Hot Work & Fire Prevention
Emergency Egress
Safe Exit Access
Safe Exit Access
NFPA 101 Life Safety Code · NYC FC §1027 · OSHA 1926.34 · Clear Egress at All Times
In a construction site emergency — fire, structural failure, explosion — workers must be able to evacuate quickly, in the dark, through smoke, down multiple floors. The means of egress that seems like a storage convenience today is a death trap tomorrow. Egress on NYC construction sites is not flexible and not negotiable.
What Must Always Be Clear
- All required egress stairways: zero storage allowed. Not materials, not tools, not a single pallet — nothing
- All exit doors and gates: must open from the inside without a key, special knowledge, or special tools
- Access to every stairway on every floor: a clear path of at least 28 inches minimum at all times
- All temporary egress openings (floors where permanent stairs haven't been installed): must have ladder access to the next level and be clearly marked
Lighting Requirements
- Egress routes must be illuminated to a minimum of 1 foot-candle at floor level — verify lighting is working before each shift
- Battery-powered emergency lighting required at all stair landings when primary power could be interrupted
- Floors without power: portable lighting with GFCI protection must be provided for egress routes
NYC Assembly Point Protocol
- Every worker on this site must know the designated assembly point before starting work — it is covered in the safety orientation (PL-021)
- GC must conduct a roll call at the assembly point after any evacuation — no one re-enters until the GC confirms a complete headcount
- FDNY requires the assembly point to be far enough from the building that it does not interfere with fire apparatus access — typically across the street
Discussion Questions
- Where is the designated emergency assembly point for this site?
- You arrive on your floor and find two pallets of block stored in front of the stairwell door. What do you do?
- The primary lighting fails in the stairwell. There is no emergency lighting. What should have been in place, and what do you do now?
- After a fire alarm evacuation, a worker starts walking back into the building because "it's probably nothing." What is the correct response?
Sign-Off
Project Address
Date
Time
Foreman / Supervisor
SSM / SSC Name & License No.
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