Area of Refuge in a warehouse

[jar546]

Large warehouse with 1 main entrance into the building that is accessible. The main/accessible entrance leads to an office area and employee area. From there, the employees go to their workstations through out the 500,000 square foot warehouse.

At 100' intervals through out the entire perimeter of the warehouse there are exit doors that have a landing at the top and steps down to grade. The entire building in the warehouse area is above grade due to the docks for the trucks.

In an area of the warehouse S1 near the offices, they constructed a photo room by building 3 walls inside the warehouse using the exterior wall of the warehouse as the 4th wall.

Again, only the main entrance which is at grade is wheelchair accessible.

The building is sprinklered.

Where in this building would an Area Of Refuge be required?

Would an Area of Refuge be required at all?

 

[RJJ]

I don't believe the code requires an area of refuge. What is the occupancy load of the office? And I would assume that when you exit the office area at some location you enter the S1 space? How far away from the office is the photo room? Just trying to understand the configuration of the space / spaces as they relate.

 

[mueller]

I believe this warehouse space requires more than 1 MOE and then two accessible MOE would be required by 1007.1.

 

[jar546]

The office space includes the entrance, offices and the employee break room along with restrooms. There are other restrooms through out the facility due to its size. The photo room is approximately 50' from the breakroom/office area.

Still don't see in a sprinklered building where an Area of Refuge would be required.

 

[RJJ]

Jeff: Here is a link from the old BB. Seems to have some similar issues.

http://www4.iccsafe.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=011401

I don't believe an area of refuge is needed. I would ask the L & I inspector for the section! On one floor and sprinkled with two means of accessible egress I don't see the issue being require. The only thing that could be possible, is if the travel distance from one end of the building to the accessible egress is over the limit, then maybe.

 

[mtlogcabin]

AREA OF REFUGE. An area where persons unable to use stairways can remain temporarily to await instructions or assistance during emergency evacuation

Where more than one means of egress is required by Section 1015.1 or 1019.1 from any accessible space, each accessible portion of the space shall be served by not less than two accessible means of egress.

Exceptions:

1. Where the exit discharge is not accessible, an exterior area for assisted rescue must be provided in accordance with Section 1007.8.

2. Where the exit stairway is open to the exterior, the accessible means of egress shall include either an area of refuge in accordance with Section 1007.6 or an exterior area for assisted rescue in accordance with Section 1007.8.

If this is a new facility you need an area of refuge or an area for assisted rescue. Designers choice as to which one and where to locate. Personally I would look at providing an area of refuge at the nearest exit to the office/photo room. Employees within the warehouse area will most likely not have physical mobile limitations due to the nature of the work they will be required to perform.