Cal. Civ. Code § 57
Vertical and horizontal openings
Operative Text
§ 57. Vertical and horizontal openings. In order to prevent the vertical and horizontal spread of fire, smoke and gases, it shall, in addition to other applicable provisions of this article, be necessary to comply with the requirements of this section. 1. All doors opening from shafts, stair halls or stairs and the door assemblies shall be fire-retarded with the doors self-closing and without transoms or any other opening. Except in the case of elevator shafts, such shafts, stair halls or stairs may be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in lieu of fire retarding. 2. All other doors opening upon entrance halls or other public halls or corridors in every part of the dwelling shall be self-closing, except where such dwelling is equipped throughout with an approved type automatic sprinkler or fire-detecting system. It shall be unlawful to attach to or maintain on or about any door required to be self-closing any device which prevents the self-closing of such door. 3. Every existing interior glazed sash, window or opening, other than a door, or a fireproof sash, window or opening glazed with wire glass, in any partition forming required enclosures around stairs or shafts shall be removed and the openings closed up and fire-retarded.
New York Multiple Residence Law § 57 establishes requirements aimed at stopping fire, smoke, and gases from spreading through a building's vertical and horizontal pathways. Doors leading from shafts, stairwells, and stair halls must be fire-retarded and self-closing, with no transoms or other openings, though an automatic sprinkler system can serve as an alternative in non-elevator shafts. Doors opening onto public halls or corridors must also be self-closing unless the entire building has an approved sprinkler or fire-detection system, and any device that holds such a door open is prohibited. Existing interior glazed windows or openings in partitions enclosing stairs or shafts must be removed and sealed with fire-retardant materials.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 57 generally ensure that all shaft and stairwell doors are equipped with self-closing hardware and meet fire-retardant standards, with no transoms or gaps that could allow fire or smoke to pass. Compliant operators also verify that corridor and public-hall doors are self-closing throughout the building, and they do not permit door-holding devices that defeat this function. Where an approved automatic sprinkler or fire-detection system covers the entire dwelling, operators typically document that system's approval status as it relates to the alternative-compliance pathway recognized under § 57.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 57, tenants have an interest in knowing that stairwell, shaft, and corridor doors in their building are required to be self-closing and fire-retarded, and that devices blocking those doors from closing are unlawful. If a tenant observes propped-open fire doors, missing self-closing mechanisms, or unaddressed glazed openings in stair enclosures, these may constitute violations that can be reported to the local housing or building code enforcement agency. Tenants can also reach out to a local tenant-rights organization to better understand how § 57 conditions might be raised in a housing court proceeding or complaint process.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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