No person shall at any time place an encumbrance of any kind
whatsoever before or upon any fire escape, balcony or ladder intended
as a means of escape from fire. It shall be the duty of every member
of the Police or Fire Departments who shall discover any fire escapes
encumbered in any manner, to forthwith report the same to the Fire
Chief, who shall immediately notify the owner, the tenant, or both,
to remove such encumbrance.
It shall be unlawful for any person to place, store or keep,
or permit to be placed, stored or kept under or at the bottom of any
stairway or elevator or other shaft, any combustible or flammable
materials, nor shall any such combustible or flammable materials be
placed or stored or kept in any place where its ignition or burning
would obstruct or render hazardous the egress from a building.
Public halls and public vestibules in all buildings shall be
adequately lighted at all times, and artificial lights shall be kept
lit every night in or near the main entrance and upon the stair landing
of every floor from sunset to sunrise. Public halls and public vestibules
shall be kept clear and unobstructed at all times.
A.
Public safety. In all buildings of a public character, such as schools,
hotels, clubs, churches, theatres, restaurants, railroad depots, public
halls, auditoriums and other buildings used or intended to be used
for purposes of public assembly, amusement or instruction, and including
department stores and other business and manufacturing buildings where
large numbers of people are congregated, the halls, doors, stairways,
seats, passageways and aisles and all lighting and heating appliances
and apparatus shall conform to any reasonable direction of the Commissioners
to facilitate egress in case of fire or accident and to afford the
requisite proper accommodation for the public protection in such cases.
B.
Aisles and passageways. All aisles and passageways in said buildings
shall be kept free from campstools, chairs, sofas and other obstructions,
and no persons shall be allowed to stand in or occupy any of said
aisles or passageways during any performance, service, exhibition,
lecture, concert, ball or any public assemblage.
C.
Special property uses or conditions.[1]
[Added 2-17-1977]
(1)
Places of assembly.
(a)
The maximum number of occupants permitted within places of assembly
shall be established by the authority having jurisdiction and shall
be conspicuously posted in each place and shall not be exceeded.
(b)
No decorative material shall be used which, as applied, will
ignite and allow flame to spread over the surface or will allow burning
particles to drop.
(c)
Screens for projection of pictures shall be of noncombustible
materials or materials treated to be fire-resistant.
(d)
No apparatus in which combustible or flammable fluid is used
in the preparation of foods, refreshments or other materials shall
be permitted in a lobby, foyer or auditorium of a place of assembly.
(e)
Exits.
[1]
Exits shall be marked by readily visible signs. Access to exits
shall be marked by readily visible signs in all cases where the exit
or way to reach it is not immediately visible to the occupants. Any
door, passage or stairway which is neither an exit nor a way-of-exit
access and which is so located or arranged as to be likely to be mistaken
for an exit shall be identified by a sign reading NOT AN EXIT or similar
designation or shall be identified by a sign indicating its actual
character, such as TO BASEMENT, STOREROOM, LINEN CLOSET or the like.
[2]
Every required sign designating an exit or way-of-exit access
shall be so located and of such size, color and design as to be readily
visible. No decorations, furnishings or equipment which impair visibility
of an exit sign shall be permitted, nor shall there be any brightly
illuminated sign (for other than exit purposes), display or object
of such a character as to detract attention from the exit sign in
or near the line of vision to the required exit sign.
[3]
A sign reading EXIT, or similar designation, with an arrow indicating
the direction shall be placed in every location where the direction
of travel to reach the nearest exit is not immediately apparent.
[4]
Every sign shall be distinctive in color and shall provide contrast
with decorations, interior finish or other signs.
[5]
Every sign shall be suitably illuminated by a reliable light
source giving a value of not less than five footcandles on the illuminated
surface. Such illumination shall be continuous. Means of egress and,
where emergency lighting facilities are required, exit signs shall
be illuminated from the same source.
[6]
Every exit sign shall have the word "exit" in plainly legible
letters not less than six inches high with the principal strokes of
letters not less than 3/4 inch wide.
