Egress through Kitchenette - 1016.2.1(5) 'similar purposes'

[jhead]

Hi, unsure if this Kitchenette is of 'similar purposes' to a kitchen. This is a sprinklered warehouse building (F-1) with an office space (B) within it. Same tenants that use both spaces. Can they exit the F-1 space through the kitchenette corridor? -Thanks

1016.2 Egress through intervening spaces​

1. 5.Egress shall not pass through kitchens, storage rooms, closets or spaces used for similar purposes.
   
   Exceptions:
   
   1. 1.Means of egress are not prohibited through a kitchen area serving adjoining rooms constituting part of the same dwelling unit or sleeping unit.
   2. 2.Means of egress are not prohibited through stockrooms in Group M occupancies where all of the following are met:
      
      1. 2.1.The stock is of the same hazard classification as that found in the main retail area.
      2. 2.2.Not more than 50 percent of the exit access is through the stockroom.
      3. 2.3.The stockroom is not subject to locking from the egress side.
      4. 2.4.There is a demarcated, minimum 44-inch-wide (1118 mm) aisle defined by full- or partial-height fixed walls or similar construction that will maintain the required width and lead directly from the retail area to the exit without obstructions.

 

[steveray]

The door is not locked between tenants?…Disregard…..better reading….I don’t think I would have an issue with it….no tables and chairs to interfere with egress and no real cooking/ fire hazard

 

[jhead]

The door is not locked between tenants?…Disregard…..better reading….I don’t think I would have an issue with it….no tables and chairs to interfere with egress and no real cooking/ fire hazard

Exactly. Not locked, no obstructions and just a microwave for cooking.

 

[CR Design]

I could see this one being interpreted both ways. The IBC 2021 s. 1016.2 commentary reads: "The concern in Item 5 is that kitchens, storage rooms and similar spaces may be subject to locking or blockage of the exit access path. Item 5, Exception 1, does not apply this same prohibition to areas within dwelling or sleeping units. However, for other spaces, a customer means of egress should not be through the working portions of a commercial kitchen in a restaurant." I was schooled that commercial kitchens provide a plethora of potential hazards that could impede egress such as open flame appliances and slipping hazards like, grease spills, and soapy water on the floor. It appears that the intent of the egress path through a commercial kitchen prohibition is due to the aforementioned hazards. One could argue that a kitchenette where there is a sink or dishwasher has the potential for water on the floor to be a potential slip hazard. I have seen refrigerators leak as well. If the prohibition is, in fact, intended to disallow egress through commercial kitchens only, I think the wording of the code language could be clearer.

 

[Jean Tessmer-HI]

how many exits are required? is the kitchenette exit one of the required exits? The kitchenette under the ADA would be considered a common use area and it would need to comply with the ADA. If the door is used commonly, it would at least need to be in ADA compliance including clear floor approach spaces, reach, and operable hardware. Does the door open out onto a level grade to exit to an open area?

 

[jhead]

Thanks for the replies. Two exits required and there are two north of the kitchenette so that will be our approach. Just avoiding the uncertain conflict. As for the ADA for it I'm not sure. Haven't checked the clearances yet. It does open out to level grade, but the office space doesn't need to egress through the kitchenette either. There are 2 exits within that space as well. Basically, the building is split between office space and factory, both sides of the building have adequate exits without going through the other - so we will just do that.

 

[brokenkeys]

One jurisdiction I work in does not allow it. Quote "Ever left popcorn in the microwave too long? Well now you've blocked an exit."

 

[CR Design]

One jurisdiction I work in does not allow it. Quote "Ever left popcorn in the microwave too long? Well now you've blocked an exit."

Good point.

 

[steveray]

One jurisdiction I work in does not allow it. Quote "Ever left popcorn in the microwave too long? Well now you've blocked an exit."

Ever left a chair in an aisle? Now you have blocked an exit.....Ever had a fire in a building?...Ever moved a couch up some exit stairs? I think you get the point....

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

One jurisdiction I work in does not allow it. Quote "Ever left popcorn in the microwave too long? Well now you've blocked an exit."

The whole point of requiring multiple exits when the occupant load or exit access travel passes certain values is so that when one exit is impeded (such as by a fire), the occupants can exit from a different exit. The underlying premise of the code is that we only have to design for one emergency at a time. We DON'T need to consider what happens if two fires break out simultaneously, at opposite ends of the building and right in front of both [remote] exit doors.

 

[brokenkeys]

I've been in plenty of spaces like the OP's post. I've even designed at least one like that. I was just sharing my experience with one specific reviewer who latches onto the "for similar purposes" part of that section and if you try to talk to him about it, he plays the what-if game.

I wish the code was clearer/ easier to amend so that I don't have to play the what-if game... what if Godzilla picks the building up, with one hand blocking the main exit and the other hand blocking the other exit?

Sorry to hijack, but talking about "or similar purposes" I've also had a reviewer tell me an elevator machine room can't be accessed from a janitor closet, because the janitor closet is similar to storage and since the machine room is occasionally occupied by service personnel it had to have a different access.