450.3.5 Details and Finishes

See The Guidelines for additional requirements.

Doors to all rooms containing bathtubs, showers, and water closets for resident use located in double occupancy rooms or that are shared between two single occupancy rooms, shall be equipped with privacy hardware that permits emergency access without the use of keys. When such room has only one entrance and is equipped with a swing door, the door shall open outward, or be equipped with emergency release hardware. When emergency release hardware is utilized on a swing door located in a public area, it shall provide visual privacy for the resident and if required by other sections of this code, be smoke resistant. The toilet room door that swings open into the resident room shall not impede the swing of any other door that opens into the resident room.

Interior corridor doors, except those to small closets, janitor's closets, electrical or mechanical rooms, housekeeping closets and other small rooms not subject to occupancy, shall not swing into the corridor. A door located on the exit access corridor, and required to swing outward, shall open into an alcove.

A sliding door equipped with sliding hardware located on the resident room side of the wall and without a bottom track shall be permitted on an individual resident toilet or bathroom. If a sliding door is used on a resident toilet or bathroom, a D-shaped handle at least 4 inches (10.16 cm) long shall be provided to open the door.

Door thresholds, except where required at exterior doors, and expansion joint covers shall be designed to facilitate use of wheelchairs and carts and to prevent tripping and shall provide a smooth and level transition from surface-to-surface.

Towel bars shall be provided at each bathing facility.

Toilet compartment partitions and urinal screens shall be constructed of a product that does not rust, corrode or delaminate.

A minimum of one electric drinking fountain or water and cup dispenser shall be provided per resident floor unless drinking water is available from the resident dietary area.

Wall coverings that promote the growth of mold and mildew shall be avoided on exterior walls or on walls that are located in normally wet locations.

All fire walls, smoke barriers, horizontal exits and exit passageway partitions shall be constructed prior to the construction of all intervening walls. Where rated walls, barriers or partitions intersect, the continuity of the higher priority wall, barrier, or partition shall be maintained through the intersection.

Smoke barriers shall be constructed to provide a continuous smoke-tight membrane from exterior wall to exterior wall and from the floor to the underside of the floor or roof deck above. This includes interstitial space and the area above monolithic fire-rated ceiling membranes. Roof trusses shall be permitted to penetrate portions of the smoke barrier located above the fire-rated ceiling membrane where the annular space between the penetrating truss member and the smoke barrier is sealed to limit the transfer of smoke.

Where it is not possible to visually inspect a fire-rated partition, wall or barrier or a smoke barrier that extends through the attic or interstitial space to the roof or floor deck above because of the location of a monolithic ceiling membrane, ceiling access panel(s) shall be installed adjacent to each side of the partition, wall or barrier at intervals not exceeding 30 feet (9.0 m) and in such locations as necessary to view all surfaces of the partition, fire wall or smoke barrier. Other ceiling access panels shall only be installed as required by other sections of the code. Partitions, walls and barriers requiring protected openings or penetrations shall be identified in accordance with Section 703 of this code.

Where electrical conduits, cable trays, ducts and utility pipes pass through the smoke partition, the utilities shall be located so that access is maintained to adjacent wall surfaces and to all damper access panels. The details shall show the studs and reinforcing half studs so that proper support is provided for the wall surfacing material. There shall be a minimum clearance of 4 inches (102 mm) between all conduits, piping, and duct work insulation that are located parallel or adjacent to a fire wall or to a smoke barrier to facilitate the inspection of these walls.