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(a) Generally. Every dwelling unit shall have access directly to the outdoors or to a public corridor. All buildings or portions thereof shall be provided with exits, exitways and appurtenances as follows:

(1) Every dwelling unit, two or more stories in height, shall have access to not less than two exits.

(2) A fire escape, as specified in this section, may be used as one required exit, provided that two-story buildings having an occupant load of ten or less on the second story may be exempt from this requirement.

(3) Basements used for human habitation must have two means of egress, one being the entrance door, and any window that meets the specification for sill height of 44 inches and square foot area of 5.7 square feet of openable window area.

(4) Every sleeping room lower than the fifth story shall have at least one operable window or exterior door as a secondary means of egress which is approved for emergency escape or rescue.

All escape or rescue doors or windows from sleeping rooms shall have a minimum net clear opening area of 3.4 square feet and shall be operable from the inside to provide a full, clear opening without the use of separate tools. The minimum net clear opening height dimension shall be 24 inches. The minimum net clear opening width dimension shall be 20 inches. Nothing in this requirement shall, however, allow existing escape windows, as required in this section, to be reduced in overall net clear opening or width or height to less than their existing dimensions. Where windows are provided as a means of emergency escape or rescue, they shall have a finished sill height of not more than 44 inches above the floor.

Bars, grills, grates, or similar devices may be installed on required emergency escape or rescue windows or doors, provided that such devices are equipped with release mechanisms, approved by the city manager's designee, which are openable from the inside without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort and provided that such installation shall not, in any way, reduce either the existing net clear opening area or dimensions or reduce the net clear opening area or dimensions to less than those required in this section.

(b) Stairways and exits. All buildings or portions thereof required to have exits of stairways to comply with subsection (a) of this section shall meet the following requirements:

(1) All stairs having four or more risers must be provided with a handrail and have maximum tread runs and risers, as specified in the building code.

(2) All stairs shall have a minimum run of nine inches and a maximum rise of eight inches and a minimum width exclusive of handrails of 30 inches. Every stairway shall have at least one handrail not less than 30 inches nor more than 34 inches above the nosing of the treads. A landing having a minimum horizontal dimension of 30 inches shall be provided at each point of access to the stairway.

(3) Exterior stairs shall be of noncombustible material or of wood not less than two inches nominal thickness with solid treads.

(4) A fire escape may be used as one means of egress if the pitch does not exceed 60 degrees, the width is not less than 18 inches, the treads are not less than four inches wide, it is provided with handrails on each side placed not less than 30 inches nor more than 34 inches above the nosing of the treads, and it extends to the ground or is provided with counterbalance stairs reaching to the ground. Access shall be by an opening having minimum dimensions of 29 inches when open. The sill shall be not more than 30 inches above the floor and landing.

(5) Required exits serving an occupant load of more than 50 shall swing in the direction of exit travel, shall be self-closing, and shall be openable from the inside without the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort. Required exit doors, when opened, shall not reduce the required width of a stairway more than six inches. Nonapproved openings from corridors to rooms in group R, division 1, occupancies shall be replaced with approved openings or covered with an approved material.

(6) Required exits or exitways or change of direction of an exitway serving an occupant load of more than 50 shall be marked with an illuminated exit sign having letters at least five inches high. (Ord. No. 2006-78, § 1(Exh. A), 1-8-2007)