AMENDMENTS TO THE BOCA NATIONAL BUILDING CODE/1996

CHAPTER 10 - MEANS OF EGRESS

(Amd) 1005.5 Open-sided walking areas: Guards shall be located along open-sided walking surfaces, mezzanines, stairways, ramps and landings which are located more than 30 inches above the floor or grade below. The guards shall be constructed in accordance with Section 1021.0.

Exception: Guards are not required for the following locations:

1. On the loading side of loading docks.

2. On the auditorium side of stages and raised platforms.

3. On raised stage and platform floor areas such as runways, ramps and side stages utilized for entertainment or presentations.

4. At vertical openings in the performance area of stages and platforms.

5. At elevated walking surfaces appurtenant to stages and platforms for access to and utilization of special lighting or equipment.

(Amd) 1006.4.1 Remoteness: Where two exits or two exit access doors are required, each shall be placed a distance apart equal to not less than one-half of the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the building or area to be served. Where exit enclosures are provided as a portion of the required means of egress and are interconnected by a corridor conforming to the requirements for corridor construction, the exit separation distance shall be measured along the line of travel within the corridor. In all other cases, the separation distance shall be measured in a straight line between exits or exit access doors.

Exception: In buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 906.2.1 or 906.2.2, the minimum separation distance shall be one-third of the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension.

(Amd) Table 1006.5

LENGTH OF EXIT ACCESS TRAVEL^a

NP: Not permitted.

Note a. See the following sections for modifications to travel distance requirements:

Section 402.5.1: For the exit access travel distance limitation in malls.

Section 404.7: For the exit access travel distance limitation through an atrium space.

Section 416.6: For the exit access travel distance limitation in hazardous production material (HPM) use facilities.

Section 1006.5.1: For increased limitation in Use Groups F-1 and S-1.

Section 1006.5.2: For increased limitation in Use Group A-5.

Section 1010.3: For buildings with one exit.

Section 3104.9: For the exit access travel distance limitation in temporary structures.

Note b. Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 906.2.1 or 906.2.2

Note c. For exception see Section 904.6.

(Add) 1007.7 Turnstiles: Buildings which utilize turnstiles to control traffic shall provide a clearly marked alternate route for the physically disabled which is at least 36 inches wide, provides at least 20 percent of the required ingress and egress, and is unlocked during business hours.

EGRESS WIDTH PER OCCUPANT

NP: Not permitted.

Note a. Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 906.2.1 or 906.2.2.

Note b. For exception see Section 904.6. Where this exception applies, the values for buildings without an automatic sprinkler system shall be 1.0 for stairways and 0.7 for doors, ramps and corridors.

(Amd) Table 1010.3

BUILDINGS WITH ONE EXIT

Note a. For the required number of exits for open parking structures, see Section 1010.5.

Note b. For the required number of exits for air traffic control towers, see Section 414.0.

Note c. Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 906.2.1 or 906.2.2 with an occupancy in Use Group R-2 shall have a maximum height of three stories above grade.

Note d. 1 foot = 304.8 mm.

(Amd) 1010.4 Emergency escape and rescue: At least one operable window or exterior door approved for emergency escape and rescue shall be provided in the following locations:

1. In every sleeping room below the fourth story in occupancies in Use Groups R and I-1.

2. In day care occupancies regardless of use group in every room or space normally subject to client occupancy, other than bathrooms.

3. In every room or space greater than 250 square feet in Use Group E used for classroom or educational purposes or normally subject to student occupancy.

Each emergency escape and rescue window shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet. The net clear opening shall be at least 24 inches in height and at least 20 inches in width. The net clear opening dimensions shall be obtained by the normal operation of the window from the inside. Where windows are provided for emergency escape and rescue, the windows shall have the bottom of the clear opening not more than 44 inches above the floor. The clear opening shall permit a rectangular solid, with the minimum specified width and height that provides the required 5.7 square foot opening and a minimum depth of 20 inches to pass fully through the opening.

Bars, grilles or screens placed over emergency escape and rescue windows shall be releasable or removable from the inside without the use of a key, tool or force greater than that which is required for normal operation of the window.

Exceptions:

1. An outside window or an exterior door for emergency escape and rescue is not required in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 906.2.1 or 906.2.2 as determined by use group.

2. In Use Groups R and I-1, an outside window or an exterior door for emergency escape and rescue is not required where the sleeping room is provided with a door to a corridor having access to two remote exits in opposite directions.

(Amd) 1011.2 Dead ends: Exit access passageways and corridors in all stories which serve more than one exit shall provide direct connection to such exits in opposite directions from any point in the passageway or corridor, insofar as practicable. The length of a dead-end passageway or corridor shall not be more than 20 feet.

Exceptions:

1. In occupancies in Use Group I-3 of Occupancy Conditions II, III or IV (see Section 308.4), the dead end in a corridor, hallway or aisle shall not exceed 50 feet.

2. In occupancies in Use Group B where passageways are bounded by furniture, counters, partitions or similar dividers not more than 6 feet in height, the length of a dead-end passageway shall not be more than 50 feet.

3. In occupancies in Use Group B where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 906.2.1, the length of dead-end corridors or passageways shall not exceed 50 feet.

4. Passageways or corridors within spaces with one means of egress.

5. A dead-end passageway or corridor shall not be limited in length where the length of the dead-end passageway or corridor is less than 2.5 times the least width of the dead-end passageway or corridor.

6. Dead-end corridors are prohibited in Use Group H occupancies.

(Amd) 1014.6 Treads and risers: The maximum riser height shall be 7 inches and the minimum riser height shall be 4 inches. The riser height shall be measured vertically between the leading edges of the adjacent treads. The minimum tread depth shall be 11 inches, measured horizontally between the vertical planes of the foremost projection of adjacent treads and at a right angle to the tread’s leading edge.

