exterior exit stairs & exterior area of assisted rescue

[Tim Mailloux]

2015 IBC, Two stories, type IIB construction, H use group, fully sprinklered building.

The client would like both required exits from the 2nd floor to be exterior egress stairs. Per 1027.6 exception #2 the exterior exit stairs are not required to be protected from the interior of the building. However as these are the only two exit off the floor they also both need to be accessible means of egress. Does that also mean both stairs would also need to comply with the requirements of exterior areas of assisted rescue which require fire separation and two way communication?

 

[RLGA]

No, not really. Section 1009.3, Exception 5, does not require stairways to have areas of refuge if the building is sprinklered per NFPA 13 or 13R. Notice that it states just stairways and not interior exit stairways or exterior exit stairways. Since the building you described has sprinklers, areas of refuge are not required.

As for exterior areas of assisted rescue, those are only required at the level of exit discharge when the exit discharge does not have an accessible route to the public way. When an occupant leaves a story (not on the level of exit discharge) to an exterior exit stairway, they are still within the exit and have not reached the exit discharge or the level of exit discharge; thus, the exterior area for assisted rescue would not be applicable.

 

[Tim Mailloux]

thank you!

 

[steveray]

It may still need fire separation...Just not per AOR or EAOAR.....

1027.6 Exterior exit stairway and ramp protection. Exterior
exit stairways and ramps shall be separated from the
interior of the building as required in Section 1023.2.

 

[Tim Mailloux]

It may still need fire separation...Just not per AOR or EAOAR.....

1027.6 Exterior exit stairway and ramp protection. Exterior
exit stairways and ramps shall be separated from the
interior of the building as required in Section 1023.2.

Exceptions:
1. Separation from the interior of the building is not
required for occupancies, other than those in Group
R-1 or R-2, in buildings that are not more than two
stories above grade plane where a level of exit dis-charge
serving such occupancies is the first story
above grade plane

 

[steveray]

You did type 2 story H didn't you.....