N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-6.26

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 5:23-6.26 - Basic requirements-Groups R-2 and R-4

(a) Automatic Fire Sprinkler System: In Group R-2 dormitories, an automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the work area.

(b) Exits: Two exits shall be required for stories with less than 500 occupants. Three exits shall be required for stories with 501 to 1,000 occupants. Four exits shall be required for stories with more than 1,000 occupants. Two means of egress are also required from all mezzanines with an occupant load greater than 50 or with exit travel distance greater than 75 feet.

1. When more than one exit is required, existing fire escapes shall be accepted as providing one of the required means of egress unless judged to be dangerous for use under emergency exiting conditions. For use of fire escapes, access shall be through a door except when serving an occupant load of 10 or fewer. All occupants shall have unobstructed access to fire escapes without having to pass through a room subject to locking.

i. When more than one exit is required and there is not sufficient space for an exterior stair within the lot line, a new fire escape shall be accepted as providing one of the required means of egress. Newly-installed fire escapes shall comply with FTO-3.

ii. Window access to fire escapes shall be permitted from individual units.

iii. For rooming houses, ladders shall be prohibited on fire escapes used as a required means of egress.

2. A single exit is permitted in the story at the level of exit discharge when the occupant load of the story does not exceed 50 and the exit access travel distance does not exceed 75 feet.

3. Dwelling units in basements (stories below grade) shall have two means of egress unless the building has an automatic sprinkler system. (An operable window with a net clear opening of at least five square feet, a minimum net clear opening of 24 inches in height and 20 inches in width, and a sill height of not more than 44 inches above the finished floor is acceptable as one of the means of egress.)

4. For rooming houses, a single exit shall be prohibited.

5. Multilevel dwelling units do not require an exit from each level within the dwelling unit provided that these conditions are met: The building is Type 1 or Type 2 construction, with travel distance within the dwelling unit not exceeding 75 feet or the building is not more than three stories and all third floor space is part of a dwelling unit located in part on the second floor and no habitable room has a travel distance of greater than 50 feet from the door of the room to the entrance of the dwelling unit.

6. A single exit is permitted from floor(s) that are not more than 16 feet above grade provided that each dwelling unit on such floors has an operable window with a sill height of not more than 44 inches. (In community residences for the developmentally disabled, the maximum occupant load, excluding staff, is 12.)

7. A single exit is permitted in buildings that are not more than two stories in height from floors that are more than 16 feet above grade with not more than four dwelling units per floor and exit access travel distance not exceeding 50 feet and with a minimum fire resistance rating of one hour for the exit enclosure and opening protectives and provided that each dwelling unit on such floors has an operable window with a sill height of not more than 44 inches. (In community residences for the developmentally disabled, the maximum occupant load, excluding staff, is 12.)

8. As used in this subsection, "rooming house" means any building and any part thereof, which contains two or more units of dwelling space which do not provide a private, secure dwelling space arranged for independent living and containing both full bath and kitchen facilities (exclusive of any such unit occupied by an owner or operator), including any residential hotel. The term does not include any hotel, motel or established guest house in which a minimum of 85 percent of the units of dwelling space are offered on a temporary basis only, for periods lasting no more than 90 days, to guests who either maintain or intend to maintain a primary residence at a location other than the hotel, motel or established guest house. The term also does not include one-family residential dwellings made available for occupancy by not more than five roomers. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(c) Emergency Egress Windows: When the work being performed creates a bedroom below the fourth floor, at least one sleeping room window or exterior door shall:

1. Be operable;

2. Have a sill height of not more than 44 inches; and

3. Have a width of at least 20 inches, a height of at least 24 inches, and have a minimum total area of 5.7 square feet measured from head to sill and side to side.

4. Windows are not required to meet these requirements in buildings where the sleeping room is provided with a door to a corridor having access to two remote exits or in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system. For dwelling units in basements, one of the two remote exits may be as per (b)3 above.

(d) Egress Doorways: A minimum of two egress doorways shall be required for all rooms and spaces with an occupant load greater than 50 or in which the travel distance exceeds 75 feet. All egress doors serving an occupant load greater than 50 shall swing in the direction of exit travel.

1. Exception: Storage rooms with a maximum occupant load of 10 shall not be required to have two egress doorways.

2. All dwelling unit, guest room or rooming unit corridor doors shall be at least 1 3/8 inch solid core wood or approved equal with approved door closers and shall not have any glass panels, other than approved wire glass in metal frames. Corridor doors shall not be constructed of hollow core wood, shall not contain louvers and shall not be of panel construction. Doors shall fit both plumb and level in frames, and be reasonably tight fitting. All replacement doors shall be 1 3/4 inch solid core wood or approved equal, unless existing frame will accommodate only a 1 3/8 inch door. (Note: Existing doors meeting HUD Guidelines or BOCA Existing Structures Code (1984) for a rating of 15 minutes or better shall be accepted.)

