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Alterations – Level 2

NYC Admin. Code tit. 28, ch. 12, art. The New York City Existing Building Code, ch. 9
in effect

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 901 General

Section EBC 901: General 901.1 Scope. Level 2 alterations as described in Section 603 shall comply with the requirements of this chapter and Chapter 3. 901.2 Compliance. In addition to the provisions of this chapter, level 2 alteration work shall comply with all of the requirements of Chapter 8. The requirements of Sections 803, 804 and 805 shall apply to Level 2 alteration work within all work areas whether or not they include exits and corridors shared by more than 1 tenant and regardless of the occupant load, except as otherwise provided in Sections 903, 904, and 905. 901.2.1 Building safety performance and scoring method. The design professional of record may elect to comply with Chapter 13 as an alternative to compliance with any of the requirements of Sections 903, 904 and 905, including Sections 803, 804 and 805, in accordance with Section 301.1.4. 901.2.2 Work that increases floor surface area of an existing building by more than 110 percent. Where a Level 2 alteration made to an existing building causes the existing floor surface area to be increased by more than 110 percent pursuant to Section 302.7, such building shall comply with the New York City Building Code as if hereafter erected.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 902 Special Use and Occupancy

Section EBC 902: Special Use and Occupancy 902.1 Uses and occupancies subject to Chapter 4 of the New York City Building Code. Except as stated in Section 901.2.2 of this code, where an existing building occupied by a use or occupancy that is identified in Chapter 4 of the New York City Building Code is undergoing a level 2 alteration, such alteration work within the work area shall comply with the applicable requirements of Chapter 4 of the New York City Building Code and this section. 902.1.1 High-rise buildings. Within work areas in buildings having occupied floors more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, alteration work shall comply with applicable provisions of Section 403 of the New York City Building Code and Sections 902.1.1.1 through 902.1.1.7 of this code. 902.1.1.1 Smoke detection systems control and ducts and air transfer openings. All duct and air transfer openings within the work area and all fan systems serving the work area shall be newly installed or made to comply with Sections 606 and 607 of the New York City Mechanical Code. Exception: The standby power requirements of Sections 606 and 607 of the New York City Mechanical Code shall not apply if both of the following conditions are met: 1. Standby power systems do not exist or existing standby power systems have insufficient capacity to serve this load. 2. New standby or emergency power is not required by Section 902.1.1.7 of this code. 902.1.1.2 Elevators. Where there is an elevator or elevators for public use, at least 1 elevator serving the work area shall comply with this section. Existing elevators with a travel distance of 25 feet (7620 mm) or more above or below the main floor or other level of a building and intended to serve the needs of emergency personnel for fire-fighting or rescue purposes shall be provided with emergency operation in accordance with ASME A17.3 as amended by Appendix K of the New York City Building Code. New elevators shall be provided with Phase I emergency recall operation and Phase II emergency in-car operation in accordance with ASME A17.1/CSAB44.1 as amended by Appendix K of the New York City Building Code. 902.1.1.3 Additional exit stairway. In existing buildings erected pursuant to the laws in effect prior to December 31, 2014, with a height exceeding 420 feet (128 m), where the work area exceeds 75 percent of the building area, the requirements for additional exit stairway of Section 403.5.2 of the New York City Building Code shall apply. Exceptions: 1. In buildings where at least 50 percent of passenger elevators intended for general public use, including other elevators serving all floors, are used for occupant self-evacuation in compliance with Sections 3008.1 through 3008.11 of the New York City Building Code. 2. Existing fully sprinklered buildings shall be considered in compliance with Section 3008.3.2 of the New York City Building Code. 902.1.1.4 Structural integrity of exit enclosures and elevator hoistway enclosures. Where the work area includes stairs or elevator hoistway enclosures, the design professional of record shall determine compliance of the enclosures with the structural integrity provisions of Section 403.2.3 of the New York City Building Code. Where the existing wall assembly of such enclosures do not meet the requirements of Section 403.2.3 of the New York City Building Code, the occupied side of such wall assembly within the work area shall comply with 1 of the methods provided in Section 403.2.3.2. In prior code buildings, existing concrete, masonry or masonry equivalent exit and elevator hoistway enclosures shall be deemed to comply with the structural integrity requirements of Section 403.2.3 of the New York City Building Code. Exception: New, relocated or altered exit and elevator hoistway enclosures shall comply with all of the requirements of Section 403.2.3 of the New York City Building Code. 902.1.1.5 Smokeproof exit enclosures. In prior code buildings, where the work area exceeds 75 percent of the building area, smokeproof exit enclosures shall be provided for all exit stairways throughout the building in accordance with Sections 403.5.4, 909.20 and 1023.11 of the New York City Building Code. 902.1.1.6 Elevator lobbies in prior code buildings. Elevator lobbies required by Section 403.6.3 shall be constructed in accordance with Section 3006.1.1 or Section 3006.1.2 of the New York City Building Code, as applicable, on each floor being altered where the work area exceeds 50 percent of that floor. Exceptions. 1. Elevator lobbies shall not be required for elevators that are located within other occupied tenant spaces that are not subject to alteration work. 2. Notwithstanding Exception 1, where the work area exceeds 75 percent of the building area, elevator lobbies shall be constructed in accordance with Section 3006.1.1 or Section 3006.1.2 of the New York City Building Code, as applicable, on all floors served by elevators. 902.1.1.6.1 Access to an exit stair not available. Except as permitted by Section 902.1.1.6.2, where the elevator lobby cannot provide access to an exit, a red telephone shall be installed in the vestibule near the elevator doors in the elevator lobby to communicate with the main lobby fire command station or building manager’s office or to a central service station when the building is not attended. The phone shall provide two-way communication in accordance with Section 907.2.13.3 of the New York City Building Code and shall comply with the requirements of NFPA 72 as modified by Appendix Q of the New York City Building Code. A sign shall be posted near the phone. The sign shall read “In Case of Fire or Other Emergency, Use This Phone to Contact Lobby or Building Manager or Central Service Station”. 902.1.1.6.2 Locking of lobby doors. Where locking devices are proposed on elevator lobby doors for security reasons to prevent access that leads to an exit, such locking devices shall be installed in accordance with Appendix K of the New York City Building Code. 902.1.1.7 Emergency and standby systems. Where an existing building is undergoing a Level 2 alteration and the work area exceeds 75 percent of the building area, the building shall comply with Chapter 27 of the New York City Building Code. 902.1.2 Boiler and furnace equipment rooms. Boiler and furnace equipment rooms located within single occupancy or mixed occupancy existing buildings of Occupancy Groups I-1, I-2, I-4, R-1 or R-2 shall be enclosed by fire-resistance-rated construction in accordance with Section 509 of the New York City Building Code.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 903 Building Elements and Materials

