required stairways shall connect with only one tier, except when one of the tiers is a part of a stadium theater and the aisles in that tier are continuous with those in the orchestra floor, and except that one required stairway in any type of theater may open on more than one tier, provided that such required stairway is increased to the width required for a 50% increase in the number of occupants of the lower tier and this increase shall apply to each tier upon which the stair opens, but in no case need the total width of the stair exceed that required to accommodate the total number of occupants to be served by this stairway. Required stairways shall be enclosed in the tiers through which they pass by materials or assemblies having a fire-resistive rating of at least three hours, but enclosures shall not be required at the upper and lower terminals of balcony stairs. No door shall open directly on a stairway, but a landing at least as wide as the door shall be provided between the door opening and the stairs.
(2) The doors on street fronts may be of untreated wood, but all other doors on exit passageways and stairs shall comply with the requirements of Article
XI, Fire-Resistive Construction.
(3) The maximum height of risers on any balcony stairs
shall be 7 1/2 inches, and the minimum width of treads is straight
balcony stairs shall be 10 inches, exclusive of nosings. Circular
or winding stairs for the use of the public are forbidden. When straight
stairs return directly on themselves, a landing the full width of
both flights shall be provided without steps. The outer line of landings
shall be curved to a radius of at least two feet. Stairs turning at
an angle shall have a proper landing, without winders, introduced
at each turn. The introduction of winders in stairs, when two side
flights connect with one main flight, is forbidden, and the width
of the main flight shall be at least equal to the aggregate width
of the wide flights. All stairs shall have proper landings introduced
at vertical intervals not to exceed 12 feet. The minimum number of
steps in a flight between landings shall be three. Such landings shall
be at least four feet in depth.
(4) Where the stadium type of design is employed, all
portions of the auditorium behind the first perpendicular riser shall
be treated as a balcony when the highest row of seats is more than
15 feet above the lowest point of the crossover in front of the first
perpendicular riser. Where the distance between the lowest point of
the crossover in front of the first perpendicular riser and the highest
level of the stadium floor is over 15 feet and less than 20 feet,
an inside stairway shall be provided. Where the distance is over 20
feet, it shall be treated the same as a balcony and, if the house
already has a balcony, the stadium section above 15 feet shall be
treated as another balcony.
(5) The minimum width for balcony stairs shall be four
feet. When the number of persons to be accommodated on any tier exceeds
200, the width of each stair shall be increased in the proportion
of three inches for every 100 persons or fraction thereof in excess
of 200. The maximum width of any stair shall be eight feet. When the
occupancy of any tier exceeds 1,800 persons, additional stairs shall
be provided. The aggregate width of stairs required from any tier
shall be divided into substantially equal units, but the width of
the narrowest stair shall be at least 2/3 that of the widest stair.
Handrails shall be provided in such stairways and may project a maximum
of 3 1/2 inches into the required width of the stairs on each
side.
(6) Ornamental stairways may be constructed under the following conditions: such stairways shall be so placed as not to obstruct or interfere with the functioning or use of the required means of egress nor to be a part of such means of egress. Such stairways shall meet the requirements of §
86-40D, Handrails, with respect to handrails.
H. Crossover in tiers. Crossovers shall be provided in
each tier above the orchestra floor as follows:
(1) The first crossover shall be distant not more than
seven rows of seats from the front of the tier. Additional crossovers
shall be provided, each distant not more than 14 rows of seats from
the next lower crossover, except that if the last crossover is placed
at the rear of the tier, there may be 16 rows of seats between the
highest crossover and the next lower crossover. They shall be at least
four feet wide in the clear and shall be separated from the seating
spaces with railings.
(2) When but one crossover is required, both emergency
exits shall be located at the ends of the crossover. When more than
one crossover is required, an emergency exit shall be located at each
end of each crossover. When the difference in level between adjacent
crossovers is in excess of nine feet, the emergency passageway shall
be carried level and independently from each exit to the emergency
stairs. Passageways leading to any stairway connecting with any exit
shall be at least four feet in width at every point.
I. Crossovers on orchestra floor. Crossovers shall be
provided in the orchestra tier when there are more than four banks
of seats, under conditions as follows:
(1) The first crossover shall be located approximately
1/3 of the distance from the last row of seats to the first row of
seats but not less than 18 rows from the front of the auditorium,
except that where there are not more than 27 rows of seats and not
more than four banks of seats, no crossovers shall be required. Additional
crossovers shall be provided with not more than 18 rows of seats intervening
between each such crossover and the next lower crossover. For the
purposes of this paragraph, a cross aisle or space of not less than
four feet in width and extending from one side wall to the opposite
wall shall be considered a crossover.
