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California accessible means of access for an existing building?

J

JPohling

Sawhorse
Joined
Aug 16, 2011
Messages
1,602
Location
San Diego
This is a conundrum and I am not sure it is correct or even possible. Every previous California building code code had an exception for an accessible path of travel for an existing building. 1009.1 exception #1. 2016 CBC for reference below.

SECTION 1009 ACCESSIBLE MEANS OF EGRESS
1009.1 Accessible means of egress required. Accessible means of egress shall comply with this
section. Accessible spaces shall be provided with not less than one accessible means of egress.
Where more than one means of egress are required by Section 1006.2 or 1006.3 from any
accessible
space, each accessible portion of the space shall be served by <
accessible means of egress in at least the same number as required by Sections 1006.2
or 1006.3. In addition to the II
requirements of this chapter, means of egress, which provide access to, or egress from, buildings
for persons with disabilities, shall also comply with the requirements of Chapter llA or llB as
applicable.
Exceptions:
l. Accessible means of egress are not required to be provided in existing buildings.

The current 2019 CBC has removed the exception for existing buildings. see below.


SECTION 1009
ACCESSIBLE MEANS OF EGRESS
1009.1 Accessible means of egress required. Accessible means of egress shall comply with this
section. Accessible spaces shall be provided with not less than one accessible means of egress.
Where more than one means of egress is required by Section 1006.2 or 1006.3 from any accessible
space, each accessible portion of the space shall be served by accessible means of egress in at
least the same number as required by Sections 1006.2 or 1006.3. In addition to the requirements of
this chapter, means of egress, which provide access to, or egress from, buildings for persons with
disabilities, shall also comply with the requirements of Chapter 11A or 11Bas applicable.
Exceptions:
1. One accessible means of egress is required from an accessible mezzanine level in accordance with
Section 1009.3, 1009.4 or 1009.5, and Chapter 11A or 11B, as applicable

I now have State Fire Marshals requiring the addition of areas of refuge as well as two way communication systems be added. I have no idea how this is to occur as obviously many existing buildings were designed and constructed without areas of refuge. So now all existing buildings are expected to comply with section 1009? how is that possible?
 
You don't need to look at the code book until you have a construction project planned or in progress that requires a permit. You did not say anything about this.

Also don't see anything about existing buildings in the new section. Doesn't CA have an existing building code book?
 
It was deleted from the IBC for the 2018 edition. Probably the reason is that the IBC is intended for new construction and not existing buildings unless pointed there by the IEBC.

2018 IEBC Section 305.6 has an exception (Exception 2) that does not require an accessible means of egress in existing buildings that are altered. A change of occupancy is a different matter.
 
California does have an existing building code, but they did not adopt most of the ICC existing building code. Only chapters 1-5 were adopted, and they were heavily amended/redacted. From what I can tell it mostly points to building code for any modified portions of an existing building. The only provision you can use to avoid full compliance is the "technically infeasible" clauses. Generally the AHJ will request full compliance and it's up to the designer to show why said requirements are infeasible. A reasonable Building Official will accept best intentions and recognize when a specific requirement is not feasible and/or will kill a project.
 
Did a little more looking and the exception is in 2019 CBC Chapter 11B. 11B-207.1 exception #3. There was no way they could enforce that on existing buildings.


B-207.1 General. Means of egress shall comply with
Chapter 10, Section 1009
Exceptions:

1. Where means of egress are permitted by local building or life safety codes to share a common
path of egress travel, accessible means of egress shall be permitted to share a common path of
egress travel.

2. Areas of refuge shall not be required in detention and correctional facilities.

3. Accessible means of egress are not required to be
provided in existing buildings.
 
In CA we are in a different world.
I just returned from Virginia/Maryland and found code enforcement to be woefully lacking in many cases.
 
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