Section FC 1027: Maintenance of the Means of Egress
1027.1 General.
The means of egress for buildings, structures or premises, or parts thereof, shall be maintained in accordance with the construction codes, including the Building Code and this section.
1027.2 Prohibition.
It shall be unlawful to obstruct or impede access to any required means of egress, including any exit, exit access or exit discharge.
1027.3 Unobstructed and unimpeded egress required.
All required means of egress, including each exit, exit access and exit discharge, shall be continuously maintained free from obstructions and impediments to immediate use in the event of fire or other emergency. An exit or exit passageway shall not be used for any purpose inconsistent with its use as a means of egress, including storage of combustible or noncombustible materials, except as authorized by law, rule or regulation.
1027.3.1 Door hardware.
Door hardware and other devices and physical components of the means of egress shall be maintained in good working order at all times.
1027.3.2 Security devices.
Security devices affecting means of egress shall be subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Buildings in consultation with the department.
1027.3.3 Snow and ice.
All required means of egress shall be maintained free from the accumulation of snow and ice.
1027.3.4 Overcrowding.
Premises shall not be caused, allowed or maintained in such a manner as to become overcrowded, such that the number of persons present on the premises and/or their location thereon obstructs or impedes access to any means of egress.
1027.3.5 Furnishings and decorations.
Furnishings, decorations or other objects shall not be placed so as to obstruct exits, access thereto, egress therefrom, or visibility thereof. Furnishings and decorations shall not be placed in building hallway corridors or elevator lobbies except as authorized by FC 1027.4 or other provision of this code. Hangings and draperies shall not be placed over exit doors or otherwise be located to conceal or obstruct an exit except as authorized by the commissioner. Mirrors shall not be placed on exit doors. Mirrors shall not be placed in or adjacent to any exit in such a manner as to confuse the direction of exit.
1027.3.6 Corridor storage.
It shall be unlawful to store combustible materials or combustible waste in corridors except as authorized by FC 1027.4 or other provision of this code or by the commissioner by rule.
1027.3.7 Fire escapes.
Access to fire escapes shall be maintained in accordance with FC 1027.7.
1027.3.8 Security grilles.
When the installation of security grilles is allowed by the Building Code, such grilles shall be secured in the full-open position during the period of occupancy, except when the Building Code provides otherwise.
1027.4 Residential building hallway corridor and elevator lobby furnishings, decorations and storage.
This section governs the placement of furnishings and decorations, and storage of combustible materials in building hallway corridors (excluding hallways within dwelling units) and in elevator lobbies above the street level, in Group R-2 buildings and occupancies. The department may by rule prohibit any type of building hallway corridor or elevator lobby furnishing, decoration or storage allowed by this section, or by order direct removal from a particular premises of any such furnishing, decoration or stored item, upon a determination that the size, materials or location of such furnishing, decoration or stored item presents an undue fire hazard.
1027.4.1 Incidental furnishings.
A building hallway corridor or elevator lobby may be furnished with a console table, console bench, mirror, and umbrella stand, provided that the minimum required egress width is maintained. All such furnishings must be incidental to hallway use in that the purpose of such furnishings is primarily decorative and/or for the convenience of persons passing through the hallways. Incidental furnishings shall not include furniture used to hold or store clothing or other combustible items, or storage in the hallway of furniture, such as beds and dining room tables, whose primary purpose is not decorative or for the temporary accommodation of passersby.
1027.4.2 Draperies, area rugs and decorative greens.
Draperies, area rugs and decorative greens shall be installed and maintained in building hallway corridors in compliance with the requirements of FC Chapter 8, including the requirement that they be inherently noncombustible or flameproofed by an approved method, and the prohibition against the display in building hallway corridors of Christmas trees and other conifers, and wreathes made of conifers.
1027.4.3 Artwork.
The walls of building hallway corridors may be decorated with combustible artwork, including artworks made of paper, canvas, wood or fabric, when in compliance with the requirements of FC 805.1.
1027.4.4 Carpeting.
Carpeting and other interior finishes shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 8 of the Building Code.
1027.4.5 Personal property.
Bicycles, baby strollers, clothing and other items of personal property, excluding those set forth in FC 1027.4.1 through 1027.4.4, shall not be stored in building hallway corridors, except as may be authorized or allowed by the department.
