Section 185. Cellar ceilings

1.  Except  as  provided in paragraph g of
  subdivision three of section one hundred seventy-one, the ceiling of the
  cellar, or of  the  lowest  story  if  there  be  no  cellar,  shall  be
  fire-retarded  unless  such  dwelling is three stories or less in height
  and the ceiling has already been plastered in a manner  satisfactory  to
  the department.
    2.  In  lieu  of  the requirements set forth in subdivision 1. hereof,
  buildings existing  November  first,  nineteen  hundred  forty-nine,  in
  cities having a population between five hundred thousand and one million
  having  three  stories or less in height and containing no more than six
  families or eight roomers or lodgers, with no  human  occupancy  in  the
  cellar or basement may comply by:
    I.  providing  two means of egress to any area of the third floor used
  for human occupancy; and
    II. providing approved safety controls on all fuel burning devices  in
  basement or cellar; and
    III.  fire-stopping  of  all openings in cellar or basement ceiling or
  openings leading to the floors above from cellar or  basement  such  as,
  but  not  limited  to, stud channels, openings around conduits, soil and
  water pipes, ducts, pipe chases, and by complying with either  IV  or  V
  hereof;
    IV. providing an approved sprinkler system throughout entire cellar or
  basement area; or
    V. a. providing fire-retarded ceilings at the first floor level; and
    b.  providing  sprinkler  head  or  heads above each hot water heater,
  furnace and all other fuel burning devices in basement or cellar; and
    c. fire-stopping all the interior entrances to any area of  the  third
  floor   used  for  human  occupancy  at  the  second  floor  level  with
  fire-retarded partitions, or equal  construction,  and  a  fire-retarded
  self-closing door and assembly.