The requirements of this chapter shall apply to existing buildings or portions thereof currently occupied as hotel or dormitory occupancies, unless meeting the requirement of 29.1.1.4.
The provisions of Chapter 1, Administration, shall apply.
The provisions of Chapter 4, General, shall apply.
Any dormitory divided into suites of rooms, with one or more bedrooms opening into a living room or study that has a door opening into a common corridor serving a number of suites, shall be classified as an apartment building.
Where construction, alteration, or demolition operations are conducted, the provisions of 4.6.10.2 shall apply.
Multiple occupancies shall be in accordance with 6.1.14.
No guest room or guest suite of a hotel or dormitory shall have its sole means of egress pass through any nonresidential occupancy in the same building, unless otherwise permitted by 29.1.3.2.1 or 29.1.3.2.2.
In buildings that are protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 9.7, guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and dormitories shall be permitted to have their sole means of egress pass through a nonresidential occupancy in the same building, provided that both of the following criteria are met:
- The hotel or dormitory shall comply with Chapter 29.
- The sole means of egress from a guest room or guest suite of the hotel or dormitory shall not pass through a high-hazard contents area, as defined in 6.2.2.4.
In buildings that are not protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 9.7, guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and dormitories shall be permitted to have their sole means of egress pass through a non-residential occupancy in the same building, provided that all of the following criteria are met:
- The sole means of egress from the guest room or guest suite of the hotel or dormitory to the exterior shall be separated from the remainder of the building by fire barriers having a minimum 1-hour fire resistance rating.
- The hotel or dormitory shall comply with Chapter 29.
- The sole means of egress from the guest room or guest suite of the hotel or dormitory shall not pass through a high-hazard contents area, as defined in 6.2.2.4.
Atrium walls in accordance with 6.1.14.4.6 shall be permitted to serve as part of the separation required by 6.1.14.4.1 for creating separated occupancies on a story-by-story basis.
For definitions, see Chapter 3, Definitions.
A list of special terms used in this chapter follows:
- Dormitory. See 3.3.66.
- Guest Room. See 3.3.134.
- Guest Suite. See 3.3.283.1.
- Hotel. See 3.3.151.
The contents of residential occupancies shall be classified as ordinary hazard in accordance with 6.2.2.
The occupant load, in number of persons for whom means of egress and other provisions are required, shall be determined on the basis of the occupant load factors of Table 7.3.1.2 that are characteristic of the use of the space or shall be determined as the maximum probable population of the space under consideration, whichever is greater.
Means of egress from guest rooms or guest suites to the outside of the building shall be in accordance with Chapter 7 and this chapter.
Means of escape within the guest room or guest suite shall comply with the provisions of Section 24.2 for one- and two-family dwellings.
For the purpose of application of the requirements of Chapter 24, the terms guest room and guest suite shall be synonymous with the terms dwelling unit or living unit.
Components of means of egress shall be limited to the types described in 29.2.2.2 through 29.2.2.12.
In buildings, other than high-rise buildings, that are protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 29.3.5, exit enclosures shall have a minimum 1-hour fire resistance rating, and doors shall have a minimum 1-hour fire protection rating.
Door-locking arrangements shall comply with 29.2.2.2.2.1, 29.2.2.2.2.2, 29.2.2.2.2.3, or 29.2.2.2.2.4.
Smokeproof enclosures complying with 7.2.3 shall be permitted.
Horizontal exits complying with 7.2.4 shall be permitted.
Escalators previously approved as a component in a means of egress shall be permitted to continue to be considered in compliance.
Fire escape ladders complying with 7.2.9 shall be permitted.
The capacity of means of egress shall be in accordance with Section 7.3.
Street floor exits shall be sufficient for the occupant load of the street floor plus the required capacity of stairs and ramps discharging onto the street floor.
Means of egress shall comply with all of the following, except as otherwise permitted by 29.2.4.2 and 29.2.4.3:
- The number of means of egress shall be in accordance with 7.4.1.1 and 7.4.1.3 through 7.4.1.6.
- Not less than two separate exits shall be accessible from every part of every story, including stories below the level of exit discharge and stories occupied for public purposes.
Exit access, as required by 29.2.4.1(2), shall be permitted to include a single exit access path for the distances permitted as common paths of travel by 29.2.5.
