Article 22 Malls

This article shall apply to the construction, alteration and use of malls.

A mall shall be classified in occupancy group C.

(a) A mall may be constructed only in buildings in noncombustible construction groups 1-A, 1-B and 1-C.

(b) The minimum horizontal clear dimension at any level in a mall shall be twenty feet.

(c) Where different tenancies have openings to a mall the tenancies shall be separated in accordance with section 27-341 of article five of subchapter five of this chapter.

(d) All openings between a mall and other spaces shall be provided with a noncombustible draft curtain that shall extend downward a minimum of twenty-four inches below the lowest ceiling adjacent to such draft curtain or shall meet the requirements of clause three of subparagraph d of paragraph three of subdivision (h) of section 27-370 of article five of subchapter six of this chapter relating to show windows.

(a) Smoke detectors. Smoke detectors meeting the specifications of section 27-981 of article six of subchapter seventeen shall be located at the ceiling and adjacent to each return air intake.

(b) Standpipes. At least one standpipe outlet shall be installed in every mall.

(c) Sprinklers. An automatic wet sprinkler system shall be installed in every mall.

(1) All spaces with openings between such spaces and a mall shall be fully sprinklered in accordance with subchapter seventeen of this chapter and reference standard RS 17-2 regardless of floor area or occupancy classification.

The exits for a mall shall be of sufficient capacity to accommodate the aggregate occupant load of the mall and all spaces opening onto the mall.

(a) In all malls there shall be provided a system of mechanical ventilation of sufficient capacity to exhaust at least six air changes per hour of the combined volumes of the mall and all spaces with an open connection to the mall, or 1 cfm/sq. ft. from all such spaces, whichever is greater, using either dedicated fan equipment or the building ventilation system arranged to shut down automatically, with manual override capability. Make-up air shall be supplied at the lowest level of a mall at a rate equal to seventy-five per cent of exhaust.

(b) All malls shall have a gravity ventilation system equipped with remote manual controls to remove smoke if the mechanical exhaust system fails.

(c) A ventilation system serving a mall shall not be interconnected with any other system serving another space.

(d) Ventilation systems supplying occupied spaces shall not be interconnected with the general mall supply.

Malls shall be provided with all signs required by articles seven and nine of subchapter six of this chapter, regardless of occupant load of the mall.