N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-6.22

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

Section 5:23-6.22 - Basic requirements-Groups I-2 and I-4

(a) Automatic Sprinkler System: An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the work area.

1. Exception: Automatic sprinklers shall not be required in buildings of Type I or Type IIA construction of any height or of Type IIB construction not over one story in height. This exception shall not apply to nursing homes.

2. Exception: For other than buildings of construction Type IIIB or VB, an automatic sprinkler system shall not be required in day care centers with an occupant load of 100 or less where all the children under 2 1/2 years of age are cared for on the first floor and in which each child care room has an exit door directly to the exterior. (Fire)

(b) Exits: Two exits shall be required for stories with less than 500 occupants. Three exits shall be required for stories with 501 to 1,000 occupants. Four exits shall be required for stories with more than 1,000 occupants. Two means of egress are also required from all mezzanines with an occupant load greater than 50 and with exit travel distance greater than 75 feet.

1. A single exit shall not be permitted.

2. Existing fire escapes shall be accepted as providing one of the required means of egress unless judged to be dangerous for use under emergency exiting conditions. For use of fire escapes, access shall be through a door except when serving an occupant load of 10 or fewer. All occupants shall have unobstructed access to fire escapes without having to pass through a room subject to locking.

i. When more than one exit is required and there is not sufficient space for an exterior stair within the lot line, a new fire escape shall be accepted as providing one of the required means of egress. Newly-installed fire escapes shall comply with FTO-3.

ii. Ladders shall be prohibited on fire escapes used as a required means of egress. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(c) Egress Doorways: A minimum of two egress doorways shall be required for all rooms and spaces with an occupant load greater than 50 or in which the travel distance exceeds 75 feet. All egress doors serving an occupant load greater than 50 shall swing in the direction of exit travel.

1. Exception: Storage rooms with a maximum occupant load of 10 shall not be required to have two egress doorways.

2. A minimum of two egress doorways shall be required for any patient sleeping room or suite of rooms greater than 1,000 square feet. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(d) Capacity of Means of Egress: The capacity of the means of egress in each work area shall be determined in accordance with 5:23-6.11(b). (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(e) Dead End Corridors: Existing dead end corridors shall not exceed 35 feet in length. Exceptions are allowed as follows:

1. Dead end corridors may be up to 50 feet in length in a building with an automatic alarm system installed in conformance with the building code in effect at the time of its installation.

2. Dead end corridors may be up to 70 feet in length in a building with an automatic sprinkler system installed in conformance with the building code in effect at the time of its installation. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(f) Means of Egress Lighting: Artificial lighting with an intensity of not less than one foot candle at floor level shall be required during all times that the conditions of occupancy of the building require that the exits be available. Lighting shall also be required to illuminate the exit discharge. In all buildings, rooms or spaces required to have more than one exit or exit access, means of egress lighting shall be connected to an emergency electrical system conforming to NFPA 70 (NEC) except that continued illumination shall be required to be provided for not less than one hour in the case of primary power loss. (Plan Review--Building, Fire, Electric. Inspection--Building)

(g) Illuminated Exit Signs: Illuminated exit signs shall be provided for all required means of egress in all buildings, rooms or spaces required to have more than one exit or exit access. Exit signs shall be visible from the exit access and supplemented by directional signs when necessary. (Exception: Approved main exterior doors that are clearly identified as exits are not required to have exit signs.) Exit signs shall meet the criteria contained in (g)1 and 2 below:

1. Red or green letters at least six inches high; minimum width of each stroke 3/4 inch on a white background or in other approved distinguishable colors. Arrows, if provided, shall be such that the direction cannot readily be changed. The word "Exit" shall be clearly discernible when the sign is not energized.

2. Exit signs shall be illuminated at all times when the building is occupied by a source providing at least five foot candles at the illuminated surface or shall be approved self-luminous signs which provide evenly illuminated letters with a minimum luminance of 0.06 foot lamberts. Exit signs shall be connected to an emergency electrical system conforming to NFPA 70 (NEC) except that continued illumination shall be required to be provided for not less than one hour in the case of primary power loss. No emergency power shall be required for approved self-luminous signs.

