As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
FLOOR AREA
Any floor space enclosed on all sides by either the exterior
walls, fire walls or fire partitions.
HORIZONTAL EXIT
The connection of any two floor areas, whether in the same
building or not, by means of a vestibule, or by an open-air balcony
or bridge or through a fire partition or fire wall.
SPRINKLERED
Equipped with an approved system of automatic sprinklers
throughout the building.
STAIR EXIT
A direct connection of any floor area to a stairway constructed
in accordance with the requirements of this article for required stairs.
UNSPRINKLERED
Not equipped with an approved system of automatic sprinklers
throughout the building.
Unless otherwise specifically stated in this article, the provisions
hereof shall apply to buildings hereafter erected, except multiple
dwellings.
Interior stairways constructed and arranged as follows shall
be known as "fire towers." The enclosing walls shall be of what is
required by the New York State Building and Fire Codes. Access to
the stairway shall be provided at each story served by a fire tower
through outside balconies or fireproof vestibules having solid floors
or incombustible materials and provided with substantial railings.
Such balconies or vestibules shall be level with the floors of the
buildings and platforms of the stairs connected by them, and shall
be separated therefrom by self-closing fire doors. The clear width
of such connecting balconies and vestibules shall be not less than
that required for a hallway sized per the New York State Building
and Fire Codes. The stairs in fire towers shall comply in all respects
with the requirements of this article relating to interior stairs.
No horizontal exit shall be deemed satisfactory under this article
unless the floor area on either side or such horizontal exit is sufficient
as per the New York State Building and Fire Codes. When vestibules
or open-air balconies are used, they shall conform to the requirements
for vestibules or open-air balconies or fire towers. When bridges
are used, they shall be constructed of incombustible material. All
doorways or windows opening on such vestibules, balconies or bridges
shall be equipped with self-closing fire doors or automatic fire windows.
When there is a difference in level between the connected floor areas,
gradients shall be provided of not more than one foot in 10 feet.
When serving as an exit from or in connection with one or more
stairways, the clear width of any hallway or passageway shall be not
less than the aggregate required clear width of all stairs leading
to it. The clear width of every hallway or passageway leading to an
exit shall be not less than what is required by the New York State
Building and Fire Codes.
No building shall hereafter be altered so as to reduce the number or capacity of exits to less than that required for buildings hereafter erected. New exits hereafter installed in any building shall be installed in conformity to the requirements for exits in new buildings, unless such exits are installed to comply with a notice issued under the provisions of §
265-20 of this chapter.
Every building now existing which is not provided with exit
facilities as prescribed in this article for new buildings, and in
which the exit facilities are inadequate for the safety of the occupants,
shall be provided with such good and efficient fire escapes, stairways
or other means of egress in case of fire as shall be directed by the
Superintendent of Buildings; and said Superintendent shall have authority
within said Village to direct fire escapes and other means of egress
to be provided upon and within such buildings or any of them, except
as may be otherwise provided by law. If the owner of any building
affected by any order issued under this section, or his agent, shall,
within 48 hours, Sundays and holidays excluded, after personal service
of such order has been made, file with the Superintendent of Buildings
a written appeal from such order, the Superintendent of Buildings
shall appoint a Board of Survey for unsafe buildings, upon the findings
of which a new order shall be based and issued.