Door Swings - Classrooms (or Labs) over 1000sf or 50 occ.

[Erik_A]

I have a question regarding required door swings for higher education classrooms (or labs) over 1000 sf or 50 occ. when 2 doors are required. Is there an exception to IBC that only 50% of the required doors need to swing outward (in the direction of egress)?

I can find the door swing exception in NFPA 45 (2019) 4.2.2 and 5.3.1 for labs, and am looking for something similar in IBC for classrooms. This is because when we swing the door outward, we need to recess in in an alcove as not to impede the corridor. So having the 2nd door swing in would only require 1 alcove.

 

[RLGA]

Section 1010.1.2.2 (2018 IBC) requires all doors serving an occupant load of 50 or more must swing in the direction of egress travel.

 

[cda]

Welcome

And agree, if the project has to meet IBC.

 

[Erik_A]

Thanks very much!

 

[Tim Mailloux]

we always do our best to size classrooms below 50 occupants to avoid 2 doors. While its a grey area IMO we have also used the Shops & Vocational space occupant load of 1 per 50 for computer labs and chem labs in higher educational facilities and this has been approved by the state BO.

 

[ADAguy]

higher ed suggests colleges and universities where labs often have>50 students