§ 113-80. Requirements of general application.

A. 

Application. The provisions of § 113-79 apply to all structures containing or constituting places of public assembly. They are applicable to existing and new structures unless otherwise herein specifically stated, to conform to the State Uniform Code, Chapter B, Article 5, Space and Fire Safety Requirements, General Building Construction, or the Town of Hamburg Code, whichever is more stringent.

B. 

Capacity.

(1) 

Capacity, as determined by this section, shall be used as the basis for computing the required width and number of exitways.

(2) 

The capacity of every place of public assembly shall be the sum of all component capacities listed below which are pertinent. Where capacity is determined on the basis of area, the area to be considered shall include those spaces generally used or occupied by the public for public assembly purposes and shall not include such spaces as toilets or utility or locker rooms.

(a) 

Seats secured or designed to be secured to the floor: total of all.

(b) 

Benches: one person to each 18 inches of length unless arms are used between seats, in which case Subsection B(1) shall apply.

(c) 

Portable seats: one person to each six square feet of floor area, aisles included.

(d) 

Standing room: one person to each three square feet of floor area permitted to be occupied as such.

(e) 

Waiting space: one person to each three square feet of floor area other than standing room, which is designated to be occupied by persons waiting for seats to become available.

(f) 

Bowling alleys: each bowling alley, including 15 feet of runway, shall be assumed to have an occupancy of five persons. Seats provided for the exclusive use of bowlers shall not be considered in determining capacity.

(g) 

Billiard room: one person to each 50 square feet of the area so occupied.

(h) 

Skating rinks: one person to each 25 square feet of the area occupied by skaters, plus standing room and seating capacity as set forth above.

(i) 

Indoor amphitheaters: the maximum occupancy permitted upon the floor of the arena at any time, plus standing room and seating capacity outside of the arena as set forth above.

(j) 

Any tier, floor or portion of a place of public assembly used as a dining room, lounge, smoking room, promenade, dance floor or for any similar purpose not specifically classified herein: one person for each 10 square feet of floor area so used.

(k) 

When a place of public assembly is intended for multiple use, the classification yielding the greatest calculated occupancy shall be used to determine the capacity. When conditions of a particular use contemplate only partial occupancy of a place of public assembly the enforcing authority may fix a limited capacity for the particular type of occupancy intended and shall state this limit on the certificate of compliance.

(l) 

On request, the Code Enforcement Officer will supply occupancy signs to be placed in rooms as required by § 113-79 of this code.

[Added 4-9-1984 by L.L. No. 4-1984]

C. 

Aisles.

(1) 

Aisles providing convenient and unobstructed passage to each exit shall be provided on every floor tier.

(2) 

No aisle shall be diminished in width towards an exit to less than its minimum required width.

D. 

Exit signs and exit directional signs.

(1) 

Signs installed before July 1, 1967. No provision of this article, as amended, effective July 1, 1967, requires or is intended to require alteration or replacement of any exit sign, exit directional sign or wiring for such signs installed prior to July 1, 1967, which comply with the provisions of this article in effect at the time of its installation or with a subsisting variation granted by the Board.

(2) 

Signs installed on or after July 1, 1967. Every exit sign and exit directional sign installed on or after July 1, 1967, shall comply with the following provisions:

(a) 

Exit signs.

[1] 

Approval required. Any exit sign installed after November 1, 1967, shall be approved.

[2] 

Where required. Exit signs visible from the normal path of approach to every required exit shall be provided in all places of public assembly to which this article applies.

[3] 

Location of sign. An exit sign shall be provided for each required exit doorway or equivalent opening forming part of an exit and shall be installed with the lower edge of the sign at a point not more than eight feet above the floor level at the opening and on the vertical center line of the opening or group of openings. Exception: Only one exit sign shall be required for a group or series of not more than four openings where the openings adjoin each other or are spaced not more than one foot apart. Where there are more than four openings in a group or series, two exit signs shall be installed at points which are located at a distance from each end equal to 1/4 of the total width of the doorways.

[4] 

Mounting. Installation for exit signs shall be parallel to the wall surface over the opening and either mounted directly on the wall or suspended not more than two feet from the wall, except that where the path of travel leading to a required exit is such that the exit sign is not readily discernible due to the angle of approach, the sign shall be mounted perpendicular to the wall surface.

[5] 

Legend requirements. Exit signs shall be inscribed with the word "exit" in plainly legible block letters. The sign letters shall be conspicuous, readily discernible and not less than 41/2 inches high with letter strokes not less than 1/2 inch wide. Exits serving an unpartitioned space with an area of 20,000 square feet or more shall be designated by exit signs with letters not less than six inches high and having letter strokes not less than 3/4 of an inch wide.

[6] 

Legend and background colors. Exit sign wording shall consist of translucent red letters on a translucent or opaque background of contrasting color, translucent white letters on a translucent red background or of other colors acceptable as part of an approved sign.

[7] 

Visibility. The space within a distance of 25 feet from which any exit sign may be normally approached and a distance of six feet each side of such sign shall be maintained free from equipment, furnishings, decorations or objects, including brightly illuminated signs (for other than exit purposes), illuminated displays or other illuminated devices or things which would prevent or impair clear visibility of such exit sign.

[8] 

Illumination. Every exit sign shall be illuminated internally by electrical means from a reliable power source or be illuminated by other means acceptable as part of an approved sign and shall be kept illuminated continuously when the building is occupied. When illuminated by electrical means, signs shall be supplied by an independent circuit or circuits reserved and used exclusively for the supply of power to such signs. Each sign shall be directly connected to the circuit without any switches, fuses, plugs or similar devices. The circuit shall be connected with proper overcurrent protection and switches to the circuit box distributing power from the generator or public utility to the building or floor or area of the building. Required illumination of an exit sign shall be of such intensity that the sign so illuminated will be clearly discernible from any part of the floor area serviced thereby. Where incandescent, fluorescent or equivalent lighting is used to illuminate an exit sign, there shall be in each sign at least two separate light bulbs or equivalent light sources wired in parallel so that the failure of one light source will not affect any other.

(b) 

Exit directional signs.

[1] 

Where required. Exit directional signs shall be provided and mounted at strategic locations over doorways and in hallways, passageways, corridors and along other paths of travel which lead to an exit but from which the exit sign is not visible or readily discernible. In no case shall the distance between such signs exceed 100 feet and a sign shall be installed at every major change in direction of the path of travel to an exit.

[2] 

Construction and legend. Exit directional signs shall be constructed of durable wood, metal, plastic or such other material as may be acceptable to the Commissioner, inscribed with the words "To Exit" or the word "Exit" with a suitable pointer or arrow indicating the direction of exit; or such required legend shall be inscribed directly on a wall or other vertical surface. The letters and symbols shall be red with a white background or white with a red background, not less than 1/2 inch wide. Exit directional signs are not required to be illuminated by other than the normal lighting of the building.

[3] 

Mounting. The height of the mounting shall be such that the sign is readily visible to a person approaching it. Where a directional sign indicates a major change in direction of the path of travel to an exit, such sign shall be mounted approximately perpendicular to the approaching path of travel and be inscribed with the word "exit" with a suitable pointer or arrow indicating the direction of exit. Where the path of travel does not change, the exit directional sign shall be mounted over the approximate center line of the doorway, passageway, hallway or stairway approximately perpendicular to the path of travel and be inscribed with the words "to exit."

Amended 4-9-1984 by L.L. No. 4-1984