WSJ do egress rules not apply on the island

[DavidnRobin]

I wonder if the lack of windows has anything to do with hurricane/tropical storm/mudslide damage mitigation or even earthquake tolerance.

As far as wasted space goes, have you ever been in a WKORV deluxe room? There are two long hallways (4' x 7'?) and a common vestibule (5' x 5'?) that is shared between the two sides of the lockoff. These owners have to pay for this extra square footage, too, which is largely unusable. You couldn't even put a cot in the area unless you want to block egress.

OK - let's tangent here...

there is a design reason for the hallways in the WKORV Deluxe - to get to the 1Bd corner with the studio on one side and OFC units on the other - there has to be a L-shaped hallway coming off the foyer to keep the layout of the Dlx with the 1Bd side and studio (they do not have joining doors like other SVO 2Bd LO villas).

WKORV Dlx studio layout (can't seem to find layout for entire 2Bd anymore)

But the foyer can come into excellent use (sandy and wet)...

So... wasted space? I have to disagree. Besides - we use the hallway to store this stuff when not using both sides of the LO (like we did last Aug). I find it very use - plus gives the feel of being at home by not having the front door in sight like other SVO villas (IMO YMMV)

back to the regularly scheduled programming...

 

[dsmrp]

SMHarman, I think I know how you feel about WSJ. I sort of felt the same way about Italy; mostly every one I knew raved about Italy (Florence and Tuscany), and when I finally visited, felt a little underwhelmed too. Still sounds like you enjoyed St John the island.

I also appreciated this thread about the windowless 2nd bdrm. Thank you. We'll be going to WSJ with friends on star option reservation later this year, and will likely get a Coral Bay unit assignment too. I know specific requests are frowned upon, but based on your experience will try to request a non-ground floor unit.

 

[tomandrobin]

Number of exits and egress paths are based on distance and square footage.

Transient lodging does not follow the same rules as a residence.

The building and units are fully protected by a monitored fire alarm system and sprinkler system....which allows additional leeway for the contractor.

In the code, all sleeping areas are to have windows. But, I know cruise ships have interior rooms that have 1 exit and no windows.

 

[SMHarman]

In the code, all sleeping areas are to have windows. But, I know cruise ships have interior rooms that have 1 exit and no windows.

Do you know where in what code.

Hotels and cruise ship rooms do not have stoves or dryers.

 

[tomandrobin]

Do you know where in what code.

Hotels and cruise ship rooms do not have stoves or dryers.

I did some research.....In 2006, Federal Government changed the UBC (universal building code) to allow windowless bedrooms. The reasoning behind the change was that with safer building materials and installed fire protection systems, the requirement of a window for egress purposes is no longer a necessity.

 

[DavidnRobin]

^^^ fin ^^^

 

[SMHarman]

I did some research.....In 2006, Federal Government changed the UBC (universal building code) to allow windowless bedrooms. The reasoning behind the change was that with safer building materials and installed fire protection systems, the requirement of a window for egress purposes is no longer a necessity.

Thanks

^^^ fin ^^^

Probably. I'll read some more at a sensible hour of the day tomorrow.

Personally still don't like sleeping in a windowless room. Also, surprised the new condos in Hoboken and Jersey City and LIC and Brooklyn are not taking advantage of this.

 

[tomandrobin]

Thanks

Probably. I'll read some more at a sensible hour of the day tomorrow.

Personally still don't like sleeping in a windowless room. Also, surprised the new condos in Hoboken and Jersey City and LIC and Brooklyn are not taking advantage of this.

Up to 30-35% of new multi-bedroom condos now have windowless bedrooms.

 

[LisaRex]

Personally still don't like sleeping in a windowless room. Also, surprised the new condos in Hoboken and Jersey City and LIC and Brooklyn are not taking advantage of this.

I'd be surprised if the federal code couldn't be superceded by stricter local laws. Not every municipality has the same firefighting equipment, after all. For instance, in the municipality I used to work in, they denied a building permit for a local company that wanted to build a lab that was taller than their previous one. It was denied because it exceeded the maximum height allowed, which was based on the max height that the fire department's ladder could reach.

(P.S. They ultimately approved the permit after the company (an international pharmaceutical business) donated a taller ladder.)

 

[SMHarman]

I'd be surprised if the federal code couldn't be superceded by stricter local laws. Not every municipality has the same firefighting equipment, after all. For instance, in the municipality I used to work in, they denied a building permit for a local company that wanted to build a lab that was taller than their previous one. It was denied because it exceeded the maximum height allowed, which was based on the max height that the fire department's ladder could reach.

(P.S. They ultimately approved the permit after the company (an international pharmaceutical business) donated a taller ladder.)

Indeed, the New York City Building Code has light and air regulations.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Personally still don't like sleeping in a windowless room.

So... these villas are not illegal after all - shocker

For me - no windows (no natural light) is a reason not to stay or own these villas, and not the highly unlikely instance of getting trapped in a fire (when alarms and sprinklers are present).

If I was that afraid of bringing harm to myself or family - I would not travel - especially to a place where you can get dengue, chinga, and now zika viruses from mosquitoes. [Or drive on left side. Or snorkel or dive in a place with sharks, or the potential to drown. Or...] Because one thing is certain on StJ - a person will get mosquito bites, drive on left, and likely be in the water at some point.

 

[dsmrp]

...
For me - no windows (no natural light) is a reason not to stay or own these villas, and not the highly unlikely instance of getting trapped in a fire (when alarms and sprinklers are present).
...

For me it's the regular maintenance and monitoring of the alarms and sprinkler systems that would be more suspect. I reasonably trust Westin would keep up on those things. In the states we have fire depts. and other government bodies to keep track. I'm not as sure about the Virgin Islands government going after St John businesses to regularly maintain and test their systems. Maybe on St Thomas or St Croix because they're more highly populated islands?

 

[SMHarman]

So... these villas are not illegal after all - shocker

For me - no windows (no natural light) is a reason not to stay or own these villas, and not the highly unlikely instance of getting trapped in a fire (when alarms and sprinklers are present).

If I was that afraid of bringing harm to myself or family - I would not travel - especially to a place where you can get dengue, chinga, and now zika viruses from mosquitoes. [Or drive on left side. Or snorkel or dive in a place with sharks, or the potential to drown. Or...] Because one thing is certain on StJ - a person will get mosquito bites, drive on left, and likely be in the water at some point.

I'd change the title but it is locked.

Drive on the left pfft. I'm British.

For me it's the regular maintenance and monitoring of the alarms and sprinkler systems that would be more suspect. I reasonably trust Westin would keep up on those things. In the states we have fire depts. and other government bodies to keep track. I'm not as sure about the Virgin Islands government going after St John businesses to regularly maintain and test their systems. Maybe on St Thomas or St Croix because they're more highly populated islands?

The poor location of the smoke detector does not help. In the vent draft path.

And the Green strobe light disco special this design does every 10 second is also hideous in the pitch black. Anyone else notice this.