SB 282 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/20/2025 0905s
2025 SESSION
25-1083
06/08
SENATE BILL 282
AN ACT relative to stairway requirements in certain residential buildings.
SPONSORS: Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29
COMMITTEE: Commerce
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows residential buildings between 6 and 4 floors above grade to have only one stairway under certain conditions.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/20/2025 0905s 25-1083
06/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to stairway requirements in certain residential buildings.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraphs; Buildings With Certain Floors Above Grade. Amend RSA 155-A:2 by inserting after paragraph XI the following new paragraphs:
XII. A residential building with 4 or fewer floors above grade shall be permitted to have only one stairway if:
(a) The building is equipped with a sprinkler system compliant with the state fire code; and
(b) The stairway complies with state fire code requirements, including fire-rated doors at each floor, and is constructed of fireproof material.
XIII. A residential building with 5 or 6 floors above grade shall be permitted to have only one stairway if:
(a) The building area is no more than 4,000 square feet per floor;
(b) The maximum exit access travel distance shall not exceed 125 feet;
(c) The building is equipped with a sprinkler system compliant with the state fire code;
(d) A manual fire alarm system and automatic smoke detection system that activates the occupant notification system in accordance with the state building and fire code is provided, with smoke detectors located in common spaces outside of dwelling units, including but not limited to gathering areas, laundry rooms, mechanical equipment rooms, storage rooms, interior corridors, interior stairways, and exit passageways;
(e) Openings to the interior exit stairway enclosure are limited to those required for exit access into the enclosure from normally occupied spaces, those required for egress from the enclosure, and openings to the exterior;
(f) Elevators do not open into the interior exit stairway enclosure;
(g) Electrical receptacles are not installed in an interior exit stairway; and
(h) The stairway complies with state fire code requirements, including fire-rated doors at each floor, and is constructed of fireproof material.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 11, 2025 | 2025-0905s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 20, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 20, 2025 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 8, 2025 | House | Hearing |
April 1, 2025: Public Hearing: 04/08/2025 01:00 pm LOB 305
March 28, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Housing HJ 11
March 20, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0905s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
March 20, 2025: Committee Amendment # 2025-0905s, AA, VV; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
March 12, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0905s, 03/20/2025; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 13
Feb. 13, 2025: Hearing: 02/20/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:00 am; SC 10
Jan. 24, 2025: Introduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 3