Level 2 alterations as described in Section 603 shall comply with the requirements of this chapter.
Exception: Buildings in which the reconfiguration is exclusively the result of compliance with the accessibility requirements of Section 305.7 shall be permitted to comply with Chapter 7.
New construction elements, components, systems, and spaces shall comply with the requirements of the International Building Code.
Exceptions:
- Where windows are added they are not required to comply with the light and ventilation requirements of the International Building Code.
- Newly installed electrical equipment shall comply with the requirements of Section 807.
- The length of dead-end corridors in newly constructed spaces shall only be required to comply with the provisions of Section 805.6.
- The minimum ceiling height of the newly created habitable and occupiable spaces and corridors shall be 7 feet (2134 mm).
- Where provided in below-grade transportation stations, existing and new escalators shall be permitted to have a clear width of less than 32 inches (815 mm).
- New structural members and connections shall be permitted to comply with alternative design criteria in accordance with Section 302.
Existing interior vertical openings connecting two or more floors shall be enclosed with approved assemblies having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour with approved opening protectives.
Exceptions:
- Where vertical opening enclosure is not required by the International Building Code or the International Fire Code.
- Interior vertical openings other than stairways may be blocked at the floor and ceiling of the work area by installation of not less than 2 inches (51 mm) of solid wood or equivalent construction.
The enclosure shall not be required where:
- 3.1. Connecting the main floor and mezzanines; or
3.2. All of the following conditions are met:
- 3.2.1. The communicating area has a low-hazard occupancy or has a moderate-hazard occupancy that is protected throughout by an automatic sprinkler system.
- 3.2.2. The lowest or next-to-the-lowest level is a street floor.
- 3.2.3. The entire area is open and unobstructed in a manner such that it is reasonable to assume that a fire in any part of the interconnected spaces will be readily obvious to all of the occupants.
- 3.2.4. Exit capacity is sufficient to provide egress simultaneously for all occupants of all levels by considering all areas to be a single floor area for the determination of required exit capacity.
- 3.2.5. Each floor level, considered separately, has not less than one-half of its individual required exit capacity provided by an exit or exits leading directly out of that level without having to traverse another communicating floor level or be exposed to the smoke or fire spreading from another communicating floor level.
- In Group A occupancies, a minimum 30-minute enclosure shall be provided to protect all vertical openings not exceeding three stories.
In Group B occupancies, a minimum 30-minute enclosure shall be provided to protect all vertical openings not exceeding three stories. This enclosure, or the enclosure specified in Section 802.2.1, shall not be required in the following locations:
- 5.1. Buildings not exceeding 3,000 square feet (279 m2) per floor.
- 5.2. Buildings protected throughout by an approved automatic fire sprinkler system.
- In Group E occupancies, the enclosure shall not be required for vertical openings not exceeding three stories where the building is protected throughout by an approved automatic fire sprinkler system.
In Group F occupancies, the enclosure shall not be required in the following locations:
- 7.1. Vertical openings not exceeding three stories.
- 7.2. Special-purpose occupancies where necessary for manufacturing operations and direct access is provided to not fewer than one protected stairway.
- 7.3. Buildings protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system.
- In Group H occupancies, the enclosure shall not be required for vertical openings not exceeding three stories where necessary for manufacturing operations and every floor level has direct access to not fewer than two remote enclosed stairways or other approved exits.
In Group M occupancies, a minimum 30-minute enclosure shall be provided to protect all vertical openings not exceeding three stories. This enclosure, or the enclosure specified in Section 802.2.1, shall not be required in the following locations:
- 9.1. Openings connecting only two floor levels.
- 9.2. Occupancies protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system.
In Group R-1 occupancies, the enclosure shall not be required for vertical openings not exceeding three stories in the following locations:
- 10.1. Buildings protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system.
10.2. Buildings with less than 25 dwelling units or sleeping units where every sleeping room above the second floor is provided with direct access to a fire escape or other approved second exit by means of an approved exterior door or window having a sill height of not greater than 44 inches (1118 mm) and where both of the following conditions are met:
- 10.2.1. Any exit access corridor exceeding 8 feet (2438 mm) in length that serves two means of egress, one of which is an unprotected vertical opening, shall have not fewer than one of the means of egress separated from the vertical opening by a 1-hour fire barrier.
- 10.2.2. The building is protected throughout by an automatic fire alarm system, installed and supervised in accordance with the International Building Code.
