Fire Balcony

We are an 8-unit coop on four floors. The top three units on the street have a typical fire escape which seems to be in good condition. The top three units in the rear have a “fire balcony” that connects the living room of those units laterally with the living room of the building next door. There is no ladder, not even from the top floor to the roof. Presumably, in a fire situation we would need to escape on to the balcony and hope the neighbors are at home or break their window. They would do the same with us. I can’t find any reference to this condition in web searches. I’m curious first about how common this is and second about its legality. Thanks, Tim

vincentvan

in Fire 10 years and 9 months ago

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dazednconfused2 | 10 years and 9 months ago

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1968 Building Code, Chapter 6 Egress, Section 27-368 (g): Balconies. – Balconies may serve as a means of egress from dwelling units in buildings classified in occupancy group J-2 under the following conditions: (1) They shall serve at least two dwelling units. (2) They shall be constructed as required for exterior corridors, except that parapets or guards shall not be higher than four feet on the outer side of the balcony. (3) The dwelling units served by balconies shall be separated from each other by construction having at least a two hour fire-resistance rating. Such separation shall extend at least three feet beyond the outside face of the exterior wall of the building, although such projection may be reduced to two feet six inches provided that any window opening on each such balcony served by the fire separation shall be at least two inches from such fire separation for every one inch that such separation is less than thirty-six inches. An opening at least twenty inches wide shall be provided between the end of this separation and the balcony parapet or guard, and the opening shall be maintained free and unobstructed for the full height of the balcony, except that privacy screens openable from either side may be permitted in the opening. (4) Access from dwelling units to the balconies shall be through doors having glass panels at least two feet wide and four feet high, without muntins, screens, or other obstructions to hinder entry by breaking the glass panels. The doors shall be lockable only from the inside by devices that can be easily released from the outside after breaking the glass. A combination lock or lock required to be opened by a key or removable device or tool shall not be used.