A single exit shall be permitted in buildings where the total number of stories does not exceed four, provided that all of the following conditions are met:
- There are four or fewer guest rooms or guest suites per story.
- The building is protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 29.3.5.
- The exit stairway does not serve more than one-half of a story below the level of exit discharge.
- The travel distance from the entrance door of any guest room or guest suite to an exit does not exceed 35 ft (10.7 m).
- The exit stairway is completely enclosed or separated from the rest of the building by barriers having a minimum 1-hour fire resistance rating.
- All openings between the exit stairway enclosure and the building are protected with self-closing door assemblies having a minimum 1-hour fire protection rating.
- All corridors serving as access to exits have a minimum 1-hour fire resistance rating.
- Horizontal and vertical separation having a minimum 1/2-hour fire resistance rating is provided between guest rooms or guest suites.
Access to all required exits shall be in accordance with Section 7.5.
In buildings not protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 29.3.5, common paths of travel shall not exceed 35 ft (10.7 m); travel within a guest room or guest suite shall not be included when calculating common path of travel.
In buildings protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 29.3.5, common path of travel shall not exceed 50 ft (15 m); travel within a guest room or guest suite shall not be included when determining common path of travel.
Dead-end corridors shall not exceed 50 ft (15 m).
Travel distance within a guest room or guest suite to a corridor door shall not exceed 75 ft (23 m) in buildings not protected by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 29.3.5.
Travel distance within a guest room or guest suite to a corridor door shall not exceed 125 ft (38 m) in buildings protected by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 29.3.5.
Travel distance from the corridor door of any guest room or guest suite to the nearest exit shall comply with 29.2.6.3.1, 29.2.6.3.2, or 29.2.6.3.3.
Travel distance from the corridor door of any guest room or guest suite to the nearest exit, measured in accordance with Section 7.6, shall not exceed 100 ft (30 m).
Travel distance from the corridor door of any guest room or guest suite to the nearest exit, measured in accordance with Section 7.6, shall not exceed 200 ft (61 m) for exterior ways of exit access arranged in accordance with 7.5.3.
Travel distance from the corridor door of any guest room or guest suite to the nearest exit shall comply with 29.2.6.3.3.1 and 29.2.6.3.3.2.
Travel distance from the corridor door of any guest room or guest suite to the nearest exit shall be measured in accordance with Section 7.6 and shall not exceed 200 ft (61 m) where the exit access and any portion of the building that is tributary to the exit access are protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 29.3.5.
Where the building is not protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system, the 200 ft (61 m) travel distance shall be permitted within any portion of the building that is protected by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system, provided that the sprinklered portion of the building is separated from any nonsprinklered portion by fire barriers having a fire resistance rating as follows:
- Minimum 1-hour fire resistance rating for buildings three or fewer stories in height
- Minimum 2-hour fire resistance rating for buildings four or more stories in height
Exit discharge shall comply with Section 7.7.
Any required exit stair that is located so that it is necessary to pass through the lobby or other open space to reach the outside of the building shall be continuously enclosed down to a level of exit discharge or to a mezzanine within a lobby at a level of exit discharge.
The distance of travel from the termination of the exit enclosure to an exterior door leading to a public way shall not exceed 150 ft (46 m) in buildings protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 29.3.5 and shall not exceed 100 ft (30 m) in all other buildings.
Emergency lighting in accordance with Section 7.9 shall be provided in all buildings with more than 25 rooms.
The requirement of 29.2.9.1 shall not apply where each guest room or guest suite has an exit direct to the outside of the building at street or the finished ground level.
Means of egress shall have signs in accordance with Section 7.10.
Lockups in hotel and dormitory occupancies, other than approved existing lockups, shall comply with the requirements of 23.4.5.
The use of Section 7.14 shall be prohibited.
Vertical openings shall be enclosed or protected in accordance with Section 8.6.
Vertical openings in accordance with 8.6.9.1 shall be permitted.
In buildings, other than high-rise buildings, that are protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 29.3.5, and in which exits and required ways of travel thereto are adequately safeguarded against fire and smoke within the building, or where every individual room has direct access to an exterior exit without passing through any public corridor, the protection of vertical openings that are not part of required exits shall not be required where approved by the authority having jurisdiction and where such openings do not endanger required means of egress.
In buildings two or fewer stories in height, unprotected openings shall be permitted by the authority having jurisdiction to continue to be used where the building is protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 29.3.5.