(2) Where there are five banks of seats, the crossovers
shall be formed by spacing two consecutive rows of seats at least
66 inches apart, measured back to back of seats, or providing a clear,
unobstructed cross aisle of at least four feet. Where there are no
more than five banks of seats, the crossovers shall be formed by spacing
two consecutive rows of seats at least 78 inches apart or by providing
a clear, unobstructed cross aisle of at least five feet in width.
(3) The Superintendent of Buildings may, in his discretion,
permit the voluntary providing of crossovers where crossovers are
not required by this article.
J. Vomitories.
(1) A vomitory is an exit from a balcony communicating
with a stairway by way of an intermediate floor. At least two vomitories
shall be provided for the first 1,000 seats or less in a balcony and
one for each additional 500 seats or fraction thereof over 1,000 seats.
Vomitories shall be located laterally 28 feet or less from the side
walls and at most 90 feet apart at the same crossover level, except
that vomitories may be located more than 90 feet apart when the width
of the crossovers is increased one inch for each foot of separation
in excess of 90 feet. Vomitories shall be located on the level of
the lowest crossover and, where more than two vomitories and two crossovers
are required, the vomitories shall be located on the level of the
lowest crossover and at alternate crossovers thereafter. When a single
vomitory is required at an alternate crossover, it shall be centrally
located.
(2) The difference in level between a crossover and a
vomitory passageway serving such crossover shall not exceed four feet.
Such difference in level may be made up by steps in the vomitory,
provided that the width of the crossover at the vomitory is increased
at least two feet.
(3) Each vomitory shall have a width of at least five
feet.
(4) Vomitories may be omitted when the required aisles
connect directly with a promenade or open space at the rear of the
balcony, provided that such balconies are less than 24 rows deep and
have a difference of 12 feet or less in level between the front row
of seats and the promenade.
(5) The location of stairs at the rear of the balcony
in place of an equal number of vomitories shall be permitted, provided
that the top stair landings are connected by a crossover.
K. Small balconies and church balconies. Balconies of 12 feet or less above the orchestra or main floor level having a maximum capacity of 150 seats and also any single balcony in a church used exclusively as a place of worship shall be exempt from the emergency exit requirements, but stairways complying with the normal requirements of Subsection
G, Balcony exits and stairs, as to number, width and location shall be provided, and the normal and emergency exits from the floor below shall be increased to accommodate the occupants of such small balconies.
L. Boxes. A box is an enclosure having fixed or movable
seats to the number of one to each six square feet of floor space
with a maximum of 12 seats. When boxes are at the balcony levels,
they shall be accessible from the aisles or from the crossovers. The
minimum width of a box entrance shall be three feet. When boxes are
located at the sides of the proscenium and within 40 feet of the proscenium
wall, no other means of egress need be provided. Boxes located at
the sides of the proscenium shall be within 40 feet of the proscenium
wall. The stairs for such boxes shall have a minimum width of 2 1/2
feet and shall lead to the nearest balcony or tier of seats below
the boxes.
M. Diagram of exits. A diagram or plan of each tier in
the auditorium, showing clearly and distinctly all the exits of such
tiers, shall be printed in black lines on each program of the performance.
Each such diagram shall occupy a space on the program of at least
10 square inches.
Aisles shall be at least three feet wide where
they begin and shall be increased in width toward the exits in the
ratio of 1 1/2 inches to five running feet. Where exits, corridors,
passages or crossover aisles are provided at both ends of any aisle,
the aisle may be uniform in width and at least the average width obtained
by increasing the width of the aisle from the standing point to the
end as previously prescribed. Whenever an aisle borders on a means
of entrance, the aisle shall have a minimum width of four feet for
the space required for such entrance doors.
The aggregate capacity of the foyers, lobbies,
vestibules and corridors intended for the use of the audience, excluding
toilet rooms, lounges and other similar spaces or aisle space between
seats, shall be sufficient on each tier to accommodate the entire
number of persons occupying such tier in the ratio of 150 square feet
of space for every 100 persons and shall be separated from adjoining
spaces, such as toilet rooms, lounges, refreshment spaces, etc., by
partitions having a fire-resistive rating of at least two hours. The
floor space in any mezzanine or intermediate floor connected to any
tier by vomitories may be included in computing the required floor
space for that tier.
Ramps or inclined planes shall be employed instead
of steps to overcome slight differences of level in or between aisles,
corridors and passages. Where the total difference in level will cause
the gradient of the ramp to be more than one in 12, the excess may
be made up by using steps, except in aisles on the orchestra floor.
