Overhead egress door

[Mr. Inspector]

Plan review on an A3 Rec Hall building is indicating two overhead doors for egress. They will also be the accessible entrance and egress doors. 2018 IBC section 1010 Doors, Gates and Turnstiles does not have anything about overhead doors. Code doesn't say if they are allowed or not when powered in section 1010.1.4.2.
Are powered overhead doors allowed?

 

[walker.t]

Code doesn't say if they are allowed or not when powered in section 1010.1.4.2.
Are powered overhead doors allowed?

Per 1010.1.2 (Door Swing): “Egress doors shall be the pivoted or side-hinged swinging type.” This provision doesn’t have an exception for powered overhead doors.

ADA and A117.1 only have door maneuvering clearances for side-hinged doors, I don’t know how an overhead door can be accessible without a maneuvering clearance.

 

[steveray]

For 10 people they are...

 

[walker.t]

For 10 people they are...

That only applies in private garages, office areas, factory, and storage areas, this is an A3 recreation hall. But they’re still going to need at least one accessible means of egress per 1009.1, I don’t see anything in A117.1 that allows overhead doors to be considered accessible.

 

[Yikes]

1010.3.2 and 1010.3.3 cover power-operated doors.
Both of these require the doors be capable of manual operation in event of power failure.
Panic hardware is typically required where the occupant load exceeds 50, and maximum opening force is % lbs. How will your overhead door comply with this?

Is their door vertical swinging or vertical pivoted (like an old garage door), vertical sliding, vertical folding, or vertical accordion?
If folding, how will you avoid greater than 4" protrusion into the path of travel between the heights of 27"-80" per ADAS division 3?
1010.3.3 mentions horizontal sliding doors, but makes no mention of vertical doors.

The sentence structure of 1010.3.3 also leaves it unclear to me whether the adjective "horizontal" must be applicable not only to sliding doors ("horizontal sliding"), but whether it should also apply as "horizontal accordion" and/or "horizontal folding".


"1010.3.3 Special Purpose Horizontal Sliding, Accordion or Folding Doors"

 

[Mr. Inspector]

One of the exceptions is Power-operated doors in accordance with 1010.1.4.2, which does not say anything if overhead or vertical opening powered doors can or cannot be used.

ANSI 404.3 says automatic doors can be used.

 

[walker.t]

The sentence structure of 1010.3.3 also leaves it unclear to me whether the adjective "horizontal" must be applicable not only to sliding doors ("horizontal sliding"), but whether it should also apply as "horizontal accordion" and/or "horizontal folding".

Interesting you say that, I’ve had the same thought about a couple of other provisions. It makes for wordy reading, but it would be helpful to add the adjective before each term in the phrase. I had been reading this to mean that “horizontal” applies to all the terms.

Panic hardware is typically required where the occupant load exceeds 50, and maximum opening force is % lbs. How will your overhead door comply with this?

I thought the point of panic hardware was that when there’s a crowd pushing towards the (swinging) door that the door can unlatch and open in the direction of egress. If a door has to move vertically the push of the crowd isn’t going to open it.

One of the exceptions is Power-operated doors in accordance with 1010.1.4.2, which does not say anything if overhead or vertical opening powered doors can or cannot be used.

1010.1.4.2 starts with “Where means of egress doors…”. 1010.1.2 tells us that egress doors have to be pivoted or side-hinged, that would exclude overhead or vertical opening powered doors from being mentioned in 1010.1.4.2.

ANSI 404.3 says automatic doors can be used.

A117.1 only shows door maneuvering clearances for side-hinged and sliding and folding doors.

 

[Yikes]

1010.1.4.2 starts with “Where means of egress doors…”. 1010.1.2 tells us that egress doors have to be pivoted or side-hinged, that would exclude overhead or vertical opening powered doors from being mentioned in 1010.1.4.2.

Well, the image below is a type of pivot door- - a vertical pivot:


The problem is that getting it to open manually with max 5 lbs force probably requires it to be essentially "spring loaded" to raise itself into the own position.
And you would have to make your own custom panic hardware - - some type of cane retractor.