[7]
In rooms accommodating more than 50 persons, required exit doorways
other than those normally used for entrance shall be plainly marked
by approved exit signs sufficiently illuminated, to be readily distinguishable,
when the floor area is occupied.
[8]
Required stairways, hallways and other means of egress, including
exterior open spaces to or through which exitways lead, shall be kept
adequately lighted at all times that the building served thereby is
occupied.
[9]
During the period of occupancy, no exit door shall be locked,
bolted or otherwise fastened or obstructed by any means so that the
door cannot be opened from the inside.
[10]
Every means of egress shall have a panic-button release device
with no types of locks, bolts or other fastener or any obstruction.
(f)
Air-conditioning systems.
[1]
For all air-conditioning systems or mechanical ventilating systems,
there shall be a switch conveniently located and conspicuously indicated
for shutting down the system in case of fire.
[2]
An automatic shut-off system for an air-conditioning unit is
required for any establishment or building used for public assembly
after the date of this enactment.
[3]
The lighting controls of all stairways, hallways and exitways
must be placed so as to preclude easy access by unauthorized persons.
(g)
One or more qualified persons to serve as fire watchers shall
be employed by all places of assembly during performances of live
stage shows.
(h)
Emergency lighting.
[1]
Where maintenance of illumination depends upon changing from
one energy source to another, there shall be no appreciable interruption
of illumination during the changeover. Where emergency lighting is
provided by a prime mover (operated electric generator), a delay of
not more than 10 seconds shall be permitted.
[2]
Electric battery-operated emergency lights shall use only reliable
types of storage batteries provided with suitable facilities for maintenance
in properly charged condition. Dry batteries shall not be used to
satisfy these requirements. Electric storage batteries used in such
lights or units shall be approved for their intended use.
[3]
An emergency lighting system shall be so arranged as to provide
the required illumination automatically in the event of any interruption
of normal lighting, such as any failure of a public utility or other
outside electrical power supply, the opening of a circuit breaker
or fuse or any manual act(s), including accidentally opening a switch
controlling normal lighting facilities.
[4]
An emergency lighting system either shall be continuously in
operation or shall be capable of repeated automatic operation without
manual intervention.
(2)
Bowling establishments.
(a)
Permit required. A permit shall be required for bowling pin
refinishing and bowling lane resurfacing operations involving the
use and application of flammable or combustible liquids or materials.
(b)
Lane resurfacing operations. Resurfacing operations shall not
be carried on while the establishment is open for business. Proper
ventilation shall be provided. Heating, ventilating or cooling systems
employing recirculation of air shall not be operating during resurfacing
operations or within one hour following the application of flammable
finishes. All electric motors or other equipment in the area which
might be a source of ignition shall be shut down, and all smoking
and use of open flames shall be prohibited during the application
of flammable finishes and for one hour thereafter.
(c)
Pin refinishing. Pin refinishing operations involving the application of flammable finishes shall be conducted in a room designed for this type of operation and under conditions conforming with the requirements of Subsection C(2)(b) of this section. Such room shall not be located below grade, nor shall it have communication with any pits, wells, pockets or basements.
(d)
All power tools in such special rooms shall be effectively grounded
or of a double-insulated type. An approved substantial metal box or
other receptacle shall be provided for lathes and sanding or buffing
machines for catching dust thrown off during operations. Contents
shall be removed daily and disposed of safely.
(e)
Flammable or combustible liquids for use in resurfacing or refinishing
operations shall be appropriately stored and shall not exceed 60 gallons
(227 liters) of storage, either in original metal containers or in
individual five-gallon (18.9 liters) maximum-capacity safety containers.
A metal waste can with self-closing cover shall be provided for all
waste materials and rags; contents shall be removed daily. Smoking
shall be prohibited at all times in refinishing rooms.
(3)
Tents.
