Fire Code and Building Classification Standards

Flashcards covering building classifications, fire safety system maintenance, flammable liquid storage regulations, and exit requirements based on fire code standards.

Automatic fire detector repair/replacement

A system directly connected to a city alarm box must be repaired or replaced within $24\text{ Hours}$ if it causes two or more false alarms within any $48\text{ hour}$ period.

Flammable liquid classification basis

All flammable liquids are divided into three classes according to their Flashpoint.

Flammable liquid licensing threshold

A license is required when $30\text{ gallons}$ or more of flammable liquids with a flashpoint below $200\text{ Degrees F}$ are kept on hand or stored for use in any business.

Exempt occupancies for flammable liquid licenses

Gasoline filling stations, Dry cleaners, Paint factories, Paint stores, and Fuel oil dealers are not obligated to purchase a license if licensed under other provisions of the Code.

Class I Flammable liquids

Flammable liquids with a flashpoint below $100\text{ degrees F}$.

Class II Flammable liquids

Flammable liquids having a flashpoint from $100\text{ degrees F}$ to a flashpoint below $140\text{ degrees F}$.

Class III Flammable liquids

Flammable liquids having a flashpoint from $140\text{ degrees F}$ and below $200\text{ degrees F}$.

Fire pump testing requirements

The pump shall discharge from the highest connection for at least five minutes and deliver rated capacity through a manifold or wall hydrant for at least $15\text{ minutes}$.

Standard exit width (stairs and corridors)

Required width shall be not less than $44\text{ inches}$.

Reduced exit width (low occupancy)

For stories with not more than $40\text{ persons}$, stairs and corridors shall be not less than $36\text{ inches}$ in width.

Minimum exit door width

All doors required as exits shall be not less than $36\text{ inches}$ wide.

Emergency generator requirement for tall buildings

All buildings over $400\text{ feet}$ tall must have a diesel-driven emergency generator to supply the fire pump.

Interior stairwell fire resistance (more than three stories)

Enclosures must provide fire resistance of two hours.

Interior stairwell fire resistance (less than three stories)

Enclosures must provide fire resistance of $1\text{ hour}$.

Standpipe water supply capacity

Minimum capacity of $500\text{ gpm}$, with an additional $250\text{ gpm}$ required for each additional standpipe.

Maximum gas pump hose length

The dispensing hose from a gas pump shall not be longer than $16\text{ Feet}$.

Fire drill system reset failure

If a system cannot be reset after a drill, the FAO and Battalion Chief must be notified.

Multi-standpipe floor height requirement

Any building over $275\text{ feet}$ tall requires more than one standpipe.

Class J Building

Classification for miscellaneous building and structures.

Class I Building

Classification for hazardous use units.

Class H Building

Classification for storage units.

Class G Building

Classification for Industrial units.

Class F Building

Classification for Mercantile units.

Class E Building

Classification for Business units.

Class D Building

Classification for Open Air Assembly units.

Class C Building

Classification for Assembly Units.

Class B Building

Classification for institutional Units.

Class A Building

Classification for Residential Units.

Authority for Fixating Building Classification

The Commissioner of Inspectional Services shall consult with the Deputy Fire Commissioner of Fire Prevention.

Open Air Assembly exit requirement (under 1000 persons)

The minimum number of exits required is two.

Auxiliary Use

Rooms and spaces incidental to the principal use of the building and under the same management and control.

Class G-2 Unit

Classification for a Moderate Hazard Unit.

Subway interface protection

Every wall opening between a subway and an adjoining building interior must be protected by a Class A door.

C-1 Large Assembly

Assembly units having a capacity of $300\text{ persons}$ or more.

Small mercantile classification (e.g., small restaurants)

Restaurants, bars, and taverns with a capacity not exceeding $100\text{ persons}$ are classified as Class F Mercantile.

Aviation Fields classification

Classified as Class D Open Air Assembly.

Auxiliary use percentage limit

Auxiliary use is generally limited to $5\text{ Percent}$ of the principal use.