3. Exception: When the second means of egress is a fire escape that is accessed directly from the individual sleeping room, illuminated exit signs shall not be required above the means of egress serving the fire escape. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(h) Handrails: Every required exit stairway having three or more risers and not provided with handrails or in which the existing handrails are in danger of collapsing when used under emergency exiting conditions, shall be provided with handrails for the full length of the run of steps on at least one side. All exit stairways more than 66 inches wide shall have handrails on both sides unless the full width of the stairway is not needed to accommodate the design occupancy. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(i) Guards: Every open portion of a stair, landing or balcony which is more than 30 inches above the floor or grade below and is not provided with guards or those in which the existing guards are in danger of collapsing when used under emergency exiting conditions, shall be provided with guards. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(j) Vertical Opening Protection: Vertical opening protection for interior stairways and other vertical openings shall be provided as follows:

1. For vertical openings connecting more than six floor levels, approved assemblies having a fire resistance rating of not less than two hours with approved opening protectives shall be required.

2. For vertical openings connecting four to six floor levels, approved assemblies having a fire resistance rating of not less than one hour with approved opening protectives shall be required.

3. For vertical openings not exceeding three stories, a minimum one-hour UFC fire barrier shall be required, with the following exception:

i. Exception: Vertical opening protection shall not be required for vertical openings connecting not more than two floor levels which are separated by a one-hour UFC fire barrier equipped with a self-closing or automatically closing 20-minute door at the top or bottom of the stairway when such stairway does not serve as a required means of egress. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(k) Boiler/Furnace Equipment Rooms: Boiler/furnace equipment rooms shall be enclosed by one hour fire-rated wall and ceiling assemblies for day nurseries, children's shelter facilities, residential child care facilities and similar facilities with children below the age of 2 1/2 years.

1. Exception: Enclosure shall not be required for boiler/furnace equipment of low pressure type (operating at pressures of 15 psig or less for steam equipment or 160 psig or less for hot water equipment) when installed in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations or for boiler/furnace equipment of residential, single-family type (200,000 BTU per hour input rating or less.)

2. Exception: Enclosure shall not be required for boiler/furnace equipment rooms equipped with a limited area sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.8 of the building subcode.

3. Where oil-burning equipment is used, an emergency shutoff switch shall be required at the top of the stairs leading to the basement for equipment in the basement or outside of the room for equipment located in other enclosed rooms. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(l) Smoke Barriers: On every story used for sleeping purposes for more than 30 occupants and on stories which are usable, but unoccupied, when the work area exceeds 22,500 square feet on a floor, the work area shall be divided into not less than two compartments by smoke barrier walls complying with the technical requirements of 5:23-6.30(e) such that each compartment does not exceed 22,500 square feet and is no more than 150 feet in length and width. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(m) Structural Elements: Structural elements which are uncovered during the course of the rehabilitation and which are found to be unsound or otherwise structurally deficient, shall be reinforced, supported or replaced in accordance with the applicable structural design criteria of the building subcode. Where structural elements are sound, there is no excessive deflection (defined as deflection in excess of the standards set forth in 5:23-6.7(c)1 ) , and fixed loads are not changing in a way that will increase the stresses on existing structures beyond that which is permitted by 5:23-6.7(c), existing structural elements shall be permitted to remain. (Building)

(n) Plumbing Fixtures: Plumbing fixtures shall be provided as required by Table 7.21.1 of the plumbing subcode. Where the plumbing subcode allows for the substitution or omission of fixtures, such substitutions or omissions shall also be permitted under this section. (Plumbing)

(o) Mechanical Requirements: All spaces intended for occupancy shall be provided with either natural or mechanical ventilation.

1. Spaces intended to be naturally ventilated shall be provided with openable doors, windows, louvers, or other openings to the outdoors. The minimum openable area to the outdoors shall be four percent of the floor area being ventilated. Where rooms without openings to the outdoors are ventilated through an adjoining room, the unobstructed opening to the adjoining room shall be at least eight percent of the floor area of the interior room or space, but not less than 25 square feet. The ventilation openings to the outdoors shall be based on the total floor area being ventilated.

2. Mechanically-ventilated spaces shall comply with the following:

i. Newly-installed HVAC systems shall comply with the requirements of the mechanical subcode.

ii. Existing systems that are altered or extended shall not reduce the amount of outside air below the existing rate per person or the rate included in the mechanical subcode, whichever is lower. As a minimum, mechanically-ventilated spaces shall be provided with five CFM per person of outdoor air and 15 CFM of ventilation air per person.

3. All newly-introduced devices, equipment or operations that produce airborne particulates, odors, fumes, sprays, vapors, smoke or gases in such quantities to be irritating or injurious to health shall be provided with local exhaust. (Building)

(p) Interior finishes shall comply with 5:23-6.11(c). (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(q) Specific Occupancy Areas: Specific occupancy areas within the work area, as listed in 5:23-6.30(h), shall comply with the requirements established in that section for separation and/or protection. (Building)

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-6.22

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 1020(a), effective 5/1/2017