505.4 Apartment, Guest Room and Stairwell Fire Emergency Markings

Dwelling units (apartments, guest rooms and sleeping rooms) and stairwell entrances in Group R-1 and Group R-2 buildings and occupancies shall be marked in accordance with this section and the rules to facilitate firefighting and emergency rescue operations at the premises.

The entrance door to a multi-floor dwelling unit in a Group R-1 or Group R-2 building or occupancy shall be identified on the door jamb on the public corridor side of the door by an approved fire emergency marking, not more than 12 inches (305 mm) from the bottom of the door, indicating the dwelling unit number and/or letter. In addition, every door of each such multi-floor dwelling unit that opens to a public corridor or other means of egress shall be identified on the public corridor side of the door by one or more upward or downward-pointing arrows indicating the direction(s) of the other floor(s) to which the multi-floor dwelling unit is connected.

Except as otherwise provided in FC505.4.1, and except in buildings protected throughout by a sprinkler system, in a Group R-1 or R-2 building or occupancy with more than eight dwelling units on a floor, each dwelling unit shall be identified on the door jamb on the public corridor side of the door by an approved fire emergency marking, not more than 12 inches (305 mm) from the bottom of the door, indicating the dwelling unit number and/or letter.

Except in buildings protected throughout by a sprinkler system, each stairwell door in a building or occupancy subject to compliance with the requirements of FC505.4.1 or FC505.4.2 shall be identified as a stairwell door on the door jamb on the public corridor side of the door with an approved marking or sign not more than 12 inches (305 mm) from the bottom of the door, unless such stairwell entrance has been marked in compliance with Section 1026.11 of the Building Code.

The fire emergency markings for dwelling unit entrance doors shall be of photoluminescent, retroreflective or other approved material, durable, water-resistant and securely affixed and shall use Arabic numerals and/or English alphabet letters. The fire emergency marking on multi-floor dwelling units shall be a minimum of 3 inches (76 mm) high and 1¹/₂ inches (38 mm) wide with a stroke width of ¹/₂ inch (12.7 mm) and the fire emergency markings required by FC 505.4.2 and 505.4.3 shall be in accordance with the rules. Any approved fire emergency marking may be used provided that the same type of marking is consistently used throughout the building. Photoluminescent markings and signs shall comply with the Building Code requirements for photoluminescent exit path markings.

Existing buildings and occupancies shall comply with the operational requirements for marking and signage set forth in FC505.4.1 within 2 years of the effective date of this section, and with the operational requirements for marking and signage as set forth in FC 505.4.2 and 505.4.3 within 3 years of the effective date of this section.