No floor below the level of exit discharge used only for storage, heating equipment, or purposes other than residential occupancy shall have unprotected openings to floors used for residential purposes.
All rooms containing high-pressure boilers, refrigerating machinery, transformers, or other service equipment subject to possible explosion shall not be located directly under or directly adjacent to exits and shall be effectively cut off from other parts of the building as specified in Section 8.7.
Any hazardous area shall be protected in accordance with Section 8.7.
The areas described in Table 29.3.2.2.2 shall be protected as indicated.
Table 29.3.2.2.2 Hazardous Area Protection
| Hazardous Area Description | Separation/Protectiona |
|---|---|
| Boiler and fuel-fired heater rooms serving more than a single guest room or guest suite | 1 hour or sprinklers |
| Employee locker rooms | 1 hour or sprinklers |
| Gift or retail shops > 100 ft2 (> 9.3 m2) | 1 hour or sprinklersb |
| Bulk laundries | 1 hour or sprinklers |
| Guest laundries > 100 ft2 (> 9.3 m2) outside of guest rooms or guest suites | 1 hour or sprinklersb |
| Maintenance shops | 1 hour and sprinklers |
| Rooms or spaces used for storage of combustible supplies and equipment in quantities deemed hazardous by the authority having jurisdictionc | 1 hour or sprinklers |
| Trash collection rooms | 1 hour and sprinklers |
| aMinimum fire resistance rating. bWhere sprinklers are provided, the separation specified in 8.7.1.2 and 29.3.2.2.3 shall not be required. cWhere storage areas not exceeding 24 ft2 (2.2 m2) are directly accessible from the guest room or guest suite, no separation or protection is required. | |
Where sprinkler protection without fire-rated separation is used, areas shall be separated from other spaces by smoke partitions complying with Section 8.4.
Where hazardous materials are stored or handled, the provisions of 8.7.3.1 shall apply.
Interior finish shall be in accordance with Section 10.2.
Interior wall and ceiling finish materials complying with Section 10.2 shall be permitted as follows:
- Exit enclosures — Class A or Class B
- Lobbies and corridors — Class A or Class B
- Other spaces — Class A, Class B, or Class C
In nonsprinklered buildings, newly installed interior floor finish in exits and exit access corridors shall be not less than Class II in accordance with 10.2.7.
A fire alarm system in accordance with Section 9.6, except as modified by 29.3.4.2 through 29.3.4.5, shall be provided in buildings, other than those where each guest room has exterior exit access in accordance with 7.5.3 and the building is three or fewer stories in height.
The required fire alarm system shall be initiated by each of the following:
- Manual means in accordance with 9.6.2, unless there are other effective means to activate the fire alarm system, such as complete automatic sprinkler or automatic detection systems, with manual fire alarm box in accordance with 29.3.4.2(2) required
- Manual fire alarm box located at the hotel desk or other convenient central control point under continuous supervision by responsible employees
- Required automatic sprinkler system
- Required automatic detection system other than sleeping room smoke detectors
Occupant notification shall be provided automatically in accordance with 9.6.3.
Where the existing fire alarm system does not provide for automatic emergency forces notification in accordance with 9.6.4, provisions shall be made for the immediate notification of the public fire department by telephone or other means in case of fire, and, where there is no public fire department, notification shall be made to the private fire brigade.
An approved single-station smoke alarm shall be installed in accordance with 9.6.2.10 in every guest room and every living area and sleeping room within a guest suite.
The smoke alarms shall not be required to be interconnected.
Single-station smoke alarms without a secondary (standby) power source shall be permitted.
All high-rise buildings, other than those where each guest room or guest suite has exterior exit access in accordance with 7.5.3, shall be protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 29.3.5.3.
Where an automatic sprinkler system is installed, either for total or partial building coverage, the system shall be in accordance with Section 9.7, as modified by 29.3.5.4 and 29.3.5.5. In buildings four or fewer stories in height and not exceeding 60 ft (18.3 m) in height above grade plane, systems in accordance with NFPA 13R shall be permitted.
The provisions for draft stops and closely spaced sprinklers in NFPA 13 shall not be required for openings complying with 8.6.9.1 where the opening is within the guest room or guest suite.
In guest rooms and in guest room suites, sprinkler installations shall not be required in closets not exceeding 24 ft2 (2.2 m2) and in bathrooms not exceeding 55 ft2 (5.1 m2).
