S.D. Admin. R. 61:15:01:12 - Existing fire escapes
Existing fire escapes which, in the opinion of the fire official, comply with the intent of this chapter, may be used as one of the required exits. Fire escapes shall comply with the following:
(1) All openings in the exterior wall below
and within 10 feet of a fire escape stair serving a building over two stories
high shall be protected by a self-closing fire assembly having a 3/4-hour fire
protection rating;
(2) Egress from
the building shall be by a clear opening of not less than 20 inches wide, 24
inches high, and 5.7 square feet in area. The bottom of the opening shall be
not more than 44 inches above the floor of the building or balcony;
(3) Fire escape stairways and balconies shall
support the dead load plus a live load of not less than 100 pounds per square
foot and shall be provided with a top and intermediate handrail on each side.
The pitch of the stairway may not exceed 60 degrees with a minimum width of 18
inches. Treads may not be less than 4 inches wide and the rise between treads
may not exceed 10 inches. All stair and balcony railings shall support a
horizontal force of not less than 50 pounds per lineal foot of
railing;
(4) Balconies shall be not
less than 44 inches wide with no floor openings other than the stairway opening
greater than 5/8 inch wide. Stairway openings in such balconies shall be at
least 22 inches by 44 inches. The balustrade of each balcony shall be not less
than 36 inches high with not more than 9 inches between balusters;
(5) Fire escapes shall extend to the roof or
provide an approved gooseneck ladder between the top floor landing and the roof
when serving buildings four or more stories high having roofs with less than
4:12 slope. Fire escape ladders shall be designed and connected to the building
to withstand a horizontal force of 100 pounds per lineal foot; each rung shall
support a concentrated load of 500 pounds placed anywhere on the rung. All
ladders shall be at least 15 inches wide, located within 12 inches of the
building, and shall be placed flat to the face of the building. Ladder rungs
shall be 3/4 inch in diameter and shall be located 12 inches on center.
Openings for roof access ladders through cornices and similar projections shall
have minimum dimensions of 30 inches by 33 inches;
(6) The lowest balcony shall be not more than
18 feet from the ground. Fire escapes shall extend to the ground or be provided
with counterbalanced stairs reaching to the ground;
(7) Fire escapes may not take the place of
stairways required by the codes under which the building was
constructed;
(8) Fire escapes shall
be kept clear and unobstructed at all times and maintained in good working
order.
Notes
General Authority: SDCL 34-29B-2.
Law Implemented: SDCL 34-29B-2, 34-29B-10.
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