Section 330.3950  Stairways, Vertical Openings, and Doorways

Every existing facility shall meet the following requirements:

a)         All stairways shall be enclosed and protected with smokestop partitions and doors at each floor level.  All doors that are a part of this protection shall swing in the direction of the exit from the building, be provided with view panels of clear wired glass, and have door closers.  These doors shall be closed at all times when not in use.  (A, B)

b)         All vertical openings or shafts (including elevators, dumbwaiters, laundry chutes, and stairways) shall be completely lined with metal or equivalent fire resistive material.  Openings into shafts shall be protected with self-closing fire resistive doors.  A sprinkler head or detection device is recommended in each shaft.  (A, B)

c)         All required exterior exit doors shall swing outward, be equipped with panic hardware, and be free of any obstruction.  No chain locking, or holding device shall be permitted on any door equipped with panic hardware other than the latching mechanism of the panic hardware itself.  If the doors have no latching mechanism, panic hardware may not be required.  (A, B)

d)         Interior kitchen doors shall be covered with fire resistive material on the kitchen side with a view panel of clear, wired glass.  All such doors shall swing into the kitchen and shall be kept closed at all times when not in use unless otherwise approved by the Department.  Such approval will be granted only when such variance will not create a hazard to the health, welfare, or safety of residents.  (B)

e)         All doors from the basement which lead into the interior of the building shall be self-closing, be covered with fire resistive material on the basement side, and have a view panel of clear wired glass.  These doors shall be closed at all times when not in use.  (B)

(Source:  Amended at 13 Ill. Reg. 6562, effective April 17, 1989)