Door clearance in Employee Work Area

[manifold]

2020 Minnesota Building Code, based on 2018 IBC
F-1, sprinklered, cannabis cultivation facility

See attached. This is a cannabis cultivation room with 2-tier movable racks that roll back and forth on tracks to create working aisles. At 300 sf/occ there are 8 calculated occupants but in reality there would never be more than 2 or 3 people in the room at a time due to the amount of equipment and working aisle space. To work in the room requires climbing moveable ladders, traversing floor track, lifting, grasping, reaching, etc.

Would clearance be required on the interior side of the door to the corridor? The room would be considered an employee work area per 1103.2.2. Does 1009 require that door have accessible clearance? Or would 1104.3.1 Exception 2 not require an accessible clearance since the common use circulation path to the door is not required to be an accessible route?

Thanks for any input!

 

[steveray]

1103.2.2​

Spaces and elements within employee work areas shall only be required to comply with Sections 907.5.2.3.1, 1009 and 1104.3.1 and shall be designed and constructed so that individuals with disabilities can approach, enter and exit the work area. Work areas, or portions of work areas, other than raised courtroom stations in accordance with Section 1109.4.1.4, that are less than 300 square feet (30 m2) in area and located 7 inches (178 mm) or more above or below the ground or finished floor where the change in elevation is essential to the function of the space shall be exempt from all requirements.

 

[arwat23]

I don't know if 1104.3.1, exception 2 would apply here. Is there no way to increase the clearance to get that 18"? Often, that exception is used for elevated walkways or stairs that are used to monitor large equipment. I've personally never seen it used for the door to enter an employee work area. I just don't see how not having that 18" clearance is "an integral component of the equipment".

 

[Tim Mailloux]

1103.2.2​

Spaces and elements within employee work areas shall only be required to comply with Sections 907.5.2.3.1, 1009 and 1104.3.1 and shall be designed and constructed so that individuals with disabilities can approach, enter and exit the work area. Work areas, or portions of work areas, other than raised courtroom stations in accordance with Section 1109.4.1.4, that are less than 300 square feet (30 m2) in area and located 7 inches (178 mm) or more above or below the ground or finished floor where the change in elevation is essential to the function of the space shall be exempt from all requirements.

based on the text SteveRay highlighted red above, the 18" clearance on the pull side of the door is required. if the equipment is of a fixed size and you cannot get the required 18" clear, you could always install automatic door openers.

 

[redeyedfly]

2020 Minnesota Building Code, based on 2018 IBC
F-1, sprinklered, cannabis cultivation facility

See attached. This is a cannabis cultivation room with 2-tier movable racks that roll back and forth on tracks to create working aisles. At 300 sf/occ there are 8 calculated occupants but in reality there would never be more than 2 or 3 people in the room at a time due to the amount of equipment and working aisle space. To work in the room requires climbing moveable ladders, traversing floor track, lifting, grasping, reaching, etc.

Would clearance be required on the interior side of the door to the corridor? The room would be considered an employee work area per 1103.2.2. Does 1009 require that door have accessible clearance? Or would 1104.3.1 Exception 2 not require an accessible clearance since the common use circulation path to the door is not required to be an accessible route?

Thanks for any input!

Outswing the doors.

 

[manifold]

Outswing the doors.

This is an option, but a last resort.

 

[manifold]

1103.2.2​

Spaces and elements within employee work areas shall only be required to comply with Sections 907.5.2.3.1, 1009 and 1104.3.1 and shall be designed and constructed so that individuals with disabilities can approach, enter and exit the work area. Work areas, or portions of work areas, other than raised courtroom stations in accordance with Section 1109.4.1.4, that are less than 300 square feet (30 m2) in area and located 7 inches (178 mm) or more above or below the ground or finished floor where the change in elevation is essential to the function of the space shall be exempt from all requirements.

Would 60" clearance be required in the front aisle to allow for turning space to meet the requirement of "enter and exit the work area"? The floor track would prevent using one of the rack aisles as a portion of a T-shaped turning space