What's happening
This bill requires all internal stairwell doors in certain buildings to have fire-resistant transparent panels for increased visibility and safety.
Why it matters
Improves emergency response. By requiring fire- and heat-resistant transparent panels in stairwell doors, the bill enables first responders and building occupants to see into stairwells during emergencies, potentially speeding up evacuations and rescues.
Reduces risk of hidden hazards. Enhanced visibility helps both residents and emergency personnel quickly spot smoke, fire, or trapped individuals on the other side of the door, reducing the chance of inadvertently opening a door into danger.
Mandates upgrades for existing buildings. The bill applies retroactively, meaning many current buildings—not just new construction—will need to retrofit their stairwell doors, which could involve significant investment but also lead to a higher overall safety standard.
Focuses on fire safety without sacrificing door integrity. The requirement specifies fire department-approved materials, ensuring that increased visibility will not compromise the fire- and heat-resistance properties critical for containment during a fire.
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Who cares
Multiple-dwelling owners and managers
They would have to fit or retrofit internal stairwell doors and doors between buildings with fire department-approved, fire- and heat-resistant transparent panes.
Tenants in multiple dwellings
The required transparent panes would allow visibility and safe passage through internal stairwell doors and doors between buildings.
Fire departments
The bill would require their approval of the fire- and heat-resistant transparent material used in the covered doors.
Door manufacturers and installers
The bill would require transparent material in covered doors, including retrofits of existing doors in multiple dwellings.
Headline styles
Require See-Through Stairwell Doors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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
1361
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
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.
LBD06660-01-9
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.