In Group R-2 occupancies, a minimum 30-minute enclosure shall be provided to protect all vertical openings not exceeding three stories. This enclosure, or the enclosure specified in Section 802.2.1, shall not be required in the following locations:
- 11.1. Vertical openings not exceeding two stories with not more than four dwelling units per floor.
- 11.2. Buildings protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system.
- 11.3. Buildings with not more than four dwelling units per floor where every sleeping room above the second floor is provided with direct access to a fire escape or other approved second exit by means of an approved exterior door or window having a sill height of not greater than 44 inches (1118 mm) and the building is protected throughout by an automatic fire alarm system complying with Section 803.4.
- One- and two-family dwellings.
- Group S occupancies where connecting not more than two floor levels or where connecting not more than three floor levels and the structure is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system.
- Group S occupancies where vertical opening protection is not required for open parking garages and ramps.
Where the work area on any floor exceeds 50 percent of that floor area, the enclosure requirements of Section 802.2 shall apply to vertical openings other than stairways throughout the floor.
Exception: Vertical openings located in tenant spaces that are entirely outside the work area.
Where the work area on any floor exceeds 50 percent of that floor area, stairways that are part of the means of egress serving the work area shall, at a minimum, be enclosed with smoke-tight construction on the highest work area floor and all floors below.
Exception: Where stairway enclosure is not required by the International Building Code or the International Fire Code.
The interior finish of walls and ceilings in exits and corridors in any work area shall comply with the requirements of the International Building Code.
Exception: Existing interior finish materials that do not comply with the interior finish requirements of the International Building Code shall be permitted to be treated with an approved fire-retardant coating in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to achieve the required rating.
Where the work area on any floor exceeds 50 percent of the floor area, Section 802.4 shall apply to the interior finish in exits and corridors serving the work area throughout the floor.
Exception: Interior finish within tenant spaces that are entirely outside the work area.
Where approved by the code official, buildings where an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2 of the International Building Code has been added, and the building is now sprinklered throughout, the required fire-resistance ratings of building elements and materials shall be permitted to meet the requirements of the current building code. The building is required to meet the other applicable requirements of the International Building Code.
Plans, investigation and evaluation reports, and other data shall be submitted indicating which building elements and materials the applicant is requesting the code official to review and approve for determination of applying the current building code fire-resistance ratings. Any special construction features, including fire-resistance-rated assemblies and smoke-resistive assemblies, conditions of occupancy, means-of-egress conditions, fire code deficiencies, approved modifications or approved alternative materials, design and methods of construction, and equipment applying to the building that impact required fire-resistance ratings shall be identified in the evaluation reports submitted.
Where the work area on any floor exceeds 50 percent of that floor area, Section 803.2.1 shall apply to the entire floor on which the work area is located.
Exception: Occupied tenant spaces that are entirely outside the work area.
In buildings with occupancies in Groups A, B, E, F-1, H, I, M, R-1, R-2, R-4, S-1 and S-2, work areas that have exits or corridors shared by more than one tenant or that have exits or corridors serving an occupant load greater than 30 shall be provided with automatic sprinkler protection where both of the following conditions occur:
- The work area is required to be provided with automatic sprinkler protection in accordance with the International Building Code as applicable to new construction.
- The work area exceeds 50 percent of the floor area.
Exception: If the building does not have sufficient municipal water supply for design of a fire sprinkler system available to the floor without installation of a new fire pump, work areas shall be protected by an automatic smoke detection system throughout all occupiable spaces other than sleeping units or individual dwelling units that activates the occupant notification system in accordance with Sections 907.4, 907.5 and 907.6 of the International Building Code.
Fire sprinkler systems required by this section shall be supervised by one of the following methods:
- Approved central station system in accordance with NFPA 72.
- Approved proprietary system in accordance with NFPA 72.
- Approved remote station system of the jurisdiction in accordance with NFPA 72.
- Where approved by the code official, approved local alarm service that will cause the sounding of an alarm in accordance with NFPA 72.
Exception: Supervision is not required for the following:
- Underground gate valve with roadway boxes.
- Halogenated extinguishing systems.
- Carbon dioxide extinguishing systems.
- Dry- and wet-chemical extinguishing systems.
- Automatic sprinkler systems installed in accordance with NFPA 13R where a common supply main is used to supply both domestic and automatic sprinkler systems and a separate shutoff valve for the automatic sprinkler system is not provided.
Where the work area includes exits or corridors shared by more than one tenant and is located more than 50 feet (15 240 mm) above or below the lowest level of fire department access, a standpipe system shall be provided. Standpipes shall have an approved fire department connection with hose connections at each floor level above or below the lowest level of fire department access. Standpipe systems shall be installed in accordance with the International Building Code.
