1027.4 Residential Building Hallway Corridor and Elevator Lobby Furnishings, Decorations and Storage

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.