3. Night Club Retrofit
N. J. A. C. 5:70 – 4. 7

4. Night Club Retrofit Objectives Define what is a night club
What are the requirements under the Code
Why where these requirements mandated
How to get compliance with the Code
What sections of Sub. Chapter 4 apply.

5. Night Club Retrofit Definition:
"Use Group A-2 (night clubs)": Include all buildings and places of public assembly, designed for use as dance halls, nightclubs, eating and/or drinking establishments, and similar occupancies, in which the established maximum permitted occupant load exceeds the number of seats provided by more than 30 percent or which affords less than 12 square feet net area per occupant. For purposes of determining the net area per occupant, only the actual public assembly room or rooms shall be considered. For purposes of applying the requirements of this chapter, the nightclub shall include all rooms, lobbies and other spaces connected thereto with a common means of egress and entrance.

6. Points in determining whether or not an assembly space is a nightclub
1. When the maximum occupant load exceeds the amount of seats by 30%. For example, if the maximum occupant load of the building is calculated at 15 square foot net per person totaling 500 occupants, the number of seats provided would need to be at least 350 or more. If there are less than 350 seats, the space would be considered a nightclub

7. Points in determining whether or not an assembly space is a nightclub
2. Consider whether the net square footage affords less than 12 square foot per person. The fire official must verify the occupant load for each assembly space. To determine this, any area which is non-occupiable space must be deducted from the square footage calculations, only the actual occupiable space should be used in the square footage calculations.

8. Points in determining whether or not an assembly space is a nightclub
2. Some examples of non-occupiable spaces would include: thickness of walls, coat rooms, entertainment stages or platforms, closets, fireplaces, pool tables, bathrooms or bars and the serving areas behind a bar. The fire official must start with the gross area of the building and deduct the non-occupiable spaces or areas to determine the net floor area

9. Points in determining whether or not an assembly space is a nightclub
When determining the total occupant load of the nightclub for the examples above you must include all rooms, lobbies and other spaces that share a common means of entrance and egress. The fire official must verify the net occupant load for each room or space that may be occupied if the same entrance or exits are shared

10. Night Club retrofit Code Adoption N.J.A.C. 5:70 – 4.1 (b) 2
Use Group A-2 (nightclubs) shall be in compliance with the applicable requirements of N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.7, 4.9 and 4.11 effective on February 5, 2007 by February 5, 2009.

11. Night Club retrofit N.J.A.C. 5:70 – 4.3
Relationship to Uniform Construction Code
(a) 1 - A building or portion thereof of Use Group A-2 nightclub shall be required to conform to the more restrictive requirements established by this subchapter unless the building is in full compliance with the Building Officials and Code Administrators National Building Code, 1990 edition or a later edition of the building sub-code of the Uniform Construction Code, and possesses a valid certificate of occupancy.

12. Night Club retrofit N.J.A.C. 5:70 – 4.3
Relationship to Uniform Construction Code
(a) 2 - A variation issued in writing pursuant to the Uniform Construction Code in connection with the construction of a building shall remain in force and effect provided that all of the conditions of the variation continue to be met and shall not be reversed or modified for purposes of establishing compliance with this subchapter.

13. Night Club retrofit Requirements:
N.J.A.C. 5:70 – 4.7 (Fire Suppression System)
N.J.A.C. 5:70 – 4.9 (Automatic Fire Alarms)
N.J.A.C. 5:70 – 4.10 (Manual Fire Alarms)
N.J.A.C. 5:70 – 4.11 (Means of Egress)

14. Why are these requirements mandated?
Night Club retrofit
Why are these requirements mandated?

15. Historic Night Club Fires
Boston, Nov. 28, 1942.
Coconut Grove
492 people killed
Deadliest night club fire in U. S. history
Smoke rises from the fire raging through the Cocoanut Grove nightclub.