Exceptions:
- A pump shall not be required provided that the standpipes are capable of accepting delivery by fire department apparatus of not less than 250 gallons per minute (gpm) at 65 pounds per square inch (psi) (946 L/m at 448KPa) to the topmost floor in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system or not less than 500 gpm at 65 psi (1892 L/m at 448KPa) to the topmost floor in all other buildings. Where the standpipe terminates below the topmost floor, the standpipe shall be designed to meet (gpm/psi) (L/m/KPa) requirements of this exception for possible future extension of the standpipe.
- The interconnection of multiple standpipe risers shall not be required.
An approved fire alarm system shall be installed in accordance with Sections 803.4.1 through 803.4.3. Where automatic sprinkler protection is provided in accordance with Section 803.2 and is connected to the building fire alarm system, automatic heat detection shall not be required.
An approved automatic fire detection system shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and NFPA 72. Devices, combinations of devices, appliances, and equipment shall be approved. The automatic fire detectors shall be smoke detectors, except that an approved alternative type of detector shall be installed in spaces such as boiler rooms, where products of combustion are present during normal operation in sufficient quantity to actuate a smoke detector.
A fire alarm system shall be installed in accordance with Sections 803.4.1.1 through 803.4.1.6. Existing alarm-notification appliances shall be automatically activated throughout the building. Where the building is not equipped with a fire alarm system, alarm-notification appliances within the work area shall be provided and automatically activated.
Exceptions:
- Occupancies with an existing, previously approved fire alarm system.
- Where selective notification is permitted, alarm-notification appliances shall be automatically activated in the areas selected.
Where the work area on any floor exceeds 50 percent of that floor area, Section 803.4.1 shall apply throughout the floor.
Exception: Alarm-initiating and notification appliances shall not be required to be installed in tenant spaces outside of the work area.
Any work area in Group I-1, I-2, I-4 and R occupancies shall be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with Section 1103.9 of the International Fire Code.
Exceptions:
- Work involving the exterior surfaces of buildings, such as the replacement of roofing or siding, the addition or replacement of windows or doors, or the addition of porches or decks.
- Installation, alteration or repairs of plumbing or mechanical systems, other than fuel-burning appliances.
The means of egress shall comply with the requirements of this section.
Exceptions:
- Where the work area and the means of egress serving it complies with NFPA 101.
- Means of egress complying with the requirements of the building code under which the building was constructed shall be considered to be compliant means of egress if, in the opinion of the code official, they do not constitute a distinct hazard to life.
A single exit or access to a single exit shall be permitted from spaces, any story or any occupied roof where one of the following conditions exists:
- The occupant load, number of dwelling units and exit access travel distance do not exceed the values in Table 805.3.1.1(1) or 805.3.1.1(2).
In Group R-1 or R-2, nonsprinklered buildings, individual single-story or multiple-story dwelling or sleeping units shall be permitted to have a single exit or access to a single exit from the dwelling or sleeping unit provided one of the following criteria are met:
- 2.1. The occupant load is not greater than 10 and the exit access travel distance within the unit does not exceed 75 feet (22 860 mm).
- 2.2. The building is not more than three stories in height; all third-story space is part of dwelling with an exit access doorway on the second story; and the portion of the exit access travel distance from the door to any habitable room within any such unit to the unit entrance doors does not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm).
- In buildings of Group R-2 occupancy of any number of stories with not more than four dwelling units per floor served by an interior exit stairway; with a smokeproof enclosure in accordance with Sections 909.20 and 1023.11 of the International Building Code or an exterior stairway as an exit; and where the portion of the exit access travel distance from the dwelling unit entrance door to the exit is not greater than 20 feet (6096 mm).
STORIES WITH ONE EXIT OR ACCESS TO ONE EXIT FOR R-2 OCCUPANCIES
| STORY | OCCUPANCY | MAXIMUM NUMBER OF DWELLING UNITS | MAXIMUM EXIT ACCESS TRAVEL DISTANCE (feet) |
| Basement, first or second story above grade plane | R-2a | 4 dwelling units | 50 |
| Third story above grade plane and higher | NP | NA | NA |
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.
NP = Not Permitted.
NA = Not Applicable.
- Group R-2, nonsprinklered and provided with emergency escape and rescue openings in accordance with Section 1030 of the International Building Code.
