Elevator/sprinklers needed?

My 2 family townhouse is three stories, plus a basement plus a cellar according to the C of O, and has lots of additional FAR. Can I add another floor without requiring an elevator? At what point are sprinklers required if at all? Building height is about 40 feet.

farukb

in General Discussion 7 years and 2 months ago

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Guest User | 7 years and 1 month ago

string(1) "3"
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My experience is with multifamily buildings in R6 and up zoning. New code is that you can have 4 stories plus a penthouse (a PH is a partial story, which can have a flloor area up to 33% of the floor below it) without an elevator. If you renovate under the old code (1938) you can technically go up to five full stories without an elevator (though not every DOB examiner will be so lenient). Your basement counts as a story if half its height is above grade.

murph | 7 years and 2 months ago

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On DoB descriptions the “ground floor” is the basement and any “cellar/s” would be below ground. Always indicate the number of “stories” to get the right picture.
Add an elevator? Your call. Many older/disabled owners spring for it without prompting as they age. The townhouse layout does not lend itself to the retrofit too well. Subsequent more agile owners will look to remove it as an as yet unneeded hindrance.

jimhillra | 7 years and 2 months ago

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I don’t fully understand what you mean by your description of the basement. If you step down into it from the sidewalk, then it’s either a cellar or a basement. If you step down into it, and then there’s a level below that, then you have a basement and a cellar. If you do not step down into it, then it’s the first floor.

Non-elevator height is limited to 4 stories, including a basement, but not the cellar. If the residence on the top floor is part of a duplex or triplex which has an entry on a lower floor, then you do not need the elevator.

No, there is no exclusion for row houses.

angelique.m.west | 7 years and 2 months ago

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And I’m not sure your basement would be considered a story. But is it a true basement if it’s above grade? Also the building code may have some exclusions for townhouses/row houses vs. apartment buildings.

angelique.m.west | 7 years and 2 months ago

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I think the NYC building code only requires elevators for buildings that are five stories or more. See this DOB doc: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/bldgs_bulletins/bb_2017-008.pdf

farukb | 7 years and 2 months ago

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Basement is above grade and Basement type is full

farukb | 7 years and 2 months ago

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Basement is above grade and Basement type is full