In buildings other than those protected throughout with an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 29.3.5.3, portable fire extinguishers shall be provided as specified in Section 9.9 in hazardous areas addressed by 29.3.2.2.
In buildings not complying with 29.3.6.1.3, exit access corridor walls shall consist of fire barriers in accordance with 8.2.3 having a minimum 1/2-hour fire resistance rating.
Doors that open onto exit access corridors, other than those complying with 8.3.4 or in buildings meeting the requirements of 29.3.6.2.2, shall have a minimum 20-minute fire protection rating in accordance with Section 8.3.
Unprotected openings, other than those from spaces complying with 29.3.6.3.2, shall be prohibited in exit access corridor walls and doors.
Spaces shall be permitted to be unlimited in area and open to the corridor, provided that all of the following criteria are met:
- The space is not used for guest rooms or guest suites or hazardous areas.
- The space is protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 29.3.5.
- The space does not obstruct access to required exits.
Transoms, louvers, or transfer grilles shall be prohibited in walls or doors of exit access corridors, unless meeting the requirements of 29.3.6.4.2, 29.3.6.4.3, or 29.3.6.4.4.
Existing transoms shall be permitted but shall be fixed in the closed position and shall be covered or otherwise protected to provide a fire resistance rating not less than that of the wall in which they are installed.
The requirement of 29.3.6.4.1 shall not apply where a corridor smoke detection system is provided that, when sensing smoke, sounds the building alarm and shuts down return or exhaust fans that draw air into the corridor from the guest rooms. The transfer grille or louver shall be located in the lower one-third of the wall or door height.
The requirement of 29.3.6.4.1 shall not apply to buildings protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system complying with 29.3.5 or buildings with corridor sprinkler protection in accordance with 31.3.5.8 through 31.3.5.9. The transfer grille or louver shall be located in the lower one-third of the wall or door height.
In buildings other than those meeting the requirements of 29.3.7.1, 29.3.7.2, or 29.3.7.3, every guest room floor shall be divided into not less than two smoke compartments of approximately the same size by smoke partitions in accordance with Section 8.4.
Smoke partitions shall not be required where each guest room is provided with exterior ways of exit access arranged in accordance with 7.5.3.
Smoke partitions shall not be required where the aggregate corridor length on each floor is not more than 150 ft (46 m).
Additional smoke partitions shall be provided so that the travel distance from a guest room corridor door to a smoke partition shall not exceed 150 ft (46 m).
High-rise buildings shall comply with 29.3.5.1.
Emergency action plans in accordance with Section 4.8 shall be provided and shall include all of the following:
- Egress procedures
- Methods
- Preferred evacuation routes for each event, including appropriate use of elevators
Alcohol-based hand-rub dispensers in accordance with 8.7.3.3 shall be permitted.
Utilities shall comply with the provisions of Section 9.1.
Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning equipment shall comply with the provisions of Section 9.2, except as otherwise required in this chapter.
Unvented fuel-fired heaters, other than gas space heaters in compliance with NFPA 54 shall not be used.
Elevators, escalators, and conveyors shall comply with the provisions of Section 9.4.
Waste chutes, incinerators, and laundry chutes shall comply with the provisions of Section 9.5.
Employees of hotels shall be instructed and drilled in the duties they are to perform in the event of fire, panic, or other emergency.
Emergency egress and relocation drills in accordance with Section 4.7 shall be held with sufficient frequency to familiarize occupants with all types of hazards and to establish conduct of the drill as a matter of routine. Drills shall be conducted during peak occupancy periods and shall include suitable procedures to ensure that all persons subject to the drill participate.
A floor diagram reflecting the actual floor arrangement, exit locations, and room identification shall be posted in a location and manner acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction on, or immediately adjacent to, every guest room door in hotels and in every resident room in dormitories.
Fire safety information shall be provided to allow guests to make the decision to evacuate to the outside, to evacuate to an area of refuge, to remain in place, or to employ any combination of the three options.
Emergency action plans in accordance with Section 4.8 shall be provided.
New draperies, curtains, and other similar loosely hanging furnishings and decorations shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria contained in Test Method 1 or Test Method 2, as appropriate, of NFPA 701.
Furnishings or decorations of an explosive or highly flammable character shall not be used.
Fire-retardant coatings shall be maintained to retain the effectiveness of the treatment under service conditions encountered in actual use.