PA-001: Public Assembly Permits

Public Assembly Permits can be a difficult to obtain. The process requires anywhere from 6 weeks to 12 months depending on the complexity of the project, the building examiner and the experience of the architect. If the owner has committed to an occupancy of over 74 people for a specific space, then a thorough PA drawing set needs to be produced and submitted. Below is a partial, unofficial list of the some of the most salient requirements to be included in a PA filing set. Asterisks denote references to 1968 code. I have not provide 2008 analogs:

1. Place of Assembly Notes
2. Table 8‐1: Capacity Table*
3. Emergency Lighting Notes
4. Show Safe Area Notes
5. Ventilation Notes
6. Sprinkler Notes
7. Fire Alarm Notes
8. Applicable Codes
9. Occupancy Groups
10. Construction Classification
11. List of Applications Filed Separately

• Fire Alarm #

• Sprinkler #

12. List of Progress Inspections

• Public Assembly Emergency Lighting

13. Complete Plot Plan
14. Legend, Key Notes, Fire Ratings, etc
15. Place of Assembly sign:
“OCCUPANCY BY MORE THAN _____ PERSONS IS DANGEROUS AND
UNLAWFUL.
 Certificate of Operation No______ Commissioner, (where applicable) Dept. of Buildings, City of New York”
16. Travel Distance Calculations
17. Show primary and secondary travel distances on plans from most remote point (one point only)
18. Travel distance to comply with 27‐533*
19. Provide Capacity Sign on plan
20. Provide Emergency Lighting on plan
21. Provide exit signs on plan
22. Occupant load analysis
23. Show egress analysis from floor
24. Show egress analysis from space
25. Show where exits lead to outdoors
26. Show location of standee areas for standee layouts and on such layouts show unobstructed
egress path with at least 3’ of clearance. Show dimensions on drawings. Standee areas to
comply with 27‐531*
27. Aisle widths to comply with 27‐532*. Show dimensions of aisle – should have a clearance of 36”
minimum
28. Show dimension of clearances between seats ‐ 24” minimum
29. Show dimensions of doors
30. Show all doors & door swing
31. Show exits to street at first floor
32. Atrium Floor plan should show street floor lobby and exit to street
33. On each layout please show provide the net area of the space and the number of persons to be
accommodated per Table 6‐2*
34. Corridors and Exit Passageways to comply with Table 8‐1*
35. Label each exit stair and show fire rating
36. Show separation between kitchen and dining
37. Show 2hr rating around kitchen areas and each opening must have a dropped arch and sprinkler
head.
38. Show 2hr rating at shafts
39. Comply with Table 16‐5*
40. Comply with handicap requirements
41. Show calculation of minimum required toilet fixtures. Number of fixtures must comply with
parity law (twice as many fixtures for women than men--Local Law).
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/potty-parity-in-nyc/
42. Exit openings to comply with 27‐534*
43. Safe Areas to comply with 27‐535*
44. State 2008 Occupancy Groups: Group A – Assembly (see attached)
45. You are permitted one main layout and 2 additional Alternate Layouts

• If using alternate layouts you must also label your drawings as such Alternate Layout 1: Cocktail etc