N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-6.30

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

Section 5:23-6.30 - Special technical requirements-all groups

(a) The requirements of this section shall apply to reconstruction projects in all groups except R-3 and R-5.

(b) When an automatic sprinkler system is required or provided, the sprinkler riser shall be sized to serve the entire building even if the system currently being installed serves only a portion of the building.

1. Exception: This requirement shall not apply to limited area sprinkler systems installed in accordance with Section 903.3.8 of the building subcode. (Fire)

(c) Windowless stories: In all buildings, any windowless basement or story located below the seventh story which is created by the work being performed or any existing windowless basement or story located below the seventh story in which the work area exceeds 50 percent of the gross enclosed floor area of the windowless story shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code.

1. Stories or basements shall not be considered windowless when there is provided on at least one side of such story or basement firefighter access through openings, such as windows, doors or access panels, that are located entirely above the adjoining grade level.

2. Such openings shall be at least:

i. Thirty-two inches by 48 inches in size, spaced not more than 100 feet apart in each story or basement; or

ii. Twenty-two inches by 42 inches in size, spaced not more than 30 feet apart in each story or basement.

3. All openings for firefighter access shall conform to all the following:

i. Openings shall be unobstructed to allow fire fighting and rescue operations from the exterior;

ii. Openings in stories at or above grade shall have a sill height of not more than 36 inches as measured from the finished floor level. Openings in basements shall have no sill height restrictions; and

iii. Openings shall be readily identifiable and openable from the outside.

4. When openings in a story are provided on only one side and the opposite wall of such story is more than 75 feet from such openings, the story shall be considered windowless unless openings as specified above are provided on at least two sides of the exterior walls of the story.

5. If any portion of a basement is located more than 75 feet from openings as specified above, the basement shall be considered windowless.

6. Windowless basements not exceeding 3,000 square feet in area shall be exempt from this automatic sprinkler system requirement, provided a supervised automatic fire alarm system shall be installed in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code.

7. In windowless basements greater than 3,000 square feet, but not exceeding 10,000 square feet in area, the required automatic sprinkler system need not be connected to a water supply other than an existing domestic supply if the following conditions are met:

i. The automatic sprinkler system shall be provided with a fire department connection, which shall be marked with a sign reading "Basement Area Sprinkler Water Supply"; and

ii. A supervised automatic fire alarm system shall be installed in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code. (Fire)

(d) Supervision of automatic sprinkler systems: When automatic sprinkler systems are required by this subcode to be supervised, this shall be accomplished by one of the following methods as determined by the fire subcode official:

1. Approved central station system in accordance with NFPA 72;

2. Approved proprietary system in accordance with NFPA 72;

3. Approved remote station system of the jurisdiction in accordance with NFPA 72; or

4. Approved local alarm service which will cause the sounding of an alarm in accordance with NFPA 72;

5. The following are exceptions to (d) above:

i. Underground gate valves with roadway boxes;

ii. Halogenated extinguishing systems;

iii. Carbon-dioxide extinguishing systems;

iv. Dry chemical extinguishing systems; and

v. Limited area sprinkler systems. (Fire)

(e) Technical Requirements for Smoke Barriers: Wherever smoke barriers are required by this subchapter, they shall be constructed in accordance with the following provisions:

1. Smoke barriers shall have a fire resistance rating of not less than one-half hour and shall form an effective membrane continuous from outside wall to outside wall and from floor slab to floor or roof deck above, including continuity through all concealed spaces, such as those found above suspended ceilings, and including interstitial structural and mechanical spaces. Transfer grilles, whether equipped with fusible link-operated dampers or not, shall not be used in these partitions. Wire glass panels not exceeding 1,296 square inches in approved steel frames may be used in smoke barriers.

i. Exception: Smoke barriers are not required in interstitial spaces when such spaces are designed and constructed with ceilings that provide resistance to the passage of fire and smoke equivalent to that provided by smoke barriers.

2. A means of egress shall be provided from each smoke compartment created by smoke barriers such that it is possible to reach an exit without re-entering the smoke compartment.

3. Doors in smoke barriers shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 20 minutes when tested in accordance with ASTM E152 without the hose stream and labeled by an approved agency. Double egress corridor doors shall have vision panels of one-quarter inch thick labeled wire glass mounted in approved steel frames. Such panels may also be provided in other doors in smoke barriers. The glass area of the vision panels shall be limited to 1,296 square inches for each door. The doors shall close the openings with only the clearance necessary for proper operation under self-closing or automatic closing and shall be without undercuts, louvers or grilles. Rabbets or astragals are required at the meeting edges of double egress doors, and stops are required on the head and jambs of all doors in smoke barriers. Positive latching devices are not required on double egress corridor doors, and center mullions are prohibited.

i. Exception: Protection at the meeting edges of doors and stops at the head and sides of door frames may be omitted in buildings equipped with an approved engineered smoke control system. The engineered smoke control system shall respond automatically, preventing the transfer of smoke across the barrier.

