• Welcome to The Building Code Forum

    Your premier resource for building code knowledge.

    This forum remains free to the public thanks to the generous support of our Sawhorse Members and Corporate Sponsors. Their contributions help keep this community thriving and accessible.

    Want enhanced access to expert discussions and exclusive features? Learn more about the benefits here.

    Ready to upgrade? Log in and upgrade now.

Car wash egress

Mr. Inspector

SAWHORSE
Joined
Nov 28, 2009
Messages
4,667
Location
Poconos/eastern PA
2015 IBC plan review

Addition to both ends of a automatic car wash to make it longer for new equipment will have doors that open when power goes off. No other doors. Drivers normally don't get out of cars and no workers inside building.

1. 1010.1.2 requires swinging egress doors with an exception of storage areas. If the use is S-2 would this be called a storage area?

2. 1010.1.4.2 allows power operated doors and says they must be able to be opened manually when power goes off. Does this mean the door can't open itself and must me manually operable when the power is off?

3. 1010.1.4.2 says the door is to be capable of swinging open from any position....... Does this automatically ban overhead doors?

3. Also 1010.1.4.2 says swinging, folding and siding doors need to comply with BHMA A156.10. Does this mean overhead doors don't need to comply to this?

4. Never did a plan review on a car wash. How do you handle the egress route if there are tracks running all through the room (I don't know if there are yet)?

5. Does the room need to be accessible?
 
2015 IBC plan review

Addition to both ends of a automatic car wash to make it longer for new equipment will have doors that open when power goes off. No other doors. Drivers normally don't get out of cars and no workers inside building.

1. 1010.1.2 requires swinging egress doors with an exception of storage areas. If the use is S-2 would this be called a storage area?

2. 1010.1.4.2 allows power operated doors and says they must be able to be opened manually when power goes off. Does this mean the door can't open itself and must me manually operable when the power is off?

3. 1010.1.4.2 says the door is to be capable of swinging open from any position....... Does this automatically ban overhead doors?

3. Also 1010.1.4.2 says swinging, folding and siding doors need to comply with BHMA A156.10. Does this mean overhead doors don't need to comply to this?

4. Never did a plan review on a car wash. How do you handle the egress route if there are tracks running all through the room (I don't know if there are yet)?

5. Does the room need to be accessible?


I would say not required

10 or less rules
 
A car wash is a "B" occupancy in the IBC. A side hinge swing door is required to exit the building. There are many things that can keep the automatic overhead doors from operating. All three of our automatic carwashes have side hinge swinging exit doors. 2 where built under the UBC and 1 under the IBC

No the room does not need to be accessible
 
1010.1.2 Door Swing

Egress doors shall be of the pivoted or side-hinged swinging type. Exceptions:
  1. Private garages, office areas, factory and storage areas with an occupant load of 10 or less.
  2. Group I-3 occupancies used as a place of detention.
  3. Critical or intensive care patient rooms within suites of health care facilities.
  4. Doors within or serving a single dwelling unit in Groups R-2 and R-3.
  5. In other than Group H occupancies, revolving doors complying with Section 1010.1.4.1.
  6. In other than Group H occupancies, special purpose horizontal sliding, accordion or folding door assemblies complying with Section 1010.1.4.3.
  7. Power-operated doors in accordance with Section 1010.1.4.2.
  8. Doors serving a bathroom within an individual sleeping unit in Group R-1.
  9. In other than Group H occupancies, manually operated horizontal sliding doors are permitted in a means of egress from spaces with an occupant load of 10 or less.
 
The existing building was built before we had codes and had no swinging doors. Now they are just adding 4' on both ends and they are companding that they have other car washes without swinging doors so I need to get this right because I will be pissing them off. No restrooms too.
Please see my questions 2 and 3's about power operated doors.

A car wash is a "B" occupancy in the IBC.
OK not storage or S-2. Now I see it in the code that's it's B. But where does it say it does not need to be accessible, it's open to the public (in their cars)?
 
Like the hanging strips at loading docks, for fork lifts to go through?
I don't thing these would pass the energy code, it's gets very cold around here sometimes and I don't think they want their equipment freezing up.

Mtlogcabin please let me know what section of the 2015 IBC would allow these doors as a exit door.
 
It might be a stretch but 104.10 and 104.11
These facilities are not intended work human occupancy so you might be comfortable using those sections
Or maybe look at this type door https://www.garageadviser.net/garage-door-with-man-door/

Thanks for helping me out.
We don't use chapter 1 of the IBC in this state and we don't have anything that says something like that. Humans will be in the cars that go through the car wash. Isn't that considered human occupancy? Even a utility room needs to comply to egress.

I was thinking of a man door in the door that the cars go through but I am not the designer and they didn't give me any info on the door they want yet. I did ask for an egress plan.
 
Back
Top