(a)
Structural requirements. All supporting members shall be of
sufficient size and strength to support the structure. Tents shall
be adequately guyed, supported and braced to withstand a wind pressure
or suction of 10 pounds per square foot. The poles and their supporting
guys, stays, stakes, fastenings, etc., shall be of sufficient strength
and attached so as to resist wind pressure of 20 pounds per square
foot of projected area of the tent. (Note: Pull-down ropes on center
poles and side poles on push pole tents should be provided.)
(b)
Flame resistance. All tents occupied for assembly or in which
animals are stabled or those tents located within that portion of
the premises used by the public and all tents in places of assembly
in or about which any devices using fuel are operated, and all tarpaulins
and decorative materials used in connection with any of these, shall
meet the appropriate requirements for resistance to fire. The Building
Official shall:
[1]
Require a certificate or other evidence of approval by a laboratory
of recognized standing; or
[2]
He may accept the report of tests made by other inspection authorities
or a recognized testing laboratory as evidence that the tents, tarpaulins
and decorations have the required resistance to fire.
(c)
Fire hazards.
[1]
The ground enclosed by any tent used in connection with a place
of outdoor assembly and for a reasonable distance, but not less than
10 feet outside of such structure or structures, shall be cleared
of all flammable material or vegetation which will carry fire. This
work shall be accomplished to the satisfaction of the administrative
official prior to the erection of such structure or structures. The
premises shall be kept free from such flammable materials during the
period for which the premises are used by the public.
[2]
No hay, straw, shavings or similar combustible materials other
than that necessary for the current feeding and care of animals shall
be permitted within any tent used for public assembly, except that
sawdust and shavings may be used if kept damp.
[3]
No smoking, fireworks or unapproved open flame of any kind shall
be permitted in any tent while occupied by the public. No-smoking
signs shall be conspicuously posted in any tent open to the public.
Tents shall not be used for the display of motion pictures unless
safety film is used.
(4)
Air-supported structures.
(a)
Design and construction. Design and construction of the fabric
envelope and the method of anchoring the air-supported structure shall
be in accordance with the Minimum Standards for Air-Supported Structures,
1961, published by the Air-Structures Manufacturers and Suppliers
Association.
(b)
Pressurization. The inflation differential pressure of the structure
shall be adequate to withstand a minimum wind velocity of 75 miles
per hour. The pressurization system shall consist of one or more centrifugal
blowers, as follows:
[1]
All blowers shall be powered by continuous rated motors (at
the maximum power required for any flow condition).
[2]
All blowers shall have adequate personnel protection, such as
inlet screens and belt guards (if belt-driven).
[3]
All blowers shall be weather-protected if external to the structure
to assure continued service in all weather conditions.
[4]
All blowers shall be equipped with back-draft check dampers.
[5]
Any air-supported structure used as a place of outdoor assembly
shall be furnished with not less than two blowers, each of which has
adequate capacity to maintain full inflation pressure with normal
leakage.
[6]
The design of the blower should be so as to provide integral limiting pressure at the design pressure. Flame resistance and fire hazard requirements are the same as for tents [Subsection C(3)].
[7]
Exit doors shall swing in the direction of exit travel. [Note:
To avoid hazardous air and pressure loss, all such doors should be
automatically closing against normal operating pressures. Opening
force at the door edge should not exceed 15 pounds with the structure
at any operational pressure (zero to full differential)].
(5)
Aircraft hangars. The construction and protection of aircraft hangars
shall be in accordance with Standard Nos. 407-422 of the National
Fire Protection Association.
D.
Fire protection equipment.
[Added 2-17-1977]
(1)
Water supply.
(a)
Water service for sprinkler, standpipe and yard hydrant systems
shall provide at all times a supply of water in sufficient volume
for such systems to function satisfactorily.
(b)
Water supply tanks shall be maintained watertight, verminproof,
rodentproof, resistant to corrosion and protected against freezing.
(c)
Tanks and their supports shall not be used to support equipment
or structures other than for tank use, except where specially designed
for such other use.
(d)
Means for emptying water supply tanks shall be maintained in
proper working condition.
