Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings for Residential and Institutional Occupancies

Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings are required in the New NYC Construction Code as per Section BC 1025 in R (Residential) and Group I-1 (Institutional) Occupancies.

Sleeping Rooms below the fourth story above grade shall have at least one emergency escape and rescue opening.

Where below-grade stories contain one or more sleeping rooms, emergency escape and rescue openings shall be required in each sleeping room and shall open directly in to a public street, public alley, yard or court.

• The minimum size of such openings is a minimum net clear opening of 6 square feet.
• The net clear opening height dimension shall not be less than 30"
• The net clear opening width dimension shall not be less than 24"
• The bottom of the clear opening shall not be more than 36" above the floor.
• The opening shall be operational from the inside of the room without the use of keys or tools.
• An emergency escape and rescue opening below the adjacent ground level shall be provided with a window well with a minimum horizontal area of 9 Sq Ft, with a minimum dimension of 36".
• Window wells with a depth of more than 44" shall be equipped with an approved permanent ladder or steps.

There are exceptions listed in the Code under Section 1025.1. The above is an abbreviation/summary of the full Code requirement. Please refer to the Building Code Text for full details.

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2008 Occupancy Group Classifications

Below is a list comparing the 1968 Building Code Occupancy Group Classifications to those of the new NYC Construction Codes

The 1968 Code classified Occupancies in decending order from higher to lower hazard in terms of Life Safety. The 2008 Code classifies Occupancies according to logical reference, where the Occupancy Group Letter matches the Description (ex: R=Residential)

1968 Code -->2008 Code

A-High Hazard-->H-High Hazard (H-1 thru H-5)

B-Storage-->S-Storage (S-1 & S-2)

C-Mercantile-->M-Mercantile-Display and Sale of Merchandise

D-Industrial-->F-Factory and Industrial (F-1 & F-2)

E-Business-->B-Business (Office, Professional, Service-type transaction, Public or Civic Services)

F-Assembly-->A-Assembly (A-1 thru A-5)

G-Education-->E-Educational (5 or more persons)

H-Institutional-->I-Institutional (I-1 thru I-4)

J-Residential-->R-Residential (R-1 thru R-3)

K-Miscellaneous-->U-Utility and Miscellaneous (Accessory Structures or not classified in any specific occupancy)



Description of 2008 Sub-Occupancies:



Assembly:
A-1=Assembly with Fixed seating, intended for production and viewing of the Performance Arts or Motion Pictures.
A-2=Food and/or Drink Consumption.
A-3=Worship, Recreation or Amusement (Physically active), and other assembly uses not classified elsewhere in Group A.
A-4=Indoor Sporting Events with Spectator Seating.
A-5=Participation in or viewing Outdoor Activities.


Factory and Industrial (F):
F-1=Moderate Hazard.
F-2=Involves Non-Combustible, Non-Flammable Materials, or Low-Hazard Production.

High Hazard (H):
H-1=Materials that present a Detonation Hazard.
H-2=Uses Present a Deflagration Hazard or a Hazard from Accelerated Burning.
H-3=Materials that readily support combustion or present a Physical Hazard.
H-4=Materials that are Health Hazards.
H-5=Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities using excessive Hazardous Production Materials (HPM) in excess of the permitted aggregate quantity.


Institutional (I):
I-1=Housing persons, on a 24-hour basis, capable of self-preservation and responding to an emergency situation without physical assistance from staff.
I-2=Medical, Surgical, Nursing, or Custodial Care, on a 24-hour basis, of more than 3 persons who are not capable of self-preservation or responding to an emergency situation without physical assistance from staff.
I-3=More than 5 persons who are detained under restraint or for security reasons.
I-4=Day Care Facilities occupied by persons of any age who receive custodial care (without overnight) by individuals other than parents, guardians, or relatives in a place other than home.


Residential (R):
R-1=Residences occupied Transiently (for less than 1 Month).
R-2=Residences containing more than 2 Dwelling Units and occupied on a Long term basis (for a month or more).
R-3=Residences containing not more than 2 Dwelling Units and occupied on a Long term basis (for a month or more).


Storage (S):
S-1=Moderate Hazard Storage Occupancy for any Flammable or Combustible Materials.
S-2=Low Hazard Storage Occupancy for Non-Combustible Materials.


This list is for informational purposes only. Refer to the 2008 Code Text for the official reading.

Also see the DOB Fact Sheet



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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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Applicability of NYS Energy Code to NYC Projects

Q: When is the NYS Energy Code applicable to New York City Projects?

A: The following buildings must comply with the noted provisions of the Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State:

-1- and 2-family detached residential buildings and all residential buildings of three stories or less must comply with Chapters 4, 5 or 6 of the Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State (ECCCNYS)

-All other buildings, including residential buildings four stories or higher and excluding 1- and 2-family detached residences four stories or higher, must comply with Chapters 7 or 8 of the ECCCNYS

-Except where explicitly stated in the Code, ECCCNYS is not retroactive in existing buildings;

-Additions to existing buildings must comply with the ECCCNYS with respect to new construction;

-Alterations must comply with the Energy Code where 50% or more of any building system or subsystem, measured in appropriate units, is being replaced within any 12-month period, with some exceptions;

-In mixed-use buildings, each major use shall comply with the requirements of its occupancy.

The following buildings are exempt from the provisions of the ECCCNYS:

-Buildings with a peak design rate of nonrenewable energy usage less that 3.4 Btu/h/SF;

-Buildings whose energy usage for heating and/or cooling is entirely supplied from renewable energy sources;

-Historic buildings (see ECCCNYS §101.4.2.3 for detail);

-Nonresidential farm buildings (see ECCCNYS §101.4.2.5 for detail).

All New Building and Alteration Type-I Applications must now include an Energy Code statement on the plans and Applications:

"To the best of my knowledge, belief and professional judgment, these plans and specifications are in compliance with the Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State, using Chapter ____.”

As of September 4, 2007, the Professional Statement and the Energy Analysis will be listed as a Required Item for New Buildings and Alteration Type 1 projects. Alteration Type 2 and Alteration Type 3 OT projects will have the same listed required items in November, 2007.

Excerpts from DOB Web site

When do the new NYC Construction Codes go into effect?

Q: When do the new NYC Construction Codes go into effect?

A: The new NYC Construction Codes are scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2008. A draft of the Code is available for download at the NYC Department of Buildings Website.

I have attempted to paraphrase below (from Local Law 33 of 2007) the enactment transition details. Please refer to Local Law 33 of 2007 for the exact enactment language.

Any application submitted to the DOB prior to July 1, 2008, or for which an application is submitted to the DOB within a period of 12 months after July 1, 2008, at the option of the owner, may be performed in its entirety in accordance with new NYC Construction Codes, or in accordance with the 1968 building code, provided that the construction work is commenced within 12 months after the date permit issuance and is diligently carried on to completion.

The Commissioner may, for good cause, extend the time period for commencement of the work beyond 12 months. Where the owner elects to perform the work in compliance with the 1968 building code, certain conditions shall apply. Please refer to the Local Law for the conditions.

Optional use of the 1968 Building Code for alteration of existing buildings. At the option of the owner, a permit may be issued after July 1, 2008 authorizing work on existing buildings to be performed in accordance with the 1968 building code, subject to certain conditions. Please refer to the Local Law for the conditions.