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Main entrance door of the space to not be used as means of egress?

Y

YonLL

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Aug 7, 2025
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17
Location
New York City
I am working on this interior space, where within this space it has 3 doors leading out: one through a pre-function room that is connected to the common corridor (the main entrance of the space), one directly to a stairs, and another to the back of the corridor that leads to a second stairs.
However, the existing exit doors of the "prefunction room" has limited load capacity. Since load egressing through intervening space is required to be added, using the main entrance as one of the required 2 means of egress would not work.

Here is the question:
Since the space in question does have 3 doors leading out, is it allowed to not use the main entrance of the space, and use the other 2 doors for the required 2 means of egress, provided all other life safety requirements are met? I feel it is technically allowed, but feels incorrect to do.
 
Use and occupancy classification? Occupant load?

Does IBC 1030.2 or 1030.4 apply?

Do the exits satisfy remoteness criteria? The door to the stair is very close to the double door to/from the Pre-Function space. Beyond that, the double door and the side egress door both dump into the same corridor so, in my opinion, they don't qualify as two means of egress. They both ultimately ledt to the single door into Stair C,
 
Yankee Chronicler said:
Do the exits satisfy remoteness criteria? The door to the stair is very close to the double door to/from the Pre-Function space. Beyond that, the double door and the side egress door both dump into the same corridor so, in my opinion, they don't qualify as two means of egress. They both ultimately ledt to the single door into Stair C,
Click to expand...

Correction: I didn't notice Stair B over in the upper right corner.
 
Yankee Chronicler said:
Use and occupancy classification? Occupant load?

Does IBC 1030.2 or 1030.4 apply?

Do the exits satisfy remoteness criteria? The door to the stair is very close to the double door to/from the Pre-Function space. Beyond that, the double door and the side egress door both dump into the same corridor so, in my opinion, they don't qualify as two means of egress. They both ultimately ledt to the single door into Stair C,
Click to expand...
It is a restaurant with A-2. Load is about 200.
We are trying not to use the double door as means of egress because the added load would overload the door from pre-fuction to the corridor. The door to the back of the corridor and the door to Stair A are remote enough. I believe I am compliant with all other life safety requirements, but not sure about not using the main entrance to the space... To me, instinctively, that would be where people would try to go in an emergency
 
mtlogcabin said:
How?
The OL is 200 and a 36" door will handle over 150 people. You two exit doors exiting from the A-2 occupancy
Click to expand...
Because pre-function also has loads, and the bottom left NIC space is also dumping loads into that space. The short story is that one door will not be able to take all the loads from these spaces.
 
I recall the code requirements is the main entrance must Handel 50% of the occupant load, keeping with human behavior that we go out the way we come in.
Next consideration need to be given to the total occupant load of the floor and all the spaces and what the exit capacity is need for them, the exiting routes for all space when simultaneously exiting.
 
What are the occupant loads of the pre-function area and the NIC areas
Add a door in the NIC area next to stair C

2021 IBC

1030.2​

A building, room or space used for assembly purposes that has an occupant load of greater than 300 and is provided with a main exit, that main exit shall be of sufficient capacity to accommodate not less than one-half of the occupant load, but such capacity shall be not less than the total required capacity of all means of egress leading to the exit. Where the building is classified as a Group A occupancy, the main exit shall front on not less than one street or an unoccupied space of not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) in width that adjoins a street or public way. In a building, room or space used for assembly purposes where there is not a well-defined main exit or where multiple main exits are provided, exits shall be permitted to be distributed around the perimeter of the building provided that the total capacity of egress is not less than 100 percent of the required capacity.
 
TheCommish said:
I recall the code requirements is the main entrance must Handel 50% of the occupant load, keeping with human behavior that we go out the way we come in.
Next consideration need to be given to the total occupant load of the floor and all the spaces and what the exit capacity is need for them, the exiting routes for all space when simultaneously exiting.
Click to expand...

That doesn't kick in until the occupant load exceeds 300 people.
 
I don't like the relationship between the door from the Pre-Function space to the corridor, and the door from the corridor to Stair A. When open, the door from Pre-Function cannot overlap the opening of the door to the stair. If it does, you have to reduce the capacity of the door into the stair.

1755906398306.png
 
If I understand this correctly, there will be a restaurant space with the only access via three stairways.
 
Yankee Chronicler said:
I don't like the relationship between the door from the Pre-Function space to the corridor, and the door from the corridor to Stair A. When open, the door from Pre-Function cannot overlap the opening of the door to the stair. If it does, you have to reduce the capacity of the door into the stair.

View attachment 16356
Click to expand...
Ah my bad. It’s a sloppy sketch. In reality on the left of stair A is a shaft space that is big enough to allow for 4ft between the two doors.
 
ICE said:
If I understand this correctly, there will be a restaurant space with the only access via three stairways.
Click to expand...
In terms of egress yes since the restaurant is on 2nd floor. For day to day, customers will take the two elevators at the right side of stair A
 
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mtlogcabin said:
What are the occupant loads of the pre-function area and the NIC areas
Add a door in the NIC area next to stair C

2021 IBC

1030.2​

A building, room or space used for assembly purposes that has an occupant load of greater than 300 and is provided with a main exit, that main exit shall be of sufficient capacity to accommodate not less than one-half of the occupant load, but such capacity shall be not less than the total required capacity of all means of egress leading to the exit. Where the building is classified as a Group A occupancy, the main exit shall front on not less than one street or an unoccupied space of not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) in width that adjoins a street or public way. In a building, room or space used for assembly purposes where there is not a well-defined main exit or where multiple main exits are provided, exits shall be permitted to be distributed around the perimeter of the building provided that the total capacity of egress is not less than 100 percent of the required capacity.
Click to expand...
We really don’t want to touch the NIC space if possible since it is not our scope.
 
What's the total occupant load for the floor/story, and what's the occupant load for the BOS space and for each of the NIC spaces?

What does the original (approved?) plan show for egress from all spaces on the story?
 
Paul Sweet said:
The NIC space will require 2 doors if it has over 50 occupants (IBC 1006.2.1).
Click to expand...
It does i just didn't draw since it is not our scope and I don't think it really matters much for our space.

So does the NIC space exit through the pre-function space? If not then you are only required a single 3.0 door from the dining area into the pre-function area and then a single 3.0 door from the pre-function into the corridor.

I really do not understand the issue with exiting back through the pre-function area
 
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