2006 New York Code - Two Story Transient Dwellings.

 
    §  63.  Two story transient dwellings. 1. All nursing and convalescent
  homes, homes for the aged, and boarding and nursery schools, two stories
  in height, shall conform with all of the provisions of article four.
    2. Except as provided in subdivision one of  this  section,  the  only
  provisions  of  article  four  which  shall apply to two story transient
  dwellings in existence on July first, nineteen hundred fifty-two,  shall
  be sections sixty, sixty-one, sixty-five, title two and the following:
    a.  Every  such  transient  dwelling  shall have at least two means of
  egress. The first means of egress shall be by an interior  stair  closed
  off  at  the  top  or  bottom. The second means of egress shall be by an
  additional interior stair closed off at the top  or  bottom  or  a  fire
  stair  or fire escape. A second means of egress shall not be required in
  a dwelling containing less than thirty sleeping rooms if the sill of the
  second story window does not exceed fourteen  feet  in  vertical  height
  above  the  ground  or  other  safe landing place immediately below such
  window sill.
    b. Where it is impractical in such transient dwellings  to  provide  a
  second  required  means  of  egress,  the  department may order, in lieu
  thereof, additional alterations to the first  means  of  egress  and  to
  shafts, stairs and other vertical openings to safeguard the occupants of
  the dwelling, may require the public halls providing access to the first
  means  of  egress  to  be  equipped  on  both  stories with an automatic
  sprinkler system, and may also require automatic sprinkler heads in  the
  stair which serves as the only means of egress.
    c.  Where  two means of egress are required by this section and one is
  an ornamental stair, the provision for closing off the stair at  top  or
  bottom shall not be applicable to the ornamental stair.