16. Historic Night Club Fires
Occupant load 460
People inside approx. 1,000
In five minutes, flames had spread to the main clubroom and the entire nightclub was ablaze

17. Historic Night Club Fires
Natchez, MS. Aprl. 23, 1940
Rhythm Night Club
209 people killed
The second deadliest night club fire in U. S. history

18. Historic Night Club Fires
Southgate, Ky. May 28, 1977
Beverly Hills Supper Club
164 people killed
Third deadliest night club fire in U.S. history
Many of whom became jammed in exit doors as they tried to escape

19. Historic Night Club Fires
West Warwick, RI. Feb. 20, 2003
The Station Night Club
100 people died (96 during incident)
The fourth deadliest night club fire in U. S. history

20. Historic Night Club Fires
Occupant load 300
462 people inside
4 exits
The building was involved inside of three minutes

21. Historic Night Club Fires
New York City, NY. Mar 22, 1990
Happy Land Social Club
87 people killed

22. Fire Suppression System
N.J.A.C. 5: Fire Suppression System
(a) All buildings of Use Group A-2 (nightclubs) or portions thereof when separated in accordance with (1) below shall be equipped throughout with an automatic fire suppression system installed in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code where any of the conditions in (a)1, 2 or 3 below exist:

23. Fire Suppression System
4.7-(a) 1-
The A-2 (nightclub) Use or portion thereof is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge. For purposes of applying this paragraph, the level of exit discharge shall be defined as having all exits discharging not more than five feet above, nor more than two feet below, the adjacent grade

24. Fire Suppression System
4.7 – (a)2. The building or portion thereof has an occupant load of 300 or more
     i. Voluntarily limiting occupant load in a space that will accommodate a greater number shall not be permitted for purposes of determining whether suppression is required. The nightclub space itself may be reduced to a size such that the occupant load calculated in accordance with Table 5: (f)3 at  5: (f)3 is fewer than 300

25. Fire Suppression System
If this option is chosen, then the following conditions shall apply:
(1) The nightclub space shall be separated from other portions of the building through the use of one hour fire resistance rated assemblies constructed in accordance with the building sub code of the U. C. C.

26. Fire Suppression System
(2) Opening protective's constructed in accordance with the building sub-code shall be required for all openings between accessory use areas and the nightclub space. For purposes of applying these requirements, accessory use areas shall include, but not be limited to, all back of house spaces, storage rooms, offices, kitchens and coatrooms. Accessory use areas shall not include any assembly spaces

27. Fire Suppression System
(3) No openings shall be permitted between any non accessory use areas and the nightclub
(4) The separated, non-accessory portions of the building shall not contain any assembly uses
(5) The means of egress serving any separated, non- accessory portions of the building and the means of egress serving the nightclub shall be totally independent of one another
(A) Exception: Means of egress shared between a nightclub and a separated, non-accessory space shall be permitted for nightclubs located in buildings of Use Group R-1

28. Fire Suppression System
4.7(a) 3
The building or portion thereof exceeds 5,000 square feet.
4.7(a) 4
The automatic fire suppression system shall be tied to the performance sound system and to the house lights in such a way that activation of the fire suppression system mutes the performance sound system and restores the intensity of illumination to that required by N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.1l(i)2

29. Automatic Fire Alarms N.J.A.C. 5:70 – 4.9 Automatic Fire Alarms 4.9(a)
An automatic fire alarm system shall be installed as required below in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code

30. Automatic Fire Alarms 4.9(a) 9
In all buildings or portions thereof of Use Group A-2 (nightclubs) with an occupant load of 100 or more that are not otherwise required to have an automatic fire suppression system.

31. Automatic Fire Alarms 4.9(a) 9 i
If the alarm is activated by smoke detectors, it shall be activated by either two cross-zoned smoke detectors within a single protected area or a single smoke detector monitored by an alarm verification zone or an approved equivalent method and the smoke detectors shall be of a type designed to reduce the possibility of false notifications based on the conditions present in the area protected

32. Automatic Fire Alarms 4.9 (a) 9 ii
The automatic fire alarm system shall be tied to the performance sound system and to the house lights in such a way that activation of the fire detection system mutes the performance sound system and restores the intensity of illumination to that required by N.J.A.C. 5: (i)2.

33. Manual Fire Alarms N.J.A.C. 5:70 – 4.10
4.10 (a) - A manual fire alarm system, designed and installed in accordance with the Uniform Construction Code, shall be required
4.10 (a) 3 - In all buildings required to have an automatic fire alarm system in accordance with  5:70-4.9, except …

34. Means of Egress N.J.A.C. 4.11 Means of Egress 4.11(f)
The capacity of means of egress in each story shall be sufficient for the occupant load thereof.
4.11(f) 3
The maximum permitted occupant load of a given space shall be determined by dividing the floor area for a given use by the occupant load factor in Table 5: (f)3.
i. Except in Use Group A-2 (nightclubs), the occupant load may be equal to the total number of occupants for whom exit capacity is provided as determined by (f)1 above. The resulting total occupant load shall not exceed one occupant per five square feet of net floor area over the entire use.

