Does Table 1017.2 ever apply to buildings or stories with one exit?

[Derrick Carter]

It seems that if a single exit is used, then the more restrictive requirements of Tables 1006.3.2(1) and (2) govern. It gets confusing when you look up the definition of "Common Path of Egress Travel".

 

[Yikes]

Though it references the 2009 IBC, this article by one of our frequent forum contributers, RGLA, may help explain the concept of common path of egress:
http://www.specsandcodes.com/articles/code_corner/The Code Corner No. 29 - Travel Distance.pdf

 

[RLGA]

It seems that if a single exit is used, then the more restrictive requirements of Tables 1006.3.2(1) and (2) govern. It gets confusing when you look up the definition of "Common Path of Egress Travel".

To answer your question in the title of the thread, no.

Per Section 1006.3.2, each story is required to have a minimum of two exits unless the building or story complies with Section 1006.3.3. The common path of egress travel (CPET) applies only to the first portion of the travel distance, which limits the CPET to 75 feet or 100 feet, depending on the occupancy group and specific conditions. For example, if the building is a sprinklered Group B, the travel distance from any location within the story to at least one exit must be within 300 feet. For the CPET, the first 100 feet of that travel distance can be along a single pathway, but once a distance of 100 feet is reached, the occupant must have two separate and distinct paths to two separate exits. However, if the occupant load of that building had no more than 49 occupants per story and the travel distance to an exit is 75 feet or less from any location within the story, then, per Table 1006.3.3(2), the stories are permitted to have a single exit from each. Since there would be only one exit from each story, the paths to those exits would be by default a common path of egress travel.

 

[Derrick Carter]

To answer your question in the title of the thread, no.

Per Section 1006.3.2, each story is required to have a minimum of two exits unless the building or story complies with Section 1006.3.3. The common path of egress travel (CPET) applies only to the first portion of the travel distance, which limits the CPET to 75 feet or 100 feet, depending on the occupancy group and specific conditions. For example, if the building is a sprinklered Group B, the travel distance from any location within the story to at least one exit must be within 300 feet. For the CPET, the first 100 feet of that travel distance can be along a single pathway, but once a distance of 100 feet is reached, the occupant must have two separate and distinct paths to two separate exits. However, if the occupant load of that building had no more than 49 occupants per story and the travel distance to an exit is 75 feet or less from any location within the story, then, per Table 1006.3.3(2), the stories are permitted to have a single exit from each. Since there would be only one exit from each story, the paths to those exits would be by default a common path of egress travel.

Thank you very much for the response!!
That clears it up for me. I kept getting tripped up on the use of "Common Path of Egress" in the Table.

 

[Meadowbend99]

Similar question: I have an A-3 that is a one story space for the public, but there are two upstairs (2nd level) areas for staff only, both are accessed with stairs or two separate sides of the building. Area 1 is roughly 600 SF of storage and from the furthest point to downstairs where they have access to 2 or more ways of exit is 65' (Internal staircase). Area 2 is an accessory space roughly 1,400 SF of owner's offices, lounge, conference, and storage. There is 65' to the top of the stairs from the furthest point and 90' to the point downstairs where there are multiple exit pathways. The building will be sprinklered. My question is, with a story with only one exit (occupant load well under 49), do I measure to the point of exiting that story (top of stairs) or to the point of where they converge with multiple paths?

After exiting both sets of stairs they each have a very clear view of an exit.

 

[Derrick Carter]

The code is vague at best concerning this. In our office we're choosing to error on the side of caution.

...do I measure to the point of exiting that story (top of stairs) or to the point of where they converge with multiple paths?

On our projects with similar situations, the point where they converge with multiple exits or reach an actual exit is the answer. If you only take them to the top of the stairs you haven't left the story in question. When your looking at Table 1006.3.2(2), its talking single exits for a story. We have interpreted that to mean, getting off the story or to an "exit".

We debated this in our office. All of us would love to see some code interpretation that pinned this down more clearly, but until then we are treating those situations as stated above.

 

[wmott]

Old thread, but I am confused on this as well.
Using 2015 IBC.
I looked to the commentaries, and they imply the 125 ft can end at an exit stair (not an exit access stair.)

But table 1006.3.2(1) states the 125 ft is the Common Path of Egress Travel, which is defined as the distance traveled until there are separate and distinct access to 2 exits or 2 exit access. At the stair in the diagram, there is but one exit. Not a second option yet.
Looked to the 2018 IBC, and no change. Looked at the 2021 IBC, and there is a change.
The 2021 changed Common Path of Egress Travel in the table to Exit Access Travel Distance. And Exit Access is defined as That point of a means of egress system that leads from any occupied portion of a building or structure to AN Exit.
So by IBC 2021, the 125 ft is to the exit stair door on the story. I do not see any other tweaks to the sections, which leads me to believe the commentary is correct on the intent of the sections in the 2015 and 2018 IBCs.

Thoughts?

Thanks

 

[classicT]

If the code permits a single exit, then the common path of egress travel can end at the stair if the stair is an exit component, such as an interior exit stairway. Otherwise, you would measure along the stair until you reach the point where occupants have two separate directions of travel to an exit.

COMMON PATH OF EGRESS TRAVEL. That portion of the exit access travel distance measured from the most remote point within a story to that point where the occupants have separate and distinct access to two exits or exit access doorways.

Make sure to make reference to both Table 1006.2.1, and to Table 1006.3.2(2). Depending upon the occupancy, the Common Path of Egress Travel may be lower in one table or the other, but you must meet the most restrictive.

 

[steveray]

Travel distance stops when you reach a protected exit....

 

[RLGA]

Old thread, but I am confused on this as well.
Using 2015 IBC.
I looked to the commentaries, and they imply the 125 ft can end at an exit stair (not an exit access stair.)
View attachment 7410
But table 1006.3.2(1) states the 125 ft is the Common Path of Egress Travel, which is defined as the distance traveled until there are separate and distinct access to 2 exits or 2 exit access. At the stair in the diagram, there is but one exit. Not a second option yet.
Looked to the 2018 IBC, and no change. Looked at the 2021 IBC, and there is a change.
The 2021 changed Common Path of Egress Travel in the table to Exit Access Travel Distance. And Exit Access is defined as That point of a means of egress system that leads from any occupied portion of a building or structure to AN Exit.
So by IBC 2021, the 125 ft is to the exit stair door on the story. I do not see any other tweaks to the sections, which leads me to believe the commentary is correct on the intent of the sections in the 2015 and 2018 IBCs.

Thoughts?

Thanks

What they changed it to in the 2021 IBC is exactly what they had in the 2012 IBC. Why they ever thought it was less confusing to change it to state "Common Path of Egress Travel" in the 2015 IBC is beyond me.