Proposed three story apartment building with four fire walls dividing the building. Attached is the floor plan of the 2nd and 3rd floor. The architect is using in two compartments 100% horizontal exits and does not feel that the stair is required to be separated from the interior of the building.
2018 IBC Section 1026.1 states “…where two or more exits are required, not more than one-half of the total number of exits or total exit minimum width or required capacity shall be horizontal exits.”
The commentary States the “Section 1026.4 allows for some areas to have all the exits from a space to be horizontal exits under specific conditions.”
From our viewpoint, and contrary to the commentary, there is nowhere in Section 1026.1 that designates 1026.4 as an exception; if it were, it would be stated along with the other exceptions listed in section 1026.1.
Q #1 : Can a three story apartment building have several compartments with 100% of the exits on the upper floor as horizontal exits if they use corridors as refuge area per Section 1026.4?
Q #2 : “Refuge area” vs “area of refuge”. IBC 1026.4 refers to a “refuge area”. We notice this term is not in italics and not specifically defined in section 202. However, “area of refuge” has very specific requirements to be met in accordance with section 1009.6. Are these two terms referring to the same thing or are they intended to be different?
The floor plan attached is the 2nd and 3rd floor plan of three story apartment building which the architect is considering the stair as exterior stair and not providing separation between stair and corridors citing the Section 1027.6 exception #3.
Exterior exit stairways:
Q #3 : Referring to the attached floor plan, are the corridors considered "open-ended" corridor, with the exterior exit stairway at both ends, when there are fire walls dividing the building (red Lines) and code requires when changing direction exceeding 45, a clear opening shall be provided.
From our point of view, the stairs as submitted are required to be separated from the interior of the building as required in section 1023.2 based on Section 1027.6
2018 IBC Section 1026.1 states “…where two or more exits are required, not more than one-half of the total number of exits or total exit minimum width or required capacity shall be horizontal exits.”
The commentary States the “Section 1026.4 allows for some areas to have all the exits from a space to be horizontal exits under specific conditions.”
From our viewpoint, and contrary to the commentary, there is nowhere in Section 1026.1 that designates 1026.4 as an exception; if it were, it would be stated along with the other exceptions listed in section 1026.1.
Q #1 : Can a three story apartment building have several compartments with 100% of the exits on the upper floor as horizontal exits if they use corridors as refuge area per Section 1026.4?
Q #2 : “Refuge area” vs “area of refuge”. IBC 1026.4 refers to a “refuge area”. We notice this term is not in italics and not specifically defined in section 202. However, “area of refuge” has very specific requirements to be met in accordance with section 1009.6. Are these two terms referring to the same thing or are they intended to be different?
The floor plan attached is the 2nd and 3rd floor plan of three story apartment building which the architect is considering the stair as exterior stair and not providing separation between stair and corridors citing the Section 1027.6 exception #3.
Exterior exit stairways:
Q #3 : Referring to the attached floor plan, are the corridors considered "open-ended" corridor, with the exterior exit stairway at both ends, when there are fire walls dividing the building (red Lines) and code requires when changing direction exceeding 45, a clear opening shall be provided.
From our point of view, the stairs as submitted are required to be separated from the interior of the building as required in section 1023.2 based on Section 1027.6
