Section 504 of the International Fire Code is hereby amended by the addition of a new subsection 504.4 to read as follows:

504.4. Buildings with enclosed interior courtyards. New buildings with enclosed interior courtyards shall have a straight/direct access corridor and/or stairway from the exterior to the courtyard at a location acceptable to the fire code official. If a stairway is used it shall comply with International Fire Code Section 1011 and a corridor shall comply with International Fire Code Section 1020. The access shall have a minimum width of 4 feet, (or as directed by the fire code official) and be large enough to carry a 35-foot-long sectional ladder (minimum folded length 20 feet) directly from the exterior to the courtyard without obstructions. The access door shall be marked at the street as “Direct access to courtyard”.