(e)
Water supply tanks for standpipe and sprinkler systems shall
be maintained to furnish water in sufficient quantity and pressures
for such systems.
(f)
Fire Department connection shall be conspicuously identified,
maintained readily accessible for Fire Department use and adapted
to fit the equipment of the Fire Department.
(2)
Sprinkler systems.
(a)
Sprinkler systems shall be maintained in operative condition
free from mechanical injury, structure failure, water failure or obstructions.
Sprinklers shall be maintained clear and free from corrosion, paint,
whitewash and other coatings which impair their operation.
(b)
Valves controlling water supply to sprinklers shall be secured
in the open position.
(c)
Supports for piping and equipment shall be structurally sound.
(d)
Portions of the system subject to freezing shall be appropriately
protected.
(e)
Storage of materials shall not interfere with the effective
discharge of water from the sprinklers.
(f)
Connections to sprinkler systems for other than fire protection
shall be prohibited.
(3)
Standpipe systems.
(a)
Valves shall be maintained tight against leaks.
(b)
Hose shall be properly stored, ready for operation, dry and
free of deterioration.
(c)
Hose stations shall be conspicuously identified, located for
easy accessibility and installed to provide for the quick and easy
use of equipment. Hose-station cabinets shall have keyless doors.
(d)
Valves in the water supply pipe for the standpipe system, other
than hose-station valves, shall be open at all times.
(4)
Yard hydrant systems.
(a)
Yard hydrant systems shall provide an ample supply of water
to hydrants.
(b)
Connection to fire hydrants for other than fire-protecting purposes
shall be prohibited unless authorized by the authority having jurisdiction.
(c)
Outside hose shall be stored to be readily accessible and protected
from the weather.
(5)
Portable fire extinguishers.
(a)
Portable fire extinguishers shall be appropriate as to type,
size and location and shall be in their designated location and clearly
visible, except that they may be located in an enclosure or recess
conspicuously identified as containing a fire extinguisher.
(b)
Portable fire extinguishers shall be maintained in operating
condition.
(6)
Fire alarm systems.
(a)
Fire alarm systems shall be maintained in operating condition.
(b)
Fire alarm boxes shall not be obstructed and shall be in full
view at all times.
(c)
Manufacturer's instructions for the use of fire alarm boxes
shall be conspicuously posted in the immediate vicinity of each alarm
box.
(d)
Unless directly connected to a central station alarm service,
municipal alarm system or local manned fire alarm dispatch station,
a clearly legible sign shall be posted above each box stating LOCAL
ALARM ONLY — NOT CONNECTED TO FIRE DEPARTMENT — CALL FIRE
DEPARTMENT BY TELEPHONE.
(7)
Fire-detecting system.
(a)
All fire-detecting systems, smoke detectors, smoke detector
ionization type, flame detectors, fire or rate-of-rise and heat detectors
shall be designed, constructed and installed so as to detect a fire
in its initial stage or to detect a rapid or excessive rise in temperature
and to automatically transmit an alarm signal to be transmitted over
telephone lines to the municipal fire stations and to the sounding
devices located throughout the building, so as to warn all the occupants
in the event of fire. They shall be so located so that they are protected
from damage and will activate without delay.
(b)
Fire-detecting systems shall be equipped with manual fire alarm
stations (determination on amount shall be left up to the jurisdiction
of the Building Official, Chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau or his
assistants) located in a natural path of egress from the building
in the event of a fire, to provide an auxiliary means of activating
the alarm systems. Said fire alarm stations shall be located on the
grade story near the main entry and exit door.
(c)
Component parts of a fire-detecting system shall be designed,
made and assembled for the detecting purposes and shall be reasonably
free from false alarm possibilities, and so as not to require frequent
major replacements.
(d)
Fire-detecting systems, including manual fire alarm pull stations,
shall be under constant electrical supervision so that failure of
the main source of power supply or an open-ground circuit which prevents
the normal operation of the system will be instantly and audibly indicated.