Section EBC 903: Building Elements and Materials 903.1 Existing shafts and vertical openings. Existing shafts and vertical openings, including stairways, shall be enclosed and protected in accordance with the New York City Building Code from the highest level within the work area, including the level of exit discharge and all floors below the level of exit discharge. Where the proposed alteration results in a reduction in the existing fire-resistive rating, the registered design professional of record shall demonstrate compliance with Section 303.2 of this code. 903.1.1 Prior code buildings. In prior code buildings, existing shafts and vertical openings, including stairways, shall be enclosed and protected in accordance with Section 803.2.1 from the highest level within the work area including the level of exit discharge and all floors below. 903.2 Fire separations in Group R-3. Fire separation in Group R-3 occupancies shall be in accordance with Section 903.2.1. 903.2.1 Separation required in R-3 occupancy. Where the work area in any attached one- or two-family dwellings results in the removal of wall or ceiling finishes exposing the existing fire separation that was constructed in accordance with Appendix M of the New York City Building Code or department issued memorandum on the same subject matter, special inspection shall be performed in accordance with Section 1705.17 of the New York City Building Code on the side of the dwelling unit wall that is part of the work area to determine whether the assembly is in compliance with Chapter 7 of the New York City Building Code. Any wall or portions thereof separating the dwelling units that are identified as not continuous from the foundation to the underside of the roof sheathing shall be constructed to provide a continuous fire separation using construction materials consistent with the existing wall or complying with the requirements for new structures. Such work shall be limited to the side of the dwelling unit wall that is part of the work area. 903.3 Interior finish. The interior finish of walls and ceilings in exits and corridors in any work area or exit serving the work area, between the highest floor on which there is a work area and the floor of exit discharge, shall comply with the requirements of Section 803.4. Exception: Interior finish of walls and ceilings in corridors and exits within tenant spaces that are entirely outside the work area. 903.4 Protection of window openings on lot line air shafts in Group R-2 buildings. Where a prior code building is undergoing a Level 2 alteration and the building contains windows that open onto a lot line air shaft as defined in Chapter 2, and any part of such window is less than 3 feet (914 mm) from the lot line or less than 6 feet (1829 mm) from another window on the adjacent building, all such windows shall be protected in accordance with Section 803.8. For the purpose of this section, separation distance to adjacent buildings shall be measured in any direction to the nearest edges of window openings. Exception. Windows located in occupied tenant spaces outside the work area. 903.4.1 Work areas exceeding 75 percent of the building area. Where the work area exceeds 75 percent of building area, all windows opening on lot line air shafts shall be protected in accordance with Section 803.8 throughout the building. 903.5 Existing buildings in fire districts. Alterations made to existing buildings shall comply with Sections 302.6 and 803.9.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 904 Fire Protection

