Scissor Stairs

Q: What is a Scissor Stair? When are Scissor Stairs permitted? Will Scissor Stairs still be permitted under the New NYC Construction Code?


A: A Scissor Stair is a set of 2 interlocking stairways providing two separate paths of egress located within one stairwell enclosure. The Stairs wind around each other, and are separated from each other within the enclosure, by fire rated construction having the same rating as the Stair Enclosure (usually 2-hour construction). Scissor Stairs are permitted under certain conditions by the New NYC Construction Code, as listed below.

Scissor stairs are particularly effective in small footprint Residential Apartment buildings requiring 2 vertical means of egress. In large footprint buildings, Scissor Stairs may create Dead End Corridors, and should be avoided.

Scissor Stairs are permitted in:

'J-2' Residential Apartment Buildings ('R-2' New Const Code).
Per New Construction Code Section 1014.2.1:

• Stair doors must be at least 15 feet apart from each other



• Stair Enclosing Walls shall be Constructed of 2-Hr rated Masonry or approved Masonry Equivalent material.



• Stair may share common walls, floors, ceilings or scissor stairs assemblies or other enclosures provided that the construction separating the stairs is also of at least a 2-hour fire resistance rating and constructed of masonry or masonry equivalent.



• Author’s Note: Comply with Dead End Corridor limitations.



• Author’s Note: Both Stairs within the Scissor Stair enclosure must extend to the Roof to provide Roof Access.



• Author’s Note: When both of the Stairs within a Scissor Stair terminate at a Street Floor Lobby, egress must be provided in 2 separate directions from the Lobby to the Street.

'E' Office Buildings ('B' New Const Code)
Per New Const Code Requirements Section 1014.2.1:

• With a Building Height not exceeding 60 feet



• With a Footprint not exceeding 2,000 sq ft per floor



• Stair doors shall be at least 15 feet apart from each other



• Maximum travel distance of 50 feet from most remote point to a Stair Door



• Stair Enclosing Walls shall be Constructed of 2-Hr rated Masonry or approved Masonry Equivalent material



• Stair may share common walls, floors, ceilings or scissor stairs assemblies or other enclosures provided that the construction separating the stairs is also of at least a 2-hour fire resistance rating and constructed of masonry or masonry equivalent.
  

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Minimum Trap/Waste Outlet Sizes for Plumbing Fixtures

Q: What are the Minimum Trap/Waste Outlet Sizes for Plumbing Fixtures, the the NYC Building Code?

A: Refer to Table 16-6 for the Minimum Trap Sizes, as restated below:

Fixtures & Trap Sizes:
Bathtub (with or without overhead Shower 1 1/2"
Bidets 1 1/2"
Combination Sink and Wash (Laundry Tray) 2"
Dental Unit or Cuspidor 1 1/2"
Drinking Fountain 1 1/2"
Dishwasher, Commercial 2"
Dishwasher, Domestic 1 1/2"
Floor Drain 3"
Funnel Drain 1 1/2"
Kitchen Sink, Domestic 2"
Laboratory Cup Sink 1 1/2"
Laboratory Sink 2"
Lavatory, Common 1 1/2"
Lavatory, Barber, Beauty Parlor, or Surgeon's 1 1/2"
Lavatory, multiple type (was fountain or sink) 1 1/2"
Laundry Tray (1 or 2 compartments) 1 1/2"
Laundry Standpipe 2"
Shower, Stall 2"
Shower, Gang 3"
Sink (Surgeon's) 1 1/2"
Sink (flushing rim type, flush valve supplies) 3"
Sink (service type with Trap Standard) 3"
Sink, Commercial (Pot, Scullery or sim) 2"
Sterilizers 3"
Urinal (Pedestal) 3"
Urinal (Stall Type) 2"
Urinal (Wall Lip Type) 2"
Urinal (Women's) 3"
Water Closet (Waste Outlet) 3"

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When is a Work Permit Required?

Q: When exactly is a Work Permit required from the NYC Department of Buildings for construction work?

A: The Code allows 'Minor Alterations' and 'Ordinary Repairs' to buildings without the need to obtain a Work Permit provided that it meets their definition of same.

Minor Alterations and Ordinary Repairs do not include the following and therefore require the issuance of a Work Permit:

• Cutting away of any portion of a wall, floor, or roof construction.
• Removal, cutting, or modification of any beams or structural supports.
• Removal, change, or closing of any required means of egress
• Rearrangement or relocation of any parts of the building affecting loading or exit requirements
• Alterations, modifications, replacements, repair or removal of Sprinkler or Standpipe systems.
• Alterations, modifications, replacements, repair or removal of Plumbing or Sewer systems. However, replacement of Plumbing Fixtures on existing Roughing from the inlet side of a trap to any exposed stop valve does not require a Permit.
  
• Any other work affecting health or the fire or structural safety of the building.

Below are the Code Sections specifying the requirements. In certain instances, this information may not be sufficient to characterize the work, and additional research for Permit requirements may be necessary, especially with exterior work.

ARTICLE 5 MINOR ALTERATIONS: ORDINARY REPAIRS

27-124 Minor alterations
For the purposes of this code, the term "minor alterations" shall mean minor changes or modifications in a building or any part thereof, excluding additions thereto, that do not in any way affect health or the fire or structural safety of the building. Minor alterations shall not include any of the work described or referred to in section 27-126 of this article, or any other work for which a permit is required under the provisions of articles ten through seventeen of this subchapter.

27-125 Ordinary repairs
For the purposes of this code, the term "ordinary repairs" shall mean replacements or renewals of existing work in a building, or of parts of the service equipment therein, with the same or equivalent materials or equipment parts, that are made in the ordinary course of maintenance and that do not in any way affect health or the fire or structural safety of the building or the safe use and operation of the service equipment therein. Ordinary repairs shall not include any of the work described or referred to in section 27-126 of this article or any other work for which a permit is required under the provisions of articles ten through seventeen of this subchapter.

27-126 Work not constituting minor alterations or ordinary repairs.
(a) For the purposes of this code, minor alterations or ordinary repairs shall not include the cutting away of any wall, floor, or roof construction, or any portion thereof; or the removal, cutting, or modification of any beams or structural supports; or the removal, change, or closing of any required means of egress; or the rearrangement or relocation of any parts of the building affecting loading or exit requirements, or light, heat, ventilation, or elevator requirements; nor shall minor alterations or ordinary repairs include additions to, alterations of, or rearrangement, relocation, replacement, repair or removal of any portion of a standpipe or sprinkler system, water distribution system, house sewer, private sewer, or drainage system, including leaders, or any soil, waste or vent pipe, or any gas distribution system, or any other work affecting health or the fire or structural safety of the building.

(b) Minor alterations or ordinary repairs shall include the repair or replacement of any fixture, piping or faucets from the inlet side of a trap to any exposed stop valve.

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Landmarks Expedited Review

Q: What is the criteria necessary to file for a Landmarks Expedited Review Permit?

A: Landmarks Approval for construction projects can add significant lead time to issuance of a Work Permit. Landmarks offers an Expedited Review process for Alterations meeting the below criteria. We encourage all applicants that can comply with the criteria to submit their application using this method:

1. Must be INTERIOR WORK ONLY;
2. Must be performed ONLY ABOVE THE SECOND STORY;
3. Must NOT be performed on any portion of a space designated as an interior landmark;
4. Must NOT involve any change to, replacement of, or penetration of any window, skylight,
exterior wall or roof of any portion thereof; and
5. For floors 3 through 6 must NOT involve a dropped ceiling or a partition which is less than a
minimum of 1'-0" back from any interior windows sill or frame, whichever is further from the
glass.

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