Where such electrical supervision is impracticable for certain types
of sounding devices such as vibrating bells, said sounding devices
shall be connected alternately on separate circuits and shall be equally
distributed throughout the building.
(e)
Fire-detecting and alarm systems shall be supplied with electrical
energy from a main source, and, in case of a power failure or interruption
of electrical service of any kind, an auxiliary power source shall
be installed and maintained in good working order.
(f)
Fire-detecting systems shall be provided with a sounding device
designed to sound a clear, continuous audible signal that is distinct
from all signals of other sounding devices used in the vicinity. If
more than one sounding device is used, they all shall be of the same
type. A sufficient number of sounding devices shall be provided and
so located that the alarm is audible in all parts of the building,
including the basement. Said sounding devices shall be installed with
two under dome gongs in the cellar and two on the main dining and/or
dancing area. Determination of additional sounding devices in the
first floor or basement shall be left up to the Chief of the Fire
Prevention Bureau and Building Official, if it is deemed necessary.
Fire-detecting systems shall be provided for all unoccupied rooms,
areas on the first floor and basements, including bathrooms, storage
rooms of any and all types, cloak rooms and any other areas that may
be deemed necessary by the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention
and Building Inspector.
(g)
Boiler rooms and kitchens shall have rate-of-rise fire-detecting
systems. Said fire detectors shall be installed one per room regardless
of room's size, but not larger than 325 square feet. If said room
is larger than 325 square feet, two smoke detectors are required.
(h)
All installations shall conform with the National Electrical
Code and shall be installed by an electrical contractor licensed by
the Town of Rye.
(i)
Testing fire-detecting systems shall be conducted by a bona
fide qualified service agency at least twice a year under the supervision
of the Bureau of Fire Prevention. A log shall be kept of the date
and time of said inspections and who conducted said inspections of
the fire-detecting system.
(8)
Fire safety equipment. Fire safety equipment, including fire-extinguishing,
fire warning and standpipe systems, shall be maintained operable at
all times and under all weather conditions except during repairs.
The Fire Department shall be notified whenever such equipment is out
of service.
E.
Fire safety signs and instructions.
[Added 2-17-1977]
(1)
Signs.
(a)
Fire safety signs include, among others, occupancy signs, limiting
the maximum number of occupants permitted in public areas; no-smoking
signs, prohibiting smoking in areas where conditions exist which make
smoking a fire hazard; danger signs, alerting persons to areas where
special danger of fire or explosion exists; and elevator warning signs,
instructing occupants to use exit stairs in case of fire.
(b)
Fire safety signs shall be posted on premises as specified in Subsection E(1)(a) of this section.
(c)
Posted fire safety signs shall be complied with.
(d)
No posted fire safety sign shall be removed, defaced or destroyed
except for replacement purposes or when the condition which the sign
was intended to identify is no longer present or when the information
conveyed by the sign is no longer necessary.
(e)
The marking of fire lanes on private property devoted to public
use shall be approved by the Fire Inspector and the Chief of Police.
Parking of motor vehicles or otherwise obstructing fire lanes shall
be prohibited at all times.
(2)
Instructions. Hotels, motels and similar transient occupancies shall
have a printed copy of fire safety instructions, instructing occupants
in steps to be taken in the event of fire, conspicuously posted in
each occupancy unit and at other designated locations.
F.
Equipment and systems.
[Added 2-17-1977]
(1)
Approved fire-extinguishing equipment shall be provided for the protection
of duct systems, grease-removal devices and hoods. Cooking equipment
(such as fat fryers, ranges, griddles and broilers) which may be a
source of ignition of grease in the hood, grease-removal device or
duct shall also be protected by approved extinguishing equipment.
If acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction, that portion of
the fire-extinguishing system required for protection of the duct
may be omitted when all cooking equipment is served by listed grease
extractors.
(2)
The extinguishing equipment shall include both of the following types:
(a)
Automatically operated fixed-pipe systems or other automatic
systems specifically shall be listed for the hazard.
