MEANS OF

EGRESS
GETTING OUT OF THE
BUILDING
 THREE MAIN CATEGORIES
• EXIT ACCESS
– ANY SPACE OCCUPIED OR TRAVELED ON THE WAY TO THE EXIT

• EXIT
– BETWEEN THE EXIT ACCESS AND THE EXIT DISCHARGE

• EXIT DISCHARGE
– BETWEEN THE EXIT AND THE PUBLIC WAY
– COULD BE INDOORS OR OUTDOORS

• PUBLIC WAY – FINAL DESTINATION

• AREA OF REFUGE – SAFE SPOT
 THREE MAIN
CATEGORIES
 EXIT ACCESS-DOORS
• MINIMUM SIZE 3068
• MUST SWING IN
DIRECTION OF
EGRESS TRAVEL
• MUST BE SIDE
HINGED & SIDE
SWINGING
• HARDWARE
• FORCE
• THRESHOLD
 EXIT ACCESS-DOORS
• Door swing
clearances
• “Latch side
clearance”
 EXIT ACCESS-STAIRS
• Exit Access
stairs are
uncommon
• Treads & Riser
dimensions
• Landings
• Ceiling Height
• Hand & Guard
Rails
EXIT ACCESS-STAIRS
EXIT ACCESS-STAIRS
EXIT ACCESS-STAIRS
EXIT ACCESS
- CORRIDORS

• SURROUNDING WALLS,
FLOORS, & CEILING
• EITHER NON-RATED OR 1
HOUR RATED
• LENGTH & WIDTH LIMITED
 EXIT ACCESS
– AISLES
• Created by furniture or
equipment
• Additional ADA
accessibility
clearances must be
given
• Fixed seating in A1
occupancies are
generally covered
seperately in the codes
 Exit Acess –
Adjoining or Intervening Rooms
• “…direct, unobstructed, and obvious
means of travel toward an exit.”
• Restrictions include storage rooms,
restrooms, closets, bedrooms, locked
rooms, kitches, file rooms.
• Does not apply to tenant spaces.
 Exits

• End of Exit Access

• Must be fully enclosed and rated
• Codes dictate specific quantity, location
and size for all exits (later)
• Four Types…..
 Exits – Exterior Exit Doors
• Exception – not typically required to be fire
rated.
• Simple doorway, exterior wall. Typically
leads straight to exit discharge or public
way.
 Exits –
Exit Stairs
• Most common
type of exit
• Complete
enclosure

• May include
area of refuge
 Exits –
Horizontal Exits
• Typically
used in
Institutional
occupancy
classifications
 Exits – Exit
Passageways
• Extends an Exit
• Exit access
doors can exit
directly into
Exit Discharge
• Main lobby (interior
– most common)
• Foyer or Vestibule
(interior)
• Discharge Corridor
(interior)
• Egress Court
(exterior)
• Small Alley or
Sidewalk (exterior)
 Means of Egress Capacity
How many people can safely exit the
building in an emergency

4 Specifics to be determined
• Number of Exits
• Exit Width
• Exit Arrangement
• Travel distance
 Number of Exits
Occupant Load per Story or Area Minimum No. of Exits
1-500 2
501-1000 3
Over 1000 4
 Exit Widths
•Minimum door widths
•Maximum door
widths
•More than one exit
•Minimum exit
discharge width
•Minimum corridor
width
•50% percent rule
 Exit Widths

Longer Aisle
Accessway
12 inches +.05(x-12 feet)
 Arrangement
of Exits

• Remoteness =
Half-diagonal rule
Arrangement of Exits
 Travel
Distance
“Common path of
travel”
 Dead-End
Corridors
•Corridors vs
Aisles

•20’ max or 50’ if

in a sprinkled
space.
Problem #2
• What is the total exit width
required for the Problem #3
telemarketing company in
Space C? 175 x 0.15=26
• What is the total exit width
required for each exit
stair?306 x 0.2=61
• What is the minimum exit
width required for the exit
access corridor?
306 x 0.15=46
 Problem #4 part b.
12 inches + 0.5(x-12 feet)
12 inches + 0.5(23’-9” – 12 feet)
12 inches + 0.5 (11’-9”)
12 inches + 0.5 (11.75’)
12 inches +5.875” = 17.875 = 18 inches
Problem
#5