Section EBC 904: Fire Protection 904.1 General. Existing buildings undergoing a Level 2 alteration shall be provided with fire protection systems in accordance with this section, Section 304 and Section 804, as applicable. 904.1.1 Compliance within the work area. See Sections 904.2 and 904.4. 904.1.2 Compliance throughout the building. The entire building shall comply with Chapter 9 of the New York City Building Code as if hereafter erected where: 1. The Level 2 alteration work is covered by Section 901.2.2 of this code; or 2. The Level 2 alteration work area exceeds 75 percent of the building area. 904.2 Automatic sprinkler systems. Except as stated in Sections 904.2.1 through 904.2.3, an automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in the work area in accordance with Section 804.2 regardless of the occupant load, the percentage of the work area per floor, and whether or not the work area includes exits or corridors serving more than 1 tenant. The design and installation of the system shall be in accordance with Chapter 9 of the New York City Building Code, except as permitted for prior code buildings in Section 804.2.8 of this code. 904.2.1 High-rise buildings. Where a prior code high-rise building is undergoing a Level 2 alteration, an automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in work areas as required by Chapter 9 of the New York City Building Code. Prior code buildings with existing sprinkler systems may use the provisions of Section 804.2.8 of this code. 904.2.2 Rubbish and linen chutes. Rubbish and linen chutes located in the work area shall be provided with an automatic sprinkler system where protection of the rubbish and linen chute would be required under the provisions of the New York City Building Code for new construction. 904.2.3 Upholstered furniture or mattresses. Work areas shall be provided with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with the New York City Building Code where any of the following conditions exist within the work area: 1. A Group F-1 occupancy used for the manufacture of upholstered furniture or mattresses exceeds 2,500 square feet (232 m2). 2. A Group M occupancy used for the display and sale of upholstered furniture or mattresses exceeds 5,000 square feet (464 m2). 3. A Group S-1 occupancy used for the storage of upholstered furniture or mattresses exceeds 2,500 square feet (232 m2). 904.3 Reserved. 904.4 Fire alarm and detection systems. Fire alarm and detection systems shall be provided throughout the work area in accordance with Section 907 of the New York City Building Code as required for new construction.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 905 Means of Egress

Section EBC 905: Means of Egress 905.1 General. Except as stated in Section 901.2.2, the means of egress shall comply with the requirements of Sections 305 and 805 within the work area that includes exits and corridors regardless of the number of tenants served by such exits and corridors. The means of egress shall also comply with Sections 905.1.1 and 905.1.2. 905.1.1 Means-of-egress lighting. All interior exit stairways and ramps from the highest work area floor to the exit discharge shall be provided with artificial lighting in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 10 of the New York City Building Code. 905.1.2 Exit signs. Means of egress from the highest work area floor to the exit discharge shall be provided with exit signs in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 10 of the New York City Building Code. 905.2 Existing combustible stairs in prior code buildings. Where a prior code building of Occupancy Group R-1 or R-2 is undergoing a Level 2 alteration and the work area exceeds 75 percent of the building area, existing exit stairs constructed of combustible materials shall be replaced in their entirety with non-combustible construction, including stairs, landings, handrails and guards. The replacement stair shall meet the requirements of Chapter 10 of the New York City Building Code. Where the size of the existing shaft does not allow for full compliance with Chapter 10 of the New York City Building Code in regards to required dimensions, the replacement stair may comply with Section 805.12.1 of this code. Exception: Prior code buildings that are fully sprinklered and comply with the fire protection requirements of Chapter 9 of the New York City Building Code.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 906 Accessibility

