NY Mult Res L § 55 (2021)
2021 New York Laws MRE - Multiple Residence Article 4 - Hotels and Similar Dwellings Title 1 - Fire Protection 55 - Egress.

§  55. Egress. 1. In every transient dwelling to which this article is   applicable there shall be from each story at least two independent means   of egress accessible  to  each  room,  apartment  or  suite,  except  as   otherwise  provided  in  section  sixty-three  with respect to two story   transient dwellings.2. The first means of egress shall  be  an  enclosed  stair  extending   directly  to  a  street,  or  to  a  yard, court or passageway affording   continuous, safe and unobstructed access to a street, or by an  enclosed   stair  leading  to  the  entrance  story,  which story shall have direct   access to a street. That area of  the  dwelling  immediately  above  the   street  level  and commonly known as the main floor, where the occupants   are registered and the usual business  of  the  dwelling  is  conducted,   shall  be  considered a part of the entrance story; and a required stair   terminating at such main floor or  its  mezzanine  shall  be  deemed  to   terminate  at the entrance story. An elevator or an unenclosed escalator   shall not be acceptable as a required means of egress.3. The second means of egress  shall  be  by  an  additional  enclosed   stair,  conforming to the provisions of subdivision two of this section,   a fire-stair or an outside fire-escape. In a non-fireproof dwelling when   it is necessary to pass through a stair enclosure which may or  may  not   be  a required means of egress to reach a required means of egress, such   stair enclosure and that part of the public  hall  or  corridor  leading   thereto  from  a  room,  apartment  or  suite, shall be fire-retarded as   provided in section fifty-two or protected by a sprinkler system;  in  a   fireproof  dwelling  only  that  part of the hall or corridor leading to   such stair enclosure need be so protected.4. Where it is impractical in such  existing  transient  dwellings  to   provide  a  second means of egress, the department may order, in lieu of   the second means of egress, additional alteration to the first means  of   egress  and  to  shafts,  stairs  and  other  vertical  openings  as the   department  may  deem  necessary  to  safeguard  the  occupants  of  the   dwelling,  may  require  the  public halls providing access to the first   means of egress to be equipped on each story with an automatic sprinkler   system, and, in non-fireproof  dwellings,  may  also  require  automatic   sprinkler heads in the stair which serves as the only means of egress.5. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to require the enclosure of   a  stair  which  is ornamental provided such stair does not connect more   than two stories.6. A stair, fire-stair or  fire-escape  supplementary  to  the  egress   requirements  of  subdivisions  two, three and four of this section need   not lead to the entrance story or to a street, or to a yard or  a  court   which  leads  to  a  street,  provided  the means of egress therefrom is   approved by the department.7. A fire-detecting system shall not be  acceptable  for  any  of  the   requirements of this section.8.  In lieu of enclosing stairways as required by subdivisions two and   three of this section, an automatic sprinkler system may be provided  on   such stairs.9.  All  fire-escapes erected on or after July first, nineteen hundred   fifty-three,  in  compliance  with  this  section,  shall  be  arranged,   constructed  and maintained in accordance with the provisions of section   one hundred thirty-three. Such system shall be installed,  arranged  and   maintained  in a manner satisfactory to the department and in accordance   with rules adopted by the commission. It shall be unlawful to remove any   fire-escape without permission from the department.