What's happening
This bill requires all internal stairwell doors in certain New York buildings to have fire-resistant transparent panels for visibility and safer passage.
Why it matters
Enhanced emergency safety. By requiring fire-resistant transparent panels in stairwell doors, the bill aims to improve visibility during emergencies, allowing building occupants and first responders to see if stairwells are blocked by smoke, fire, or people, potentially reducing confusion and panic.
First responder effectiveness. Firefighters and rescue personnel will be able to assess stairwell conditions without opening doors, helping them make faster, safer decisions during fire events and possibly speeding up rescue or evacuation efforts.
Building modernization and compliance. The bill could prompt older buildings to upgrade door systems to meet new safety standards, leading to broader improvements in fire safety infrastructure across multi-dwelling residences.
Balancing security and safety. By specifying "fire department approved" materials, the law seeks to ensure that new panels do not compromise fire resistance, addressing common concerns that windows in doors might weaken barriers to fire and heat.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Make Stairwell Doors See-Through
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2615
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 20, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law and the multiple dwelling law, in relation to visibility of enclosed internal stairwells of buildings
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 378 of the executive law, as added by chapter 707 of the laws of 1981, is amended to read as follows:
2. Standards for the condition, occupancy, maintenance, conservation, rehabilitation and renewal of certain existing buildings, structures and premises and for the safeguarding of life and property therein and thereabout from the hazards of fire, explosion or release of toxic gases arising from the storage, handling or use of combustible or hazardous substances, materials or devices including, but not limited to, fire department approved fire and heat resistant transparent material in the construction of all doors that provide ingress or egress to stairwells and doors between such buildings to allow for visibility and safe passage through such doors.
§ 2. Section 52 of the multiple dwelling law is amended by adding a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
9. Notwithstanding any subdivision of this section to the contrary, all internal stairwell doors and doors between such buildings shall also be fitted or refitted with a pane of fire department approved fire and heat resistant transparent material to allow for visibility and safe passage through such doors.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that the amendment to subdivision 2 of section 378 of the executive law made by section one of this act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08109-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.