New York Multiple Dwelling Law Section 191 - Wainscoting.

  191.  Wainscoting. Wainscoting in any stair or public hall shall be
  removed unless such wainscoting is backed against a  fire-retarded  wall
  or  the  stair or hall is equipped with a sprinkler system conforming to
  the provisions of section one hundred eighty-seven. Where wainscoting is
  removed in order to fire-retard a public hall or stair, such wainscoting
  may be replaced or additional wainscoting may be  applied  to  make  the
  surfaces  of  any new partitions or walls conform to existing partitions
  or walls provided such additional wainscoting is similarly  backed  with
  fire-retarded materials.

Last modified: February 3, 2019