Tactile exit sign inside an apartment

[Mr. Inspector]

1011.3 Tactile exit signs.
A tactile sign stating EXIT and complying with ICC A117.1 shall be provided adjacent to each door to an area of refuge , an exterior area for assisted rescue, an exit stairway , an exit ramp , an exit passageway and the exit discharge .

A 3 story building with an apartment on each floor (triplex). Each apartment has egress through a one hour protected stairway. According to the code it looks like they will need a tactile exit sign inside each apartment next to the entrance door. None of the apartments are accessible.

Is this right?

 

[my250r11]

The exceptions are in "1011.1 Where Required" which applies to all exit signs.

1011.1 Where required.
Exits and exit access doors shall be marked by an approved exit sign readily visible from any direction of egress travel. The path of egress travel to exits and within exits shall be marked by readily visible exit signs to clearly indicate the direction of egress travel in cases where the exit or the path of egress travel is not immediately visible to the occupants. Intervening means of egress doors within exits shall be marked by exit signs. Exit sign placement shall be such that no point in an exit access corridor or exit passageway is more than 100 feet (30 480 mm) or the listed viewing distance for the sign, whichever is less, from the nearest visible exit sign.

Exceptions:

1. Exit signs are not required in rooms or areas that require only one exit or exit access.

2. Main exterior exit doors or gates that are obviously and clearly identifiable as exits need not have exit signs where approved by the building official.

3. Exit signs are not required in occupancies in Group U and individual sleeping units or dwelling units in Group R-1, R-2 or R-3.

4. Exit signs are not required in dayrooms, sleeping rooms or dormitories in occupancies in Group I-3.

5. In occupancies in Groups A-4 and A-5, exit signs are not required on the seating side of vomitories or openings into seating areas where exit signs are provided in the concourse that are readily apparent from the vomitories. Egress lighting is provided to identify each vomitory or opening within the seating area in an emergency.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

1011.1 Where required.
Exits and exit access doors shall be marked by an approved exit sign readily visible from any direction of egress travel. The path of egress travel to exits and within exits shall be marked by readily visible exit signs to clearly indicate the direction of egress travel in cases where the exit or the path of egress travel is not immediately visible to the occupants. Intervening means of egress doors within exits shall be marked by exit signs. Exit sign placement shall be such that no point in an exit access corridor or exit passageway is more than 100 feet (30 480 mm) or the listed viewing distance for the sign, whichever is less, from the nearest visible exit sign.

So your saying tactile signs need to comply to the above with the exceptions?
How do you find the viewing distance for these signs?
How do you make the them visible from any direction if ICC/ANSI A117.1 restricts the tactile sign to be in a specified location where it might not be visible from every direction.
Also how can you put one every 100' if there is no door (required next to a door).

 

[Mr. Inspector]

Then there is this:

1110.3 Other signs.
Signage indicating special accessibility provisions shall be provided as shown:
1.
2. At each door to an area of refuge , an exterior area for assisted rescue, an egress stairway , exit passageway and exit discharge , signage shall be provided in accordance with Section 1011.3.

 

[steveray]

Do the apartments open directly into the stairs?

 

[mtlogcabin]

"So your saying tactile signs need to comply to the above with the exceptions?"

No
I am saying the exceptions for the location of exit signs apply to tactile exit signage also.

Apartment are R-2 therefore exception 3 applies

 

[Mr. Inspector]

Do the apartments open directly into the stairs?

yes

 

[steveray]

yes

Still think I would go with MT on the "specific rules over general" with the specific R exception and I imagine the dwelling unit only requires 1 MOE which would also eliminate signage requirements...The dwelling unit opening directly to the stair seems wrong to me....