Type III A construction column dimensions

Columns must have a minimum dimension of $8\text{ Inches}$.

Heavy Timber Construction

Another name for Type III A construction.

Masonry wall lintel fire protection

Fire protection is not required for lintels over openings not exceeding $5\text{ Feet}$ in clear width.

Location of grounds and furring

These are found in wall construction.

Class I fire alarm requirement (Dormitories)

Required in dormitories $2\text{ stories}$ or more unless $25$ or fewer people sleep above the second floor.

Exhibition Area standpipe coverage

A standpipe location must be able to cover an area up to $130\text{ Feet}$ away.

Floor area increase for sprinklers

The floor area may be increased by $100\text{ Percent}$ when an approved automatic sprinkler system is equipped.

Fire escape door minimum width

The minimum width of a door leading to a fire escape shall be $30\text{ Inches Wide}$.

Fire escape maintenance frequency

Fire escapes shall be scraped and painted every three years.

Exit capacity increase for sprinklers

Exit capacity may be increased by $50\text{ Percent}$ in buildings equipped throughout with approved automatic sprinklers.

Business unit door swing exemption

Doors from offices with capacity not exceeding $100\text{ persons}$ are not required to swing in the direction of exit travel.

Exit sign illumination

Must be internally illuminated by a $10\text{ watt}$ or larger incandescent electric lamp.

Escalators as stairs

Escalators are permitted to be used as stairs.

Escalator flight vertical travel limit

An escalator flight shall have a vertical travel of not more than $35\text{ Feet}$.

Escalator angle of inclination limit

The angle of inclination shall not exceed $30\text{ Degrees}$ from the horizontal.

Elevator Recall height exemptions

Not required in buildings $80\text{ feet}$ or less in height or hospitals $55\text{ feet}$ or less in height.

Smoke detector placement rules

Located on ceiling ($\text{min. } 4\text{ inches from wall}$) or wall ($6\text{ to } 12\text{ inches from ceiling}$) and within $15\text{ Feet}$ of sleeping rooms.

Siamese connection placement height

Siamese shall be no less than $18\text{ inches}$ and no more than $5\text{ Feet}$ above grade.

Industrial hazardous use unit protection

Required to be protected with Automatic Sprinklers regardless of height, area, or construction.

Requirement for one siamese connection

Permitted when two adjacent street exposures equal less than $250\text{ Feet}$.

Requirement for three siamese connections

A building with two street exposures totaling $> 250\text{ feet}$ and one exposure $> 250\text{ feet}$.

Requirement for four siamese connections

Two adjacent street exposures each dimension greater than $250\text{ feet}$, with two on each exposure spaced $200\text{ feet}$ apart.

Siamese connection spacing (same exposure)

Two fittings on the same exposure shall be spaced a minimum of $200\text{ Feet}$ apart.

Extinguisher visibility distance

Must be visible from a distance of $50\text{ feet}$.

Extinguisher travel distance limit

Travel distance to an extinguisher shall not exceed $75\text{ feet}$.

Extinguisher mounting rule (under 40 lbs)

The top of the extinguisher shall be hung $5\text{ feet}$ from the floor if it weighs less than $40\text{ pounds}$.

Standpipe system inspection frequency

Must be inspected Semi-Annually.

Maximum number of siamese connections

A building is limited to a maximum of four fire department connections.

Flammable liquid container grounding

Containers must be Electrically Grounded when drawing flammable liquids in a flammable liquid room.

Gravity feed of flammable liquids

Prohibited within a building except inside a Flammable Liquid Room.

Flammable liquid vault sill height

The sill on a vault used for flammable liquid storage must be $6\text{ Inches}$.

Above ground tank capacity limit (Class I)

Maximum capacity is $15,000\text{ Gallons}$.

Fuel oil storage floor drains

Drains to city sewers are permitted when storage is $550\text{ Gallons}$ or less.

Paint spraying booth requirement threshold

Required when using more than $1\text{ Gallon}$ of paint in $24\text{ hours}$.

