§ 34-607. General safety.

Existing lodging establishments shall meet the following requirements for general safety of the public:

(1)

All facilities that use stairs as a component in the means of egress shall comply with the following:

a.

All open face stairs shall have guards placed on the sides. Guards shall be placed so that a four-inch diameter sphere cannot pass through them.

b.

Handrails for stairs shall not be less than 34 inches and not more than 38 inches above the surface of the tread, measured vertically to the top of the rail from the leading edge of the tread.

c.

Existing handrails, railings and guards for stairs may continue to be used subject to approval of the regulatory authority.

(2)

Railings for balconies shall not be less than 42 inches in height. Guards shall be placed so that a four-inch diameter sphere shall not pass through them.

(3)

All facilities that use ramps as a component in the means of egress shall comply with the following:

a.

All ramps, handrails, and guards shall comply with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other building codes.

b.

Ramps shall have a minimum width of 44 inches in all facilities.

c.

Ramps shall have a slip resistant surface.

d.

Ramps that are greater than six inches in height shall have handrails and guards placed on each side.

e.

Existing ramps may continue to be used subject to approval of the regulatory authority.

(4)

Floors that separate stories in a building shall be maintained as a smoke barrier to provide a basic degree of separation.

(5)

Openings through floors, such as hoist ways for elevators, shaft ways used for light, ventilation or building services; or expansion joints and seismic joints used to allow structural movements shall be enclosed with fire barriers (vertical), such as wall or partition assemblies whose fire resistance rating is not less than 30 minutes. Such enclosures shall be continuous from floor to floor. Openings shall be protected as appropriate for the fire resistance rating of the barrier.

(6)

Service openings such as laundry chutes, dumbwaiters and inclined and vertical conveyors shall be provided with self-closing devices, with a positive-latching frame and door assembly of one-hour fire rating. These service openings must be kept closed when not in active use. Outlet doors for trash or laundry chutes shall open only to a separate room designed exclusively for that purpose. This room shall be provided with a one-hour fire rated door that is self-closing. Existing installations may continue to be used upon approval of the regulatory authority.

(7)

Vertical conveyors and chutes shall be separately enclosed by walls or partitions. Service openings shall not open to an exit.

(8)

All guest rooms shall have a means of egress to the outside of the building at or to grade level.

(9)

Lodging establishments meeting the definition of a bed and breakfast may have two secondary means of egress that are independent and remote from one another in lieu of a primary means of egress.

(10)

Public hallways, stairways, landings, and foyers shall be sufficiently illuminated at all times to prevent tripping or other injuries to persons.

(11)

Emergency exit signs shall be provided when guest room doors open to an interior corridor and where guest room doors open to the outside but not directly at grade level.

(12)

Emergency exit signs shall be maintained in a clean and legible condition and shall be illuminated at all times that the building is occupied. For new construction, supplemental directions signs, when necessary, shall be installed indicating the direction and way of egress.

(13)

All emergency lighting shall be maintained in good working condition.

(Ord. No. 140032 , § 4, 1-23-14)