§ 234 — Stairs and public halls

§ 234. Stairs and public halls. 1. In every tenement erected after\nApril eighteenth, nineteen hundred twelve, all stairs shall extend from\nthe entrance story to the roof, except as otherwise provided in section\ntwo hundred thirty-three, and the stairs and public halls shall each be\nat least three feet in clear width. Every apartment in such a tenement\nshall be directly accessible at each story to such stairs and public\nhalls, and every story of such apartment shall be so accessible to such\na stair and public hall or to a tower fire-escape or stairway, as\nprovided in this section and sections two hundred thirty-five to two\nhundred thirty-nine inclusive.\n 2. In every tenement erected after April twelfth, nineteen hundred\none, except as provided in paragraph b of subdivision two of section two\nhundred thirty-eight, all stairs and public halls shall be completely\nseparated from all other stairs and from every elevator by brick walls\nor partitions of terra cotta blocks at least four inches thick, or\nhollow cement blocks at least four inches thick which have successfully\nwithstood a three-hour standard fire test and been approved by the\ndepartment and have fireproof doors and assemblies with the doors\nself-closing at all openings. From any portion of a public hall in such\na tenement there may be a recess which shall not be deemed a public hall\nif the walls, floor and ceilings enclosing it are fire-retarded and such\nrecess is at all times adequately lighted by electric lights of at least\nfifteen watts or equivalent illumination. Such a recess shall not be\nmore than twenty feet long and shall not be used as a means of egress\nfrom more than three apartments.\n