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CODE OF RHODE ISLAND RULES
AGENCY 01. DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION
SUB-AGENCY 025. BUILDING CODE STANDARDS COMMITTEE
CHAPTER 101. REHABILITATION BUILDING AND FIRE CODE FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES (SRC-1)
Date:
08/31/2009
Document:
Section 904.0 Repair, Renovation, Alteration or Reconstruction.
904.1 General: Historical buildings undergoing repair, renovation, alteration or reconstruction shall comply with all of the applicable requirements of Chapters 3, 4, 5 and 6 of this code except as specifically permitted in this Chapter. BF
904.2 Replacement: Replacement of existing or missing features using original or like materials shall be permitted. Partial replacement for repairs that match the original in configuration, height and size shall be permitted. Such replacements shall not be required to meet the materials and methods requirements in Section 401.2 of this code. B
Exception: Replacement glazing in hazardous locations shall comply with Section 302.1.4 of this Code.
904.3 Roof Covering: The existing type of roof covering shall be permitted to be continued and replaced with the same materials if the historical materials are documented to the satisfaction of the local jurisdiction. B
904.4 Means of egress: In buildings protected throughout by a fire alarm system installed in accordance with section 602.6 of this Code, existing door openings, window openings intended for emergency egress and corridor and stairway widths of less than those that would be acceptable for non-historical buildings under this code shall be approved, provided that in the opinion of the local jurisdiction there is sufficient width and height for a person to pass through the opening or traverse the exit and that the capacity of the exit system is adequate for the occupant load or where other operational controls to limit occupancy are approved by the authority having jurisdiction. F
904.4.1 Paneled doors: Existing paneled doors in corridor walls required to have a fire rating of one hour will be allowed to remain if fitted with smoke seals provided that the egress system of the entire building is equipped with an approved sprinkler system, with a head located on each side of the door. If the above sprinkler system is not otherwise required, it may be domestically supplied provided that it is properly engineered to the satisfaction of the authority having jurisdiction. Alternative methods of establishing an approximate fire rating of twenty (20) minutes for the above doors may be approved by the authority having jurisdiction in accordance with certifications provided by nationally recognized testing facilities. F
904.4.2 Transoms: In all buildings of Group R-2, all transoms in corridor walls in rehabilitation work areas shall be either glazed with 1/4 - inch wired glass set in metal frames or other glazing assemblies having a fire protection rating as required for the door and permanently secured in the closed position or sealed with materials consistent with the corridor construction. F
Exception: In buildings of Group R-2, where the egress system is fully sprinklered, existing transoms in corridors and other fire rated walls may be maintained if fixed in the closed position. A sprinkler head shall be installed on each side of the transom. If the above sprinkler system is not otherwise required, it may be domestically supplied provided that it is properly engineered to the satisfaction of the authority having jurisdiction.
904.4.3 Dead end corridors: In other than use group A, existing dead end corridors in any rehabilitation work area shall not exceed 35 feet. Newly constructed dead end corridors shall comply with NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, for new buildings. F
Exceptions:
1. Where existing dead-end corridors of greater length are permitted by NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, for existing buildings.
2. In other than Group A, the maximum length of an existing dead end corridor shall be 50 feet in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Fire Safety Code.
904.5 Door swing: Existing front or main entry doors need not swing in the direction of exit travel when serving fewer than 50 persons, or if official having jurisdiction determines that other approved exits have sufficient capacity to serve the total occupant load. F
904.6 Interior finishes: The existing finishes of walls and ceilings shall be accepted where it is demonstrated that it is the historical finish. F
Exception: Finishes in exitways shall have a flame-spread classification of Class C or better in accordance with NFPA 101, Life Safety Code for new construction. Existing nonconforming materials shall be surfaced with an approved fire-retardant paint or finish unless the building is equipped throughout with an automatic fire sprinkler system installed in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for Installation of Sprinkler Systems.
904.7 Stairway Enclosure
904.7.1 Stairway enclosures may be omitted in a historical building where such stairway serves only one adjacent floor. F
904.7.2 In buildings of three stories or less, exit enclosure construction shall limit the spread of smoke by the use of tight fitting doors and solid elements. Such elements need not have a fire rating. F
904.7.3 Riser height and tread width: When stairs are replaced or repaired, the existing or original riser height and tread width shall be permitted to remain. F
904.7.4 Approved sprinkler systems or other solutions may be considered in lieu of enclosure of a stairway. F
904.8 One-hour fire-resistive assemblies: Where one-hour fire-resistive construction is required by this code in buildings protected throughout by a fire alarm system installed in accordance with section 602.6 of this Code, one-hour construction need not be provided regardless of construction or occupancy where the existing wall and ceiling finish is wood lathe and plaster that is in good condition and egress system doors maintain an approximate fire rating of at least twenty (20) minutes or are otherwise protected as outlined in section 904.4.1 above. F
904.8.1 Stairway railing: Historically significant stairways shall be accepted without complying with the handrail and guardrail requirements. Existing handrails and guards shall be permitted to remain provided they are not structurally dangerous. Stairway railings may be reconstructed with handrails matching the original handrails. F
904.8.2 Guardrails: Guardrails of at least 30 inches in height shall be accepted and the existing or original baluster spacing permitted to remain where the vertical drop does not exceed 48 inches. Historically significant guardrails of lesser dimension, deemed not to be hazardous by the authority having jurisdiction, shall also be allowed to remain. F
904.8.3 One-hour fire-resistive construction may be omitted when existing building is fully sprinklered. F
904.8.4 Occupancy separations of more than one hour may be reduced to one-hour fire-resistive construction with all openings protected by not less than 3/4 hour fire-resistive assemblies of the self-closing or automatic-closing type when building is fully sprinklered. F
904.8.5 Winders: Existing winders that are in good structural repair will be permitted to remain in R-2 occupancies, or in buildings with an occupant load less than 50, or if there is a second approved means of egress, or if the building is protected throughout with an approved fire alarm system. F
904.9 Exit signs: The local jurisdiction shall accept alternate exit sign or egress path marking location where such signs or markings would have an adverse effect upon the historical character. Alternative signs shall identify the exits and egress path. F
904.10 Sprinkler alternative: After review of the report specified in 901.2 of this Code, every historical building which does not conform to the construction requirements specified in other chapters of this Code for the occupancy or use and which, due to conditions not addressed in this Chapter in the opinion of the local fire official constitutes a fire safety hazard, shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for Installation of Sprinkler Systems. However, such automatic sprinkler system shall not be used to substitute for, or act as an alternate to, the required number of exits from any facility. F
**Note: Only the section analyzed by the PHASYS team is included here as the entire regulation exceeded ~100 pages.
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