Semi-Trailer tank car inspection frequency

Must be inspected Semi-Annually.

Above ground tank diking requirement

Every above ground storage tank containing flammable liquids shall be Diked.

Dry cleaning building separation distance

Must be located no nearer than $100\text{ Feet}$ to any institutional, assembly, or open air assembly unit.

Flammable liquid cabinet door hardware

Must be constructed with a three joint lock.

Open storage limit (Class I liquid)

Ten gallons maximum in sealed containers or safety cans in Type I, II, or III construction.

Open storage limit (Class II liquid)

$60\text{ gallons}$ maximum in safety cans (max $5\text{ gal}$ each), barrels, or drums in Type I, II, or III construction.

Open storage limit (Class III liquid)

$120\text{ gallons}$ maximum in sealed containers (max $5\text{ gal}$ each), barrels, drums, or tanks in Type I, II, or III construction.

Wood frame construction storage limits (Class I/II)

In Type IV A or IV B construction, restricted to a maximum of $5\text{ gallons}$ stored in $1\text{ gallon}$ cans.

Flammable liquid Storage Cabinet requirement

Required for storage in excess of $10\text{ gallons}$ and less than $50\text{ gallons}$.

Flammable liquid Storage Room requirement

Required for any storage of flammable liquids in excess of $50\text{ gallons}$.

Flammable Liquid Room Sprinkler Authority

Determined by the Engineering Section.

Flammable Liquid Room Fire Ratings

$1\text{ hour}$ ($\text{up to } 200\text{ gal}$), $2\text{ hour}$ ($201\text{ to } 400\text{ gal}$), $3\text{ hour}$ ($401\text{ to } 600\text{ gal}$), and $4\text{ hour}$ ($> 600\text{ gal}$).

Flammable Liquid Room basin capacity

Must hold $1 \frac{1}{2}\text{ times}$ the capacity of the room; sewer drains are not permitted.

Flammable Liquid Room door requirements

$1\text{ and } 2\text{ hour}$ rooms require Class B self-closing; $3\text{ and } 4\text{ hour}$ rooms require Class A doors.

Requirements for two handrails

Requested when the width of a stair is $44\text{ inches}$ or more.

Industrial building stair materials

Stairs in Type I or Type II industrial buildings must be constructed of Non-Combustible materials.

Stair landing door opening clearance

$75\text{ percent}$ of the required exit width must be maintained beyond the edge of a door when opened in any position.

Exit (Definition)

A means of egress including outside exits, vertical exits, horizontal exits, and exit connections.

Vertical Exit (Definition)

A means of exit for ascension/descension between levels including stairways, smokeproof towers, ramps, escalators, and fire escapes.

Horizontal Exit (Definition)

A protected opening through a two-hour fire partition, fire wall, or bridge connecting two buildings.

Outside Exit (Definition)

An exit to a public way, an open area leading to one, or an enclosed fire-resistive passage leading to one.

Exit Connections (Definition)

Doorways, aisles, corridors, and lobbies leading to a vertical, horizontal, or outside exit.

Smokeproof tower height requirement

At least one must be provided in every building with a height exceeding $264\text{ Feet}$.

Hazardous unit travel distance limit

The maximum travel distance to an exit is $75\text{ Feet}$.

Travel distance increase for sprinklers

May be increased by $50\text{ percent}$ in buildings equipped throughout with a standard sprinkler system.

Assembly unit emergency latch pressure

Exit doors serving more than $200\text{ persons}$ must release under a pressure of $15\text{ pounds}$.

Fire escape doorway width

Access through the interior must be through a doorway flush with the floor and at least $30\text{ inches}$ wide.

Fire escape window access limit

Permitted for serving not more than $20\text{ persons}$; window must be $30\text{ inches wide}$ by $36\text{ inches high}$.

Paint spraying room requirement threshold

Required when spraying more than $10\text{ gallons}$ of paint within a $24\text{ hr}$ period.