The maximum gradient in aisles on the orchestra floor shall be one
in six for the first, second and third rows of seats from the rear;
one in seven for the fourth, fifth and sixth rows; one in eight for
the seventh, eighth and ninth rows: and one in 10 for the remaining
rows.
Every structure subject to the requirements of this article, in accordance with §
86-95A, Application of requirements for special occupancy structures, shall, except as otherwise provided in this section, be equipped with the following fire-fighting apparatus:
A. Sprinkler systems. A separate and distinct system of automatic sprinklers complying with Article
XV, Fireextinguishing and Detecting Equipment, §
86-127, shall be placed under the roof of the stage, under the gridiron, under all fly galleries and bridges and over the stage at such intervals as will protect every square foot of stage surface when sprinklers are in operation, and an additional line of sprinkler heads shall be placed on the stage side of the proscenium opening. Automatic sprinklers shall also be placed in the dressing room and under the stage and in all workrooms, storerooms and property rooms. Sprinkler systems shall in all other respects comply with Article
XV, Fire-extinguishing and Detecting Equipment, §
86-127.
B. Standpipe systems.
(1) Separate and distinct standpipe risers shall be provided
on every floor and tier with hose attachments as follows: one on each
side of the auditorium in each tier, one in each mezzanine, one on
each side of the stage in each tier, one in each tier of dressing
rooms, one in the property room and one in each workroom and storeroom,
except when the property room, storeroom or workroom is within 50
feet of a standpipe hose outlet. Such standpipes shall be kept unobstructed.
They shall be supplied by a separate gravity tank or by a pressure
tank located above the roof and by a fire pump of 250 gallons per
minute capacity. Standpipe tanks shall be kept constantly filled with
water at the rate of at least 65 gallons per minute by means of an
automatic filling pump capable of delivering at least 65 gallons per
minute into the tank.
(2) The fire pump shall be automatic in operation and
shall be supplied from the street main and be ready for immediate
use at all times during any performance in the structure, except that
theaters used exclusively for the exhibition of motion, sound or television
pictures, which are without stage, dressing rooms or scenery, shall
not be required to have a fire pump.
(3) The standpipe system shall otherwise comply with Article
XV.
C. Hose. A proper and sufficient quantity of two and
one-half-inch hose not less than 100 feet in length, fitted with the
regulation couplings of the Fire Department and with nozzles attached
thereto and with hose spanners at each outlet shall always be kept
attached to each hose attachment as the Village Board may direct.
D. Hand fire-extinguishing equipment. At least four casks
of approximately 50 gallons capacity full of water and two buckets
for each cask shall be kept in readiness for immediate use on the
stage. Such casks and buckets shall be painted red and marked with
the word FIRE in letters of contrasting color at least four inches
high. Hand pumps or other portable fire-extinguishing apparatus and
at least four casks and two twenty-five-foot hooks, two fifteen-foot
hooks and two ten-foot hooks shall be provided on each tier or floor
of the stage. At each required standpipe hose outlet, a two-and-one-half-gallon
hand extinguisher, one regulation fire ax and two six-foot hooks shall
be provided. Two two-and-one-half-gallon extinguishers may be substituted
for each required cask and its buckets and, if provided, shall be
recharged annually and, when used, immediately after use.
No steam boiler shall be located under the stage
or auditorium. Every steam boiler operating at a pressure of 10 or
more pounds and used for any purpose shall be located outside of that
portion of the structure used for special occupancy purposes. The
boiler-room space shall be enclosed by masonry having a combined fire-resistive
rating of at least four hours, and doorways to the boiler room shall
be protected with an automatic and self-closing door assembly having
a fire-resistive rating of two hours. The self-closing door shall
be hung at the outer side of the opening and shall open outwardly.
The placing of coils or radiators within seven feet of the floor in
any hall or passageway used for exit is forbidden unless they are
placed in recesses covered with grilles. Supply, return or exhaust
pipes shall be properly encased and protected where passing through
floors or near woodwork and shall be so protected on the stage by
means of guards as to prevent scenery from coming in contact with
the pipes.
Any theater, opera house or structure intended
to be used for theatrical or operatic purposes legally constructed
and approved for such purpose prior to the adoption of this code and
any public dance hall approved by the Superintendent of Buildings
and erected prior to the adoption of this code shall be exempt from
the requirements of this article.
Existing motion-picture theaters legally constructed
and operated at the time this code is adopted shall comply with the
requirements of this article for motion-picture theaters only to the
extent ordered by the Superintendent of Buildings so long as the seating
capacity is not increased. If the seating capacity of an existing
motion-picture theater is increased, it shall comply with all of the
requirements for such theaters.