CHAPTER 4. BUILDING ENTRANCE AND CIRCULATION

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

4-1. GENERAL. Public spaces for building entrance and circulation

within residential and community buildings shall be

consistent with the MPS and provide for the following:

a\. Safe building entrances;

b\. Vertical and horizontal circulation throughout the

building and access to all interior residential and

community facilities; and

c\. Safe, unobstructed and direct fire egress in compliance

with relevant fire codes.

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CHAPTER 4. BUILDING ENTRANCE AND CIRCULATION

SECTION 1: MANDATORY STANDARDS

4-2. PUBLIC SPACES.

a\. Lighting. When replacement lighting is needed, permanent

ceiling or wall-mounted lighting fixtures shall be

provided in all public interior spaces for safe and

convenient use. For technical requirements, see

paragraph 7-4

b\. Waste Receptacles. Interior public spaces shall have a

sufficient number of waste receptacles to keep spaces

free of litter.

c\. Reserved.

4-3. BUILDING ENTRANCES AND LOBBIES.

a\. Building Entrances. Building entrances shall be

accessible from a paved path from both parking areas and

public transportation drop-offs where these paths are on

PHA property. In suburban or rural areas, the paths to

public transportation drop-offs shall be consistent with

the type of all-weather surfaces normally provided. The

junction point between path and building entrance shall

have a platform (which may be the same height as the

sidewalk). Building entrances shall be clearly defined

by interior and exterior lighting, signs, and entrance

area and path definition as required.

b\. Lobbies. Lobbies or entrance vestibules shall be in safe

and sound condition, structurally stable, and anchored as

required. Roofs shall not leak and shall be drained.

For technical requirements, see Chapter 9. Vestibules

may be provided when determined to be cost-effective in

terms of energy conservation.

c\. Reserved.

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4-4. HALLS AND CORRIDORS. Halls and corridors shall provide safe

circulation between dwelling units, between dwelling units

and other spaces, and to various means of exit. Corridors

used as a mean of fire egress shall Provide a continuous and

unobstructed means of travel from any point in a building to

a public way or the building exterior.

4-5. STAIRWAYS.

a\. Stairways. Interior public stairways shall provide for

safe ascent and descent of persons under normal and

emergency conditions. Stairways used for required fire

egress shall comply with the NEPA 101 Life Safety Code

and all other relevant codes. For technical requirements

for fire protection, see paragraph 2-2. Stair structure,

treads and risers shall be in sound condition, properly

supported and anchored, and capable of supporting

anticipated loads. Structure and finish materials shall

be free of splintering, rust or other material

deterioration. Stair treads shall have non-slip

surfaces.

b\. Handrails. Stairways shall have a minimum of one

continuous handrail mounted between 30 inches and 36

inches above the floor or tread. Stairways wider than 44

inches shall have handrails on both sides, and those

wider than 88 inches shall additionally have an

intermediate handrail at the stair center. Handrails

shall be in sound condition, secured and capable of

supporting anticipated loads. Handrails shall be free of

splintering, rust or other material deterioration.

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SECTION 2: PROJECT SPECIFIC STANDARDS

4-2B. PUBLIC SPACES.

a\. Lighting. Where light bulbs are frequently removed or

abused, special locking systems requiring special tools,

left hand bulbs, vandal proof fixtures or key switches

should be considered.

b\. Reserved.

c\. Security. Hidden and unused spaces adjacent to or part

of corridors, stairways or other interior public spaces

that are potential hiding places for criminals or vandals

may be eliminated by the construction of walls. This

includes unused lobby or vestibule space, and alcoves

adjacent to corridors, stairs and other public spaces.

Where this is not possible, vandal-resistant wide-angle

surveillance mirrors may be provided.

4-3B. BUILDING ENTRANCES AND LOBBIES.

a\. Reserved.

b\. Lobbies. Entrances vestibules may be provided where

justified for security reasons. Where provided, the

interior of new entrance vestibules should be visible

from the outer entrance. Multi-family building

vestibules should be glazed with tempered glass to

provide visibility. Single unit vestibules should have a

door with a vision panel or equivalent safety glazing for

this purpose.

c\. Security. New building entrances may be designed to

control the entrance of unauthorized persons, as well as

create an environment that deters crime and vandalism.

\(1\) Security Systems. Where necessary, building

entrances may have controlled key entry systems as

determined in paragraph lO-7B(g) or any of the

following surveillance systems:

\(a\) Buzzer intercom systems;

\(b\) Telephone intercom systems;

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\(c\) Audio surveillance of elevators by tenants;

\(d\) Tenant-monitored televisions on unused standard

television channels; or

\(e\) Video surveillance of lobbies, elevators and

adjacent play and parking areas.

Note: Before installation of new security systems,

reasons for the failure of any previous systems

should be reviewed. Tenant representatives should

be involved in the review of previous, existing and

new systems.

\(2\) Consolidated Entrance. Buildings with more than one

exit that can be consolidated into one central

entrance/exit may be altered provided all relevant

fire codes can be met.

\(3\) Visibility into Entrance Lobbies. Persons about to

enter lobby or vestibule spaces should be able to

see interior entrance spaces prior to entry, through

door and window glazing or relevant surveillance

systems. Required lighting should illuminate the

exterior building entrance and the lobby. Elevator

lobbies should be visible directly from the public

entrance or by wall or ceiling mounted wide-angle

surveillance mirrors made of vandal-resistant

materials.

4-4B. RESERVED.

4-5B. STAIRWAYS. When interior stairways are continually

vandalized and are the location of crime, the following may

be implemented:

a\. Increase glazing and visibility on enclosure walls and

walls facing public areas;

b\. If the stairway is used only for emergency exit, install

self-locking stair hall doors to prevent reentry from

stair; or

c\. Replace interior stair with exterior stair for increased

visibility and surveillance.

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