If I were the designer I would have swinging exit doors for emergency and then just use the overheard doors for atmosphere.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Well, the image below is a type of pivot door- - a vertical pivot:
View attachment 13647

Not allowed for egress, except (as pointed out above) in certain occupancy classifications and for occupant loads of ten or fewer.

 

[walker.t]

If I were the designer I would have swinging exit doors for emergency and then just use the overheard doors for atmosphere.

For sure, the project Mr. Inspector is reviewing can keep the overhead doors for whatever reasons they might want them, they just need to add accessible side-hinged doors that meet the requirements for location, width, et cetera.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

We have a project in town that has overhead doors. It's a seasonal bathhouse/pavilion for a public swimming pool, and the only entrance/exit is through a passageway (sort of like a vomitory) that passes between the men's locker room and the women's locker room. But the overhead doors just close off the passageway -- they don't enclose a weather/thermal envelope, and they will be open at all times the facility is occupied.

To guard against a prankster (or worse) closing the overhead doors while there are people within the fenced enclosure, the Fire Marshal imposed a restriction that when the overhead doors are open, they must be LOCKED in the open position. This satisfies the code reuirement that egress must be available at all times the premises are occupied.

* * * * *

We are currently reviewing another project that is for refrigerated (not frozen), atmospherically-controlled storage. One PEMB structure with three temperature- and atmosphere-controlled pods within. Each pod is 20' x 60', so the occupant load of each is under 10. The only way in or out of the pods is a horizontal sliding door. We have been asking for data on the force needed to operate these doors, and the applicant has been stonewalling us. But they don't understand what's holding up their permit.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

It's in a camp for a rec hall. 4,000 sq ft. 299 occupants. Should be a lot more but won an appeal to keep it just under the requirements for sprinklers.
I didn't think a overhead door would be allowed. I just wanted to make sure because the code doesn't say they cannot be used. A lot of accessibility issues too. They already put them in, not powered, and the plans called for non-powered sliding doors. I failed the inspection because of these plus other things. The plans were done by an inspector that had his own 3rd party inspection company that just retired, and my company took over this mess. I think he just wanted the money for the job before he quit. Doing a revised plan review now showing the overhead doors that I will fail.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

I didn't think a overhead door would be allowed. I just wanted to make sure because the code doesn't say they cannot be used.

Of course the code says they cannot be used -- unless your jurisdiction edited out the requirement. IBC 1010.1.2:

1010.1.2 Egress door types. Egress doors shall be of the sidehinged
swinging door, pivoted door, or balanced door types.

There is a list of exceptions, which is where we find the allowance for other types of doors in certain occupancies with an occupant load of 10 or less, but none of the exceptions would apply to a place of assembly with an occupant load of 299 people.

 

[mark handler]

Combine the two....

 

[mtlogcabin]

Personnel Doors

Personnel doors are for people rather than vehicles. They can be fire doors, sliding doors, fence gates, or a door in a sectional or roll up door.

americandoor.com

 

[Yikes]

I’m thinking about a typical shopping mall tenant space, where the main entry/exit is a coiling overhead grille, and the second exit/personnel access is a rear door leading to a egress/service corridor.
The coiling grille is powered, but it must be left in the up position during business hours. Would that work for your A3 occupancy?

 

[mark handler]

I’m thinking about a typical shopping mall tenant space, where the main entry/exit is a coiling overhead grille, and the second exit/personnel access is a rear door leading to a egress/service corridor.
The coiling grille is powered, but it must be left in the up position during business hours. Would that work for your A3 occupancy?

Are you going to cancel the event due to rainy or windy weather?
Business hours? is it a business? School? Library? Place of religious worship?
You will need back-up power, someone in a wheelchair or a person with crouches may not be able to lift an overhead door.

 

[walker.t]

Combine the two....

They will also be the accessible entrance and egress doors.

The side-hinged doors within the overhead doors shown in the first two images do not have accessible thresholds.

