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CDA, is there a code section to support requiring panic hardware from the "S" occupancy?
GPE
GPE
2006 IBC specifically requires panic hardware along the means of egress path
1008.1.9 Panic and fire exit hardware.
Where panic and fire exit hardware is installed, it shall comply with the following:
1. The actuating portion of the releasing device shall extend at least one-half of the door leaf width.
2. The maximum unlatching force shall not exceed 15 pounds (67 N).
Each door in a means of egress from a Group A or E occupancy having an occupant load of 50 or more and any Group H occupancy shall not be provided with a latch or lock unless it is panic hardware or fire exit hardware.
2009 and forward does not require panic hardware for each door in the means of egress path from an A or E occupancy. The requirement was removed from the code.
2018 IBC
1010.1.10 Panic and fire exit hardware.
Swinging doors serving a Group H occupancy and swinging doors serving rooms or spaces with an occupant load of 50 or more in a Group A or E occupancy shall not be provided with a latch or lock other than panic hardware or fire exit hardware.
Exceptions:
1. A main exit of a Group A occupancy shall be permitted to have locking devices in accordance with Section 1010.1.9.4, Item 2.
2. Doors provided with panic hardware or fire exit hardware and serving a Group A or E occupancy shall be permitted to be electrically locked in accordance with Section 1010.1.9.9 or 1010.1.9.10.
Think "Panic", where does the herd go first, 2nd, third?
swinging doors serving rooms or spaces with an occupant load of 50 or more in a Group A
I agree with your opinion of how the new words should be interpreted; however, it appears that the ICC Committee did not have this in mind when approving the proposed code change. The stated reason for the change was that the "current language limits the requirement to means of egress FROM the Group A or E occupancy, thus exempting the means of egress WITHIN the Group A or E occupancy." The Committee agreed that "the proposed language clarifies that panic hardware is required at intervening doors as well as doors leading from spaces." Another public comment proposed minor changes to the text and included the following in their stated reason "it [the proposed minor text changes] retains the original proponents 'serving' so that it is the whole chain of doors from the space to the exit," to which the Committee approved without rebutting this.The 2006 required panic hardware throughout the entire means of egress
1008.1.9 Panic and fire exit hardware.
Where panic and fire exit hardware is installed, it shall comply with the following:
1. The actuating portion of the releasing device shall extend at least one-half of the door leaf width.
2. The maximum unlatching force shall not exceed 15 pounds (67 N).
Each door in a means of egress from a Group A or E occupancy having an occupant load of 50 or more and any Group H occupancy shall not be provided with a latch or lock unless it is panic hardware or fire exit hardware.
That language went away in the 2009 so I do not believe the intent today is to require panic hardware on any of the 43 exit doors.
"current language limits the requirement to means of egress FROM the Group A or E occupancy, thus exempting the means of egress WITHIN the Group A or E occupancy."
Agreed. I wonder why they didn't just change it from "each door in a means of egress from a Group A or E occupancy" to "each door in a means of egress from or within a Group A or E occupancy." Still, it seems like the intent was to keep it as all doors along the exit access to the exit, and they must have thought that "serving" would mean the same thing. Personally, I do not think that all doors along the means of egress should need panic. Once the occupants leave the Group A or E occupancy, they get mixed in with the rest of the occupants in the corridors/intervening rooms and kind of get mixed in so the risk of "crowd-crush" at that next doors is lessened. But I'm ready to be convinced otherwise.They surely overthought that one and did not consider the definition of "Means of Egress"
[BE] MEANS OF EGRESS. A continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion of a building or structure to a public way. A means of egress consists of three separate and distinct parts: the exit access, the exit and the exit discharge.