3. In buildings with an automatic sprinkler system, doors are required only to provide a smoke barrier, to be free of louvers, to fit plumb and level and to be reasonably tight fitting.

4. All doors opening onto a passageway at grade or onto an exit stair shall be self-closing or automatic closing by listed closing devices.

i. Exception: Group homes with a maximum of 15 occupants and an approved automatic detection system shall not be required to have self-closing doors. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(e) Capacity of Means of Egress: The capacity of the means of egress in each work area shall be determined in accordance with 5:23-6.11(b). (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(f) Dead End Corridors: Existing dead end corridors shall not exceed 35 feet in length. Exceptions are allowed as follows:

1. Dead end corridors may be up to 50 feet in length in a building with an automatic alarm system installed in conformance with the building code in effect at the time of its installation.

2. Dead end corridors may be up to 70 feet in length in a building with an automatic sprinkler system installed in conformance with the building code in effect at the time of its installation. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(g) Means of Egress Lighting: Artificial lighting with an intensity of not less than one foot candle at floor level shall be required during all times that the conditions of occupancy of the building require that the exits be available. Lighting shall also be required to illuminate the exit discharge. In all buildings, rooms or spaces required to have more than one exit or exit access, means of egress lighting shall be connected to an emergency electrical system conforming to NFPA 70 (NEC) except that continued illumination shall be required to be provided for not less than one hour in the case of primary power loss.

1. Means of egress lighting shall be wired on a circuit independent of circuits within any dwelling unit. The disconnecting means and over current protection device shall not be located within a dwelling unit or such that access must be obtained by going through a dwelling unit. (Plan review--Building, Fire, Electric. Inspection--Building)

(h) Illuminated Exit Signs: Illuminated exit signs shall be provided for all required means of egress in all buildings, rooms or spaces required to have more than one exit or exit access. Exit signs shall be visible from the exit access and supplemented by directional signs when necessary. (Exception: Approved main exterior doors that are clearly identified as exits are not required to have exit signs.) Exit signs shall meet the criteria contained in (h)1 and 2 below:

1. Red or green letters at least six inches high; minimum width of each stroke 3/4 inch on a white background or in other approved distinguishable colors. Arrows, if provided, shall be such that the direction cannot readily be changed. The word "Exit" shall be clearly discernible when the sign is not energized.

2. Exit signs shall be illuminated at all times when the building is occupied by a source providing at least five foot candles at the illuminated surface or shall be approved self-luminous signs which provide evenly illuminated letters with a minimum luminance of 0.06 foot lamberts. Exit signs shall be connected to an emergency electrical system conforming to NFPA 70 (NEC) except that continued illumination shall be required to be provided for not less than one hour in the case of primary power loss. No emergency power shall be required for approved self-luminous signs.

3. Exceptions: Illuminated exit signs shall not be required for buildings with an occupant load, excluding staff, of 20 or less or when the second means of egress is a fire escape that is accessed directly from the individual sleeping room. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(i) Handrails: Every required exit stairway having three or more risers and not provided with handrails or in which the existing handrails are in danger of collapsing when used under emergency exiting conditions, shall be provided with handrails for the full length of the run of steps on at least one side. All exit stairways more than 66 inches wide shall have handrails on both sides unless the full width of the stairway is not needed to accommodate the design occupancy. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(j) Guards: Every open portion of a stair, landing or balcony which is more than 30 inches above the floor or grade below and is not provided with guards or those in which the existing guards are in danger of collapsing when used under emergency exiting conditions, shall be provided with guards. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(k) Vertical Opening Protection: Vertical opening protection for interior stairways and other vertical openings shall be provided as follows:

1. For vertical openings connecting more than six floor levels, approved assemblies having a fire resistance rating of not less than two hours with approved opening protectives shall be required.

2. For vertical openings connecting four to six floor levels, approved assemblies having a fire resistance rating of not less than one hour with approved opening protectives shall be required.

3. For vertical openings not exceeding three stories, a minimum 30-minute UFC fire barrier shall be required, with the following exceptions:

i. Buildings with an automatic sprinkler system throughout; or

ii. When the vertical opening connects not more than two floor levels and not more than four dwelling units per floor provided that each dwelling unit has access to a fire escape or other approved secondary exit; or

iii. Owner-occupied buildings with not more than four dwelling units per floor, and in which the following conditions are met:

(1) Every sleeping room is provided with an operable window having a sill height not greater than 44 inches;

(2) Every dwelling unit or sleeping room above the second floor is provided with direct access to a fire escape or other approved secondary exit; and

(3) The building is protected throughout by a supervised, automatic fire alarm system, installed in accordance with the UCC. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(l) Transoms and Other Interior Openings: All transoms shall be either glazed with 1/4 inch wire glass set in metal frames and permanently secured in the closed position or sealed with materials consistent with the corridor construction. Any other sash, grill or opening in a corridor, and any window in a corridor not opening to the outside air shall be sealed with materials consistent with the corridor construction. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(m) Boiler/Furnace Equipment Rooms: Boiler/furnace equipment rooms shall be enclosed by one hour fire-rated wall and ceiling assemblies.