STORIES WITH ONE EXIT OR ACCESS TO ONE EXIT FOR OTHER OCCUPANCIES
| STORY | OCCUPANCY | MAXIMUM OCCUPANT LOAD PER STORY | MAXIMUM EXIT ACCESS TRAVEL DISTANCE (feet) |
| First story above or below grade plane | B, F-2, S-2a | 35 | 75 |
| Second story above grade plane | B, F-2, S-2a | 35 | 75 |
| Third story above grade plane and higher | NP | NA | NA |
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.
NP = Not Permitted.
NA = Not Applicable.
- The length of exit access travel distance in a Group S-2 open parking garage shall be not more than 100 feet.
Fire escapes shall comply with all of the following requirements:
- Occupants shall have unobstructed access to the fire escape without having to pass through a room subject to locking.
Access to a new fire escape shall be through a door, except that windows shall be permitted to provide access from single dwelling units or sleeping units in Group R-1, R-2 and I-1 occupancies or to provide access from spaces having a maximum occupant load of 10 in other occupancy classifications.
- 2.1. The window shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet (0.53 m2) or 5 square feet (0.46 m2) where located at grade.
- 2.2. The minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches (610 mm) and net clear opening width shall be 20 inches (508 mm).
- 2.3. The bottom of the clear opening shall not be greater than 44 inches (1118 mm) above the floor.
- 2.4. The operation of the window shall comply with the operational constraints of the International Building Code.
- Newly constructed fire escapes shall be permitted only where exterior stairways cannot be utilized because of lot lines limiting the stairway size or because of the sidewalks, alleys, or roads at grade level.
Openings within 10 feet (3048 mm) of fire escape stairways shall be protected by fire assemblies having minimum 3/4-hour fire-resistance ratings.
Exception: Opening protection shall not be required in buildings equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system.
- In all buildings of Group E occupancy, up to and including the 12th grade, buildings of Group I occupancy, rooming houses and childcare centers, ladders of any type are prohibited on fire escapes used as a required means of egress.
Mezzanines in the work area and with an occupant load of more than 50 or in which the travel distance to an exit exceeds 75 feet (22 860 mm) shall have access to not fewer than two independent means of egress.
Exception: Two independent means of egress are not required where the travel distance to an exit does not exceed 100 feet (30 480 mm) and the building is protected throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.
Buildings of Group A with an occupant load of 300 or more shall be provided with a main entrance capable of serving as the main exit with an egress capacity of not less than one-half of the total occupant load. The remaining exits shall be capable of providing one-half of the total required exit capacity.
Exception: Where a main exit is not well defined or where multiple main exits are provided, exits shall be permitted to be distributed around the perimeter of the building provided that the total width of egress is not less than 100 percent of the required width.
In any work area, all rooms and spaces having an occupant load greater than 50 or in which the travel distance to an exit exceeds 75 feet (22 860 mm) shall have not fewer than two egress doorways.
Exceptions:
- Storage rooms having a maximum occupant load of 10.
- Where the work area is served by a single exit in accordance with Section 805.3.1.1.
Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the floor area, door swing shall comply with Section 805.4.2 throughout the floor.
Exception: Means of egress within or serving only a tenant space that is entirely outside the work area.
In any work area, all doors opening onto an exit passageway at grade or an exit stairway shall be self-closing or automatic-closing by listed closing devices.
Exceptions:
- Where exit enclosure is not required by the International Building Code.
- Means of egress within or serving only a tenant space that is entirely outside the work area.
Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the floor area, panic hardware shall comply with Section 805.4.4 throughout the floor.
Exception: Means of egress within a tenant space that is entirely outside the work area.
Power-operated sliding doors or power-operated locks for swinging doors shall be operable by a manual release mechanism at the door. Emergency power shall be provided for the doors and locks in accordance with Section 2702 of the International Building Code.
Exceptions:
- Emergency power is not required in facilities with 10 or fewer locks complying with the exception to Section 408.4.1 of the International Building Code.
- Emergency power is not required where remote mechanical operating releases are provided.
Openings in corridor walls in any work area shall comply with Sections 805.5.1 through 805.5.4.
Exception: Openings in corridors where such corridors are not required to be rated in accordance with the International Building Code.
Corridor doors in the work area shall not be constructed of hollow core wood and shall not contain louvers. Dwelling unit or sleeping unit corridor doors in work areas in buildings of Groups R-1, R-2, and I-1 shall be not less than 13/8-inch (35 mm) solid core wood or approved equivalent and shall not have any glass panels, other than approved wired glass or other approved glazing material in metal frames. Dwelling unit or sleeping unit corridor doors in work areas in buildings of Groups R-1, R-2, and I-1 shall be equipped with approved door closers. Replacement doors shall be 13/4-inch (44 mm) solid bonded wood core or approved equivalent, unless the existing frame will accommodate only a 13/8-inch (35 mm) door.
