Access exemption "for emergency use only"

[Yikes]

New construction public apartment project in California. A U-shaped building with an elevator and stair near one end of the "U".
The stair at the other end of the "U" is more than 200' from elevator.
The firefighter access to the courtyard in the middle of the "U" must be kept open-to-the-sky; no bridgeconnecting across the ends of the U per the fire department.

California in its infinite wisdom has added the following requirement not found in the 2010 ADAS:
11B-206.2.3.2 Distance to Elevators

In new construction of buildings where elevators are required by Section 11B-206.2.3, and which exceed 10,000 square feet (929 m2) on any floor, an accessible means of vertical access via ramp, elevator or lift shall be provided within 200 feet (60,960 mm) of travel of each stair and each escalator...​

Exception: Stairs used solely for emergency egress.​

Question: what do I need to do in order for a determination to be made that stairs are to be used "solely for emergency egress"? Do I just need to post signs on the stair landings that say "for emergency egress only"?
(The city building department already approved the project in its current configuration. This is not an ADA civil issue, so there's little risk of future ADA civil litigation based on CBC when we've already got the approval of the building department.)

 

[arwat23]

If you want to play it as safe as possible, maybe put one of those panic bars that trips an alarm when used. Definitely only meant for emergency use at that point. Just having a sign on the door may be sufficient though since there's no clear code requirements, at least as far as I see.

It's unfortunate that neither DSA or DOJ have an advisory for that yet...

 

[Paul Sweet]

People whose apartment is near that second stair aren't going to be happy if they have to use the stair near the elevator and walk all the way around the U when they are carrying a couple bags of groceries.

 

[Yikes]

People whose apartment is near that second stair aren't going to be happy if they have to use the stair near the elevator and walk all the way around the U when they are carrying a couple bags of groceries.

I hear you. Reality is that in this part of town, most people drive and own cars. The elevator goes down to the subterranean parking level. So a person taking groceries out of their car would already be going up to the elevator anyway

My first preference would be to provide a bridge that connects the ends of the U. However, the local fire department believes that they should be able to get access to the EEROs via yards that are open-to-the-sky, no walking under bridges.