35. Means of Egress
4.11(g)
All buildings of Use Group A with an occupant load of 100 or more shall be provided with a main entrance capable of serving as the main exit with an egress capacity for at least one-half the total occupant load. The remaining exits shall be capable of providing two-thirds of the total required exit capacity.

36. Means of Egress
4.11(g) 1
For Use Group A-2 (nightclubs), the main exit and at least one remaining exit shall be placed a distance apart equal to one-half the length of the maximum overall diagonal distance of the area served in buildings not equipped throughout with an automatic fire sprinkler system and one-third the maximum overall diagonal distance of the area served in buildings or portions thereof that are equipped throughout with an automatic fire sprinkler system.

37. Means of Egress
4.11(g) 2
Use Group A-2 (nightclub) buildings or portions thereof with an occupant load of more than 300 shall have a main entrance capable of serving as the main exit with an egress capacity for at least two-thirds of the total occupant load. The remaining exits shall also be capable of providing two-thirds of the total required exit capacity

38. Means of Egress
4.11(i)
All means of egress shall be provided with artificial illumination

39. Means of Egress
4.11(i) 3i
The lighting of exits, aisles, auditoriums and other assembly spaces shall be controlled from a location inaccessible to unauthorized persons. Supplementary control shall also be provided in the motion picture projection room or lighting booth, if any.

40. Means of Egress
4.11(i) 3ii
In assembly spaces, illumination shall be restored automatically to the level required by (i)2 above upon activation of the fire suppression or fire alarm system.

41. Common Questions
1- Does the regulation apply to social clubs, fire houses, elks lodge, church halls, etc.? The rooms within these establishments may fall into the nightclub definition on a day-by-day basis or weekly basis depending on their seating for a particular event.

42. Answer
The definition is based upon net area per occupant and thus limits the applicability of the requirement. Only nightclubs and not all eating and drinking establishments are covered. The requirements for nightclub fire safety must apply equally to all establishments that meet the definition of nightclub regardless of whether the space is used for a different purpose at different times of the day.

43. Answer Con’t
If the established maximum permitted occupant load exceeds the number of seats provided by more than 30 percent or there is less than 12 square feet net area per occupant, then it is a nightclub and the rules apply.

44. Question
How is the interconnection of lights and sound to the alarms being handled for a facility that uses temporary set-ups with different power sources?
Answer: The installation would require an electrical permit under the UCC. If the wiring/configuration is different every time, then they would need to secure an electrical permit every time.

45. The Station Club (NO Sprinklers)

46. The Station Club (WITH Sprinklers)

47. Summary for Nightclubs
Suppression Retains the current threshold of 300 occupants, but rescinds the existing provision which allows owners to limit occupancy voluntarily in order to fall below the threshold. Also requires suppression for all nightclubs that are not at grade and for all nightclubs greater than 5,000 sq. ft. in area.

48. Summary for Nightclubs
House Lights and Sound System - Requires that the house lights and the performance sound system be tied to the suppression system and to the detection system so that an activation of either of these systems would cause the house lights to return to the required level for egress lighting and the performance sound system to shut down.

49. Summary for Nightclubs
Automatic Fire Detection - Requires full automatic fire detection systems throughout all nightclubs with an occupant load of 100 or more that do not have suppression systems.

50. Summary for Nightclubs
Exits - Mandates that at least two thirds of the required egress capacity be at the main entrance (or entrances) for nightclubs with an occupant load greater than (This is in addition to the two thirds of the egress capacity required to be provided by other exits.) Also establishes requirements for the remoteness of exits (requirement that the exits be separated from one another by a minimum distance.) And calls for the occupant load to be calculated based on the number of people the space will hold, similar to establishing the threshold for the suppression system requirement.

51. Summary for Nightclubs
(Use) Group Definition - Adds a standard for identifying "high occupancy" establishments to the definition of nightclub. Currently, the Uniform Fire Code addresses only clubs with a maximum permitted occupant load that exceeds the number of seats provided by more than 30 percent. The proposed definition includes buildings or spaces which afford less than 12 square feet net area per occupant, regardless of whether there is seating for all occupants.

52. A copy of the bulletin outlining the regulations covered in this presentation can be found at the Division of Fire Safety’s website
and clicking on the link for Subchapter 4 Retrofit Regulations for Nightclubs

53. If there are any questions, you can contact the Division of Fire Safety at (609) or you can submit a question on our website, using the 2006 International Fire Code – New Jersey Edition Question button