CHAPTER 51. A-1 ASSEMBLY
OCCUPANCY GROUP Sec.
51.1. Division A-1 occupancies.
51.2. Separation and mixed occupancy.
51.3. Hazards.
CONSTRUCTION TYPE—MAXIMUM STORY HEIGHT
51.11. Story height.
MEANS OF EGRESS
51.21. Minimum exits.
51.22. Travel distance to exits.
51.23. Means of egress capacity.
51.24. Exit doors.
51.25. Stair towers.
51.26. Intercommunicating stairways.
51.27. Ramps.
51.28. Horizontal exits.
51.29. Escalators.
VERTICAL OPENINGS
51.31. Vertical openings.
INTERIOR FINISH
51.41. Interior finishes.
MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
51.51. Not required.
EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEMS
51.61. General requirements.
EXTINGUISHERS AND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
51.71. Fire extinguishers.
51.72. Automatic sprinkler systems.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
51.81. Hazardous areas.Authority The provisions of this Chapter 51 issued under act of April 27, 1927 (P. L. 465, No. 299) (35 P. S. § § 1221—1235), unless otherwise noted.
Source The provisions of this Chapter 51 adopted May 18, 1984, effective May 19, 1984, 14 Pa.B. 1765, unless otherwise noted.
Cross References This chapter cited in 7 Pa. Code § 82.17 (relating to safety—fire prevention and egress); 7 Pa. Code § 139.42 (relating to structures); 12 Pa. Code § 145.35 (relating to applicability of Fire and Panic Act); 22 Pa. Code § 31.43 (relating to buildings and equipment); 34 Pa. Code § 11.85 (relating to applicable provisions of other regulations); 34 Pa. Code § 47.125 (relating to stairs); 34 Pa. Code § 49.1 (relating to definitions); 34 Pa. Code § 49.2 (relating to jurisdiction and effective dates); 34 Pa. Code § 49.3 (relating to submission of plans); 34 Pa. Code § 49.5 (relating to certification of plans); 34 Pa. Code § 49.8 (relating to fees for building-plan examinations); 34 Pa. Code § 49.9 (relating to field inspection); 34 Pa. Code § 49.12 (relating to notice of violation and order to correct); 34 Pa. Code § 50.1 (relating to occupancy groups); 34 Pa. Code § 50.21 (relating to definitions); 34 Pa. Code § 50.24 (relating to exit doors and exit access doors); 34 Pa. Code § 50.92 (relating to historic building); 34 Pa. Code § 60.8 (relating to field inspection); 34 Pa. Code § 60.33 (relating to buildings); 55 Pa. Code § 5200.47 (relating to other applicable regulations); 55 Pa. Code § 5210.56 (relating to other applicable regulations); and 55 Pa. Code § 5320.54 (relating to seclusion and restraints).
OCCUPANCY GROUP
§ 51.1. Division A-1 occupancies.
Buildings primarily used or designed for the purpose of assembly of 501 or more persons for amusement, entertainment, worship, transportation, recreation, sports, military drilling, dining or similar purposes shall be classified as Division A-1 occupancies.
§ 51.2. Separation and mixed occupancy.
When an A-1 occupancy shares a structure with one or more occupancies, the structure shall be governed in one of the following manners:
(1) Separation. When each occupancy is separated from all other occupancies by fire walls, each portion thus separated shall be considered a separate building, and limitations for separate buildings shall govern.
(2) Mixed occupancy. Buildings with multiple occupancies which are not separated shall be considered mixed occupancies and shall be governed by the most restrictive limitations of the various occupancies.
§ 51.3. Hazards.
D-H, hazardous occupancies, may not be permitted in the same structure housing an A-1 occupancy.
CONSTRUCTION TYPE—MAXIMUM STORY HEIGHT
§ 51.11. Story height.
(a) A-1 occupancies shall be governed by the story height limitations in the following table:
Construction Type Maximum Story Height Fireresistive No Limit Noncombustible 1 Story Protected Heavy Timber 1 Story Ordinary *Not Permitted Wood Frame *Not Permitted (b) *A single story shall be permitted in ordinary or wood frame construction when the building is 1-hour rated construction or totally protected by an automatic sprinkler system.
(c) An additional story shall be permitted in noncombustible and protected heavy timber construction when the building is 1-hour rated construction or totally protected by an automatic sprinkler system. The maximum story height may be increased by two stories.
(d) Noncombustible, protected heavy timber, ordinary and wood frame construction types shall be considered 1-hour rated construction when bearing walls, columns, beams, other supporting members, ceiling/roof assemblies, floor/ceiling assemblies, stairways, and other openings through floors are of 1-hour rated construction.
