N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-6.15A

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 5:23-6.15A - Supplemental requirements-Group A-3 Places of Worship

(a) Vertical Opening Protection: When the work area exceeds 50 percent of the gross enclosed floor area of the building, vertical opening protection shall be provided throughout the building as follows:

1. A minimum two hour fire rated assembly with approved opening protectives shall be required for interior stairways and other vertical openings connecting more than six floor levels.

2. A minimum one hour fire rated assembly with approved opening protectives shall be required for interior stairways and other vertical openings connecting four to six floor levels.

3. A minimum 30-minute UFC fire barrier shall be required for interior stairways and other vertical openings not exceeding three stories. Exceptions shall be permitted as follows:

i. When connecting the main floor and mezzanines; or

ii. When all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The communicating area has a low hazard occupancy or has a moderate hazard occupancy which is protected throughout by an automatic sprinkler system;

(2) The lowest or next to the lowest level is a street floor;

(3) The entire area is open and unobstructed in a manner such that it may be assumed that a fire in any part of the interconnected spaces will be readily obvious to all of the occupants;

(4) Exit capacity is sufficient to provide egress simultaneously for all the occupants of all levels by considering all areas to be a single floor area for the determination of required exit capacity; and

(5) Each floor level, considered separately, has at least one-half of its individual required exit capacity provided by an exit or exits leading directly out of that level without having to traverse another communicating floor level or be exposed to the smoke or fire spreading from another communicating floor level. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection-- Building)

(b) Requirements for high-rise buildings: Any building or structure having one or more floors used for human occupancy located either more than six stories or more than 75 feet above the lowest level accessible to a fire department vehicle shall comply with the following:

1. When the work area is one entire floor or more or when the work area is 20 percent or more of the occupied floor area served by a recirculating air system, the recirculating air system which serves the work area shall be equipped with approved smoke and heat detection devices installed in accordance with the UCC. The devices shall stop the fan(s) automatically and shall be of the manual reset type. Automatic fan shutdown is not required when the system is part of an approved smoke removal or smoke control system. (Building)

2. When the work area is one entire floor or more or when the work area is 20 percent or more of the occupied floor area of the building, all elevators in the building shall be equipped with the following emergency control devices:

i. All automatic (nondesignated attendant) elevators having a travel distance of 25 feet or more above or below the designated level shall be equipped with Phase 1 Emergency Recall Operation as required by ASME A17.1-1987, Rules 211.3a and 211.3b listed in N.J.A.C. 5:70-3;

ii. At least one elevator shall be equipped with Phase II Emergency In-Car Operation, as required by ASME A17.1-1987, Rule 211.3c; and

(1) In buildings with multiple elevators, at least one elevator to each floor served by an elevator shall be equipped with Phase II Emergency In-Car Operation.

iii. All designated attendant elevators having a travel distance of 25 feet or more above or below the designated level shall be equipped with emergency controls, as required by ASME A17.1-1987, Rule 211.4. (Elevator)

3. When the work area is one entire floor or more or when the work area is 20 percent or more of the occupied floor area of the building, standpipes shall be provided up to and including the highest floor that is part of the work area. The standpipes shall be located and installed in accordance with the building subcode, except as follows:

i. No pump shall be required provided that the standpipes are capable of accepting delivery by fire department apparatus of a minimum of 250 gpm at 65 psi to the topmost floor in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system or a minimum of 500 gpm at 65 psi to the topmost floor in all other buildings. (Where the standpipe terminates below the topmost floor, the standpipe shall be designed to meet these requirements (gpm/psi) for possible future extension of the standpipe.)

ii. Hose and hose cabinets shall not be required. (Fire)

(c) Elevator Devices: When the work area exceeds 50 percent of the gross enclosed floor area of the building, all elevator devices serving any part of the work area shall comply with the requirements of 5:23-6.30(g). (Elevator)

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-6.15A

Amended by R.2000 d.492, effective 12/18/2000.
See: 32 N.J.R. 3219(a), 32 N.J.R. 4437(b).
In (b)2i, updated N.J.A.C. reference.
Amended by R.2003 d.218, effective 5/19/2003.
See: 35 N.J.R. 29(a), 35 N.J.R. 2209(a).
Amended by R.2004 d.145, effective 4/5/2004.
See: 35 N.J.R. 5190(a), 36 N.J.R. 1758(a).
Substituted references to sprinkler for references to fire suppression throughout; in (a)3, inserted "UFC" following "30-minute".
Amended by R.2009 d.117, effective 4/20/2009.
See: 41 N.J.R. 18(a), 41 N.J.R. 1726(a).
In (b)1, deleted "or exhaust" preceding the first and second occurrences of "system".