(b)
Fixed-pipe extinguishing systems, except automatic sprinkler
systems in a single hazard area, shall be arranged for simultaneous
automatic operation upon actuation of any one of the systems. A single
hazard area is one which:
(c)
The operation of any extinguishing systems shall automatically
shut off all sources of fuel and heat to all equipment protected by
an extinguishing system or located under ventilating equipment protected
by an extinguishing system. (Note: Electrically-heated equipment other
than fat fryers need not be shut off.)
A.
Every tenement house existing or hereafter erected, both fireproof
and nonfireproof, exceeding two stories in height shall have at least
two independent ways of egress which shall extend from the ground
floor to the roof and shall be located remote from each other. The
Commissioners in conjunction with the Building Official shall enforce
the requirement of this section.
B.
Stagehand. Except on a stage where there is maintained a protective
curtain in compliance with the Building Code and the New York State
Standard Building Code for Places of Public Assembly, it shall be
unlawful to present any theatrical presentation unless the person
in charge, or his representative, remains continuously for emergency
duty at the rear of the stage during each presentation.
[Amended 2-17-1977]
A.
School fire drills. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners to
ascertain that the principals or supervisors of public, private and
parochial schools hold regular fire drills as prescribed in the Education
Law and, by inspection, to determine that all doors serving as exits
are unlocked during school hours or whenever in use and all means
of egress are free of obstructions.
B.
Building Groups 1 to 4. Fire exit drills and procedures shall be
held and conducted to familiarize occupants in procedures of building
evacuation or transfer to havens of refuge in the following:
A.
No gasoline tank or tanks shall be installed without first obtaining
a permit.
B.
The construction and installation of such tanks shall conform with
the requirements of the ordinance regulating construction and installation
of oil-burning equipment,[1] and no installation shall be covered or otherwise concealed
until inspected by the Fire Chief and certified as conforming to the
code.
Gasoline in quantities exceeding five gallons shall be stored
in underground tanks. Except where storage of gasoline is prohibited,
quantities of less than five gallons may be stored but only in approved
safety cans. Gasoline shall not be kept in any dwelling unit in quantities
exceeding one pint and then only in a screw-top metal container legibly
labeled to indicate its contents and its flammable nature.
A.
Dry cleaning shall include the removal of dirt, grease, paint or
other stain from any wearing apparel, textile, fabric, fur, rug or
similar article by immersion or agitation in any flammable liquid
or by brushing or scouring with any such liquid.
B.
Rating of solvents. For the purpose of This chapter, flammable liquid
solvents shall be rated according to the schedule developed by the
Underwriters' Laboratories for the rating of hazards of flammable
liquids. Representative examples for such rating are as follows:
|
Liquid
|
Rating
|
|---|---|
|
Ether
|
100
|
|
Gasoline
|
90 to 100
|
|
Alcohol (ethyl)
|
60 to 70
|
|
Kerosene
|
30 to 40
|
|
Paraffin oil
|
10 to 20
|
C.
Prohibited. Dry cleaning or dry dyeing which includes the use of
flammable liquid solvent rated above five in the Underwriters' Laboratories
schedule is hereafter prohibited.
D.
Spotting.
(1)
The provisions of this section shall apply to any spotting which
includes the use of flammable liquid solvent rated above five in the
Underwriters' Laboratories schedule.
(2)
Spotting shall be limited to the use of one quart of the flammable
liquid stored in and applied from an approved safety can.
(3)
Spotting shall be prohibited in any room not provided with a safe
means of exit direct to the outside air or in any room containing
an open flame, fire or spark. During spotting and for 1/2 hour thereafter
two direct openings for ventilation and air circulation must be provided,
preferably on opposite sides of the room near the floor.
E.
Permit required. No laundries, dry cleaning and dry dyeing establishments,
rug cleaning plants or other similar business shall be conducted unless
a permit has been applied for and obtained from the Commissioners.
No permit shall be issued until the Fire Chief has certified that
he has inspected the premises of the applicant and found such premises
to conform with the requirements of this code.
