N.Y. MRE Law § 59

§ 59. Ventilation for shafts. 1. There shall be provided in the roof\ndirectly over each stair, fire-stair, dumbwaiter, elevator or similar\nshaft which extends to or within one story of a roof, a ventilating\nmetal skylight of the cross-sectional area of such shaft. Such skylight\nneed not, however, exceed twenty square feet in area. Where an existing\nskylight is smaller than the dimensions or area prescribed in this\nsubdivision, no structural change shall be required, but a ventilating\nmetal skylight fitting the existing opening in the roof shall be\nsufficient. Every skylight shall be glazed with plain glass in the roof\nof such skylight and shall be equipped with metal screens over and under\nthe skylight. In lieu of a skylight a window of the same area at the top\nstory shall be accepted.\n 2. Whenever there is a flooring of solid construction at the top of\nany enclosed stair, fire-stair, elevator or similar shaft, openings\nshall be left near the top of such shaft for ventilation. Such openings\nshall provide at least two hundred eighty-eight square inches of\nunobstructed ventilation and shall communicate directly with the outer\nair, or be otherwise ventilated in accordance with the provisions of the\nlocal building code.\n 3. It shall be unlawful to discharge into any such shaft any\ninflammable or volatile gases, liquids or other thing or matter which\nwould endanger life.\n