Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 12, March 20, 2024
(a)
Decorations.
(1) Combustible wall coverings
may be used in places of public assembly only when pasted or cemented directly
to the wall surfaces or if not so pasted or cemented, if such wall coverings
are treated so that they will neither ignite nor actively support
combustion.
(2) Decorative moldings
and frames of combustible materials may be used only when their total area does
not exceed 10 per cent of the area of the wall to which they are applied and
the said moldings or frames do not exceed six inches in width nor one and
one-half inches in thickness.
(3)
No wall, ceiling, floor or seat covering or decoration having a pyroxylin or
nitrocellulose base is permitted.
(4) No dry vegetation and no trees or greens
containing pitch or resin are permitted. Flowers and decorative greens which do
not contain pitch or resin are permitted only when freshly cut or living and
not flammable. No flammable material whatever is permitted except as provided
in paragraphs (1) and (2) above.
Exception:One nonflameproofed resinous Christmas tree is
permitted in the discretion of the enforcing authority in a place of public
assembly whose exits are in full compliance with this Part provided the
following conditions are observed:
Exception:
1.
Such tree shall be set up only between December 23 and January 2.
Exception:
2. It shall be fresh and not dry.
Exception:
3. It
shall be kept with its base immersed in water.
Exception:
4. An
approved two and one-half gallon soda ash or loaded stream fire extinguisher
shall be kept in plain sight within 15 feet of such tree.
Exception:
5. No
lighted tree shall be set up at the bottom of a stair well nor within 25 feet
of an exit.
Exception:
6. No
flammable decorations and no lights other than electric lights shall be used on
such tree.
(b) Storage in basements and cellars.
(1) Combustible materials shall not be stored
in basements or cellars of places of public assembly except under one of the
following conditions:
(i) Where the storage
space is separated from the remainder of the place of public assembly by walls
and floors having a fire-resistance rating of at least one hour with the
openings therein provided with self-closing fire doors having a rating of at
least one hour.
(ii) Where the
storage space is separated from the remainder of the place of public assembly
by a tight enclosure with self-closing doors and in addition provided with
automatic sprinkler protection.
(2) Combustible materials shall not be deemed
to include fuel oil or coal stored for use in the heating of the
building.
(c) Storage in
or about stairways.
(1) No storage of any
kind under an enclosed stairway is permitted unless such storage space is
enclosed by partitions and self-closing fire doors having fire-resistance
ratings equal to the requirements for the stair enclosure, and the soffit of
the stair and landing above such storage space is protected by construction
having a fire-resistance rating equal to that required for the stair enclosure.
There shall be no means of access to such storage space from the stair
enclosure.
(2) Where a stairway is
not required to be enclosed, a storage space beneath it is permitted only if
such space is entirely enclosed, including the soffit of the stair, with
construction having a fire-resistance rating of at least one hour with one hour
self-closing fire doors at all openings.
(3) No flammable liquids, gases or materials
shall under any circumstances be stored in or near a stairway or stair
enclosure.
(d) Use of
combustible or volatile fluids. No apparatus in which any combustible or
volatile fluid is used in the preparation of foods, refreshments or other
materials is permitted in a lobby, foyer or auditorium of a place of public
assembly. Combustible or volatile as used in this subdivision includes any
fluid having a closed cup flash point below 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
(e) Kitchens and service pantries.
(1) Where a kitchen or service pantry is used
in connection with a place of public assembly, it shall be separated from the
remainder of the place of public assembly by construction having a
fire-resistance rating of at least one hour or covered on the kitchen side with
a sheathing of three-sixteenths inch asbestos board or equivalent. Doors in
such partitions shall be one hour self-closing fire doors or self-closing doors
sheathed on the kitchen side with No. 26 gauge metal or equivalent. Such doors
may have a vision panel of wired glass. Interior openings other than doors
shall be provided with automatic dampers or shutters of incombustible
material.
(2) The floor finish
shall be of a fire retardant and nonabsorbent material such as cement,
magnesite, rubber or asphalt tile, heavy linoleum, hard wood or other
equivalent material.
(3) There
shall be no air space in or between the floor finish and the floor beneath
it.
(4) Ranges shall be provided
with hoods and exhaust ducts which shall be of at least No. 26 gauge metal with
tight joints. Range hoods shall be located not more than seven feet above the
floor level and shall be of the width and breadth of the appliance served. A
clearance of at least 18 inches shall be provided between range hoods and any
combustible material. Connections from range hoods shall be to an independent
chimney as required by subdivision (a) of section
36-2.7
or to a metal stack insulated from contact with any combustible
material.
(5) Such hoods and ducts
shall be thoroughly cleaned at least twice a year.
(6) An approved 10 pound carbon dioxide or
two and one-half gallon foam fire extinguisher shall be provided and securely
mounted on the wall in plain sight and readily accessible. Extinguishers shall
be checked annually and recharged after use and shall be tagged to indicate
when this was done and by whom.
(f) Assembly halls in fire houses. The
storage of fire apparatus is permitted in the same building with an assembly
hall only if the apparatus room is separated from the assembly hall by
construction having a fire-resistance rating of at least one hour. Doors
opening into the apparatus room shall be at least one hour self-closing fire
doors. Doors leading into the apparatus room shall not constitute required
exits from the assembly hall.
(g)
Projection screens. Screens for projections of pictures shall be either made of
incombustible materials or treated so as to neither ignite nor actively support
combustion.