1231.6 Existing Group I Occupancies

Existing buildings housing existing protective social-care homes or facilities established prior to the effective date of these regulations may have their use continued if they conform, or are made to conform, to the following provisions.

The use of floor levels in buildings of Type III, IV or V nonfire-rated construction may be as follows:

Nonambulatory—first floor only;

Ambulatory—not higher than the third-floor level, provided walls and partitions are constructed of materials equal in fire- resistive quality to that of wood lath and plaster in good repair and all walls are firestopped at each floor level.

Except for two-story structures housing ambulatory guests, all interior stairs shall be enclosed in accordance with Chapter 10. In lieu of stairway enclosures, floor separations or smoke barriers may be provided in such a manner that fire and smoke will not spread rapidly to floors above or otherwise impair exit facilities. In these instances, floor separations or smoke barriers shall have a fire resistance equal to not less than ¹/₂-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum wall board on each side of wood studs with openings protected by not less than a 1³/₄-inch (44 mm) solid bonded wood-core door of the self-closing type. All other vertical openings shall be enclosed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 7.

Each floor or portion thereof of buildings used for the housing of existing protective social-care homes or facilities shall have access to not less than two exits in such a manner as to furnish egress from the building or structure in the event of an emergency substantially equivalent to the provisions of Chapter 10.

Openings from rooms to interior corridors shall be protected by not less than 1³/₄-inch (44 mm) solid-bonded wood-core doors. Transoms and other similar openings shall be sealed with materials equivalent to existing corridor wall construction.

Interior wall and ceiling finishes shall conform to the requirements for a Group R, Division 1 occupancy as specified in Chapter 8.

Automatic sprinkler systems shall be installed in existing protective social-care occupancies in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 9.

Fire alarm systems. Automatic fire alarm systems shall be installed in existing protective social-care homes or facilities in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 9.

Exception: When an approved automatic sprinkler system conforming to Chapter 9 is installed, a separate fire alarm system as specified in this subsection need not be provided.