(e) Basement areas shall be 1-hour rated construction up to and including the floor/ceiling assembly between the basement and the first floor.
MEANS OF EGRESS
§ 51.21. Minimum exits.
(a) There shall be a minimum of three exits reasonably remote from each other. No more than 50% of the required exit capacity shall exit into the same unseparated corridor network.
(b) Basements used only for storage or mechanical equipment without any permanent occupancy shall have a minimum of two exit access paths except that the Department may permit a single exit access for basements of less than 1,000 square feet which are used only for storage or mechanical equipment without any permanent occupancy.
§ 51.22. Travel distance to exits.
(a) Exits shall be so arranged that the total length of travel from any point to reach an exit will not exceed 150 feet. Exits shall be so arranged that one exit is not more than 200 feet from another exit. Dead ends and occupancy areas with a single path of egress travel should be eliminated where possible but in no case shall any of these occupancy areas be more than 75 feet from an exit.
(b) Travel distance may be increased to the following in buildings totally protected by an automatic sprinkler system:
(1) 200 feet from any point to an exit.
(2) 300 feet between exits.
(3) 100 feet for dead ends and areas with a single path of egress.
§ 51.23. Means of egress capacity.
Units of width shall comply with § 50.23 (relating to means of egress capacity).
§ 51.24. Exit doors.
Exit discharge doors leading to the outside shall comply with § 50.24 (relating to exit doors and exit access doors).
§ 51.25. Stair towers.
Stair towers shall comply with § 50.25 (relating to stair towers). Only Class A stairs may be used as a required means of egress.
§ 51.26. Intercommunicating stairways.
Intercommunicating stairways may be used to communicate from story to story; however, they shall not be counted as exits.
§ 51.27. Ramps.
Ramps shall comply with § 50.27 (relating to ramps).
§ 51.28. Horizontal exits.
Horizontal exits shall comply with § 50.28 (relating to horizontal exits).
§ 51.29. Escalators.
Escalators shall be permitted for communication from one story to another but shall not be counted as exits.
VERTICAL OPENINGS
§ 51.31. Vertical openings.
Vertical openings shall comply with § § 50.31—50.34 (relating to vertical openings).
INTERIOR FINISH
§ 51.41. Interior finishes.
(a) Interior finishes shall be Class A for exits and exit corridors except that carpet covering floors may be Class A or B. Other interior finishes shall be Class A or Class B.
(b) Interior finish requirements may be reduced by one class in buildings totally protected by an automatic sprinkler system.
MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
§ 51.51. Not required.
Manual and automatic fire alarm systems are not required for A-1 occupancy buildings.
EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEMS
§ 51.61. General requirements.
Emergency lighting shall be provided as follows:
(1) Exitways, corridors, stairways, passageways, halls, landings of stairs, exit doors, including angles and intersections, and other means of egress.
(2) Rooms used for assembly purposes in excess of 750 square feet.
(3) To illuminate exit or directional exit signs.
(4) Rooms in which emergency lighting equipment is located.
(5) Exterior light over required exit discharge.
EXTINGUISHERS AND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
§ 51.71. Fire extinguishers.
(a) A minimum of one fire extinguisher with a minimum 2-A rating shall be provided for each 5,000 square feet or fraction thereof, but there shall be no less than one fire extinguisher per floor including basement. Fire extinguishers shall be located so that it shall not be necessary to travel more than 100 feet in any direction to reach the nearest unit.
(b) A fire extinguisher with a minimum 10-B rating shall be provided in each kitchen.
§ 51.72. Automatic sprinkler systems.
(a) Automatic sprinkler protection is required for A-1 occupancies in all storage rooms over 100 square feet, maintenance rooms and boiler and heater rooms except boiler and heater rooms with equipment totally operated by electricity.
(b) Buildings or structures meeting the definition of high rise buildings in § 49.1 (relating to definitions) shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
§ 51.81. Hazardous areas.
(a) Boiler or furnace rooms, repair or maintenance rooms, trash rooms, and rooms or spaces used for storage of combustible materials in quantities deemed hazardous by the Department shall be separated from other areas of the building by 1-hour partitions, floors, and ceilings. Openings shall be protected by C label door assemblies. Combustion and ventilation air for boiler, incinerator or heater rooms shall be taken directly from and discharged directly to the outside air.
(b) American Gas Association approved gas fire forced air furnaces and space heaters; U. L. approved electrical resistive coil heating furnaces and U. L. approved oil fired forced air furnaces and space heaters need not be enclosed.
(c) Aisles in auditoriums shall be provided with general illumination of not less than 0.1 foot candles at the front row of seats and not less than 0.2 foot candles at the last row of seats, and the illumination shall be maintained throughout the showing of motion pictures or other projections.
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