Exceptions:

1. Winders in accordance with Section 1014.6.3.

2. Spiral stairways in accordance with Section 1014.6.4.

3. Circular stairways in accordance with Section 1014.6.5.

4. Alternating tread stairways in accordance with Section 1014.6.6.

5. Stairways serving as aisles in assembly seating areas where the stairway pitch or slope is set, for sightline reasons, by the slope of the adjacent seating area.

6. Any stairway replacing an existing stairway within a space where, because of existing construction, the pitch or slope cannot be reduced.

7. Existing stairways.

8. In occupancies in Use Group R-3, within dwelling units in occupancies in Use Group R-2 and in occupancies in Use Group U which are accessory to an occupancy in Use Group R-3, the maximum riser height shall be 8 ¼ inches and the minimum tread depth shall be 9 inches. A nosing not less than ¾ inches but not more than 1 ¼ inches shall be provided on stairways with solid risers where the tread depth is less than 11 inches.

9. Stairways in penal facilities serving guard towers, observation stations and control rooms not more than 250 square feet in area shall be permitted to have risers not exceeding 8 inches in height and treads not less than 9 inches in depth.

(Amd) 1016.3 Maximum slope: The maximum slope of means of egress ramps in the direction of travel shall be one unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (1:12). The maximum slope across the direction of travel shall be one unit vertical in 48 units horizontal (1:48).

Exception: Aisles in areas of Use Group A shall comply with Section 1012.0.

(Amd) 1017.3 Size of doors: The minimum width of each door opening shall be sufficient for the occupant load thereof and shall provide a clear width of not less than 32 inches. The clear width of door openings at swinging doors shall be measured between the face of the door and the stop, with the door open 90 degrees. Where this section requires a minimum clear width of 32 inches and a door opening includes two door leafs without a mullion, one leaf shall provide a clear opening width of 32 inches. The maximum width of a swinging door leaf shall be 48 inches nominal. Means of egress doors in an occupancy in Use Group I-2 used for the movement of beds shall provide a clear width not less than 41 ½ inches. The height of doors shall not be less than 80 inches.

Exceptions:

1. A means of egress door serving a storage area of not more than 800 square feet and which is normally unoccupied shall have a maximum width of 10 feet.

2. The minimum and maximum width shall not apply to door openings that are not part of the required means of egress and are not required for accessibility in occupancies in Use Groups R-2 and R-3.

3. Door openings in resident sleeping rooms in occupancies in Use Group I-3 shall have a clear width of not less than 28 inches.

4. Door openings in closets less than 10 square feet in area shall not be limited by the minimum width.

5. Width of door leafs in revolving doors that comply with Section 1018.0 shall not be limited.

6. Door openings within a dwelling unit shall not be less than 78 inches in height.

7. Exterior door openings in dwelling units, other than the required exit door, shall not be less than 76 inches in height.

8. Interior egress doorways within a dwelling unit not required to be accessible shall have a minimum clear width of 29 ¾ inches. Door openings to storage closets and all other nonhabitable spaces within a dwelling unit not required to be accessible, shall not be limited by the minimum width.

9. Door openings within Type B dwelling units shall have a minimum clear width of 31 ¾ inches.

(Add) 1017.3.1 Projections into clear width: There shall be no projections into the required clear opening width lower than 34 inches above the floor or ground. Projections into the clear opening width between 34 inches and 80 inches above the floor or ground shall not exceed 4 inches.

(Amd) 1021.2 Height: The guards shall be at least 42 inches in height measured vertically above the leading edge of the tread or adjacent walking surface.

Exceptions:

1. In other than occupancies in Use Group E, guards shall not be less than 36 inches in height above the leading edge of the tread along stairs which are not more than 20 feet in height or which reverse direction at an intermediate landing with 12 inches or less measured horizontally between successive flights.

2. Guards along open-sided floor areas, mezzanines, and landings serving a single dwelling unit in Use Group R-3 shall not be less than 36 inches in height.

(Amd) 1021.3 Opening limitations: In occupancies in Use Groups A, B, E, H-4, I-1, I-2, M and R, and in public garages and open parking structures, open guards shall have balusters or be of solid material such that a sphere with a diameter of 4 inches cannot pass through any opening. Guards shall not have an ornamental pattern that would provide a ladder effect.

Exceptions:

1. The triangular openings formed by the riser, tread and bottom rail at the open side of a stairway shall be of a maximum size such that a sphere 6 inches in diameter cannot pass through the opening.

2. At elevated walking surfaces for access to and utilization of electrical, mechanical, or plumbing systems or equipment, guards shall have balusters or be of solid materials such that a sphere with a diameter of 21 inches cannot pass through any opening.

In occupancies in Use Groups I-3, F, H-1, H-2, H-3, S, (other than public garages and open parking structures), balusters, horizontal intermediate rails or other construction shall not permit a sphere with a diameter of 21 inches to pass through any opening.

(Amd) 1023.4 Power source: All "Exit" signs shall be illuminated at all times that the building is occupied. To assure continued illumination for a duration of not less than 1 ½ hours in case of primary power loss, the "Exit" signs shall be connected to an emergency electrical system that complies with Section 2706.0.

Exception: Approved self-luminous signs which provide continuous illumination independent of external power sources are not required to comply with Section 2706.0.

(Amd) 1024.4 Power source: Means of egress lighting in all buildings, rooms or spaces required to have more than one exit or exit access shall be connected to an emergency electrical system that complies with Section 2706.0 to assure continued illumination for a duration of not less than 1 ½ hours in case of emergency or primary power loss.

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