proposed bedroom dimensions

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/4f99c7cc4a6d4-.jpg

We are considering dividing a large bedroom in our one bed condo into two smaller ones.  One of the new rooms would be 8’4″ for about 25% of it’s length but then only 7’4″ wide for the rest of it’s length.  Height is fine, windows are fine, everything else seems like it would pass DOB just fine.  But I’m not sure if the 8’width requirement applies to the entire room or only some portion of it.  Any thoughts? Sketch attached…

marcj

in Dept. of Buildings (DOB) 13 years ago

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dazednconfused2 | 13 years ago

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Here’s the section of the 1938 code governing room dimensions:   Minimum Dimensions of Rooms-Living rooms shall have a minimum clear width of six feet in any part, a minimum clear floor area of sixty square feet, and a minimum clear ceiling height of eight feet for the minimum area; except that in any alteration to a building, which building was completed before January 1,1948, the minimum clear ceiling height of seven feet for a minimum area shall be permitted provided, however, that the alteration shall have been completed prior to July I, 1965.

dazednconfused2 | 13 years ago

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They pre-date the code.   Measurements are to finish surface of wall.

needmtg | 13 years ago

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So how do all those rooms we see in average brownstones comply? Some of them are 6-1/2?  Also is this wall-to-wall or halfway through  walls?

dazednconfused2 | 13 years ago

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This would be considered a 7′-4″ room with an alcove at the door. Now there is a section of the code that will allow less than 8 feet in certain cases: “One-half the number of bedrooms in a dwelling unit containing three or more bedrooms may have a minimum dimension of seven feet.” But it sounds like you are making a two bedroom out of a three, so that would not apply. This is the only exception so the smaller bedroom would not comply.

jockdeboeraia | 13 years ago

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The min. dim is 8′.