Egress path larger than required.

[ARCHITECTOM]

Something our office hasn't run into before-
Project is a 7000sf restaurant:
The owner wants hand wash sinks outside of the WC in a rear hall which also serves egress.
The minimum path width is 3'9" the hall is 5'1" wide, and the proposed sinks are 14" deep- so there is no projection into the required egress path.

The fire marshall stated the following:

"The plans I read show the sinks projecting into the space by 14” or 15”.

Fire Safety Code 7.3.2.2 Does not allow for projections into the means of egress greater than 4.5” . I don’t see an exclusion on an exit enclosure wider than minimum.

I see it still as a potential point of impediment"

I am looking for commentary on this but would love some thoughts.

 

[Builder Bob]

The required minimum path of egress shall not be impaired - no different than monumental stairs with handrails - look at the commentary to see why handrails are allowed to span 8 feet apart, when
required width of means of egress is allowed to be measured within 30 inches of the handrails....
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[Builder Bob]

The issue may well be projections in pathway... Put wing walls at end of sinks - cane detectable and "show" required means of egress has not been diminished.

 

[steveray]

Didn't I already post on this? Or is there another thread?....Instruct the FM that it is not an "exit enclosure" it is exit access...If he is still being an idiot, choke down the whole hall to 3'9" and ask him how that has improved safety...

 

[steveray]

If you need to, call OSFM and see what they say....The sinks do project into "the space"...but not into the MOE. That is like saying your door is narrower than the room you are egressing so it is an "impediment"....As long as the minimum width is met, all you have to worry about is the little "stickout" hazards which can be addressed through wing walls and other detectable warnings or barriers.

 

[classicT]

4-ft tall wing wall on side of lavatory subjected to the direction of egress traffic. Make sure that the floor is slip resistant.

 

[ADAguy]

Love "FM's" most of the time, but not always.