machinery pit egress

[bill1952]

I'm looking - so far unsuccessfully - to determine what if any egress is required from what I call a rigging pit or some call an arbor pit. It is a recess in a stage wall - to left or right - to allow the counterweight of rigging system to lower into.

In a building with a basement, there basement depth and a door. In a building otherwise on grade, they might only be 4 to 5 feet deep.

I'd guess someone might go there once or twice a year. A technician once for recommended annual inspection and service, only other times to retrieve something that has been dropped, like work gloves or notes and pencil. I'd guess many have never been visited after initial installation.

A technician would bring a ladder. Does IBC otherwise require egress and if so, what? I've seen quite a few that don't have egress.

Thanks!

At the bottom of figure.

 

[steveray]

1011.16 Ladders​

Permanent ladders shall not serve as a part of the means of egress from occupied spaces within a building. Permanent ladders shall be constructed in accordance with Section 306.5 of the International Mechanical Code and designed for the live loads indicated in Section 1607.17. Permanent ladders shall be permitted to provide access to the following areas:

1. Spaces frequented only by personnel for maintenance, repair or monitoring of equipment.

 

[bill1952]

But is it an "occupied space"? It's not unlike "equipment platform" which is defined as an unoccupied space, which we know may see a service person from time to time.

 

[steveray]

But is it an "occupied space"? It's not unlike "equipment platform" which is defined as an unoccupied space, which we know may see a service person from time to time.

Correct...un occupied...which means egress can be a ladder...and if I needed to tie it up with a bow, I would call it an equipment platform...Even though that talks about elevated...Gotta call it something

 

[bill1952]

So it is not an "occupied space" so 1011.16 does not apply. A permanent ladder is permitted for "access", not egress. IBC does not define "frequented" but the dictionary defines it as "visited often or habitually", like many of us frequent TBCF. Once or twice a year is certainly not "frequented".

 

[steveray]

So it is not an "occupied space" so 1011.16 does not apply. A permanent ladder is permitted for "access", not egress. IBC does not define "frequented" but the dictionary defines it as "visited often or habitually", like many of us frequent TBCF. Once or twice a year is certainly not "frequented".

Read it again....

1011.16 Ladders​

Permanent ladders shall not serve as a part of the means of egress from occupied spaces within a building.

 

[bill1952]

So it is not an "occupied space" so 1011.16 does not apply.

 

[steveray]

If it supplies access...it also supplies egress...from those unoccupied spaces....Which is why it is in Ch. 10...

 

[mtlogcabin]

A technician would bring a ladder.

Just like they may have to do for an elevator pit of crawl space.

 

[steveray]

Just like they may have to do for an elevator pit of crawl space.

I think our elevator code requires a fixed one....