This document outlines specific building code requirements for the Miami-Dade area (1935), focusing on egress, heating systems, and structural safety.
Egress and Stairways
Stairways must lead directly to the street or via fire-resistive passageways, with specific width requirements based on the aggregate width of exits (p. 245). For buildings with sleeping rooms, schools, or detention facilities, exits must allow travel in either direction from any point in a corridor (p. 245). Stairway dimensions are strictly regulated: a minimum width of 44 inches is required for most uses, reducing to 3 feet for certain dwellings (p. 246). The maximum rise for stair treads is 7.5 inches, with a minimum tread of 10 inches, except for dwellings and mezzanines where an 8-inch rise and 9-inch tread are permitted (p. 246). Landings must be at least 44 inches in length and width (p. 247). These requirements align with broader egress-and-exit-standards.
Exit Enclosures and Smokeproof Towers
Interior stairways in buildings three stories or more must be enclosed with two-hour fire-resistive construction (p. 247). Group D, E, F, G, and H occupancies in buildings three stories or more are required to have smokeproof-tower constructed of incombustible materials with four-hour fire-resistive walls (p. 250). These towers must provide continuous egress to street grade and include vestibules or balconies open to the exterior to prevent smoke infiltration (p. 250-251). Horizontal exits may be used if protected by one-hour fire-resistive doors (p. 249). These provisions support fire-separation-standards and vertical-opening-enclosure.
Doors, Windows, and Skylights
Doors in exit enclosures must be self-closing and of one-hour fire-resistive construction (p. 245). Plate glass windows on the first floor facing public streets must be at least 1/4 inch thick and set in non-corrosive metal (p. 252). Buildings more than three stories high must provide devices for safe exterior window cleaning (p. 252). Skylights above the first story must be set at least one foot above the roof if the glass angle is less than 45 degrees from horizontal (p. 253). Wire glass is required for skylights unless ventilation provisions are met (p. 253). These specifications relate to building-material-specifications.
Chimneys and Heating Apparatus
Chimneys must be constructed of brick, concrete, stone, or hollow tile with flue linings of fire clay or refractory materials (p. 256). Flue linings must have a softening point of at least 1994°F and be at least 5/8 inch thick (p. 256). Masonry smokestacks for industrial uses must conform to engineering standards for wind stresses (p. 260). Gas vents must use unglazed fire clay or concrete tile pipe, with specific clearance requirements from combustible materials (p. 261). Patent chimneys must have a one-inch air space between the flue lining and the metal casing (p. 262). Warm air furnaces burning solid or liquid fuel must be encased in a double metal shield and protected with sand on top (p. 263-264). These requirements ensure fire-resistive-construction-requirements are met for heating installations.