New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 12 - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR › Chapter I - Industrial Board Of Appeals › Subchapter A - The Industrial Code › Part 36 - State Standard Building Code For Places Of Public Assembly › Subpart 36-3 - Special Requirements For Particular Occupancies › Section 36-3.8 - Open air places of public assembly

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a) Scope. This section sets forth the
					 requirements applying to premises other than entirely enclosed buildings which
					 are used for public gatherings. It applies to both new and existing structures
					 except as may be otherwise indicated herein.
(b) General requirements. The general
					 requirements prescribed in this subdivision also apply to the other
					 subdivisions of this section unless otherwise specified.
(1) Grandstands and bleacher construction.
					 Grandstands and bleacher construction shall comply with the requirements of
					 section
					 36-3.7,
					 "Grandstands and bleachers". Stairways in open air structures are not required
					 to be enclosed.
(2) Limit on
					 combustible construction.
(i) Any permanent
					 grandstand or any similar unenclosed structure located in or serving as an open
					 air place of public assembly, of wood frame construction hereafter constructed,
					 shall be separated from other structures of combustible construction by an open
					 space at least 15 feet wide.
(ii)
					 If the space beneath any grandstand is used for any purpose except exitways,
					 the portion of the space so used shall be fully enclosed by ceilings and
					 partitions having a fire-resistance rating of at least one hour.
(iii) No permanent grandstand of wood frame
					 construction shall have more than one tier of seats.
(3) Openings in floor or seating space.
					 Openings in the floor or seating space of any permanent open air place of
					 public assembly which exceed one-half inch in any dimension, and which are
					 above any space occupied by the public, shall have thereunder a protective
					 guard of one-half inch wire mesh.
(4) Seats and aisles.
(i) In permanent grandstands every seat shall
					 be fastened securely in place except in boxes containing not more than 16
					 portable seats or chairs.
(ii) The
					 provisions of section
					 36-3.7 
					 regarding seats and aisles shall be complied with.
(iii) All aisles shall be kept unobstructed
					 and no person except an employee shall be allowed to occupy same except while
					 passing in or out.
(5)
					 Exits.
(i) Distance of travel. The distance
					 of travel from any seat to a public way, an open field or other adequate open
					 space, shall not exceed 150 feet in open air places of public
					 assembly.
(ii) Minimum and maximum
					 widths. In open air places of public assembly, the minimum width of any doorway
					 or gateway used by the public shall be three feet, and of any corridor,
					 passage, ramp or stairway four feet. Every such means of exit shall be
					 increased in width cumulatively towards the outside exit doorways or gateways
					 so that a clear width will be provided at the rate of 12 inches for each 50
					 persons served in the case of stairways and eight inches for each 50 persons
					 served by doorways, gateways, corridors, passages and ramps.
(iii) No turnstiles are permitted in any
					 required means of exit.
(iv) Exit
					 connections. Every crossaisle, corridor, passageway, ramp or stairway shall
					 lead to or be directly connected with an outside exit doorway or gateway on the
					 main exit level, or with an open field or other adequate open space leading to
					 an outside exit.
(6)
					 Lighting.
(i) During occupancy, all open air
					 places of public assembly, and the exitways and aisles therein shall be lighted
					 as required by subdivision (e) of section
					 36-2.6.
(ii) In addition to the above requirements,
					 all tents having a seated audience of over 300 shall comply with the
					 requirements of subdivision (f) of section
					 36-2.6 
					 regarding an emergency source of light.
(7) Removal of combustible trash. The site
					 shall be cleared of all straw, dry grass and similar combustible matter for at
					 least 50 feet from all combustible structures.
(8) Sanitary facilities. Clean and adequate
					 toilet rooms or enclosures properly designated for both sexes shall be
					 provided. In places to be occupied more than two successive days, the
					 provisions of section
					 36-2.8 
					 apply.