Section 50.93. Special stage regulations

Stages used for theatrical, musical and like performances which are equipped with a rigging loft or fly gallery shall comply with the following:

(1) Stage enclosure walls. Every stage shall be enclosed on all sides with solid walls of not less than 2-hour fire resistance rating extending continuously from foundation to at least 4 feet above the roof.

(2) Stage floor construction. The entire stage, except the portion used for the working of scenery, traps and other mechanical apparatus for the presentation of a scene, and the roof over the stage may not be less than 3-hour fire resistance rated construction. Openings through the stage floor shall be equipped with tight fitting, solid wood trap doors not less than 3 inches in thickness or other materials of equal physical and fire resistance rated properties.

(3) Stage rigging loft. The rigging loft, fly galleries and pin rails shall be constructed of noncombustible materials.

(4) Footlights and stage electrical equipment. Footlights and border lights shall be installed in troughs constructed of noncombustible materials. The switchboard shall be so located as to be readily accessible at all times, and the storage or placing of stage equipment against it is prohibited.

(5) Exterior stage doors. Required exit discharge door openings to the outer air shall be protected with approved self-closing fire doors.

(6) Proscenium wall. There may be no openings in the wall separating the stage from the auditorium except the main proscenium opening; two doorways at the stage level, one on each side thereof; and, where necessary, not more than two doorways to the musician’s pit from the space below the stage floor. Each doorway may not exceed 21 square feet in area and shall be protected with 1 1/2-hour B label fire door assemblies. The distance between the top of the proscenium opening and the ceiling of the stage shall be not less than 5 feet.

(7) Proscenium curtain. The proscenium opening shall be provided with an approved curtain of noncombustible or fire-retardant material so designed and installed that it will protect against passage of flame and smoke for 5 minutes. The curtain shall be operated by an automatic heat activated device to descend instantly and safely and to completely close the proscenium opening at a rate of temperature rise of 15 to 20 F per minute (0.14 C to 0.19 C per second); and by an auxiliary operating device to permit immediate manual closing of the proscenium opening.

(8) Scenery. Combustible materials used in sets and scenery shall be rendered flame resistant.

(9) Stage ventilation. Metal or other approved noncombustible ventilators, equipped with movable shutters or sash shall be provided over the stage, constructed to open automatically and instantly by approved heat activated devices, with an aggregate clear opening of not less than 1/8 the area of the stage.

(10) Dressing and appurtenant rooms.

(i) Construction. Dressing rooms, scene docks, property rooms, work shops and store rooms and compartments appurtenant to the stage shall be fireresistive construction and shall be separated from the stage and other parts of the building by walls of not less than 2-hour fireresistance rating. The rooms shall not be placed immediately over or under the operating stage area.

(ii) Opening protectives. Openings other than to trunk rooms and the necessary doorways at stage level shall not connect the rooms with the stage, and the openings shall be protected with 1-hour self-closing B label fire doors.

(iii) Dressing room and stage exits. Each tier of dressing rooms shall be provided with at least two means of egress, one of which shall lead directly to an exit corridor, outer court or street. Exit stairways from dressing and storage rooms may be unenclosed in the stage area behind the proscenium wall. At least one approved exit shall be provided from each side of the stage and from each side of the space under the stage, and from each fly gallery and from the gridiron to a street, outer court or passageway to a street. A steel ladder shall be provided from the gridiron to a scuttle in the stage roof.