1027.4.6 Rubbish.
Household rubbish, including trash cans, shall not be stored in building hallway corridors. All such items shall be stored in compactor rooms or other lawful storage areas.
1027.5 Educational and day care building hallway corridor and elevator lobby decorations and storage.
Artwork and other decorations shall be displayed and maintained in the corridors and lobbies of Group E and I-4 occupancies in accordance with FC Chapter 8. Clothing and personal effects shall not be stored in corridors and lobbies of such occupancies, unless stored in metal lockers or in corridors protected throughout by a sprinkler system and the minimum required egress width is maintained.
1027.6 Group I-2 building hallway corridors.
This section governs the placement of equipment for patient care use in Group I-2 building hallway corridors designed for patient bed movement, with a minimum corridor width of 96 inches (2438 mm). The following equipment, up to a maximum of one item of equipment per patient sleeping room or patient care room per smoke compartment, may be placed and kept in such corridors for patient use where all the following conditions are met:
1. The entire corridor shall be protected throughout by a sprinkler system.
2. The equipment does not reduce the effective clear width for egress to less than 5 feet (1524 mm) and such width is clearly indicated by approved floor markings.
3. The equipment is low hazard, wheeled and designed to be used for the following purposes:
3.1. Computer and other patient recordkeeping stations;
3.2. Equipment and carts for medical emergencies and infection control;
3.3. Other equipment and carts while in active use in providing patient care; and
3.4. Stretchers, wheelchairs and other patient lift and transportation equipment.
4. Where feasible, all large equipment, including patient lifts, stretchers and medical emergency and infection control carts, shall be kept on one side of the corridor.
1027.7 Fire escapes.
Fire escapes, and access thereto, shall be maintained in a safe and operational condition, and continuously maintained free from obstructions and impediments to immediate use in the event of fire or other emergency.
1027.7.1 Maintenance.
All fire escape components shall be painted or otherwise protected from deterioration and all moving parts shall be maintained in good working order.
1027.7.2 Window gates.
Bars, grilles, grates or similar devices placed over windows or other openings onto fire escapes shall be maintained in good working order.
1027.7.3 Air conditioners.
An air conditioner shall not be installed in a window providing access to a fire escape unless such fire escape may be accessed from another window in the same room that is unobstructed and of the size required for such purpose by the Building Code, New York State Multiple Dwelling Law, or other applicable law, rule or regulation. Air conditioners installed in windows adjoining fire escapes shall not obstruct the path of egress on the fire escape.
1027.7.4 Fire escape ladders.
The operation of a fire escape ladder, including a drop ladder that is lowered vertically to the ground, or a counterbalanced stair ladder which swings to the ground, shall not be obstructed by awnings, stationary furniture, portable fueled space heaters, parked cars, or other obstructions. Where construction work is being performed at a location adjoining a fire escape, provision shall be made for safe egress from the fire escape ladder.
1027.8 Nonexit door identification.
Any door that is not an exit or otherwise part of the means of egress from a building, structure or premises, but which, by reason of its proximity or similar construction, can be confused with an exit door or other door that is part of the means of egress, shall be identified with an approved sign that reads "Not An Exit" and identifies the room into which the nonexit door provides access.
1027.9 Emergency Lighting.
Emergency lighting for means of egress shall be maintained in accordance with FC 107 and periodically inspected and tested in accordance with FC 1027.9.1 and 1027.9.2.
1027.9.1 Activation test.
Emergency lighting equipment shall be tested by a trained and knowledgeable person for a duration of not less than 30 seconds. The test shall be conducted manually at least once a month, unless the equipment is designed with an automated self-testing and self-diagnostic feature. When the equipment is tested by such an automated feature, a visual inspection of the emergency lighting equipment shall be conducted at least once a month to check the display for a supervisory or trouble signal, or for any other indication that the equipment is not in good working order.
1027.9.2 Power test.
Battery-powered emergency lighting equipment shall be tested by a qualified person in accordance with FC 604.5 by operating the equipment on battery power for not less than 90 minutes. The test shall be conducted at least once a year.
