Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceP
I may be wrong, but doesn't the Chicago building code now require that external fire escapes be replaced with internal fire stairs when there's a substantial renovation? Like when 100 W. Monroe was converted to the Hyatt Centric?
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As ardecila said, it's primarily triggered by a change of occupancy. Office buildings with fire escapes can continue to use them for as long as the building remains an office building. The conversion to residential or hotel requires that internal stairs meet the current code. Even London House, which already had two internal stairs had to have one completely rebuilt as the second stair did not meet the minimum width requirements. Now if an office building were to introduce a large conference center on an upper floor, that would be considered an assembly use and also likely require that internal stairs be adequate.