Wisconsin Legislature: Chapter SPS 379

Ch. SPS 379 NoteNote: Chapter Ind 164 was renumbered chapter ILHR 79 under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., Register, June, 1995, No. 474; chapter ILHR 79 was renumbered chapter Comm 79 under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., and corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, May, 1998, No. 509. Chapter Comm 79 was renumbered chapter SPS 379 under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

Ch. SPS 379 NoteNote: For rooms which accommodate more than 100 persons, see ch. SPS 377, theaters and assembly halls.

SPS 379.001SPS 379.001 Scope; apartment houses. Under this classification is included every building or part of a building occupied as the residence of 3 or more families living independently, or occupied by 2 such families and also used for business purposes.

SPS 379.001 HistoryHistory: 1-2-56; renum., Register, September, 1974, No. 225, eff. 10-1-74.

SPS 379.01SPS 379.01 Hotels and places of detention. Under this classification are included all hotels, lodging and boarding houses, club houses, dormitories, convents, monasteries, hospitals, homes for the aged and infirm, nursing homes, convalescent homes, convalescent hospitals, asylums, jails and other places of detention, including every building or part of a building used for sleeping or lodging purposes by 3 or more persons not members of a family.

SPS 379.01 NoteNote: Where the following requirements refer to “families” or “apartments,” the requirements apply to apartment houses; where they refer to“persons” or “rooms,” the requirements apply to hotels and other places as listed in s. SPS 379.01.

SPS 379.01 HistoryHistory: 1-2-56; renum., Register, September, 1974, No. 225, eff. 10-1-74; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

SPS 379.02SPS 379.02 Exits; number and location.

SPS 379.02(1)(1) In every apartment house there shall be at least 2 exits accessible from each apartment without passing through another apartment.

SPS 379.02(2)(2) In every hotel, place of detention or other occupancy listed in s. SPS 379.01, there shall be at least 2 exits from each floor. The number and location of such exits shall be such that in case if any exit or passageway is blocked at any point, some other exit will still be accessible through public passageways from every room, except that in fire-resistive buildings a total area of not more than 1200 square feet may be placed between an exit and the end of the building.

SPS 379.02 HistoryHistory: 1-2-56; renum. and am., Register, September, 1974, No. 225, eff. 10-1-74; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, June, 1995, No. 474; correction in (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

SPS 379.03SPS 379.03 Type of exits. The exits herein required shall be either stairways, or fire escapes, or horizontal exits as described in s. SPS 375.12.

SPS 379.03 HistoryHistory: 1-2-56; renum. and am., Register, September, 1974, No. 225, eff. 10-1-74; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

SPS 379.04SPS 379.04 Fire escapes.

SPS 379.04(1)(1) Fire escapes hereafter constructed shall be stairway fire escapes as described in ss. SPS 375.15 to 375.25. Existing stairway fire escapes will be accepted if strongly and properly built and in good condition. Fire escapes constructed on hospitals and sanitariums, and on hotels or rooming houses over 2 stories in height, shall be “B” type fire escapes. Access to such fire escapes shall be by standard exit doors.

SPS 379.04(2)(2) Every fire escape shall be placed against a blank wall if possible.

SPS 379.04 HistoryHistory: 1-2-56; renum. and am., Register, September, 1974, No. 225, eff. 10-1-74; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, June, 1995, No. 474; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

SPS 379.05SPS 379.05 Stairways.

SPS 379.05(1)(1) Inside stairways at a steeper angle than 45º with the horizontal are not accepted as exits. Every new stairway shall comply with the requirements of s. Ind 51.16, 1956.

SPS 379.05(2)(2) Every stairway which serves as an exit shall lead to a separate exit door.

SPS 379.05(3)(3) Outside stairways heretofore constructed on 2-story buildings will be accepted if in good condition.

SPS 379.05(4)(4) All stairways and shaftways within buildings in the classification described in ss. SPS 379.001 and 379.01 which are 3 or more stories in height shall be enclosed with partitions, including doors, of not less than one-hour fire-resistive construction.

SPS 379.05(5)(5) Except that one stairway may be unenclosed in the first story provided it does not lead to the basement.

SPS 379.05(6)(6) All stairways and steps of more than 3 risers shall have at least one handrail. Stairways and steps which are 5 feet or more in width, or which are open on both sides, shall have a handrail on each side. Rails shall be not less than 2 feet 6 inches vertically above nose of treads or 3 feet 6 inches above platform.

SPS 379.05 HistoryHistory: 1-2-56; renum. and am., Register, September, 1974, No. 225, eff. 10-1-74; corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 4. and 7., Stats., Register, June, 1995, No. 474; correction in (4) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

SPS 379.06SPS 379.06 Basement stairway enclosure. In every building as listed in s. SPS 379.01 more than 2 stories high, every stairway which extends from the basement to the second floor or above, shall be enclosed in the basement with not less than one-hour fire-resistive partitions and doors.

SPS 379.06 HistoryHistory: 1-2-56; renum. and am., Register, September, 1974, No. 225, eff. 10-1-74; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, June, 1995, No. 474; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

SPS 379.07SPS 379.07 Exit doors. All exit doors shall be as required in s. SPS 375.24 except that a door which accommodates not more than 4 families or 20 persons will not be required to swing outward.

SPS 379.07 HistoryHistory: 1-2-56; renum. and am., Register, September, 1974, No. 225, eff. 10-1-74; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, June, 1995, No. 474; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

SPS 379.08SPS 379.08 Exit lights and signs.

SPS 379.08(1)(1) In every building which accommodates more than 4 families or 20 persons, and in every building which accommodates transients, the public passageways, stairways, and exit doors shall be illuminated from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. This illumination shall include lights at all intersections of passageways, at all exits, and at the head and foot of every stairway.

SPS 379.08(2)(2) The lights at all exit doors shall be red lights and shall be accompanied by a sign bearing the word EXIT or OUT, in plain letters not less than 5 inches in height. Exit lights shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the Wisconsin state electrical code and s. SPS 375.24.

SPS 379.08 HistoryHistory: 1-2-56; renum. and am., Register, September, 1974, No. 225, eff. 10-1-74; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, June, 1995, No. 474; correction in (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

SPS 379.09SPS 379.09 Size of rooms. Every sleeping room shall be of sufficient size to afford at least 400 cubic feet of air space for each occupant over 12 years of age, and 200 cubic feet for each occupant under 12 years. No greater number of occupants than the number thus established shall be permitted in any such room.