4. Doors in smoke barriers shall be self-closing or shall be provided with approved door hold-open devices of the fail-safe type which shall release the doors causing them to close upon the actuation of smoke detectors as well as upon the application of a maximum manual pull of 50 pounds against the hold-open device.

5. An approved damper designed to resist the passage of smoke shall be provided at each point a duct penetrates a smoke barrier. The damper shall close upon detection of smoke by an approved smoke detector located within the duct.

i. In lieu of an approved smoke detector located within the duct, ducts which penetrate smoke barriers above doors are permitted to have the approved damper arranged to close upon detection of smoke on either side of the smoke barrier door opening.

ii. Dampers are not required in buildings equipped with an approved engineered smoke control system.

iii. Dampers are not required where the openings in ducts are limited to a single smoke compartment and the ducts are of steel construction. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(f) Existing alarm systems and automatic sprinkler systems shall be accepted provided that they meet the requirements of 5:23-6.8, Materials and methods, or the standards applicable at the time of their installation and provided that there is no increase in the hazard of the use or in the load. (Fire)

(g) Technical Requirements for Elevator Devices: Where elevator requirements are triggered by the supplemental requirements for each group (5:23-6.12A through 6.28A), the following shall apply:

1. Passenger elevators. Elevator devices accessible to the general public shall conform to:

i. ASME A17.3-2000 requirements for Hoistway Door Locking Devices, Parking Devices, and Access (Sections 2.7, 4.1); Hoistway Entrances (Sections 2.6, 4.1); Power Operation of Doors and Gates (Sections 2.8, 4.1); Floating Platforms (Section 3.3.4); Car Doors and Gates (Section 3.4.2); Location of Car Doors and Gates (Section 3.4.3); Emergency Exits (Section 3.4.4); Car Illumination (Section 3.4.5) and Protection of Light Bulbs and Tubes (Section 3.4.6); Terminal Stopping Devices (Sections 3.9, 4.6); Operating Devices and Control Equipment (Sections 3.10, 4.7 except 4.7.8); Car Emergency Signaling Devices (Sections 3.11.1 and 4.7.8); Stop Switch (Pits) (Sections 2.3.3, 4.1); Machine Rooms and Machinery Spaces: Lighting (Section 2.2.3) and Ventilation (Section 2.2.4) Check Valve (Hydraulic Elevators) (Section 4.4.2).

ii. ASME A17.1-1996 requirements for Shutoff Valve (Rule 303.4a) and Manual Lowering Valve (Rule 303.4d)

2. Freight elevators. Elevators which are allowed to carry passengers by the authority having jurisdiction shall conform to ASME A17.1-1996 Rule 207.4 and ASME A17.3-1993 requirements for Car Frames and Platforms (Section 3.3) and Location of Car Doors and Gates (Section 3.4.3).

3. Elevators shall be equipped with emergency operation as required by ASME A.17.1-1987, Rules 211.3 through 211.4 and 211.7.

i. Phase II emergency operation shall be provided only if required by the requirements for high-rise buildings contained in the supplemental requirements for each group, N.J.A.C. 5:23-6:12A through 6.28A. In addition, when phase II emergency operation is required, standby power shall be provided. Standby power shall be installed in accordance with the electrical subcode. The elevator powered by a standby power system shall be subject to the requirements of ANSI/ASME A17.1-1996 Rule 211.2.

4. Escalators shall conform to ASME A17.3-2000 for Operating and Safety Devices (Section 5.3), Anti-Slide Devices (5.1.4), Handrail Guards (5.1.6), Guards at Ceiling or Soffit Intersection (5.1.3), Lighting (5.4), Distinction Between Comb and Step (5.5.2), Adjacent Floor Surfaces (5.5.3). (Elevator)

(h) Specific Occupancy Areas: Specific occupancy areas, as listed below, shall comply with the following:

1. Paint shops in other than Group F which contain chemicals below the exempt amount for Group H, waste and soiled linen collection rooms and chute termination rooms shall be separated from other portions of the building by a one-hour fire partition or provided with an automatic sprinkler system.

2. Incinerator rooms in all groups shall be separated from other portions of the building by a two-hour fire separation assembly and provided with an automatic sprinkler system.

3. In Groups I-2, I-3 and I-4, physical plant maintenance shops, laundries in excess of 100 square feet in area and padded cells shall be separated from other portions of the building by a one-hour fire partition or provided with an automatic sprinkler system. (Building)

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-6.30

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