NFPA 101: Life Safety Code Module 1: Mercantile/Industrial/Storage

Mercantile

Occupancies used for the display and sale of merchandise. Include department stores, drugstores,
shopping centers, supermarkets.

Sections of floors not used for sales purposes are

not counted in the area classification for aggregate
gross area.

Stories not used for sales, above or below the sales

floor, are not counted in the number of stories

Mezzanines <=1/3 area of the floor below are not

counted as stories.

Mezzanine requirements in 36/37.1.2.2.3. Section

7.3.1.6 requires that any required egress capacity
from a mezzanine that passes through the room
below must be added to the required egress capacity
of the room through which the egress passes.

36/37.2.3.2. require that for Class A and Class B

mercantile occupancies, the stress floor egress
capacity must include the capacity of stairs and
ramps discharging through the street floor.

Street floor exit doors must accommodate load of

street floor, mezzanine, and stairs from higher floors

Egress:

Egress requirements in chapter 7 must be met, but also specific requirements in 36.2/37.2

Two street floors: two floors qualify as street floors

because (1) each floor has one side located at ground
level and (2) has doors that permit occupants to enter
the building at that level.

Note how the remaining sides of each street floor is

above or below the building’s other ground level. Thus,
these floors should have exits at one end arranged to exit
to ground level and exits at the other end of the floor
allowing vertical travel to the other ground level.
Principle exit: double cylinder key operated dead bolts are permitted in mercantile occupancies, but only
for the principal entrance or exit

Single exit:

Class C mercantile occupancies, such as small convenience stores, are permitted to have only a
single means of egress, rather than two remotely located exits, if either (1) travel distance to
exit =<75 feet, or (2) if travel distance to exit =<100 feet and sprinklered

A single means of exit is permitted from mezzanines if either (1) common path of travel =<75
feet, or (2) if common path of travel =<100 feet and sprinklered

Aisle Width: 37.2.5

deals with
arrangement of
means of egress. For
mercantile
occupancies, there
are minimum aisle
width requirements
to ensure the
arrangement of
counters, racks,
displays of
merchandise does not
block or obscure exit.

5 foot aisle in diagram

required due to class
A status

Storage Rooms: egress through storerooms, normally not permitted, may be allowed in some mercantile
occupancies. Maximum of 50% of exit access may pass through storeroom. The path through storeroom
must be defined, direct, and continuously maintained free of obstructions.

Street Floor Exit Discharge: <=50% of exits (such as enclosed stairways) may discharge to the street
floor, assuming the building is sprinkled throughout. Remaining exits must discharge directly outside

Opening protection: mercantile occupancy allows the use of opening protection per 8.6.9.7. Draft
curtains and close spaced sprinklers may be used to protect escalator/stair openings. An unlimited
number of floors may be connected using this method.

Figure 7.3.1.2(a), Mall Structure Occupant Load Factors relates the occupant load factor to the gross
leasable area. On a mall concourse, 10 ft of clearance is needed between concourse kiosks and tenant
stores. The maximum travel distance must be 200 ft. Exit passageways are allowed to contain electrical
panels and other non-exit related components. Smoke control is required for malls with 3+ levels.
Anchor buildings are considered separate.

Bulk merchandising:

New Bulk Merchandising exceeding 12000 ft shall comply with requirements of Chapter 36

Existing Bulk Merchandising exceeding 15000 ft shall comply with requirements of Chapter 37.

Bulk merchandising creates special hazards from arrangement and material type. Minimum clearance
height of 16 ft tis required. Automatic sprinklers are required for the most severe material and
configuration types.
 Industrial

Industrial occupancies: where products are manufactured or where processing, assembling, finishing,
packaging, mixing, decorating, or repair occur. E.g. Dry cleaning plants, factories, food processing plants,
gas plants, hangers for servicing, power plants, refineries, sawmills.

Subclassifications:

General industrial occupancies: conductor ordinary and low hazard operations in buildings of
conventional design usable for various types of processes.

Special Purpose industrial occupancies: conduct ordinary and low hazard operations in buildings
designed for and useable only for a particular type of operations

High Hazard industrial occupancies: conduct industrial operations that use high hazard materials or
processes or house high hazard contents

Egress:

In addition to every story/section having access to at least two means of egress, one of the exits must be
located on each floor, so that the entrance to that exit can be reached without having to travel to
another flor

Alternatively, in small floors or areas with low to ordinary hazard, only one means of egress from any
story or section may be provided if the exit can be reached within the distance permitted as a common
path of travel

Ancillary facilities: incidental to industrial function but not large enough to be classified separately

Egress must be arranged to allow travel in independent directions after leaving the ancillary facility, to
reduce risk of both egress paths being compromised

New ancillary facilities in special purpose industrial occupancies must have =>2 hour fire rated
separation from the industrial occupancy and have one means of egress (e.g. exit passageway)
separated from the industrial occupancy with >=2 hour fire rated separation.

Table 40.2.6.1 details the maximum travel distance allowed based on presence of sprinklers and the
subclassification of the industrial occupancy
Industrial equipment access walkways/platforms/stairs/doors serving <=20 persons to deviate from
dimensional criteria of egress components in Chapter 7.
 Storage

Defined as occupancies used primarily for the storage or sheltering of goods, merchandise, products or
vehicles. Both new and existing storage occupancies are detailed Chapter 42. Defined by the presence of
relatively small number of persons in proportion to the area. Include barns, bulk oil storage, cold
storage, freight terminals, grain elevators, storage hangers, parking structures, truck and marine
terminals, and warehouses.

Travel distance limitations for storage occupancies are related to the level of hazard of contents stored.
In low hazard storage occupations, there is no limitation imposed on travel distance, due to minimal risk
to safety. Higher hazard contents storage have maximum travel distances.

Storage hangers comply with 42.1 to 42.5, except when modified by 42.6. If repairs are done in the
hanger, it is an industrial occupancy.

Grain handling, processing, milling, or other bulk storage facilities must comply with 42.1 to 42.5 and
42.7. The egress requirements in the Life Safety Code for storage elevators do not consider the
possibility of grain dust explosions, only fire.

Parking lot requirements are detailed in Section 42.8. Enclosed parking structures require ramps and
vertical openings to be protected with fire rated enclosures, or have automatic sprinkler or full fire
detection system

Unprotected vertical openings are allowed in open parking structures.

Stairs in open parking structures are not required to be enclosed to be considered exits.

Travel distance in open parking structures are measured to either an exit or to an open stair.

The travel distance along thee open stair is unlimited, due to low fire risk and high crime risk.

A 4 inch sphere cannot pass through handrails and guards.

Areas of refuge are not required in open parking structures.

Egress:

An opening for automobiles can serve as an exit from a street floor, provided no door or shutter is
installed to limit egress.

Vehicle ramps are permitted as a means of egress

If fuel dispensing devices are present:

Travel away from fuel dispensing devices shall lead to an exit with no dead ends that could trap
occupants

Within enclosed parking structures, exits shall be arranged to lead to the outside of the building
on the same level or to stairs, with no upward travel permitted, unless direct outside exits are
available from that floor

Any story below fuel dispensing story shall have exits leading directly outside, via outside stairs
or doors

Ramps may be unenclosed if:

 Parking structure is enclosed and protected by supervised automatic sprinklers

 Parking structure is enclosed and protected by a fire detection system & mechanical ventilation
 Parking structure meets the exterior wall openness criteria for open parking structures

Otherwise must be enclosed with at least 1 hour for <4 stories and 2 hour for >=4 stories.