The means of egress for buildings, structures or premises, or parts thereof, shall be maintained in accordance with the construction codes, including the Building Code and this section.
It shall be unlawful to obstruct or impede access to any required means of egress, including any exit, exit access or exit discharge.
All required means of egress, including each exit, exit access and exit discharge, shall be continuously maintained free from obstructions and impediments to immediate use in the event of fire or other emergency.
Door hardware and other devices and physical components of the means of egress shall be maintained in good working order at all times.
Security devices affecting means of egress shall be subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Buildings in consultation with the commissioner.
All required means of egress shall be maintained free from the accumulation of snow and ice.
Premises shall not be caused, allowed or maintained in such a manner as to become overcrowded, such that the number of persons present on the premises and/or their location thereon obstructs or impedes access to any means of egress.
Furnishings, decorations or other objects shall not be placed so as to obstruct exits, access thereto, egress therefrom, or visibility thereof. Furnishings and decorations shall not be placed in building hallway corridors or elevator lobbies except as authorized by FC1027.4 or other provision of this code. Hangings and draperies shall not be placed over exit doors or otherwise be located to conceal or obstruct an exit except as authorized by the commissioner. Mirrors shall not be placed on exit doors. Mirrors shall not be placed in or adjacent to any exit in such a manner as to confuse the direction of exit.
It shall be unlawful to store combustible materials or combustible waste in corridors except as authorized by FC1027.4 or other provision of this code or by the commissioner by rule.
This section governs the placement of furnishings and decorations, and storage of combustible materials in building hallway corridors (excluding hallways within dwelling units) and in elevator lobbies above the street level, in Group R-2 buildings and occupancies. The department may by rule prohibit any type of building hallway corridor or elevator lobby furnishing, decoration or storage allowed by this section, or by order direct removal from a particular premises of any such furnishing, decoration or stored item, upon a determination that the size, materials or location of such furnishing, decoration or stored item presents an undue fire hazard.
A building hallway corridor or elevator lobby may be furnished with a console table, console bench, mirror, and umbrella stand, provided that the minimum required egress width is maintained. All such furnishings must be incidental to hallway use in that the purpose of such furnishings is primarily decorative and/or for the convenience of persons passing through the hallways. Incidental furnishings shall not include furniture used to hold or store clothing or other combustible items, or storage in the hallway of furniture, such as beds and dining room tables, whose primary purpose is not decorative or for the temporary accommodation of passersby.
Draperies, area rugs and decorative greens shall be installed and maintained in building hallway corridors in compliance with the requirements of FC Chapter 8, including the requirement that they be inherently noncombustible or flameproofed by an approved method, and the prohibition against the display in building hallway corridors of Christmas trees and other conifers, and wreathes made of conifers.
The walls of building hallway corridors may be decorated with combustible artwork, including artworks made of paper, canvas, wood or fabric, when in compliance with the requirements of FC805.1.
Carpeting and other interior finishes shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 8 of the Building Code.
Bicycles, baby strollers, clothing and other items of personal property, excluding those set forth in FC 1027.4.1 through 1027.4.4, shall not be stored in building hallway corridors, except as may be authorized or allowed by the department.
Household rubbish, including trash cans, shall not be stored in building hallway corridors. All such items shall be stored in compactor rooms or other lawful storage areas.
Artwork and other decorations shall be displayed and maintained in the corridors and lobbies of Group E and I-4 occupancies in accordance with FC Chapter 8. Clothing and personal effects shall not be stored in corridors and lobbies of such occupancies, unless stored in metal lockers or in corridors protected throughout by a sprinkler system and the minimum required egress width is maintained.
All fire escape components shall be painted or otherwise protected from deterioration and all moving parts shall be maintained in good working order.
Bars, grilles, grates or similar devices placed over windows or other openings onto fire escapes shall be maintained in good working order.
An air conditioner shall not be installed in a window providing access to a fire escape unless such fire escape may be accessed from another window in the same room that is unobstructed and of the size required for such purpose by the Building Code, New York State Multiple Dwelling Law, or other applicable law, rule or regulation. Air conditioners installed in windows adjoining fire escapes shall not obstruct the path of egress on the fire escape.
The operation of a fire escape ladder, including a drop ladder that is lowered vertically to the ground, or a counterbalanced stair ladder which swings to the ground, shall not be obstructed by awnings, stationary furniture, portable fueled space heaters, parked cars, or other obstructions. Where construction work is being performed at a location adjoining a fire escape, provision shall be made for safe egress from the fire escape ladder.
Any door that is not an exit or otherwise part of the means of egress from a building, structure or premises, but which, by reason of its proximity or similar construction, can be confused with an exit door or other door that is part of the means of egress, shall be identified with an approved sign that reads "Not An Exit" and identifies the room into which the nonexit door provides access.