1. Exception: Enclosure shall not be required for boiler/furnace equipment of low pressure type (operating at pressures of 15 psig or less for steam equipment or 160 psig or less for hot water equipment) when installed in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations or for boiler/furnace equipment of residential, single-family type (200,000 BTU per hour input rating or less.)

2. Exception: Enclosure shall not be required for boiler/furnace equipment rooms equipped with a limited area sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.8 of the building subcode.

3. For group homes and supervised transitional living homes heated by oil-burning equipment, an emergency shutoff switch is required at top of the stairs leading to the basement for equipment in the basement or outside of the room for equipment located in other enclosed rooms. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(n) Structural Elements: Structural elements which are uncovered during the course of the rehabilitation and which are found to be unsound or otherwise structurally deficient, shall be reinforced, supported or replaced in accordance with the applicable structural design criteria of the building subcode. Where structural elements are sound, there is no excessive deflection (defined as deflection in excess of the standards set forth in 5:23-6.7(c)1 ) , and fixed loads are not changing in a way that will increase the stresses on existing structures beyond that which is permitted by 5:23-6.7(c), existing structural elements shall be permitted to remain. (Building)

(o) Electrical Equipment and Wiring:

1. All areas shall have receptable and lighting outlets in accordance with Section 210.52 and 210.70, respectively, of the electrical subcode.

i. In the event that receptacle and lighting outlets cannot be installed in the required locations without updating the small appliance branch circuits, kitchen areas shall have a minimum of two duplex receptable outlets or equivalent and a switch controlled lighting outlet. At least one of the required duplex receptacles shall be provided to serve counter space.

2. Electrical service equipment (overcurrent devices) shall be located where they will not be subject to physical damage and shall not be located in the vicinity of easily ignitible material.

3. All 125 volt, single-phase, 15 and 20 ampere receptacles in locations specified in Section 210.8(A) of the electrical subcode shall have ground-fault circuit protection for personnel.

4. All 125 volt, single phase, 15 and 20 ampere receptacles in locations specified in Section 210.52 of the electrical subcode shall be tamper resistant as specified in Section 406.12 of the electrical subcode. (Electrical)

(p) Plumbing Fixtures: Plumbing fixtures shall be provided as required by Table 7.21.1 of the plumbing subcode. Where the plumbing subcode allows for the substitution or omission of fixtures, such substitutions or omissions shall also be permitted under this section. (Plumbing)

(q) Mechanical Requirements: All spaces intended for occupancy shall be provided with either natural or mechanical ventilation.

1. Spaces intended to be naturally ventilated shall be provided with openable doors, windows, louvers, or other openings to the outdoors. The minimum openable area to the outdoors shall be four percent of the floor area being ventilated. Where rooms without openings to the outdoors are ventilated through an adjoining room, the unobstructed opening to the adjoining room shall be at least eight percent of the floor area of the interior room or space, but not less than 25 square feet. The ventilation openings to the outdoors shall be based on the total floor area being ventilated.

2. Mechanically-ventilated spaces shall comply with the following:

i. Newly-installed HVAC systems shall comply with the requirements of the mechanical subcode.

ii. Existing systems that are altered or extended shall not reduce the amount of outside air below the existing rate per person or the rate included in the mechanical subcode, whichever is lower. As a minimum, mechanically-ventilated spaces shall be provided with five CFM per person of outdoor air and 15 CFM of ventilation air per person.

3. All newly-introduced devices, equipment or operations that produce airborne particulates, odors, fumes, sprays, vapors, smoke or gases in such quantities to be irritating or injurious to health shall be provided with local exhaust. (Building)

(r) Interior finishes shall comply with 5:23-6.11(c). (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection--Building)

(s) Specific Occupancy Areas: Specific occupancy areas within the work area, as listed in 5:23-6.30(h), shall comply with the requirements established in that section for separation and/or protection.

1. Exception: Specific occupancy areas within and serving a dwelling unit are not required to comply with this section. (Building)

(t) Accessibility: Accessible features shall be provided for all items that are part of the scope of work in those buildings with four or more dwelling units that are required by Chapter 11 of the building subcode to be accessible.

(u) Communicating Attic Spaces: Where adjacent dwelling units have communicating space in the attic, a wall shall be constructed to provide a continuous one hour fire separation using construction materials consistent with the existing wall or complying with the requirements for new structures. All work shall be performed on the side of the wall of the dwelling unit that is undergoing reconstruction. (Plan review--Building, Fire. Inspection-- Building)

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-6.26

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 1020(a), effective 5/1/2017

Amended by 54 N.J.R. 417(a), effective 3/7/2022

Administrative Change, 54 N.J.R. 1017(b), effective 5/2/2022