Section 188. Bulkheads and scuttles

Except as provided in paragraph g of
  subdivision three of section  one  hundred  seventy-one,  bulkheads  and
  scuttles  shall  conform  to the following provisions: 1. Every required
  bulkhead to and through the roof shall be fireproof  or  constructed  of
  wood  covered with metal on the outside and fire-retarded on the inside,
  and  shall  have  a  fire-retarded  door  and  assembly  with  the  door
  self-closing. Every stair extending through a bulkhead shall have a hand
  rail.
    2.  Every  scuttle  shall  be  at least twenty-one inches in width and
  twenty-eight inches in length, covered on the  outside  with  metal  and
  provided  with  a  stair or a stationary iron ladder leading thereto and
  easily accessible to all occupants of the dwelling. Every scuttle  shall
  be  located in the ceiling of the stair hall on the top story and access
  to the roof through the scuttle shall be direct  and  uninterrupted.  It
  shall  be  unlawful to enclose in any manner the ladder or stair leading
  to a scuttle.
    3. Every bulkhead door or scuttle shall not be self-locking and  shall
  be  fastened  on  the  inside with movable bolts, hooks, or a lock which
  does not require a key to open from the inside of the dwelling.
    4. Where a dwelling has a peak roof with a pitch of more than  fifteen
  degrees,  no  bulkhead  or  scuttle, or stair or ladder leading thereto,
  shall be required.