Section EBC 906: Accessibility 906.1 General. Within the work area, a building, facility or element that is altered shall comply with Chapter 11 of the New York City Building Code, this section and Sections 306 and 806 of this code. Exception: Where the commissioner grants a waiver from certain requirements of Chapter 11 of the New York City Building Code pursuant to Section 306 of this code. 906.1.1 Applicability of Chapter 11 of the New York City Building Code to the entire building. Where a building is undergoing a Level 2 alteration, the entire building shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 11 of the New York City Building Code as if hereafter erected. Exception: In a building of Occupancy Group R-2, where the dwelling or sleeping units included in the work area exceed more than 50 percent of the dwelling or sleeping units in the building and are under a single ownership, all common use facilities serving those dwelling or sleeping units shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 11 of the New York City Building Code.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 907 Structural

Section EBC 907: Structural 907.1 General. Where existing buildings are undergoing Level 2 alterations including structural alterations, the provisions of Chapter 7 shall apply. 907.2. Structural condition assessment. Level 2 alterations shall require an initial structural condition assessment pursuant to Section 704.3. Where the Level 2 alteration includes a structural alteration, a detailed structural condition assessment pursuant to Section 704.4 is also required.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 908 Electrical

Section EBC 908: Electrical 908.1 General. All electrical equipment and wiring within work areas shall comply with all applicable requirements of the New York City Electrical Code, this section and Sections 308 and 808 of this code. 908.1.1 Compliance of the entire electrical system as new construction. Where the building is undergoing a Level 2 alteration and the work area exceeds 75 percent of the building area, the entire electrical system shall comply with the provisions of the New York City Electrical Code for new construction.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 909 Mechanical

Section EBC 909: Mechanical 909.1 General. Mechanical elements and systems within work areas in buildings undergoing a Level 2 alteration shall comply with Section 309, Section 809 and this section. 909.2 Applicability of New York City Mechanical Code. Where an existing building is undergoing a Level 2 alteration, all existing mechanical systems within the work area, including components, equipment and appliances, shall comply with the New York City Mechanical Code, this section and Section 809.2 of this code. 909.2.1 Ventilation. Ventilation systems serving work areas of a Level 2 alteration shall be newly installed or altered to comply with requirements of Chapter 4 of the New York City Mechanical Code for new construction. 909.2.2 Exhaust systems. Exhaust systems serving work areas of a Level 2 alteration shall be newly installed or altered to comply with requirements of Chapter 5 of the New York City Mechanical Code for new construction. 909.2.3 Compliance of ventilation, exhaust, and duct systems as new construction. Where the building is undergoing a Level 2 alteration and the work area exceeds 75 percent of the building floor area, all ventilation, exhaust and duct systems shall be newly installed or altered to comply with the provisions of Chapters 4, 5 and 6 of the New York City Mechanical Code for new construction.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 910 Plumbing

Section EBC 910: Plumbing 910.1 General. Plumbing elements and systems within work areas in buildings undergoing a Level 2 alteration shall comply with Section 310, Section 810 and this section. 910.1.1 Compliance of the entire plumbing system as new construction. Where the building is undergoing a Level 2 alteration and the work area exceeds 75 percent of the building area, the entire plumbing system shall comply with the provisions of the New York City Plumbing Code for new construction. Exception. Plumbing system components that are found to be in code-compliant condition upon inspection and certification by a licensed master plumber shall be permitted to remain.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 911 Fuel Gas

Section EBC 911: Fuel Gas 911.1 General. Fuel gas elements and systems within work areas in buildings undergoing a Level 2 alteration shall comply with Section 311, Section 811, and this section. 911.1.1 Compliance of entire fuel gas system as new construction. Where the building is undergoing a Level 2 alteration and the work area exceeds 75 percent of the building floor area, the entire fuel gas system shall comply with the provisions of the New York City Fuel Gas Code for new construction. Exception. Fuel gas system components that are found to be in code-compliant condition upon inspection and certification by a licensed master plumber shall be permitted to remain.

NYC Existing Building Code § EBC 912 Energy Conservation

Section EBC 912: Energy Conservation 912.1 Minimum requirements. Level 2 alterations to existing buildings or structures are permitted without requiring the entire building or structure to comply with the energy requirements of the New York City Energy Conservation Code. Level 2 alterations shall conform to the energy requirements of Chapters R5 or C5 of the New York City Energy Conservation Code, as applicable.
Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-242226Fetched: 10/24/2026

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