Exceptions:
- Corridor doors within a dwelling unit or sleeping unit.
- Existing doors meeting the requirements of Guidelines on Fire Ratings of Archaic Materials and Assemblies (IEBC Resource A) for a rating of 15 minutes or more shall be accepted as meeting the provisions of this requirement.
- Existing doors in buildings protected throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system shall be required only to resist smoke, be reasonably tight fitting, and shall not contain louvers.
- In group homes with not more than 15 occupants and that are protected with an approved automatic detection system, closing devices are not required.
- Door assemblies having a fire protection rating of not less than 20 minutes.
Where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the floor area, Section 805.5.3 shall be applicable to all corridor windows, grills, sashes, and other openings on the floor.
Exception: Means of egress within or serving only a tenant space that is entirely outside the work area.
Dead-end corridors in any work area shall not exceed 35 feet (10 670 mm).
Exceptions:
- Where dead-end corridors of greater length are permitted by the International Building Code.
- In other than Group A and H occupancies, the maximum length of an existing dead-end corridor shall be 50 feet (15 240 mm) in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic fire alarm system installed in accordance with the International Building Code.
- In other than Group A and H occupancies, the maximum length of an existing dead-end corridor shall be 70 feet (21 356 mm) in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with the International Building Code.
- In other than Group A and H occupancies, the maximum length of an existing, newly constructed, or extended dead-end corridor shall not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm) on floors equipped with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with the International Building Code.
Where the work area on any floor exceeds 50 percent of that floor area, means of egress throughout the floor shall comply with Section 805.7.1.
Exception: Means of egress within or serving only a tenant space that is entirely outside the work area.
Where the work area on any floor exceeds 50 percent of that floor area, means of egress throughout the floor shall comply with Section 805.8.1.
Exception: Means of egress within a tenant space that is entirely outside the work area.
Any existing gravity load-carrying structural element for which an alteration causes an increase in design dead, live or snow load, including snow drift effects, of more than 5 percent shall be replaced or altered as needed to carry the gravity loads required by the International Building Code for new structures. Any existing gravity load-carrying structural element whose gravity load-carrying capacity is decreased as part of the alteration shall be shown to have the capacity to resist the applicable design dead, live and snow loads, including snow drift effects, required by the International Building Code for new structures.
Exceptions:
- Buildings of Group R occupancy with not more than five dwelling or sleeping units used solely for residential purposes where the altered building complies with the conventional light-frame construction methods of the International Building Code or the provisions of the International Residential Code.
- Buildings in which the increased dead load is attributable to the addition of a second layer of roof covering weighing 3 pounds per square foot (0.1437 kN/m2) or less over an existing single layer of roof covering.
Except as permitted by Section 806.4, where the alteration increases design lateral loads, or where the alteration results in prohibited structural irregularity as defined in ASCE 7, or where the alteration decreases the capacity of any existing lateral load-carrying structural element, the structure of the altered building or structure shall meet the requirements of Sections 1609 and 1613 of the International Building Code. Reduced seismic forces shall be permitted.
Exception: Any existing lateral load-carrying structural element whose demand-capacity ratio with the alteration considered is not more than 10 percent greater than its demand-capacity ratio with the alteration ignored shall be permitted to remain unaltered. For purposes of calculating demand-capacity ratios, the demand shall consider applicable load combinations with design lateral loads or forces in accordance with Sections 1609 and 1613 of the International Building Code. Reduced seismic forces shall be permitted. For purposes of this exception, comparisons of demand-capacity ratios and calculation of design lateral loads, forces and capacities shall account for the cumulative effects of additions and alterations since original construction.
Structural alterations that are intended exclusively to improve the lateral force-resisting system and are not required by other sections of this code shall not be required to meet the requirements of Section 1609 or Section 1613 of the International Building Code, provided that the following conditions are met:
- The capacity of existing structural systems to resist forces is not reduced.
- New structural elements are detailed and connected to existing or new structural elements as required by the International Building Code for new construction.
- New or relocated nonstructural elements are detailed and connected to existing or new structural elements as required by the International Building Code for new construction.
- The alterations do not create a structural irregularity as defined in ASCE 7 or make an existing structural irregularity more severe.
Reconfigured spaces intended for occupancy and spaces converted to habitable or occupiable space in any work area shall be provided with natural or mechanical ventilation in accordance with the International Mechanical Code.
Exception: Existing mechanical ventilation systems shall comply with the requirements of Section 808.2.