The interior of a structure and its equipment
shall be maintained in good repair, structurally sound and in a sanitary
condition so as not to pose a threat to the health, safety or welfare
of the occupants or visitors and to protect the occupants from the
environment.
A.
The supporting structural members of every building
shall be maintained structurally sound, not showing any evidence of
deterioration which would render them incapable of carrying the imposed
loads.
B.
In every existing building used for business, industrial,
mercantile or storage occupancy in which heavy loads or concentrations
occur or in which machinery is introduced, the owner or occupant shall
cause the weight that each floor will safely sustain to be calculated
by a registered architect or engineer and to be filed with the Building
Official and, after such acceptance by the Building Official, to be
posted on each floor in a conspicuous place.
Floors, walls (including windows and doors),
ceilings and other interior surfaces shall be maintained in good,
clean and sanitary condition. Peeling paint, cracked or loose plaster,
decayed wood and other defective surface conditions shall be eliminated.
Lead-based paint with a lead content of more
than 0.5% shall not be applied to any interior or exterior surface
of a dwelling, dwelling unit or child-care facility, including fences
and outbuildings at these locations. Existing interior and exterior
painted surfaces of dwelling units and child-care facilities that
contain in excess of 0.5% lead shall be removed or covered with paneling
or other suitable covering approved by the Code Official.
Every toilet, bathroom and kitchen floor surface
shall be constructed and maintained so as to be substantially impervious
to water and so as to permit such floor to be easily kept in a clean
and sanitary condition.
In every building, basements and crawl spaces
shall be maintained reasonably free from dampness to prevent conditions
conducive to decay or deterioration of the structure.
The interior of every structure shall be maintained
in a clean and sanitary condition free from any accumulation of rubbish,
refuse or garbage. Rubbish, garbage and other refuse shall be properly
kept inside temporary storage facilities as required under Section
ES-801.0.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See the BOCA Basic/National
Existing Structures Code/1984.
Garbage or refuse shall not be allowed to accumulate
or be stored in public halls or stairways.
All structures shall be kept free from insect
and rat infestation, and where insects or rats are found, they shall
be promptly exterminated by approved processes which will not be injurious
to human health. After extermination, proper precautions shall be
taken to prevent reinfestation.
Every door available as an exit shall be capable
of being opened easily from the inside and without the use of a key.
Stairs and other exit facilities shall be adequate
for safety as provided in the building code.
All interior stairs and railings and other exit
facilities of every structure shall be maintained in sound condition
and good repair by replacing treads and risers that evidence excessive
wear or are broken, warped or loose. Every inside stair shall be so
constructed and maintained as to be safe to use and capable of supporting
the anticipated loads.
Every flight of stairs which is more than four
risers high shall have handrails which shall be located as required
by the building code, and every open portion of a stair, landing or
balcony which is more than 30 inches (762 millimeters) above the floor
or grade below shall have guardrails. Handrails shall be not less
than 30 inches (762 millimeters) nor more than 34 inches (864 millimeters)
high, measured vertically above the nosing of the tread or above the
floor of the landing or balcony. Guardrails shall be not less than
30 inches (762 millimeters) high above the floor of the landing or
balcony. Every handrail and guardrail shall be firmly fastened and
capable of bearing normally imposed loads and shall be maintained
in good condition.