Regarding the bottom image with the dark brown door, looks like the side-hinged door is fixed, only the area to the left rolls up. Looks like the slab would have to be raised (presumably on both sides) of the dark brown door for it to be accessible.

 

[mtlogcabin]

Regarding the bottom image with the dark brown door, looks like the side-hinged door is fixed

It can be both. Notice the dead bolt at the bottom of the door frame.


Pass Through Doors Add Functionality If you don't need to open your rolling door every time you use the passage, adding a man door or wicket door may be the answer. They are convenient to use, and can be added to most rolling steel doors when ordering. The wicket door frame is constructed of sturdy steel, and can be hinged to swing free of the opening, allowing maximum use of the bay passage when needed. They work well with motorized doors too, as they allow the rolling curtain to move freely during operation.

 

[walker.t]

It can be both. Notice the dead bolt at the bottom of the door frame.

Cool, first time I’ve seen that. If you zoom in I think you can see the hinge that lets the hinged door and frame swing into the space (part of the hinge is painted dark brown.) I’m not sure if the panic bar will hit the pipe bollard but even if the door only hinges out 85° that’s still helpful.

 

[Yikes]

Not all wicket doors have an ADA compliant threshold. See the notes in spec 1.02.B from a major manufacturer:

 

[walker.t]

Not all wicket doors have an ADA compliant threshold. See the notes in spec 1.02.B from a major manufacturer:

Nice bit of detective work! Impressive that this overhead door manufacturer pointed that out, seems like a manufacturer who values happy potential customers more than just selling their product to someone who later regrets the purchase.

You sharing this specification reminds me of your post where you were talking about manufacturers’ claims of ADA compliance:

I'm trying to train our staff not rely on manufacturers when their literature claims a product is ADA compliant, but to closely examine and verify for themselves.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

The code let's powered sliding doors. This slides up and down. But not sure how it can comply with this section:

1010.1.4.2 Power-operated doors. Where means of egress doors are operated or assisted by power, the
design shall be such that in the event of power failure, the door is capable of being opened
manually to permit means of egress travel or closed where necessary to safeguard means of egress.
The forces required to open these doors manually shall not exceed those specified in Section
1010.1.3, except that the force to set the door in motion shall not exceed 50 pounds (220 N). The
door shall be capable of opening from any position to the full width of the opening in which such
door is installed when a force is applied to the door on the side from which egress is made.
Power-operated swinging doors, power-operated sliding doors and power-oper- ated folding doors
shall comply with BHMA A156.10. Power-assisted swinging doors and low-energy power- operated
swinging doors shall comply with BHMA A156.19. Low-energy power-operated sliding doors and
low-energy power-operated folding doors shall comply with BHMA A156.38.
Exceptions:
1. Occupancies in Group I-3.
2. Special purpose horizontal sliding, accordion or folding doors complying with Section
1010.1.4.3.
3. For a biparting door in the emergency break- out mode, a door leaf located within a multi-
ple-leaf opening shall be exempt from the minimum 32-inch (813 mm) single-leaf requirement of
Section 1010.1.1, provided that a minimum 32-inch (813 mm) clear opening is provided when the two
biparting leaves meet- ing in the center are broken out.

 

[walker.t]

But not sure how it can comply with this section

I don’t think it can, my reading of 1010.1.4.2 leads me to believe that it does not intend that overhead doors be considered a form of sliding door:

1. BHMA A156.10 is titled “Standard for Power Operated Pedestrian Doors.” Are overhead doors considered “pedestrian doors”?
2. “Open to the full width” - it doesn’t say “open to the full height.”
3. There’s a specific reference to “horizontal sliding…doors” - no references to vertical sliding doors.

The section “Italicized Terms” in the IBC Preface says that terms that are not specifically defined are to use “common use definitions.” I think most people think that “sliding doors” move horizontally. If I called an overhead door manufacturer and asked what kind of “sliding doors” they sell to put on the front of a garage they’d probably say, “Sorry, we don’t sell sliding doors, just overhead doors.”